i'm sure it's impossible to know for sure but, in people's opinions, what would be a rough estimate of how many people are still in because of fear of losing loved ones?.
Wow!! BONEHEAD, ah I mean BANE actually toots his own horn! 
He proclaims himself a winner in every response he makes. I'm sure Jehovah is ubber happy at the the way he fights for him!
He asked me TO LEAVE - to stop being a MS. And he also says I am sham.
My warning: Be careful! I may be coming to your hall next to give an "encouraging" talk designed to make you think about how you can do more while on your knees....................................prayer that is!! LOL 
i needed to post here to vent.
because, the person i really want to give a piece of my mind to is an elder and my, sometimes, self-righteous brother.
twice in my presence, he brought up cases of sisters marrying unbelievers and how they should be "marked" because of marrying outside the "truth".
Bane SUCKS........................his thumb!!
Hey BANE, SHUT THE.......................................font door!!
Speaking of self-righteous (fill-in the blank).
Oh and as far as EmptyInside, I'm sorry to hear what you are going through. Keep venting! It always feels good! And this is a great place. Avoid the self-righteous (cough, cough) while you are at it.
CoC
i'm sure it's impossible to know for sure but, in people's opinions, what would be a rough estimate of how many people are still in because of fear of losing loved ones?.
Count me in. I'm still "serving" in my hall as a MS and I want to give that up. I'm slowly attempting to condition my mind to accept the fact that pretty much all of my JW friendships are conditional.
At this point in time, I am still really concerned about my wife. Though she knows how I feel, I don't want her to feel alone. It's a struggle but I think I see a light at the end of the tunnel.
I also think about my mother. She really believes my heart is all in it. She finds comfort in relating her "spiritual activity" to me regularly. Time will tell.
So my name says it all. I'm going through a crisis of conscience, but not in terms of whether this is the truth or not. It's not.
CoC
were you apprehensive to put up a post on this forum?.
I was absolutely nervous!! I lurked for a few months. Then I told my wife that I was researching online and reading blogs about the JWs. She was disturbed that I was getting involved with "apostates."
I promised her that I wouldn't be on such sites again. But after dwelling upon some of the things I had read here, I could see that there is a genuine problem or problems in the org. And I started thinking that the claim of someone being apostate should be left up to perception. I don't view any here as apostate. They have gone through situations that prove there are problems within the org. They are not looking to start their own following.
After I realized that, (yes I broke my promise to my wife) I began lurking here for about 2 months and then created an account. Talk about nervous, a racing heart, and sweaty palms! But the welcome I received made me extremely comfortable. Thank you all as well as those that PMed me with their concern/advice/help!
Now I have found a peace in the form of expression that I have never had in my life. Even my therapist has picked up on it but I haven't revealed the reason to him completely.
Hope this helps someone and great thread!
CoC
i am going to get a lot of flack for this post, but i need to do it.
i want to preface this by saying that i don't judge any of you and i believe in the right of freedom of speech and freedom of religion, including your freedom to not practice one.. however, i'm finding a trend among some ex jws here.
notice the word "some".
I haven't read through all the comments but here is my take on it.
Now that my eyes are open, yes I have become very critical of things in the Bible. I have expressed this somewhat before in other posts.
Let me begin with the "positive." The Bible contains many things that have helped me in my development in life. I can especially apply these things in my marriage as well as relationships with people.
Now as far as the "negative." Most of everything I'm supposed to believe happened is based on faith. I know the Bible (or at least the NWT) identifies faith as "the assured expectation of things unseen" or something like that.
When is the last time in your lifetime that you saw any of the Biblical miracles/events take place? For example, the parting of a sea, 5,000+ being fed with only a few fish and bread, someone resurrected, fire from heaven, a talking donkey (actually this could be argued since I know some people that are jackasses, LOL), someone wrestling with an angel, etc., etc.? I never have nor have come across anything worth believing in the newspapers, TV, and such.
Would it be wrong of me to disrespect Santa Claus? Probably to some because they believe he is real. Well I'm concerned about people's feelings so I won't disrespect the Bible. But I currently doubt if all the things contained in it are real, if any.
CoC
i recently called the service department about this.
first off, what i read in another post is correct.
the person you talk with will not give you their name.. i asked the question and the brother responds by saying that yes, they get that question all the time.. then he proceeds to tell me that i need to write in to the society with my question and they will give me plenty of information to back up their standing on it.. i told him that i searched the wl cdrom and found nothing, not even under questions from readers.
Soldier77 What's the phone # for the service desk?
It's (845)306-1000. The number for Patterson. Just ask for the Service Department. They will ask your reason for calling.
i recently called the service department about this.
first off, what i read in another post is correct.
the person you talk with will not give you their name.. i asked the question and the brother responds by saying that yes, they get that question all the time.. then he proceeds to tell me that i need to write in to the society with my question and they will give me plenty of information to back up their standing on it.. i told him that i searched the wl cdrom and found nothing, not even under questions from readers.
I recently called the service department about this. First off, what I read in another post is correct. The person you talk with WILL NOT give you their name.
I asked the question and the brother responds by saying that yes, they get that question ALL the time.
Then he proceeds to tell me that I need to write in to the society with my question and they will give me plenty of information to back up their standing on it.
I told him that I searched the WL CDROM and found nothing, not even under questions from readers. Now if the question comes up so much, why hasn't it ever been addressed to the masses through perhaps the Watchtower (that's one word, LOL) magazine? (I know the answer. Keep the blinders on.)
What has been the experience of others here?
CoC
a year ago i read a post where one argued the 587 bc with only insight and the bible, but i have lost it and can't find it again.
can someone help me with that, please?.
I called the service department recently and asked them about 607/587. They didn't answer the question but instead told me to write in and they would provide me information. Yea right!! I'm really going to give them my name and address.
I wanted to start a post on that especially now that I see someone else has done the same thing.
Oh and thanks for the link.
CoC
i'm sure this topic has been brought up before.
i was at a jw graduation party yesterday and realized "if birthday parties are not okay because they supposedly bring undue attention to an individual, why are graduation parties and wedding anniversaries okay?
" they both glorify individuals and put them on a pedestal.
Excellent question/topic. But regardless, sounds like an excuse................................for a PARTY!!
it's that simple..
Hiding Questioner - I thought to myself, hell no one buys a TV these days without Googling the brand/model on the internet. What makes me and other JWs think their religion is any different, especially given the level of commitment expected.
This is something I used once to try and reason with my wife. Anything I plan on, for example, purchasing, always requires research. If I want to buy a Sony TV, I don't just go to their site and expect them to tell me all the pros and cons. I see what others are saying about it/them.
Why should it be any different with my religion? What's to be hidden? When is the last time the Watchtower study and magazine spoke about what is wrong with the religion?
Oh and BTW, I don't consider myself a moron.......anymore!! LOL
