Posts by Sojourn

54

How to deal with "Whoe other than JW are preching today?"

by Simon Morley in

my bil (active dub) has begun to ask me why we are not "active" anymore.

after a few careful (non-dfing) comments and observations he asks "well who other than jw's are preaching the good news in fullfillment of matt 24:14?

i responded with the comment that billions of christ's followers worldwide, down through history for over 19 centuries have been selfless in preaching globally.

Sojourn

Great question.

It might help to read my first post to see where I'm coming from: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/experiences/196442/1/Fade-to-white

I became open with Witnesses who asked me why they didn't see me as often anymore, and told them straight out that I felt pure motives were very important, and if I didn't have those, I didn't belong with them at meetings- or anywhere else.

One former friend in particular said, "But you know that serving Jehovah is the only way to be truly happy! You can't give up now, the end is so close!"

To this I said, "Please, take a moment to really think about the words you are saying to me, and try to be objective. Though I have found much happiness despite leaving, if I do this so that I will be happy, that is an insincere motive. Jehovah would see right through that, wouldn't he. The same goes for coming back because the end is near. If I returned because these are the last days, that would be pure selfishness: to save my neck. (And there's STILL no fooling Jehovah on this.) The very fact that the end is near and yet I am NOT returning should only highlight to you how very serious I am about serving Jehovah only out of true love! You and I both know that Jehovah strictly disapproves of that kind of scrambling conduct to 'look busy'."

I had to do some doublespeak with her since at the time I no longer necessarily held to my former beliefs of the end being near, etc. (I really have no clue- how can anyone?) But I hope she considered my words, if not that day, at a quiet time later on. I have good reason to think she will apply some importance to what I said though I'm sure she'll never join all of us happy people on this site. She is a lifer unless something incredibly drastic happens. However, she admitted that she could not debate those points with me.

60

Whats the weirdest thing a JW ever said to you?

by chukky 594 in

i remember a 'sister' coming up to me and telling me off for being on the atkins diet, as it was satanic and designed by satan.. chukky.

Sojourn

I was a teenager, and had just been reinstated. We were out in service with old family friends - the oldest, closest, family friends. One sister in particular, we called 'Aunt', which shows how close we were. She and her husband are considered to this day, pillars in the congregation.

Posted on the corner of our block was a sign that said in big, bold letters, "Desperately Seeking [insert name here]" It happened to be my name, (had nothing to do with me, though - just coincidence). The sign went on to describe a beach bonfire where the guy (sign writer) just so happened to meet a lovely girl and wanted to find her again. He even described her. It was like an early Craigslist 'missed connections', only before Craigslist.

Though the beach in question extends along the length of our neighborhood, I didn't have to worry anyone would think it was me meeting up with a 'worldly' guy, since the description didn't match mine.

'Auntie' then said ever so casually, "At least that's not you, otherwise we'd be throwing you in the garbage can". It might not sound like much, but it was profoundly odd to hear her say something so unkind, especially since it was right after I was reinstated... in that instant, I lost so much respect for her. Since she never apologized, and no one there called her on it (or even talked to me privately about it afterward), that informed the new picture I was beginning to form of my surroundings.

15

Debate

by goddidit in

i'd like to have a one-on-one online debate with an active jw.

it doesn't have to be private.. anyone have any suggestions how i might arrange this?.

Sojourn

What is "conscious class"?

32

Typical email exchange I just had with a JW

by jwfacts in

most of the emails that i receive from jws are short and to the point - i am wrong and jehovah will soon exact vengeance on me.

they never identify where i am wrong.

here is a typical one.

Sojourn

Thanks jwfacts, and you have a pretty great site, too!

32

Typical email exchange I just had with a JW

by jwfacts in

most of the emails that i receive from jws are short and to the point - i am wrong and jehovah will soon exact vengeance on me.

they never identify where i am wrong.

here is a typical one.

Sojourn

I use that blood guilt threat against JW's. I show them that a blood transfusion can't save the life of a starving man- hence blood transfusions have nothing to do with the OT Bible prohibitions against eating blood and that were later reiterated by the Jewish Christians to the Gentiles.

Sorry to bump an old thread, but can someone please explain the quote above? I'm just not sure what this person means exactly, and would love the opportunity to learn something additional that could touch the heart of a Witness who's looking for answers.

Thanks!

71

I would like to hear your experiences with being SHUNNED

by jwfacts in

i am going to put together a page of short experiences of how shunning has affected exjws.

you do not have to be disfellowshipped, even if you were shunned after being marked or after fading.

all comments are welcome, such as who shunned you, how long since family have spoken to you, what your situation is, why you are being shunned and how it has made you feel.

Sojourn

I'm so sorry to everyone who has posted their stories of hardship. I was disfellowshipped twice, reinstated twice, and now, have faded. Yes, it was very hard to be shunned twice, before turning 18.

The only things I have been reading that I don't completely understand are stories of people who say how shocked and surprised they were when the smallest kindness wasn't shown to them by their former friends. As Witnesses, we were trained for this shunning, weren't we? How can we be surprised? None of us are the one special little snowflake. We're the rule, not the exception. When we find ourselves on the "outside" for any reason, yes, we'll be shunned because the WTS is in control and the Witnesses have been programmed to their exact specifications.

Personally I feel that with high-control cults like this, try as you might to reason with the person, they are not there. There is no one home. All you are doing is talking to the organization who trained them (if they are devout). Six months ago, I would have probably had a heart attack to hear myself say such things (my deprogramming is very recent...) but it must be said. I knew some smart, funny awesome people in my old congregations who would be SO ANGRY if they took the time to research the things that we have, but may never find these things out. Instead of feeling sorry for myself anymore, I just feel sorry for them; and especially their children.

Needless to say, I am so embarrassed now to think of the things I thought, said, taught and did. There is nothing I can do to go back and repair the deep hurt I've inflicted on others when I was a Witness and shunned others, but I am trying to replace my knock-off brand of love with true love's acceptance. Being raised as a Witness, naturally I was not trained to show love to all and to judge none, but I am trying to teach myself those qualities now.

24

Did your Kingdom Hall have kitchen?

by asilentone in

someone told me there are few kingdom halls with kitchens, i was surprised about it.

.

Sojourn

Ours had an Apartment...... the society stopped letting anyone rent them, because a Pioneer Couple left the truth, but were renting the Apartment at a KH.... well they were evicited..... why?????........... because of religious beliefs??? YES!!!! ........................... The Courts Said ...NOOOOOO!!! THEY CAN STAY!!!!
no more renting Apartment KH's

I hope that is true! Too good!

and a hand mixer on hand for making up batches of Kool Aid

LOL!

6

Brainwashing and free will

by Sojourn in

it's obvious to anyone who's spent time on this site with an open mind that major brainwashing and mind control are at work in the wts.

how do you reconcile that with the idea of free will?

it's like if i said that i know my decisions were mine, but at the same time they weren't.

Sojourn

It's obvious to anyone who's spent time on this site with an open mind that major brainwashing and mind control are at work in the WTS.

How do you reconcile that with the idea of free will?

It's like if I said that I know my decisions were mine, but at the same time they weren't. How does one make sense of that?

7

Charity status - discrimination

by James_Slash in

someone told me this the other day.. does anyone know if it is true that to hold charity 'status' that you cannot discriminate against colour, creed, sexual preference, disability etc etc?.

surely the wtbts go against these 'rules' by disfellowshipping homosexuals or discriminating against the mentally ill?.

just a thought..

Sojourn

I grew up with the feeling that charity was just generally a shady thing to engage in. Mind you, no one ever told me this exactly.

The idea came from the way that we, as Witnesses, were guided to look down on other religions (as being false; influenced by Satan...) and to keep our distance and dollars from any other organizations no matter how peaceful and beneficial they seemed: such as the Red Cross, etc.

And yet, these other religions and organizations were, and continue to be, constantly busy in charity work much like Jesus was. If we could see a pie chart breaking down Jesus' actions while on earth (whether or not you or I believe in Jesus anymore...) it would almost certainly show that at least 75% of that was charity work.

I don't know why I never questioned this glaring discrepancy (oh wait, yes I do): that Witnesses do not engage in this work that Jesus devoted so much time towards...

For any onlooking Witness out there: yes, I will give you that a much-needed bag of groceries, clothes, and very kind acts are provided for other Witnesses in need (even those with 'worldly' relatives), but charity on an organizational level (to provide food, clothing, etc.) is not hinted at in the least, and certainly NEVER practiced.

49

Hello - I´m new here

by Starfish in

just wanted to introduce myself.... .

i am a secret fader but since reading this forum i feel i am alot more confident about telling my family/friends that i don t go to the meetings and inactive.. my hubby is also a fader with me...we kind of drifted after my first baby was born.

she is now 11.. it all started with my mom who started studying with my cousin when i was about 15. while she was studying i also started studying (i was about 16).

Sojourn

I'm another fader! Thank you for your story.

I'm so glad you had the presence of mind to tell that elder what exactly he could do with his advice. I've been in that position many times, and just accepted that treatment. You can look back on that moment with real satisfaction.