laverite

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Posts by laverite

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  85

  From Pioneer to Professor: My Story

  by laverite in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i wanted to say hello.

  i knew i was gay.

  i wanted to study and learn about everything i could.

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  laverite

  Quendi, it is truly a pleasure to have you respond. I enjoy reading your posts. I can think of a few I remember off the top of my head, including your move away from Colorado (30 years there, right?) to Alabama and some posts and comments on gay marriage. Oh! And you wrote a book (science fiction, right?).

  The reason I remember the Colorado to Alabama post so well is that I love Colorado (so beautiful!), and experienced a move from someplace I loved dearly after many years to where I am now. I grieved for about 10 years after for that special place I left. I also know you are always so supportive of LGBT issues. And I think you do or did work as a teacher, right?

  But I can't remember how you exited the TruthTM or your educational path. I'd love to know these things. You are always such a joy to read. I love your writing. Thank you for your kind words and support.

  P.S. Don't even get me started on the topic of reading the mags being equivalent to a college education. It is as far removed from that as anything I can think of. I know you will agree. In college, it's not so much about "facts" but about developing critical thinking skills and learning how to learn. Reading some trashy mags written at the 3rd grade level just ain't gonna cut it!
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  118

  School for Congregation Elders

  by C.O.B.E.Beef in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i attended the school late last year, and it was an emotional and mental rollercoaster for me.

  i was already divided in my heart to say the least.

  one of the instructors stayed in my home for the week, and my family genuinely enjoyed his company.

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  laverite

  Wow. What an experience and what a post. So glad you were able to escape.
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  61

  600 people up and left the DC after the 'apostate' talk?

  by Julia Orwell in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  an 'apostate' inactive jw in america i know on facebook went to the dc and said fully 600 people left between the end of the apostate talk and the lunch break.

  have any of you who also went to the dc seen something like this happen?

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  laverite

  According to this talk, the "Characteristics of Apostates" are:

  1. They reject God's service.

  2. They want to take others with them, drawing them away from Jehovah and cause divisions.

  3. They claim to serve Jehovah but they reject His representatives here on Earth.

  So....What must we do to protect ourselves from apostacy? Avoid apostates, even avoiding limited contact. We do not allow them into our homes by reading what they write, watch shows they are on or go on their websites or make comments on their blogs. "We love Jehovah's organization." Avoid them like someone who has a "contagious, deadly disease." Stay busy in the work of sharing God's word of truth with others so that you will forever enjoy Jehovah's divine seal of approval.
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  61

  600 people up and left the DC after the 'apostate' talk?

  by Julia Orwell in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  an 'apostate' inactive jw in america i know on facebook went to the dc and said fully 600 people left between the end of the apostate talk and the lunch break.

  have any of you who also went to the dc seen something like this happen?

  .

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  laverite

  Nicsfreedom - thank you for posting this link. I'm listening to it right now.
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  61

  600 people up and left the DC after the 'apostate' talk?

  by Julia Orwell in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  an 'apostate' inactive jw in america i know on facebook went to the dc and said fully 600 people left between the end of the apostate talk and the lunch break.

  have any of you who also went to the dc seen something like this happen?

  .

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  laverite

  Sorry but they just didn't go back after lunch. A talk is not going to cause hundreds to up and leave. JWs aren't programmed that way. They are, however, programmed to make endless justifications and lie based on technicalities. So they were bored out of their minds, and one person in their family had a bit of gas. That then becomes a sudden attack of gastrointestinal illness that requires they take immediate leave from the Convention to take care of this medical emergency. And they will have to miss the next day, too, just in case. Sucks but what else can you do? Jehovah understands!
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  85

  From Pioneer to Professor: My Story

  by laverite in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i wanted to say hello.

  i knew i was gay.

  i wanted to study and learn about everything i could.

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  2. 
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  laverite

  Wow, GMA, thank you for your very kind words. I am so lucky to have my sweet, wonderful children. They are so amazing.

  Many of the younger JWs seem to be a little more "liberal" minded on gay issues compared to the older Brothers and Sisters. I know some of my cousins are. And, it's funny, because I've even referred to them as "liberal" JWs and they get all defensive: "What do you mean liberal??? I'm not liberal!!!" But they really are compared to older folks.

  On the JWs missing out -- they sure have a lot of strange ideas about gays. I was visiting my grandmother in the hospital (she had a rough patch that she went through a couple of years back) and some JWs were there with her. After I left the room for a bit, I could hear as I stood in the hallway for a second their conversation with her and my aunt. "But he looks so clean cut!" Truth is, I could blend in with any JW group just fine. That day, I was in slacks, a nice button up shirt, nice shoes and my 1950s style men's glasses. Short hair, too. All I would have needed would have been a tie and I would have looked like I stepped right out of any Watchtower magazine. That blew them away. They just couldn't believe I could be who I am and an ex-JW and appear presentable. I don't know what they were expecting...and they probably didn't have any clear idea either. Perhaps if I had long hair and beard, tats and needle track marks up and down his arms stinking of alcohol and body odor slurring his words that would have made sense to them. But not a clean cut well spoken individual.
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  85

  My Letter to Brooklyn about the Parousia that got me disfellowshipped

  by cofty in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this is the letter i wrote back in '96 about the parousia.

  following the '95 watchtower that disconnected the "generation" from 1914 i began to look carefully at end-time prophecy and soon discovered what i knew were basic errors in what i had been taught.. i was a loyal jw at the time and was still serving as an elder.

  i used only watchtower publications in my research.

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  laverite

  Very detailed and well written letter, Cofty! One thing stood out at me, but then I had to admit truth of what you wrote: " I also wish to state emphatically that I have had no contact of any kind with apostates whose divisive works I despise." I suppose we are divisive.
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  85

  From Pioneer to Professor: My Story

  by laverite in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i wanted to say hello.

  i knew i was gay.

  i wanted to study and learn about everything i could.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
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  laverite

  LostGen - I know the path I took was the right one for me. But it's never too late for those who had a delay in their escape.
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  29

  JW visit

  by laverite in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  for some reason my neighborhood gets worked over by the jws constantly.

  they are here every week going up and down the streets.

  it's a comfortable, safe neighborhood with nice houses.

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  laverite

  Lost Gen - I should actually just have them put me on the DNC list and get it over with. (19 days is a LONG time to not have them here on this street; they work the street every week!!!).
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  85

  From Pioneer to Professor: My Story

  by laverite in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i wanted to say hello.

  i knew i was gay.

  i wanted to study and learn about everything i could.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  laverite

  Something that has bothered me a lot -- my real name is not Alex. I wanted to put a detail or two like that in there out of paranoia to throw anyone off as to my real identity if they tried to look me up. I was being overly paranoid. I still have limited (family business) contact with my beloved JW grandmother who is well into her 90s. I don't want to lose that. The Watchtower TM is her everything. None of us will be living forever, after all. So, one day my precious Grandma will pass away. I love her so much. At that point in time, I will (without any reservation) happily post my name and picture. I will have no reason to withold any details, other than pure embarrasment and shame that I was ever a part of the Watchtower TM cult. I find that utterly mortifying.

  Also, I am protective of my professional status. I have published several books now that are used nationally and internationally at many universities. I am working on a fairly high profile book for a big publishing company right now as we speak. I worry that others will find out about my JW past. The thought of others finding out I was a JW makes me want to hang my head in shame. But maybe I have a bit of a "free pass" given I was "born-in" and didnt' have a choice? "It wasn't my fault!!"