I'm probably going to take alot of heat for writing this but I think it needs to be said. There are many on this board that gush and praise all over, to the point , where it is brown nosing, but to what purpose I have no idea. Yes Ray Franz paved the way and has helped many but I'd argue that his book has led people to the internet, I'd say just the opposite. I never heard of Ray Franz when I was a JW. I only read his book after someone here suggested it to me. The point I wanted to make is it appears to me like some do think of him as being like God or next to Jesus and that makes me uncomfortable. The other point I wanted to make is the internet is a powerful tool in helping others like ourselves. Its the words of encouragement, stories that I could relate to, feelings others shared that I thought I alone had, personal stories that are IMO just as important as Rays book filled with "insider info" Believe it or not the first thing I read that was apostatey , was from here. It was about trolls and the famous smurfs. That affected me so much because I thought it was just a weird sister from my hall. I had no idea it was a widespread phenomena. It was the 1st step into believing I was involved with a crackpot org. Just my thoughts................ jurs
Posts by jurs
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33RAY FRANZ--You Are Appreciated Very Much!!!
by minimus inafter coming home to read what has happened today on this board, i would just like to say that no matter what differences anyone has ever had with ray franz, i, for one appreciate what he has done for me.
ray has helped more people to look at their spirituality over the last 2 decades.
he is not perfect, but he has been a voice of reason and a man of integrity.
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33
RAY FRANZ--You Are Appreciated Very Much!!!
by minimus inafter coming home to read what has happened today on this board, i would just like to say that no matter what differences anyone has ever had with ray franz, i, for one appreciate what he has done for me.
ray has helped more people to look at their spirituality over the last 2 decades.
he is not perfect, but he has been a voice of reason and a man of integrity.
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jurs
I'm not sure why all the praise for Ray Franz makes me uncomfortable, perhaps because it does seem like sucking up or even a form of worship. His books have helped me as well as many others and by no means do I want to appear ungrateful but there are many others who have worked hard at helping JW's and former JW's. In fact it was people that post here that REALLY helped me when I was beginning to doubt. This was more helpful to me than reading a book because I didn't feel so isolated. I guess I just don't understand postings such as island girls , where she says bill is no ray franz. they both do great work as well as MANY others that continue to post....
jurs
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If you can't beat em...
by Paradiselost inhas anyone on the board ever joined a cong as an unknown apostate, gained a reputation, and then tried to show certain members the errors in their ways. i'm in a sitation that makes the following hypothetical possible. should i do it...has anyone attemted it? thoughts?
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jurs
when I first left I called bible studies and friends in the org, because I wanted to help get them out. I had thoughts similar to yours as to go about it in a sneaky way. I wanted to help people get out of a cult. It doesn't work. Unfortunately, I believe it takes personal bad experiences and some breathing room away from the hall for people to start doubting and thinking. If they feel like their being tricked or pressured to leave they'll fall for the JW explanation that satan is trying to lure them away or that your a wolf in sheeps clothing. It'll make them draw ever closer to the org. I believe its better to just DA yourself and only give reasons if asked. jurs
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14
...you mean, you weren't raised JW?
by DanTheMan ini found it humorous and sad and revealing when i was in jerhover's borganization that this is the reaction i often got from the younger, raised in the troof jws.
reading facial expressions and body language, it was more than apparent to me that they were thinking, "you mean you weren't forced into this??
you actually chose to be a jw??!!".
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jurs
I think most people that didn't have family in felt excluded. I also resented the large family clans and clicks and I know I wasn't alone. Other sisters like myself whose husbands weren't in the truth also complained, and that was true in every congregation i was part of. (I moved around a bit) I also wondered from the get go what I got myself into . It was odd I thought some beliefs were way out there and didn't agree with everything but I still thought it was the only acceptable religion to Jehovah. Yet it made me uncomfortable at times but then I would think that it was satan trying to pull me away from Jehovah. HMMMMM I wonder who planted that that explanation in my mind. I had a good friend who got baptized when I did who also didn't have family in. She was freaking out at the assembly wondering if it was what she should be doing and if it was really the truth. I had none of those doubts and couldn't understand how it wasn't Obviously the truth, just disturbing at times with a few oddities, and a couple of extreme witness but still the truth. And I then would stop thinking about it. Jurs
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Watchtower teaches obese people are less perfect?
by kenpodragon inin the news a lot lately, are thoughts on how magazines are to blame for young woman dieting to the point of death.
not because they are not beautiful, but because they see these thin woman on the covers and think that is the image they need to be.
what is funny about image though, is depending on the time period in history, you would see a wide variety of images of beauty.
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jurs
I never noticed but I think that perhaps the drawings of the people in the paradise earth are not overweight because gluttony is a sin. Your post made me think of a time when an Obese elder gave a talk and he read from the scriptures about gluttons..... it confused me at the time why overeaters weren't DF'd or disiplined or even talked to but yet one could be disiplined or DF'd for indulging in drinking to the point of getting drunk but not being an alcoholic. You know what I mean? If its also a sin why is there no emphasis on it other than drawing thin people in paradise. jurs
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14
...you mean, you weren't raised JW?
by DanTheMan ini found it humorous and sad and revealing when i was in jerhover's borganization that this is the reaction i often got from the younger, raised in the troof jws.
reading facial expressions and body language, it was more than apparent to me that they were thinking, "you mean you weren't forced into this??
you actually chose to be a jw??!!".
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jurs
I never got that reaction from any teens or adults for that matter. I did get a few surprised looks , from adults, that I came in from the door to door work. In fact I felt VERY special that I came in that way because most I met that came in as adults usually had fallen in love with a JW and then became a witness or had a relative who encouraged and studied with them. BUT ............. one time out in field service , I was with a teen, I was telling her how I just loved the door to door work and was praying for a study ( I think I was trying to convince myself by lying) I remember she gave me a strange look. It surprised me because I KNEW then that this girl was miserable being a witness. Shortly afterwards she was DF'd , I'm not sure what for but I wasn't surprised. I too wonder what teens thought of those that actually chose such a suffocating way of life.
jurs
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53
I'm being DF'ed...
by email inthis is my first post on this board even though i have been lurking for a looong time.... .
i have just being told that the judicial committee has decided to disfellowship me and that i have a week to appeal if i decide to do so.
the reason: "apostasy".
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Butte, MT , longmont, franktown,Brighton CO
by jurs inis anyone from the butte mt area or the franktown cong.
in colorado.
it'd be nice to chat.
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Any Ex JWs SmokeyHill Cong. Aurora CO.
by Joseph_Muth inwould love to chat with you.. joe.
208-867-3753
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30
On the Verge of Leaving the Testigos
by Coqui inlooking for suggestions!.
i am 38 years old.
not raised in the "truth", baptized in 1984. married with three very young kids.
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