Reopened Mind

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Posts by Reopened Mind

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  21

  To our fading and in-suffering friends, status report please

  by Mad Sweeney in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if you're still in for the sake of others, how's it going?

  what specific plan are you working on to get your loved ones out so you can leave, too?

  how is that plan progressing?

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  Reopened Mind

  My husband and I are in the processing of fading. We bought a home and a business in another state and will be completely out when we move in the spring. We have been going to that area for the last three years and have made some nonJW friends there. We will have to let them know of our JW past but will save that for when we get there permanently.

  While still here I have reconnected with my cousin and her husband. They know we were Witnesses and have changed our beliefs. They were especially surprised at the severity of JW shunning practices for what their church wouldn't even bat an eye at. We have been celebrating Christmas and birthdays with them.

  My husband stepped down as an elder at the end of last year. He had words with the CoBOE a few weeks back and hasn't been back to the hall since. I have only been to a meeting twice in the last three years. He laments that no one has visited or called to see how we are but personally I am glad we are being left alone.

  I have many JW friends here with whom I am friends on facebook. There are also JWs who I have friended from other areas. I haven't decided how I am going to handle that when we make a clean break. Any advice on how to handle that would be appreciated.

  Our oldest son is out. However our youngest son lives near his fanatical JW in-laws with his wife and two small children. He wants to leave but for now he is trapped. It is for their sakes that we are being extra cautious.

  Reopened Mind
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  80

  What Doctrines or JW Views Did You Not Find Too Believable?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the thought that a loving creator would violently destroy anyone not belonging to the jehovah's witness religion including billions of babies seemed just not right.. the fact that you could recieve some "acceptable" blood components but could not donate those same lifesaving yourself seemed strange.

  you could recieve a blood fraction but you couldn't give it.. any others you can think of?

  ?.

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  Reopened Mind

  Never could accept that qualifications for positions were limited strictly to males. It seemed counterproductive to me to exclude more than 50% of the congregation just because they were sisters. When I asked I was told it was because women were more emotional than men. I saw many men, both MS and elders, who were emotional but this did not disqualify them. I was a better reader than any brother I knew yet because I was not the right gender I could not publicly read the Watchtower or read at the book study. When I learned that Barbara Anderson had written many of the articles, I thought, "How hypocritical!" A sister could write an article (teaching) but could not read it in public (simply being a messanger). Now that I know what really went on amongst elders, I am relieved that I didn't qualify. It was a good old boys club and the good old boys didn't want to give up any of their power to us lowly women.

  Reopened Mind
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  55

  Longtime lurker - first post

  by applehippie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  been listening for quite a while to the many conversations found here on this forum.

  i'm a good listener as my friends will tell you.. i am a born in jw, inactive for at least 2 years now.

  i originally joined this forum to find out what my husband was "up to".

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  Reopened Mind

  Hello Applehippie and welcome to the forum. Did I see correctly that you registered in Jan. '06 and just now made your first post? I found this site and others in Jan '07 after reading an article in our local paper on JWs and blood. I thought I was a longtime lurker before I signed up last year.

  Though not a born-in like yourself I too thought the kingdom hall and being a good witness was a protection. In pioneer school we were told that married sisters had three layers of protection---our husband, Jesus, and Jehovah. Now I see this "protection" is like the fox guarding the hen house. I personally did not experience physical abuse from my husband. However because of his ADD, PTSD, and frequent bouts of depression he was very moody and prone to making rash decisions. He eventually sought help and we now have an enviable marriage. On the 23rd of this month we will be celebrating our 37th anniversary. I cannot imagine life without him and am glad we made it through the tough times. He is the poster on this board known as TotallyADD. Like Flipper I too am curious who your husband is on this board.

  Reopened Mind
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  40

  Here's one more free mind...

  by Pika_Chu in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hey, here's one more free mind.

  i've been researching and reading posts here and finally decided to join.

  i have to say i'm grateful for this site.

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  Reopened Mind

  Great to have you here Pika_Chu. I too would like to hear your story when you're ready.

  By the way how did you choose Pika_Chu and could give us some insight on what it means?

  Reopened Mind
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  36

  Networking with Jehovahs Witnesses or people who are bible studieing

  by flowerpower123 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am a 32 old woman live in the netherlands.

  like to make friends all over the world...brothers and sisters.

  always nice when you come to holland , or when i come to your country.

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  Reopened Mind

  Hello Flowerpower123 and

  WELCOME TO THE FORUM

  Please stick around. You will really learn a lot but you need to keep an open mind.

  You might also like to check out www.jwfacts.com.

  Reopened Mind
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  179

  Were you 'alive in '75' and how was that year for you?

  by punkofnice in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i was a junior borgite in 1975. i remeber looking at the calendar at work in october and thinking: 'armageddon isn't here yet.....and it doesn't feel like it will be here anytime soon either!'.

  i was surprised that jehovah hadn't obeyed the superior command to bring the big 'a' as instructed to him by fred franz.

  how dare god disobey the jw leader!!!!!.

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  Reopened Mind

  Flipper

  TOTALLY ADD- I find it interesting that your sons in law ( I imagine they are what ? 25 to 40 yrs.of age possibly ? ) can say that 1975 " was not as

  big a deal as it was made out to be " . Incredible. Well- they just have been told different by current WT society publications or leaders

  My husband TotallyADD did not mean sons-in-law. He meant our daughter-in-law's parents. They are our age, mid fifties, so were definitely alive in '75. Sorry for the misunderstanding but this is what ADD does to one. ADD stands for Attention Deficit Syndrome.

  Reopened Mind
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  179

  Were you 'alive in '75' and how was that year for you?

  by punkofnice in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i was a junior borgite in 1975. i remeber looking at the calendar at work in october and thinking: 'armageddon isn't here yet.....and it doesn't feel like it will be here anytime soon either!'.

  i was surprised that jehovah hadn't obeyed the superior command to bring the big 'a' as instructed to him by fred franz.

  how dare god disobey the jw leader!!!!!.

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  Reopened Mind

  I was a new convert, baptised in '73, married in '74, working hard at anything I could find. Unemployment in our area was close to 25%. My husband was in

  the building trades in FL. I remember he and I went to his parents in earlyh 1976 and asked why the GB was wrong. His dad got so angry at us for even

  asking or doubting them. We just caved on so he would calm down. As time went on we had 2 children, raised them and now have grandchildren.

  Its only been in the last 4 years we finally woke up.

  Reopened Mind, wife of TotallyADD
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  73

  My Labrador died can anyone please help me. I can't stand the pain.

  by Witness 007 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  my wife recovered from depression just 14 months ago and things have been going well.....so much so that i started a buisness for her and we are two weeks into it.

  my labby was ill vomiting abit of discomfort, i thought great, you ate something bad again!

  the vet gave him a shot and sent us home.

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  Reopened Mind

  Witness 007 I too want to express to you my deepest sympathies for the loss of your beloved lab.

  Although I have also lost many pets over the years I cannot begin to tell you I know how you feel

  because we all deal with grief differently. Yes time will heal as others have said but the pain will

  always be there somewhere. The new pup is not a replacement for the dog you lost, but perhaps

  the distraction will help.

  You said your wife got over depression 14 months ago. Did she have professional counseling?

  Sounds like she and you would benefit from counseling. We are here to support you but

  cannot take the place of a licensed therapist.

  Reopened Mind
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  39

  May 15 2011 WT - study edition out

  by just n from bethel in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i don't really care to download it and review it and see how it's the same old same old - but i do like to read up on others doing it here.

  :) i'm a lazy leach like that.. so - get to it guys.. www.jw.org.

  edit: haha- i said 2001 in the title - meant 2011.

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  Reopened Mind

  What I find really funny about that illustration is that the guy is offering a huge rock that must have cost the best part of a year's wages, but can't be bothered to buy a decent bunch of flowers!

  Perhaps the ring is a cubic zirconium. LOL

  Reopened Mind
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  28

  Please Welcome "saltyoldlady"!!!

  by Yan Bibiyan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a new member "saltyoldlady" just joined the board on the introductory thread of another new member here.

  .

  i didn't want the op's thread highjacked, so please welcome saltyoldlady on this thread.. .

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  Reopened Mind

  Saltyoldlady I just went back and read your letter to dogpatch which he posted here http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/198399/1/Letter-from-an-anointed-reader-who-DAd-after-33-years. I especially liked

  your ten reasons for leaving.

  Back when I was new in the organization it was a big deal to have one of the anointed in our congregation.

  There were none in the first congretation I attended. When I moved to another congregation and got married

  there were 7---I couldn't believe it---7 in one congregation. At least 2 of those had known Russell personally.

  We counted it a great privilege to rub elbows with ones who had a direct connection with Jehovah himself.

  Now I feel just as privileged to know you. I admire your courage to change your life course after an honest

  reevaluation of what you believe. YOU ARE ONE GUTSY LADY!

  My husband who posts as TotallyADD and I are fading together. He recently stepped down as an elder. We

  still have to watch our step as we still have family in the org.

  Looking forward to more of your experiences.

  Reopened Mind