Posts by Reopened Mind

18

I told my parents I no longer believe any teachings of JWs

by Fognomore in

since my last post i have spoke with my parents and told them i am no longer a believer.

i told them i just can't anymore.

here is my short story.

Reopened Mind

Fognomore,

It is difficult coming out of the fog of a high control group. So, first of all, CONGRATULATIONS for your awakening.

I, too, am curious as to how your parents accepted your news. As for your wife, surely she suspects something. After all you said you hadn't been to a meeting in three months. When I started to wake up my husband was the presiding overseer. I agonized over how I would break it to him that I no longer believed. Thankfully he also was having doubts after doing some temp work at Bethel and he was wondering how to tell me! However, I have read several accounts on here where the outcome was disastrous. So please be careful. The best advice I can give is to listen carefully to what she has to say and build on that. You didn't mention if you have any children. That can complicate matters. There is a lot of good advice on here. Do your research and tread carefully.

Reopened Mind

22

Service experiences

by former2free in

jw
friends

i know what you may be thinking by the title but bear with me.

have you ever reflected on past service experiences and think wow if only i had listened to a householder?

two things come to my mind of personal experience.

Reopened Mind

former2free,

When you were a little fellow and I was pioneering I called on a kindly lady in Aloha Gardens. She always had a toy or a treat for you. I even studied with her briefly in the "Live Forever" book. I went round and round with her on why God permitted suffering. She just couldn't understand why a God of love would let little children suffer and die.

I've remembered her fondly since I left the cult. I now know why God didn't care about children or anybody else for that matter---he doesn't exist. Only humans care.

Reopened Mind

10

We owe our children honesty, integrity, and the TTATT.

by Fognomore in

in my waking up i have come to a very emotional and costly conclusion.

i have been waking up for about 2 years.

the greatest gift we ( i ) can give our children is honesty and ttatt.

Reopened Mind

Welcome fognomore.

I wish we had given these gifts to our children when they were growing up. But alas and alack! we raised them in the cult. Thankfully, though our youngest has recently left and is raising his children with the freedoms you mentioned. I can't say the same for our oldest son, but we have hope.

Reopened Mind

5

... the truth...

by zeb in

jw
friends

doing a computer 'clean-out' came across this;.

"we need to examine, not only what we personally believe, but also what is taught by any religious organization with which we may be associated.

are its teachings in full harmony with god’s word, or are they based on the traditions of men?

Reopened Mind

All religions are based on the traditions of men as is the Bible.

Reopened Mind

43

After watching A&E Leah Remini on Jehovah Witnesses I am going to stop hiding behind my Avatar

by Still Totally ADD in

jw
friends

just got done watching this program and what impress me the most was the bravery of those x-witnesses to sit there on national tv and tell everyone how the wt.

cult affected them.

no hidden faces, no avatar names and no disguise.

Reopened Mind

I guess I need to weigh in on this thread as my husband and son are "out". David and I discussed posting our real names on this board after seeing the stories of XJWs on A&E last Tuesday. We said the time has come to step out of the shadows to become more active.

As flipper said it will help expose the Watchtower Society and educate people about Jehovah's Witnesses. With that in mind we are hosting two parties this weekend to view the film. While we have been talking to our friends about our background, it is so far removed from their life experiences that it is difficult for them to comprehend what a high control group like the Watchtower is really like. We hope this opens their eyes to a few things.

I think it is ironic that this year's convention theme was "Be Courageous". The governing body has built a compound in Walkill where they can hide. The rank and file no longer know how to witness as they stand behind a tablet or a cart. It is the children who are on the front lines as they are made to take a stand for the religion. So, who really are the courageous ones? As my son James said they are the ones like those on the program who fearlessly stand up for what is true and real.

Reopened Mind, aka, Barbara

13

My sermon at Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation

by rawe in

jw
friends

it has been awhile since i have visited the forum.

since the fall of 2013 i've been attending the unitarian universalist congregation in chandler, az.

i became a member in 2015. this past september i gave the sermon.

Reopened Mind

Hello rawe, Randy,

I listened to your sermon. You are an excellent speaker. Were you an elder in your past (JW) life? As Still Totally ADD said we are members of our local UU congregation. We are a small congregation with no paid minister. Thus many of our members conduct the services and we have guest speakers when we can procure them.

We have been members since 2012. As my husband said he has given several sermons there. But he was an elder for 25 years. I, too, have given Sunday sermons, mostly on my experience in the cult. Imagine that! Me, a former sister, addressing the audience directly without a man on stage to conduct! I guess I learned a lot from the Ministry School. Anyway, that’s not so remarkable outside a misogynistic, high control group.

Reopened Mind

19

Married for 30 years

by nugget in

today we celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary and my sons 16th birthday.

i feel privileged to be able to show my appreciation and love for both the men in my life without feeling guilt.

we left in 2009 as a family and have not regretted the choice.

Reopened Mind

Nugget,

Being able to observe your anniversary and your son's birthday freely is a great cause for celebration. But and even bigger cause for celebration is that you have left the WT with your family intact. CONGRATULATIONS!!

Reopened Mind

22

Funny occurrences

by Freedom rocks in

what were some funny experiences you had of things that happened during talks at the meetings?.

a few of mine:.

- a brother had dyed his hair before his talk and it was raining heavily when he arrived at the hall and the dye was running down his face during his talk and his skin went more and more grey as the black dye ran down it.

Reopened Mind

An elder was giving a question and answer part on the Service Meeting. When he asked a question no one raised their hand. He went on to the next two or three questions and still no one answered. His frustration with the audience mounted, he put down the Kingdom Ministry and proceeded to lecture us on studying the lesson. Then one brother raised his hand to tell him he was covering the wrong part.

Reopened Mind

22

Expected pain

by former2free in

last week was a big week for me in terms of coming totally clean to my wife and her being more than on board to leave the jw’s with me.

we know what to expect but things happen from family and it still hurts just as bad.

last night my wife got a long text message from her brother that has seemed to be in the fence and he told her that same guilt tripping rhetoric that the wt uses about life in the paradise etc.

Reopened Mind

Fear is one of the biggest reasons someone joins and stays in a high control group. Fear of dying, fear of not being "spiritual" enough, fear of being disfellowshipped, fear of displeasing god (governing body), and perhaps the biggest one, fear of losing family and friends when one wakes up and makes the painful decision to leave. It is not any easier when you know what's coming. Keep reassuring her she is making the right decision.

When I converted back when I was a teenager I was told I would have a large worldwide family. Little did I know how conditional that love would be. Her family has been conditioned to show love only if she believes and does exactly as they say. THAT IS NOT LOVE!!! If that doesn't scream CULT I don't know what does!

She has our love and support as do you.

Reopened Mind, aka Mom

19

Big news today

by former2free in

for you who have read my bio you will know i have been working on my wife to wake her up.

now i won’t call her awake yet but through a series of long conversations this week i revealed to her my dissenting toward the jw faith.

she was totally supportive of me assured me she would never think differently of me because of how i feel.

Reopened Mind

What wonderful news!!! So happy for you and her. Waking up can be a long process so your patience will go a long way in getting her and your family out of this destructive cult. We are here to support you both in any way we can.

Love, Mom

aka Reopened Mind