Posts by bigmac

72

Some Confusion - What is this site in regards to JW?

by Green Jade in

jw
friends

i seem to have a bit of confusion concerning the purpose of this website and the people in it.

perhaps i am not computer savvy and do not understand some of the expressions used.

could someone comment and help clarify.. .

bigmac

hello green jade, i'm also quite new to this site & still blundering about in it.

i have discovered the membership consists of several different "classes" of people.

( but don't ask too many questions, some members get upset )

some different classes:

1: devout fanatical JW's who come on preaching & firing off bible quotes all over the place

2: persons who have long left the religion & are here to try to help the above see " the truth" for what it is

3: persons trapped in the religion & whilst they know its not the truth, cannot risk leaving because of the threat of having their family shun them

( i have recently discovered this is called "the conscious class")

there are other classes i'm sure, but i've probably caused you enough confusion already!

14

i want to put "pen to paper" so to speak, comparing what i left behind as a young jw man 40 years ago, with what ive been reading on this site.. i cant include everything in 1 post, so please put up with me while i compile my recollections.. this is not a hate-filled diatribe, but hopefully a worthwhile comparison.

i grew up as a jw, being baptised at 14, left school at 15, started pioneering at 17.. the congregation i spent 5 years in, 1966-71, brings back many fond memories, the most important being the love we all shared for each other.. the emphasis was on helping one another; circuit servant visits were eagerly looked forward to, assemblies a treat.. very occasionally, someone might slip up & sin.

usually it involved sex, most times the person was put on probation ( ever heard that word?).

bigmac

@ scarred for life:

"You just thought it was OK because it's all you knew as a child."

so so true: it had to be right because we were in it.

it was only when i grew up & started to think" just because i am in, doesn't necessarily mean it IS right"

14

then and now 40 years later

by bigmac in

i want to put "pen to paper" so to speak, comparing what i left behind as a young jw man 40 years ago, with what ive been reading on this site.. i cant include everything in 1 post, so please put up with me while i compile my recollections.. this is not a hate-filled diatribe, but hopefully a worthwhile comparison.

i grew up as a jw, being baptised at 14, left school at 15, started pioneering at 17.. the congregation i spent 5 years in, 1966-71, brings back many fond memories, the most important being the love we all shared for each other.. the emphasis was on helping one another; circuit servant visits were eagerly looked forward to, assemblies a treat.. very occasionally, someone might slip up & sin.

usually it involved sex, most times the person was put on probation ( ever heard that word?).

bigmac

@ y knot

"I see some let up now that he is gone but not anything major until after 2014-15"

would you like to say more about this?

114

The old big orange "Paradise" book

by aquagirl in

anyone remember that?

i learned to read on that book.there were some very disturbing images,like the earth opening up and people falling into it.like upside down ladies and hippies.id love to get a hold of one and peruse it with a friend and some herbal medicine.maybe there is one in the attic?anyway,that and the image of the snake talking to the beautiful,bare shouldered eve,who was holding an apple,made a big impression on me.any else have any faves from that book?is it still being used?.

bigmac

does anyone remember the book called

"things in which it is impossible for god to lie"?

or did i imagine it?

what an inspiring title

which begs the question

what were the things in which He did lie?

114

The old big orange "Paradise" book

by aquagirl in

anyone remember that?

i learned to read on that book.there were some very disturbing images,like the earth opening up and people falling into it.like upside down ladies and hippies.id love to get a hold of one and peruse it with a friend and some herbal medicine.maybe there is one in the attic?anyway,that and the image of the snake talking to the beautiful,bare shouldered eve,who was holding an apple,made a big impression on me.any else have any faves from that book?is it still being used?.

bigmac

why did all the men in the paradise book look like gay actors?

14

then and now 40 years later

by bigmac in

i want to put "pen to paper" so to speak, comparing what i left behind as a young jw man 40 years ago, with what ive been reading on this site.. i cant include everything in 1 post, so please put up with me while i compile my recollections.. this is not a hate-filled diatribe, but hopefully a worthwhile comparison.

i grew up as a jw, being baptised at 14, left school at 15, started pioneering at 17.. the congregation i spent 5 years in, 1966-71, brings back many fond memories, the most important being the love we all shared for each other.. the emphasis was on helping one another; circuit servant visits were eagerly looked forward to, assemblies a treat.. very occasionally, someone might slip up & sin.

usually it involved sex, most times the person was put on probation ( ever heard that word?).

bigmac

i want to put "pen to paper" so to speak, comparing what i left behind as a young JW man 40 years ago, with what ive been reading on this site.

i cant include everything in 1 post, so please put up with me while i compile my recollections.

this is not a hate-filled diatribe, but hopefully a worthwhile comparison

i grew up as a JW, being baptised at 14, left school at 15, started pioneering at 17.

the congregation i spent 5 years in, 1966-71, brings back many fond memories, the most important being the love we all shared for each other.

the emphasis was on helping one another; circuit servant visits were eagerly looked forward to, assemblies a treat.

very occasionally, someone might slip up & sin. usually it involved sex, most times the person was put on probation ( ever heard that word?)

in very rare cases, a disfellowshipping. in most cases the offender served their time & were reinstated & welcomed back with tears of joy.

the word " apostacy" was unheard of. i had ni idea what it even meant.

where did it all go so wrong.

88

a reasonable question to any elder/members

by bigmac in

jw
friends

the question is this;.

because you are members of this apostate site, yet are still willing to serve the wt soc as elders,.

do you still hope to .

bigmac

@ y knot: you wrote"

Up until Oct 3, 2010 it was called 'MTS' (Ministerial Training School) now it is Bible School for Single Brothers (BSSB) (sounds way less official if mentioned in court)

Thousands of men have been trained through it (many post here). If 1000 Elders stepdown in my state in a unified exit they would be replaced by next Sunday by many eager MSs and MTSgrads"

i had no idea of any of this

i only found out the other day about this "conscious class" thing--at 1st glance i assumed it was WT phrase.

i wonder whether the WT got their ideas from a Waffen SS training manual.

88

a reasonable question to any elder/members

by bigmac in

jw
friends

the question is this;.

because you are members of this apostate site, yet are still willing to serve the wt soc as elders,.

do you still hope to .

bigmac

@elderelite:

apology accepted without reservation: in many ways you were probably right

"why so bitter towards someone (me)"

i'm not bitter towards you, EE, or any other individual elder----only the greater organised machine.

my viewpoint is this:

the elders are the key to the operation---i was in the throes of leaving the religion when the "elder arrangement" was first sicked upon us 1971(?)

i thought --great--straight copy from the mormons

where is elder mentioned in the bible?

the elders control the rank & file on behalf of their masters the WTsoc. its a clever business model.

without a body of elders many cong's would founder & fold.

if 1000's of the rank & file left it would make little difference to the WTs: plenty more where they came from.

but imagine what would happen if 1000's of elders left en-masse--think of the backlash.

this is why i feel it is wrong for genuine apostate members to continue as elders--they are seen by their cong as taking the lead.

if they want to stay in as ordinary JW's for fear of losing family/friends fair enough.

this is just my opinion, & is not intended as a dig at any individual, but as a kick against a religion that still affects my life, beyond my control

88

a reasonable question to any elder/members

by bigmac in

jw
friends

the question is this;.

because you are members of this apostate site, yet are still willing to serve the wt soc as elders,.

do you still hope to .

bigmac

its good that we can laugh with each other, rather than at each other.

to answer Y knot:

"Hey Bigmac.....

seriously why do you care?

According to you ....you are soooo over it all!"

because my family is still involved.

my daughter (39) has shunned me since she was 12

she is married with at least 4 children

i have never met them; they live 8 miles from me.

my youngest son (32) has shunned me since 1989: i dont know where he lives.

but the good news is my older son (34) was DF'd last year, & although he had also shunned me since 1989,

we have now established limited contact via FB: he has said he has no interest or plans to go back to the JW.

the effects of this loss of family was devastating , & it doesn't go away. This is why i do understand some folks need to stay within the

religion.

57

When You First Saw This Place What Was Your Reaction?

by minimus in

jw
friends

were you shocked?.

was it eye opening?.

did you think these "apostates" were pretty much right?.

bigmac

@ debator, sorry i am very confused with this site:

may i ask, are you a fellow apostate? only it can be really difficult for newcomers to tell the difference