Laika .....nice going, congrats!
Doesn't it feel great to stop!
Reaching that 6 mths mile post is the best!
You got me thinking about d2d hours too.....
2600hrs oh geez....now I feel really bad!
>
How much shoe leather is that!
clarity
JoinedPosts by clarity
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I am now inactive!
by Laika inthe last report i gave in was for the month of may, meaning as of today, i have missed 6 months of reports, and am officially inactive!
(though the last time i actually went out was march, gave fake reports for april and may).
feels like a milestone.
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4
Interview with an apostate: Clarity
by clarity intell us a little about yourself and your family.. just me basically, kids & dogs left a long time ago.. worked for many years & more or less retired.. might get another dog when i don't mind being tied down again!.
were you a born in or a convert?.
convert.
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clarity
Simon ...thanks for fixing up this interview page.
It took longer to fill in than I thought it would.
I like how you spend time interacting with us all, Simon.
I am really glad you decided to start this all those years ago.
It is an amazing anchore to those of us who are swinging
blindly by a thread (no pun intended). Thank you.
clarity
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Interview with an apostate: Clarity
by clarity intell us a little about yourself and your family.. just me basically, kids & dogs left a long time ago.. worked for many years & more or less retired.. might get another dog when i don't mind being tied down again!.
were you a born in or a convert?.
convert.
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clarity
Tell us a little about yourself and your family.
Just me basically, kids & dogs left a long time ago.
Worked for many years & more or less retired.
Might get another dog when I don't mind being tied down again!
Were you a born in or a convert?
Convert
Are your parents / family JWs?
Not parents, 1 of my sisters sad to say is STUCK IN.
How many generations have been JWs?
Started with me. :-(
Did you hold any position in the WTS? (MS, Elder etc...)
Do not have the right anatomy for a head honcho position, so the only 2 positions left were... sitting on my butt at the mtgs & walking upright from d2d!
Did you *really* believe in the bible, in spirits (angels, demons)?
I tried hard...very hard to 'feel' that god was real but there was a lot of static in the air waves I guess! Demons ... creeped me out!
Did you get baptised? When and why?
Yes, thought that being dunked would somehow ...work magic!
It didn't!
What was the initial trigger that made you start questioning things?
After such an emotional build-up, and GB's counting the days left befor the end...
1975 was such a great disappointment and betrayal! I left some years later but came back still (omg) thinking THEY were the TRUTH!
2010 generation flip flop ...flipped me right onto the internet, onto the TTATT & right out of this high control/dangerous cult!
I finally realized this was not about me being weak or disloyal, it was all about the lies, cover-ups and betrayal of WTBS!
Where did you find information? Internet sites? Books?
Internet big time & Crisis of a Conscience
How difficult or painful was the process of leaving?
Roller Coaster comes to mind... every discovery gutted me, then when I recovered ......euphoria, jubilation & a lot sobbing!
Was it a big dramatic exit or a careful quiet fade?
Still in the Fade... but very careless about it ...except for my children, I don't care what anyone thinks or does now.
My kids are a whole other thing ...my soft spot & my biggest weakness. Black mail is a terrible weapon that this cult holds over us!
Did you convince anyone else to leave with you?
Not yet! Saved some from ever joining tho.
How were your family relations affected by your decision?
Some pre shunning, not df or totally open about my stance. They are confused but won't talk about it. Kind of subtley avoid me.
Were you or are you still being shunned by those who didn't leave?
Many jw's I see...especially the pioneers, dutifully pre shun me, some nice persons still say hi ...how are you doing.
How long have you now been out?
About 3 - 4 years.
Was there anything you looked forward to doing when you left?
Having a normal life ...maybe finding a loving life partner. It was exciting to think that though JW's are 73% female ...I now had all of the whole wide world to choose a mate from....pretty much 50 / 50! (giggle)
What are you most proud of achieving since you left?
I have completed some college programs, become very aware of everything, trying to become a critical thinker ... don't think that I will reach the heights of Christopher Hitchens by any stretch of the imagination though! :-)
Is there anything you miss about life in the congregation?
Absolutly nothing at all. I do remember my children sitting beside me and miss their presence in my life but the HALL part means nothing!
Red pill or blue pill? Do you regret waking up to reality at all?
Can't ever remember which pill is which but...haha .... even tho I was captive for 50 years ....& some have said "it is better not to enlighten those who are older " ...I say bring it on ...I love knowing the REAL TRUTH & hate being in the dark .......I also KICK ASS pretty damn good!!!!!!!!!!!!
Did you become an atheist or transfer your faith elsewhere?
I thought that I would be "born again" perhaps ...I did try... but it lasted only about 2 or 3 weeks! Now I am just a lovely human.
How do you now feel about religion in general?
"Religion ruins everything"Hitch ....I belive it to be divisive & the cause of most persecution & unhappiness in the world! Do Not Need It!
Do you feel any guilt celebrating xmas or birthdays or doing any other JW "no-no"s?
As a child I had xmas ... this year I choose not to be "in your face" about it, but when I look thru the stores & on the street & in windows TREES all lit up with coloured lights... the music OMG .................. I JUST CAN"T STOP SMILING for the wonder of it all !No guilt.
(wonder... but not religious/jesus BD)
Have you attended any face-to-face meetups of ex-JWs?
Yes, 2 lovely people from jwn .... nicest thing I've ever done.
It has brought special meaning to my life & has brought up deepseated jw problems that now are gone, or going.
Describe your circle of friends - mostly other ex-JWs or regular people?
Small group of ex jw's ...starting to grow bigger as I find jw's from the past.
Lots of regular persons .. but not really friends yet, more like regular associates.
Some family that I had stupidly given up for watchtower!
Do you tell people about your JW past?
Have done,... 1 or 2 that I was sorry I did, but then one couple who have been absolutely marvelous about it. At this point tho ...it is pretty much over & done with!
Do you feel animosity or pity toward current JWs?
I laugh at the snooty ones .....too funny! For the most part I do feel sorry for them, frustrated by their denial but, they just aren't getting it!
How do you respond to witnesses when they call at your door?
Never happens! LOL
Storm the barricades or tend to the wounded? (do you favor activism or support)
Both ... more supportive now, but if it comes to a fight for my kids ...WATCH OUT!
Never underestimate me WT!
What do you think is the most effective approach to reaching people still in?
Patience, asking questions & asking for advice. Don't flaunt your new lifestyle!
Do you think the WTS can or should be destroyed, will continue on as-is or grow / change?
It should be gone yesterday! ....I think they may "slit their own throat" yet!
How has your life been impacted by your JW past?
I never planned to retire, so started saving money a bit late!
My children were impacted by a decision to let them leave school way too soon. When kids are out late at mtgs they do quite poorly, the next day. Wt always downplayed schools importance.
I find it very hard to fit into the real world ...still.
I make friends easily but then I am not really sure what comes next or how to nurture the relationship.
Are there things in your life you blame the WTS for?
I hate LIARS & they LIED to me ....& all of us.
I am poorer because of them, I listened to very bad advice that really harmed me!
I lost many friends & family members that will never come back.
I lived for the future ...instead of knowing this life ...is all we get!
As an 18 year old I was spontaneous, impetuous, passionate, funny, warm, bubbly, out spoken....then I agreed to a bible watchtower study... and bingo that all changed. I felt pressured to conform to WT personhood,
which made me a submissive, boring, overly serious, wt pushing drone! YUK!
So now I AM ME again, my real self....working on a few hang ups, but loving it!
JW upbringing - a protection or a curse?
This refers to my children ...only morals (maybe) the rest, an awful curse!
How do you fill your time now it's not filled with meetings and field service?
Mtgs & FS ....doesn't even register on the scale of things ...just like I never did it!
I do not like my life to be so full ...actually. I need time to just think or read or plan.
Do you still have an interest in JW beliefs and doctrines?
OMG NO ..... only the bit I want to use for exposure of it!
How much of your time is still spent on JW related matters?
Only here really .....once my life is shaped how I would like it, I may only pop in to say hi .....and be pleased with how great everyone is doing & maybe words of 'wisdom' (haha) to the newbies. Luv newbies.
What do you think of the ex-JW community?
Marvelous, careing, brilliant, growing, forward thinking, hurting, healing great bunch of people!
Do you see yourself still being associated with the ex-JW community in 5 or 10 years time?
Very possibly .... but limited.
Do you fear the future?
No, at first I was shocked about the LIVING FOREVER LIE but now, no.
What advice would you give to anyone starting the journey of leaving the WTS?
Slow down, take care of your health, start being nice to "wordly" people, join some group or class .....and start digging for information. Join JWN, JWFacts, etc.
What would you change in your life if you could go back and talk to yourself?
Say no to the bible watchtower study. Do not worry about what others think or say about you!
Be yourself .... there is no one like you! Really appreciate LIFE, it is amazing!
Do you have any regrets about life since you left?
Wish I had left sooner.
Can we read your life-story anywhere? (links to online or books)
HHmmmm ...feel like I just wrote one ... :-)
Want to share your own story? Please use the Interview with an Apostate: Template and post it in the Personal Experiences & Reunions section with the title "Interview with an Apostate: [your name or alias]"
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New Book Published
by satinka ini have been threatening to publish a book about growing up in the jw religion, then leaving as a mature adult.
well, it's 368 pages and it's done!.
introduction to the book.
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clarity
What! Satinka great news! How did that come about?
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I am so excited for you kid!
clarity
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CO explaining at Circuit Assembly how to measure neighbourly love
by Daniel1555 ini attended the circuit assembly this weekend.
it was boring as always (except for one positive thing that was said was that we should be gentle especially the elders).. there was one thing that left me absolutely speechless.
the co was explaining how to measure neighbourly love: by the amount of time spent in fieldservice.. the next point he mentioned was that we should strictly adhere to the disfellowshipping arrangments and not find excuses to speak to df family members.. .
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clarity
Thanks for posting this Blondie ...
I remember reading this some months after we first
started to attend mtgs. Wow, they really gave us
an excuse now, to not give money to "other" charities!
What an ugly cult!
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Whether a dedicated Christian will contribute to such charitable drives or not is something for each one to decide for himself. He may justly feel that he is already using all his available resources in a charitable work, that of preaching the good news of God’s kingdom, and that therefore he is not under obligation to contribute to other forms of charity. He also might well reason that his money will do more good if spent in some other way, in view of the large overhead that certain charitable organizations have, the officers of some receiving extremely high salaries. So it would be a burden of responsibility that each Christian would have to bear himself as to what would be the best thing for him to do under the circumstances.—Gal.
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Universal Sovereignty or Why Bad Things Happen
by Comatose ini've been developing this thought in my head for a few weeks.
let's address this from a theists perspective and from the perspective of our jw relatives.
answer - no, god can't be wrong or make a mistake.
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clarity
Comatose...
I think it is pretty compelling ... never could figure
out, if he was the BOSS, why not do the most sensible
thing and punish the son who was causing the trouble,
the old "bright & shining star"...one! Instead of the
whole lot of mankind!
At same time, when the big bet was made, why did
god play DIRTY. Every time mankind started to improve
life or establish themselves ..... god came along & played
dirty tricks .....confused their language, had them killed,
caused a flood & drowned them, wander around lost ...etc etc...
Sounds like a dirty rat, ...according to the bible!
clarity
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Why the field service reports?
by Syme insome years ago, we had this difficult bible study with a guy who was unofficially a witness for about 40 years, yet he would never make the step of becoming an unbaptized publisher.
we pushed him at some point to tell us the reason, and the reason was this: he didn't agree with the field reports practice.
he said he did a lot of preaching by himself but didn't see any reason to report it to the congregation.. of course, we told him that the reason we hand in field reports is so that we have statistics, and know how much work is done worldwide and bla-bla-blah.
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clarity
Syme ... I think your idea is genius!!!!!!!!!
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How long was I in? Did I ever get my mind past
the "it is for statistics!" reason? No!!! Jesus!
clarity ... nice one Syme :-)
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Is this CA experience mind control or worship of man?
by hoser inthis goes back some time several years perhaps even 10 or so.. .
i was at the circuit assembly and during the announcements the chairman said you may sit if you wish this will take some time to read this.
i forget what it was about but everyone sat down except the district overseer and his wife.. then the people sitting close by the do started to get up to stand again and there was this group of about 100 who were standing around the do.
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clarity
Hoser ... he might have been playing games alright.
We had a CO who would say something in a talk that would
lead the audience to laugh ... but when they started to laugh..
he would stop ...and stare ...his body language saying "you idiots"
and have his smirky smile wiped instantly off his face ...the audience left
in mid laugh ...ha h. He showed his superiority in every talk.
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I dreamed of buying a big creame pie & standing off stage ...waiting!
clarity
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The elders came by and my DA letter
by Crazyguy inthe lead elder co of my hall said he was going to push for a jc meeting.
i could tell all along all hes interested in is protecting his god the org.. so i'm 90% sure now of going on the offesive and first having a family meeting telling them i'm offically quitting and how its going to play out and how i'll will be shunned even though i have commited no sin.
i also may explain a little of why and how i came to this decision with out bashing the org to much out of respect for my wife.
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clarity
Crazyguy
I like it a lot too... the letter (in my head) would be
much like this, & also want to make sure that they
know that I consider following/obeying the GB ....
to be BLASPHEMY & Idolatry !
Nice going!
clarity
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JWs left about 10 Minutes Ago
by ABibleStudent ini'm visiting my brother and his family in virginia for thanksgiving.
as i was looking out the kitchen window today, saturday, waiting for my sister-in-law to finish talking with my niece on the phone, i noticed an older couple in thick coats going to different houses in the cul-de-sac.
as i was watching the older couple and thinking about what i would do if they rang the door where i was and if they were jws, the door rang.. at the door were two older african-american women.
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clarity
I think that was a great idea ... good for you!
clarity