my jw friend of 20 years, the first one i ever met, the one who got me into jwism in the first place, unfriended me from facebook without explanation.
other jws who have unfriended me at least called me names (apostate) and told me they were unfriending me, but they were no loss.
but someone who's been your friend since you were 13...and no explanation...i'd think 20 years- 20 years!
I'm listening, and my heart goes out to you.
I'm so sorry to hear that this happened and you are hurting ((Julia Orwell))
You're spot on with your assessment. Just because you know something logically in advance doesn't mean it stings any less when something like that occurs.
To experience shunning of this level for the first time is like a kick in the chest - it'll knock the breath right out of you.
Sending positive thoughts and ((cyber-hugs)).
i am so tired of waking up without hope.
so tired of fighting one more day...i just want it to end as painless as possible.
i truly don't have the willpower or strength anymore..
((LouBelle))
I also have read your posts here and wanted to let you know that you are a kind and beautiful spirit. Please don't give up...and know we all care.
Sending strength and love (and flowers) from NZ:
my parents used to let us watch this series growing up.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wei5oek53h8&list=plsg87pnp-rju50meptced92tlyyym7wir.
... until one day they noticed it was actually a production from the evangelical lutheran church of america... .
then, it became prohibited.... the only explanation they provided us thereafter was that this cartoon was made by satan and his demons.. .
I remember watching Davey and Goliath, Calebs Airplane! Talk about bringing back memories.
Our local TV station's broadcast of this show was just after we got home from the Sunday talk/WT (back "in the day" when Sunday meetings were SOOOOOO long) - what convenient timing
Yeah, talk about a "hey....it used to be OK to watch this, why can't we NOW?" moment. Fine - whether it be this or anything else that was "suddenly Satanic", I merely went off and read books I wasn't supposed to be reading...
~ RTA
i'd like to offer a public apology to nathan natas for making a wrong decision when i deleted him.. i allowed a combination of previous issues we'd had and input from other forum members to bias my decision which lead me to what i now, in hindsight, believe to have been a mistake.. whether you want to come back and post here or not i wanted to at least say sorry and will reactivate your account..
Long-time lurker/reader:
Simon: , and thank you for providing this community.
Nathan N.: please post again, if you are so inclined.
((all))
~ RTA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcic4g5tulw.
http://www.jwactivists.org.
facebook the association of anti-watchtower activists.
Powerful video; well done, all. Count me in with those who had a good cry whilst watching this. Donation sent.
Cheers,
RTA
might be back, might not.
i really appreciate the historical information on the jw's this board allowed me to find out about.
it really put things into perspective.
You know, coming from a toxic organization that so harshly judged us on every little thing and deemed us wrong or unworthy or not good enough, I'm amazed where similar types of judgment are carried forward, post-JW.
Who are we to judge how anyone lives their life? Whether they fade or not? I, for one, believe everyone has a choice and what works for some, may not for others and vice versa. Nothing is black and white; life is full of all different sorts of colors and shadings.
I have no interest in those who would be judge, jury and executioner. I had enough of that when I was in.
I do mean this with all kindness of heart, though: may you find your joy in this life, just as others are trying to find theirs. Be well in your endeavors.
~ RTA
-outlaw doesn't get too many visitors to his place out on the canadian wilderness, so can you come up with good captions for this visitor to outlaw's playground?
outlaw- send me a pm with the caption you think is the best one-- have fun everyone.
i will repost the winning picture just as soon as outlaw makes his pick.. .
Bear: "Are my eyes deceiving me? It looks like a bucket of KFC chicken, right here in my hunting grounds. DINNER IS SERVED!"
Man: "Blessed Beer Fairy, please help me!!! I'm a man, not some Double Down sammich!"
just as the title says.. .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bw1dfohdkao&feature=related.
peace,.
solomon alluded to it yesterday in a thread, i found the online large print pdfs here, not sure where the regular version is yet.
here are the full paragraphs, grab your barf bags .
19 on the other hand, if you choose the path of resentment.
Agreed, cofty. Sometimes in seeing these sorts of statements from the Borg, I simply think just how completely far off base they are in their "reasoning from the scriptures". Then other times like this, I've trouble shaking the anger and pain.
I'm glad for this community. It helps me keep my head on straight
solomon alluded to it yesterday in a thread, i found the online large print pdfs here, not sure where the regular version is yet.
here are the full paragraphs, grab your barf bags .
19 on the other hand, if you choose the path of resentment.
Seeing this...
19 On the other hand, if you choose the path of resentment
toward Jehovah, you will distance yourself from him.
Really, what your beloved family member needs to see is
your resolute stance to put Jehovah above everything else
—including the family bond . So to cope with the situation,
be sure to maintain your own spirituality. Do not isolate
yourself from your faithful Christian brothers and sisters.
(Prov. 18:1)
...breaks my heart anew. Every time I think I'm "over" my family treating me as if I were dead (I've been DFd for 20+ years), I read toxic tripe like this from the "loving organization" and I die a little more inside. I can imagine those of my blood that are still in reading this and swallowing it whole.
Once again, I wipe the hot tears away (not just for myself, but for all of us who are/have been so "lovingly" handled).
Once again, I shut away how I feel when this comes up.
Once again, I will keep myself far, far away from my JW family...I can't stay near them, if only because I'm reminded how much our family (like others here) has been utterly destroyed.
Sorry for my "boo hoo" session. This just hit me cross-wise. I'll feel better later after a good cry, and then I will embrace the truly happy self I know I am....because I am free from the cult.
~RTA