Speaking from a perspective of 40 plus years out it was the best decision we ever made. To raise our son free of the cult was a blessing so are our three grandchildren. So was the time saved that we could apply to more meaningful pursuits. Old friends that stayed in? It turned out that those friendships were conditional but you know that. We made better friends, lived in our community not apart fom our community. Voted, volunteered, went fishing at the drop of a hat. Read what I wanted to read, saw what I wanted to see. It's been good and since no one gets off of this planet alive I have had a life worth living. That's the gift you've given yourself and your son.
Giordano
JoinedPosts by Giordano
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34
I have decided to leave
by umadevi ini have read coc, ccmc, isocf and captive of a concept.
i have been fading since april.
i have nothing to hold me back in wbts so i have decided to leave it.
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Need Opinions -- Engaged to a JW!!
by junebug_11 inok, quick run down of my situation.. .
1. i am not religious.
my now-fiance was raised jw but left the religion about 10 years ago.. 2. we started dating last march, i got pregnant within two weeks.
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Giordano
To balance out George I am also in my mid 60's but got out along with my wife when I was 23. I left based on the following: God is indifferent to human suffering or he is not powerful enough to do anything about it. Either way a belief in a god like that is worthless.
Secondly even back then the Blood issue was bogus entirely made up and they are the only religion that believes that it is better for a child/person to suffer and die for what is actually a dietary law ie. a way to prepare meat. The Blood issue is the JW's version of drinking the Kool-Aid only unlike the one time death of 1,000 or so followers of Jim Jones the JW's manage to kill thousands of men women and children every year! Year in and year out since 1945 when they dreamed this belief up.
Along with their belief in Armageddon (that little world wide war that Jesus forgot to tell us about------- ditto about blood) The Jw's are in my opinion a death cult disguised as Ozzie and Harriet.
Getting away from their wackadoodle beliefs was the best thing we did.
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22
Have you ever done some volunteer work for your community? What did you do?
by Iamallcool inminus the jw stuff.
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Giordano
After my witnesses years I spent time on .....me. I still couldn't adjust to a community for a long while let alone volunteering. Then one day I realized that I was part of a community. Artists who travel the country exhibiting in art shows. I also realized that we had no real representation. There were black balling issues (if you complained about a problem) safety and security issues for artists and the public etc. So a few of us started a non-profit association to educate and advocate on behalf of art show artists. Membership averages about 500 artists per year but we have been succesful in inproving the lives of over 12,000 exhibiting artists. I was a founding member and volunteer for 11 years with that group.
When my wife and I retired and moved to our small city of 7,000 I saw that what made this place one of the great small cities in this country was the level and quality of it's volunteers. I was appointed to the board of an historic preservation foundation which is a vital component to the economy of this area.
During the 6 years I've been on this board I have been privileged to become friends with many higly educated, motivated and wonderful people. It is an interesting experience for me, with my limited education (high school) and my JW experiences, to chair a board meeting with 5 PHDs plus 6 with masters degrees. Who woulda thunk it.
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After leaving Jw's did you go into another religion or serv. god ur own way?
by average joe ini am just curious if you guys left jw's and now worship in some other relgion or worship in your own way?
have you sworn off organized religion ?
if you have not sworn off organized religion then i wonder what relgion seems to be the right one for you guys?
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Giordano
In at 13 out at 23. I became a non believer, just like Santa Claus you grow up and put aside childlike beliefs. I am a gentle cynic about religion any religion. That was 45 years ago and I am still growing and learning and still feel the same way.
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I think an undercover apostate was sitting near me at the meeting this afternoon
by hoser inthis brother was sitting near me today at the hall and when the public speaker started talking about the signs of the last days this guy started whispering something to his wife and kind of mocking the speaker in a quiet voice.
his wife looked really pissed off.. i've suspected this guy before by some of the stuff he's said and done and some of the #3 talks hes given he's gone off the assigned topic quite a bit.. during the wt study i was doing mics and i happened to walk by him several times.
his wt was on the floor and his bible was opened to topic for conversation at the end of the bible at the last days part.. a little while later his wife gave him the look and said something to him and he picked up his unprepared wt and followed along.. hoser.
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Giordano
It's one thing when your still basically a believer in god, read the bible etc. But it is another thing when it's all BS to you. Then it's like a Vampire getting splashed with Holy Water LOL. You just go cold all over, grind your teeth get up and walk to the rear, refuse to be present for the prayer. When I hit that level of discomfort it was time to remove myself it was impossible to go to the KH or read the literature.
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35
57% of all publishers pioneered in April
by hoser inwe had a letter read this afternoon after the watchtower study that said we had 54,408 auxillary pioneers in april and with the regular pioneers it totaled 64,855 in full time preaching in april.
57% of the publishers.. so my guess is that the co will come down hard on any congregation that didn't meet those numbers next april.. i think the 30 hour thing had it's desired effect.. hoser.
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Giordano
Godrulz keep in mind that this is a 19th century religion and in later years was dominated by Rutherford who put himself through school by selling educational books door to door. So he made the leap that a door to door ministry could be an effective way to convert people and it was for a long time because women were usually at home. Times have changed.
When I pioneered the hours were 100 per month, Special Pioneers 150 hours per and they recieved a stipen I think it worked out to $1 per hour. In my day you had to be baptized.
The thing about JW's is that they are very corporate in their structure, thinking and culture which, in part, accounts for their organizational construct.
They are closer to the Amway sales force then early christians. I believe Bethel and the factories operates with a 1930's mentality certqainly the way treat their human resources. Their communication skills is 1940's, and their dress code is mid 1950's. They are progressing, give them another 100 years and they might make into the 21st century.
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Am I wrong for being angry at my dads funeral last year?
by shakyground inthat's the question that i have been thinking about all day for some reason.
it's 5:30 am and i been in and out of sleep all night.
let me go into further detail to explain.
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Giordano
I've been to four over the years and they all sucked. The person is quickly seperated from the commercial. Pure bull pucky. It makes me want to yell because for appearence sake and to honor the relative I have to sit there and look like I'm interested. I am reminded of the famous line from Jason's Dad. "See, you think I give a shit. Wrong. In fact, while your talking, I'm thinking; How can I give less of a shit? That's why I look interested."
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Would You Refer To Jehovah's Witnesses As A "Christian" Religion?
by minimus inthey regard themselves as "true christians".. do you view them as christians?.
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Giordano
They are a 19 century religion and are part of the christian tree the same way other 19th century religions claim christianity as their base, the Shakers, Christian Scientists, Mormons, Adventists etc. Come to think about it they are no more christian then Christian Scientists are scientists.
They are both death cults with smiley faces.
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Undercover Brother Campaign- have you received your invite?
by stuckinamovement inwithout specifics being mentioned as to what it is......(to avoid tipping off certain lurkers).. how many people know about the upcoming summer long campaign?
please use this thread to confirm receipt of your campaign invitation.
take care.
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Giordano
Out for forty plus years so best wishs to all who are participating!
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40
Neil Young / Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Fav.Songs? U-tubes Welcome
by flipper in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdf3aagrrmo&feature=related.
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Giordano
Neil Young oh my. Here's a tv show in 1968 or 1969 CSN&Y befor their first album or Woodstock.