Posts by Hoffnung

86

Are you a fader, Df'd, DA'd, or Still In?

by brotherdan in

i thought this would be an interesting poll that would show everyone the backgrounds of all of us when we left, if we have.. for myself, i am not df'd, but i am attempting a fade.

i still go to some meetings with the wife to help with kids, but that's it.

no commenting or field service.. what about everyone else?.

Hoffnung

Still in. No Propaganda spreading since at least a year. The elders have me in their cross fire though, so I have to start fading.

Nobleheart, I hope you are not mistaken with the opinion that your family will not shun you when you DA. You might not be able any more to help others once you have DAed. I have no idea about how it goes in your country, but if you DA where I live, you will be met with a very cold and hard wall of silence, especially from family members. It is understandable to want to leave with dignity, but that is not how the society sees it. Even if it is your desire just to quit membership, your DA will not prevent letters being sent from congregation to congregation about your whereabouts wherever you move. In some respects it is as bad as the gestapo. Your family members might follow the rules of the GB (see "Keep yourselves in God's Love" Page 207), once they feel their loyalty to God is at stake.

Anyway, whatever you decide, I am with you, as most others on this board. I admire your courage to take this step. Let us know how it goes.

Hoffnung

26

Funny how your tastes in the opposite sex change, and how easy it is to forget the past.

by miseryloveselders in

jw
friends

i had to give a talk away today, which came up somewhat unexpected.

i had a couple days to get this outline together, and thats sufficient enough time for me, but i prefer knowing a week in advance.

at any rate, it all worked out.

Hoffnung

Hi Ghostface, welcome on JWN!!!

21

Russia: JW convicted over refusing blood transfusion for her 5 year old son

by behemot in

jw
friends

in a first, a court convicted a member of the jehovahs witnesses religious sect over her refusal to sanction blood transfusion for a relative, a procedure banned by the sects teachings, interfax reported wednesday.. natalya podlozhevich was fined 5,000 rubles ($170) by a magistrate of the khanty-mansiisk regions town of kogalym, which found her guilty of abandoning in danger her 5-year-old son.. the unnamed boy was hospitalized last february in serious condition, the cause of which was not specified.

medics said he required blood transfusion, but his mother refused to sanction the procedure.

the boy died two days later.. the ruling may set a precedent for other cases against jehovahs witnesses members on similar charges.. source: http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/jehovahs-witness-convicted/430292.html.

Hoffnung

Mary put it right. Although the mother is fined, for being gullible in believing the erroneous doctrines, the real bad guys sit in the local branch and the headquarters. I cannot but feel extremely angry about all this misery created for this poor people. Why has this boy taken all his chances for survival taken away, because of a stupid idea in the head of Freddie Brownshoes many decades ago?

26

Funny how your tastes in the opposite sex change, and how easy it is to forget the past.

by miseryloveselders in

jw
friends

i had to give a talk away today, which came up somewhat unexpected.

i had a couple days to get this outline together, and thats sufficient enough time for me, but i prefer knowing a week in advance.

at any rate, it all worked out.

Hoffnung

Hey man, you're a human of flesh and blood after all. Does not hurt to show that once in a while. Having real emotions ain't a bad thing. Was a single living on my own for 10 years before I got married. You still can do it.

5

What is he up to?

by MrFreeze in

okay so jesus started his invisible rule from heaven in 1914. what in the hell has he been doing all this time?

is he just twiddling his thumbs right now?

c'mon man it's been almost 100 years.

Hoffnung

He's having a good laugh, telling JW jokes to his fellow angels. He found it quite amusing they thought he came in 1874, then in 1914. And he was watching them all the time. He is now making sure any prophecy they make will not come true, which is not hard to do.

24

Im New!

by Medina in

jw
friends

have been a lurker for over a year, and a faded guy for over 2 years.

21 years of age and enjoying the good life!

thanks for all your gents/ladies posts you make, some are funny, some are true, some are sad, i like em!.

Hoffnung

Welcome Medina. You are not the only dutch-speaking guy here. Van harte welkom.

103

Jan. 15th WT- Go to Meetings to Fight the Blues- Eliminate other Activities

by flipper in

jw
friends

our jw contact sent us the " witness only " wt's again and i just had to make a thread on this mind numbing article.

starting on pg.22 in the jan.15th it deals with " coping with discouragement ".

it seems lots of jw's are under intense stress these days ( can you blame them ?

Hoffnung

If there is one thing that is exhausting, then definetly it are theocratic activities. The simple fact that there is always an "upgrade" to what you are doing now, is not helping. If you are a publisher, why not examine your circumstances to become a pioneer, if you are a pioneer, why not considering MTS, Guilt-ead or bethel service. If you are a MS, strive to become an elder. If you are an elder, what about being involved with organising assemblies, quickbuilds, HLCs, appeal comites,etc... It really never stops, there is always something more you can do. It got my father into a very heavy depression. And as he is incapable of identifying the true cause: "Theocratic activities", even having reduced his working schedule is not helping, because, of course, theocratic activities increased. My mother ios always on eggshells to make sure he is taking enough rest. I was on the same path, until I woke up. Being inactive now for more than a year, I noticed I am a lot more relaxed, coping way better with stress, I am happier. Lately the elders are trying to "reactivate" me . I have given it much tought, and I cannot do it. I really can't. I cannot preach these lies any more. If they keep on pushing, I will have to let go of meeting attendance as well. Meetings have become really exhausting and a waste of time anyway, it is a glorification of the GB and their activities. I really like the people in my congo, but that might not be enough any more soon to keep me in the KH 2 times a week.

31

what are the rewards for not being a witness any longer

by Curtains in

jw
friends

if the carrot and stick aspect of being jehovahs witnesses upset you how do you reclaim your desire for reward?

i'm assumng that you all agree with me that feeling rewarded is a basic human desire.

how much effort do you think we should put into trying to make our lives rewarding?

Hoffnung

Free of the guilt that it will never be enough. Free to let others decide for themselves without this urge to spell out their options. Not having to betray others to the elders, but supporting the victims of those traitors and policemen-elders. Free to consider non-JW as normal people, and not as soon deemed to be destructed soon. Finally I am not looking down on worldlings who do not accept the 'truth'. Able to plan my life ahead without this Big A looming over my head. Finally able to give a normal reply to work colleagues who wish me a nice birth day. Not wasting my time on trying to save newbies whereas the regulars leave the congregations in droves. Free of false beliefs. Free to decide on medical treatment. It is really too much to mention, it just feels great, and I am even not really out yet.

20

Something's been on my mind...

by Vidiot in

..., and while i usually contribute in a thread that's already been created, i thought this particular topic might warrant it's own.. like many of you, on friday i was persusing the "concerned elder speaks" thread about higher-ed and the gb's ross/rachel relationship with it, and a couple of posts caught my eye:.

room 215 - "that's it, boys; alienate the remaining elders, drive them to resign and exacerbate the shortage already underway.".

baltar447 - "it's like they want fewer elders and servants.".

Hoffnung

Donuthole, I fully agree with you. History is repeating itself. That is one of the reasons they are discouraging the reading of old publications, and the rewriting of their own history with the new DVD. A new GB takes control, and they are targetting a more easy to control, more gullible flock. And they are suceeding, just as Rutherford did. Even as publisher numbers are stagnating in Europe, the number of pioneers and the average amount of hours per publisher has increased a lot. That means those who remain are conditioned "believers", willing to sacrifice a lot for the organization. The fence sitters will disappear, and remaining ones will be Yes-men. They could easily repeat 1975 over a few years.

40

how important was the hope of the paradise to you? and what do you hope in now?

by Curtains in

jw
friends

many become and remain witnesses because of the hope of living in a paradise earth.

for those who have left how did you cope with the loss of this hope?

or do you still have this hope?.

Hoffnung

Very sensitive topic. I am a born in, and yes I believed in living forever in Paradise Earth, and it was the most difficult doctrine to leave behind. Yet, when I was growing up, there were too many questions and problems with it. Why should somebody get a resurrection because he died 2 years before Armaggeddon, and the one living longer would not get one? Why do 6 billion people have to die a violent dead? What about all the people that were never reached with the bible message? How can my grandfather be happy when he wakes up and finds grandma married with someone else? How will dead babies get resurrected? What is paradise if my 1st job would be to bury all these dead people and see all the destruction? There are too many practical problems really. And one day, a friend gave me a public talk from Cirius Aulicino or what's-his-name, and that turned me off so badly. I am very happy not to believe in that crap anymore. If there exists something like paradise, it is going to be in heaven, it even seems more logic to me, with less practical problems.