a thread on another forum reminded me of a letter i wrote to the person that went to the elders and started the proceedings to have me disfellowshipped.
i stopped believing in the religion when i was 25 but continued going for about ten years.
i finally started to fade at 35, but about 6 months after i had stopped going to meetings, a person wrote a letter to the elders about my website, which at the time was anonymous.
Wonderful letter, jwfacts! You do indeed have a great website and I have a link on my website that directs people to your site. JWs cannot keep dissenters from associating with one another any more, unlike my mother a generation ago, who was completely isolated and especially since she lived in a small community. JW treatment of ex-members is inhumane and sites like yours make it easier for us. I am also happily df'd.
satinka
# 3 newbie post.
first of all, the newbies have set a record here!.
have you ever seen a 4pg post where 21 new members reply!
Clarity, I love the cartoon on page 10! LOL!!!
It warms my heart to see so many newbies! A warm welcome to you all!
satinka
it seems like lots of people have big dreams of 'destroying the watchtower'.
it's usually linked to a story of how they were wronged and want some revenge.
do these 'in your face' attempts to convince people that the truth isn't the truth really have an effect?.
Why do I kill so many threads?
being written by a poster here.
a woman, and she spoke of her youth, her father buring down the house, etc??
i would love to read that again, or read the next installment if there is one..
Hi Clarity,
My mom left home a year after I left home at the age of 16. I suppose she figured if I could do it and survive, so could she! And anything is better than this! And her df'ing happened after she left her husband (my father) and got involved with a new exciting man where she worked! She wasn't allowed to divorce my dad since he still wanted her back. Crazy but true.
So much of the abuse was enabled by the religious rules of "children, be obedient to your parents, for it is the first command with a promise" as well as "wives be submissive to your husbands." Such patriarchal rubbish!
Love you, clarity! Take care!
satinka
it seems like lots of people have big dreams of 'destroying the watchtower'.
it's usually linked to a story of how they were wronged and want some revenge.
do these 'in your face' attempts to convince people that the truth isn't the truth really have an effect?.
Simon, It's not about revenge. For me going public with my book, my website and my blogs are about finding wellness and regaining health after leaving a cult. I want everyone to know that healing is possible. Because sad to say, I know some ex-members who really don't believe that they can heal and feel happiness, but I believe healing is fully possible. It's never too late to learn new ways of being, AS LONG AS WE ARE ALIVE.
My JW-elder brother comes to visit me once in a blue moon, I guess to see if I'm repantant and ready to go back to the JW fold. He is mystified each time because he sees not a broken woman, but a happy woman who has rebuilt her life into something real. Something like that can cause a JW to start looking through the cracks. After all, why does she seem happy, when she's supposed to be dead? And yes you are right about not being able to help jws to leave, but I don't say a word to my brother the elder. I let my new life speak for itself.
Simon, perhaps you don't know how much good your forum has done for me. The JWs try to isolate us from any human contact when we leave the organization. My mom had no one a generation ago. But your forum has provided ex-members with a place to connect with others and a place of acceptance with others who have been through similar situations --- and it gives us hope and a reason to go on. Your forum is a real life-saver. Yes, ABSOLUTELY A LIFE-SAVER! And it has made a liar out of the JWs because according to their belief system, once we leave we are supposed to self-destruct. But that doesn't happen as often any more, thanks to your forum!
Mine is not the only story of survival and courage to rebuild my life. There are many stories like mine on this forum! And I want to read them all!
Love,
satinka
being written by a poster here.
a woman, and she spoke of her youth, her father buring down the house, etc??
i would love to read that again, or read the next installment if there is one..
Hi beksbks/Berengaria, Comatose and clarity from the other thread at http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/267793/1/Looking-for-beksbks-or-Simon-or-moderator#.UpVgdOL9woM
beksbks/Berengaria wrote,
Anyone remember a story being written by a poster here. A woman, and she spoke of her youth, her father buring down the house, etc?? I would love to read that again, or read the next installment if there is one...This lady was writing a book.
I can't believe I never saw this thread for me from four years ago. I guess I have not posted that much lately. Don't hesitate to PM me, as I do check my messages every time I log in.
Comatose, thanks for your kind words and I'm excited to know of all the interest in the story.
Clarity wrote:
Found those first chapters of your book & now am waiting to read more, good stuff! Omg what a "father" you had!!! Anyway, Satinka, Simon was refining some of the many posts(?) on here a few weeks ago ........ maybe that is what happened to your stuff. I'll try to find it!
Clarity, thanks for letting me know about the "refining" Simon was doing. It helps explain the weirdness. I had a post about my name change, but I don't see it in my posts anymore. Basically, the name ESTEE was a pet name given by a JW friend I knew when I was JW. I call her Gabi in my book.
Also, for anyone local in the lower mainland of Vancouver, my book is available at Reflections Books, so that is one way out of the shipping charges. It is not available as an eBook.
The book has grown to 368 pages and 43 chapters and talks about my entire life growing up and being a mind-controlled JW, until I left the religion in the year 2000 via disfellowshipping---and beyond. The df'ing truly was a door opening to freedom! And the door wasn't even locked! How good is that!
I know I've said it before, but I have to say it again: I couldn't have done this writing without the support of JWN and I truly appreciate this forum. To me it was a lifesaver. When my mom was df'd a generation before me, she had no one. And she lived in a small gossipy town.
And NO, I did not put smiley faces in my book!
I love you all
ESTEE/satinka
here is an excerpt from my book .
currently in editing.
this was the hardest chapter to write, since it has some technical explanations.. whadya think?.
Dear everyone,
Sorry I keep you all waiting for four more years! But the book is now published and available on my website Phoenix of Faith.
It was a ten-year project and has grown to 368 pages and 43 chapters. I sure appreciate all your encouraging comments and interest.
Love you all for your support. Couldn't have done it without JWN!
hugs
ESTEE/satinka
hi beksbks,.
i was searching for my recent thread and stumbled on this from four years ago:.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/172028/1/anyone-remember-a-story.
Hi Simon and jgnat,
I didn't realize I was being such a bother when I couldn't find my posts. I have never had that problem of not finding posts before. I guess I don't know all the ins and outs of running a forum. I'm no expert, so I'm glad that you are there for folks like me. So thanks both of you for you help with this as it is much appreciated.
Hi beksbks, Comatose and clarity, Let's talk on the other thread at http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/172028/1/Anyone-remember-a-story posted four years ago, which I only found yesterday.
Love,
satinka
hi beksbks,.
i was searching for my recent thread and stumbled on this from four years ago:.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/172028/1/anyone-remember-a-story.
Hi jgnat,
How can a thread just disappear? It was called New Book Published. It had links to my website Phoenix of Faith, as well as other cool stuff. When I used to do searches, my name would appear in pages and pages of searches. Now most of them are gone. Has someone hacked the forum?
I would greatly appreciate if you might please check for me.
satinka
hi beksbks,.
i was searching for my recent thread and stumbled on this from four years ago:.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/172028/1/anyone-remember-a-story.
Hi Beksbks,
I was searching for my recent thread and stumbled on this from four years ago:
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/172028/1/Anyone-remember-a-story
Never found the thread I was looking for. Maybe it has been deleted.
I also can't find the thread about me asking for my new name (from ESTEE to satinka). Maybe Simon or a mod can help.
Much appreciated,
satinka
