i've been visiting here for about a year or so, but didn't really feel compelled to participate other than reading the various posts that interested me.. there's been that uncomfortable feeling of being disloyal to god, the organization, many friends and relatives.. i've been associated since birth.
after 65 + years of service within this organization and actually enjoying that time, it troubled me to find myself wanting to express feelings that were contrary to all that time of "faithfulness".
those years were filled with progressive "privileges and responsibilities" even at a high level, and there was considerable success in our evangelizing activity.
Welcome SBNS.
I to was a faithful JW for 50+ years and feared loosing all the "friends" I knew worldwide. Taking some distance allowed me to see they were not friends...only close coreligioneers who don't want anything to do with me...they only loved the JW I was...Thanks for posting and I look forward reading more from you.
ahhhhhh......man....... .
so now we have to count all tracts / leaflets / meeting invitations etc as placements on the monthly report slip???.
is this just another method of control or accountability!
If you subtract the amount of tracts placed from the total of tracts received you know how many tracts were left in publishers bags...
i need to know which book is currently being studied at the book study..
Shirley W...there is but it's now held at the kingdom hall prior to the ministry school and service meeting which have been shortened to provide the time. I attended a few meetings after the change and felt like it was like speed dating....no time to think...just move on...
so recently there have been several posts with references to talks and articles that imply the following:.
most of those who learn ttatt or fade from the "truth", are actually practicers of bad things, eg immorality, hence that is why 'we' now find fault with the org?.
i find this so offensive that they imply such.
A few weeks ago I smoked a cigar at a business convention...first for me as I was pretty much raised a JW...I didn't feel I was doing anything wrong nor do I want to start smoking...This is as bad as it gets since I left the JW 4 years ago.
from the snarky apologist.
https://ia600305.us.archive.org/7/items/responsetowhatdoesthebiblereallyteach/response_to_what_does_the_bible_really_teach.pdf.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nntsobk6jee .
Marked
weird!.
http://ilynca.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/unforgettable-memorial.html?spref=fb.
Some of the comments on the blog shows that the WT can make changes to something as sacred as the memorial without notice and the sheep will blindly follow thinking this must be God's direction....not understanding why is not a reason to disobey...
the governing body is powerful, but the holy spirit is infinitely more powerful.
if the wt ever changes, it will be because of a movement such as this.. .
but sanctify the christ as lord in your hearts, always ready to make a defense before everyone that demands of you a reason for the hope in you, but doing so together with a mild temper and deep respect.
Born at night...but not last night!
many on this board are still in and have all the literature.
do you read all your books regularly?
do you have old magazines that you have underlined and still keep?
All my WT publications went to the dumpster when I moved to a new house. My still JW wife wanted to keep the books but I told her the older books contained the information that drove me away from the JW...she only kept current books and the CDs.
i remember being out on service with an elder when i was 17. he asked me what i plan on doing after high school.
i told him i was thinking of going to college to be a teacher.
he then asked me, "do you think this system is going to be around that long"?
To add to my previous post, I had to hide that I was participating in extracurricular sports. I had good athletic skills that I wasn't encouraged to develop. When I reached adulthood no one could prevent me from playing sports...still elders threatened me with removing my service privileges if I continued to play sports...they never acted on their threats but I never became an elder...they didn't have 100% control on me.
i remember being out on service with an elder when i was 17. he asked me what i plan on doing after high school.
i told him i was thinking of going to college to be a teacher.
he then asked me, "do you think this system is going to be around that long"?
I was in high school in the late 60s and I quit before completing my grade 10...Armaggedon was near and my parents needed help to make ends meet. I went to work for the minimum wage and gave them most of what I made. In a few short years we would all be in the new system and all would be fine. Later I met the girl who would become my wife. I was told that it was not the time to get married. This time I didn't listen but several JW relatives didn't attend our wedding. In 1976 we had our first child...again against the advice of the WT...Today I am still in love with the girl I met and married over 40 years ago and I have two great adult children and 2 grandchildren that I love profusely. I can't imagine how my life would be if I had obeyed all the admonitions of the WT. My poor academics forced me to work really hard to succeed financially and things could have easily turn the other way...but all that matters is that I am surrounded by a loving family and a loving wife who sadly is still prisoner of this cult.
