Gemmel

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Posts by Gemmel

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  26

  The Anointed Apostate: the Remarkable Sister Pettifog

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  (on the anniversary of my jw best friend's death, i've reached into my archive to replay this incident in his honor)

  the remarkable sister *pettifog*.

  this morning i arrived on my bicycle at the local starbucks early and took up a seat at the outdoor table in the fresh air.. that’s when it happened--a group of 3 older ladies at one of the other tables outside rose to leave and one of them walked over to my table and spoke directly to me.

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  Gemmel

  That's a incredible story, thank you for sharing
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  25

  From Being Slain to Oral Sex

  by snugglebunny in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  this is a follow-on to my earlier post 'the slain of jehovah'.

  so we're sat in a cafe with my old friend of over 40 years, together with his wife.

  actually, it's 50 years.

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  Gemmel

  My believe my Mother actually originally joined the JW's because they had that teaching. I know she fell to pieces when it was removed and divorce at least one of her 4 husbands because he wanted it.
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  28

  Do You Ever Have Dreams You’re Still a JW?

  by jp1692 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  last night i dreamt i was at a circuit assembly; i even had a walk-on speaking part early in the morning program.

  i spent the rest of the day “working” the event in a security detail.

  the dream lasted until the entire day’s program was over.

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  Gemmel

  No but I don't generally have nightmares.

  G
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  76

  Family is now reaping what they sowed and they don't like it.

  by Gemmel in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i resigned from the jw's in my 20's over 30 years ago, i was immediately shunned by my entire family and it's remained that way with a few exceptions ever since.

  one of those exceptions was being contacted by a cousin a few years back and during that conversation i discovered that my mother had been and still was the prime mover in my complete and continuing shunning.

  i then used what contacts i had left to confirm it.

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  Gemmel

  alecholmesthedetective

  I hadn't even thought of that aspect, I was just feeling the need to vent a bit, glad it helped.

  Cheers
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  76

  Family is now reaping what they sowed and they don't like it.

  by Gemmel in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i resigned from the jw's in my 20's over 30 years ago, i was immediately shunned by my entire family and it's remained that way with a few exceptions ever since.

  one of those exceptions was being contacted by a cousin a few years back and during that conversation i discovered that my mother had been and still was the prime mover in my complete and continuing shunning.

  i then used what contacts i had left to confirm it.

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  Gemmel

  The quote I used was an abbreviation of a bible verse that popular in my family "You will reap what you sow"

  I had to google it, I no longer have a bible in the house.

  It's based on Galatians 6:7: 'Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap
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  76

  Family is now reaping what they sowed and they don't like it.

  by Gemmel in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i resigned from the jw's in my 20's over 30 years ago, i was immediately shunned by my entire family and it's remained that way with a few exceptions ever since.

  one of those exceptions was being contacted by a cousin a few years back and during that conversation i discovered that my mother had been and still was the prime mover in my complete and continuing shunning.

  i then used what contacts i had left to confirm it.

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  Gemmel

  And a extra thank you to those that shared their personal experiences.

  Once I work out how to reply the comments that have asked a question I will reply. I usually only read these forums.

  Cheers
• 
  76

  Family is now reaping what they sowed and they don't like it.

  by Gemmel in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i resigned from the jw's in my 20's over 30 years ago, i was immediately shunned by my entire family and it's remained that way with a few exceptions ever since.

  one of those exceptions was being contacted by a cousin a few years back and during that conversation i discovered that my mother had been and still was the prime mover in my complete and continuing shunning.

  i then used what contacts i had left to confirm it.

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  Gemmel

  I don't know what to say, I got online thinking there would be a few comments evenly split over my decision and I find 5 pages of overwhelmingly positive feed-back, I'm completely blown away, thank you.
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  76

  Family is now reaping what they sowed and they don't like it.

  by Gemmel in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i resigned from the jw's in my 20's over 30 years ago, i was immediately shunned by my entire family and it's remained that way with a few exceptions ever since.

  one of those exceptions was being contacted by a cousin a few years back and during that conversation i discovered that my mother had been and still was the prime mover in my complete and continuing shunning.

  i then used what contacts i had left to confirm it.

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  2. 
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• 

  Gemmel

  I resigned from the JW's in my 20's over 30 years ago, I was immediately shunned by my entire family and it's remained that way with a few exceptions ever since. One of those exceptions was being contacted by a cousin a few years back and during that conversation I discovered that my mother had been and still was the prime mover in my complete and continuing shunning. I then used what contacts I had left to confirm it. To say that was the shock of my life would be an understatement, my mother was the only one I had had real contact with and I'd always assumed she was just being subservient to the organisation.

  I left simply as a matter of honesty, I couldn't preach any longer for a religion that I considered to be wrong, since then I've traveled from agnostic to atheist. I also had no clue that my family would react so strongly, I knew family members kept in contact with those that had been DF'd but I guess I was a whole different level telling them I didn't believe and leaving.

  So I was with somewhat surprised that I got a phone call from my brother who I've only spoken to twice in 30+ years. The reason for the call was simple, he wanted money. It seems my mother who is now in her 80's requires care and he expected me to help. It seems my family as so many others have worked low paying, low skilled jobs as so many other JW's do waiting for their god to kill everyone. Whereas I worked my arse off and went back to school and had a reasonable career so that I'm in the position to retire a little early and enjoy life.

  From the title I'm sure you know what my answer was. I've been expecting a call of this type and had decided well before what my answer would be. I must admit I did enjoy throwing back at him one of their favorite sayings.

  I understand many here will not agree with my decision and that's ok, it's my life experience and no one can know what I went through losing my family and the sense of betrayal I felt that affected every aspect of my life. I'm honestly surprised I'm still alive, I never through I'd make 50. I expected to suicide well before then but I learned coping mechanisms.

  As to what they are going to do about the care needed by their mother I don't really care. They stopped being my family by their decision 30+ years ago and I stopped mourning for the family I thought I knew years ago.

  No really sure why I've decided to share this but here it is.
  

  Cheers.
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  52

  What Made You Decide To Finally Leave The Organization?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  was there one certain event or was it more a cumulative thing?.

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  Gemmel

  For me the thing that first raised my doubts was the teaching on the creative days and the earth being only 50k or so years old.

  Once I was a late teen I became quite interested in astronomy/cosmology after the broadcast of the original COSMOS series by Carl Sagan.

  The org teaching was blatantly wrong and that lead me to question everything. I stayed in for 7 years after I made up my mind it was all nonsense because of my family. It was wasted time I should have left once I knew.
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  66

  Since leaving the JW Organization, who is believing?

  by Issa in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i left the jw organization last year during summer.

  maybe some of you can relate.

  who of you are agnostic or an atheist?

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  Gemmel

  When I first left I thought I was a agnostic but quickly became a atheist