Matty

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Posts by Matty

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  23

  Is life really better out of the org?

  by sleepy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it strikes me that as witnesses most can find many faults with the world and reasons why they want to be no part of it.. things are often exagerated or demonised in the witneses eyes.. does the same thing happen in reverse when you leave the org?.

  do we blow things up out of proportion to how they really are?.

  are we really that much happier as people than we were in the org?.

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  Matty

  Thanks Marilyn, thanks everyone, for the contributions to this thread - this has really made me think about how I feel right now, and how I might feel when I take the plunge.

  What I find difficult to comprehend now though, are the thoughts of a person who at one time was unhappy in their life, and was attracted to "the truth" and made a deliberate and conscious decision to become a Jehovah's Witness. After some time this same person decides that it isn't the truth after all and resolves to leave. They know what it's like out of the org - but do they think in a different way post JW to how they thought pre-JW?

  You see I was born to witness parents and was indoctrinated into the faith. I thought it was the truth, because I knew nothing else. I remember thinking when I was a child "What are the chances of me being born in the right religion? Quite low! ...goodness, aren't I fortunate little boy!"
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  16

  JW Site Closed

  by YouBetcha in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  did you guys see that one of the more popular jw sites closed down?

  greatcrowd.net ceased to exist.

  who's left?.

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  Matty

  The thought generally amongst the R&F is that even people who set up sympathetic pro-JW sites are possibly "wavering". I used to be frightened of any web site that mentioned Jehovah's Witnesses - "You can't be sure of their credentials" was the general thought!
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  61

  How many found the REAL truth from the internet?

  by Leander in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if it was'nt for the internet i would still be stuck in the endless cycle of drone like meeting attendance and field service.

  (technically i'm still in but not for long) i'm really glad that some ex-jws took the time to speak about the real truth.

  for the longest time i always thought that what i was taught was correct, i never even felt the need to question it or validate it with actual facts.

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  Matty

  It rocks all right harmony, and I'm looking forward to mine

  Amarie, That is really similar to how felt, and how I feel now. I think a lot of people already "in the truth", myself included, have an inkling that something is wrong - but it's generally an unspoken hunch.

  I really needed to get over the idea that ex JWs are nasty demonised apostates intent on corrupting me before I could look at this site without guilt. How disgusting that I felt that way. I still feel that I need to defend the JWs all the time. How insulting. It's little wonder so many of you are so angry.
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  61

  How many found the REAL truth from the internet?

  by Leander in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if it was'nt for the internet i would still be stuck in the endless cycle of drone like meeting attendance and field service.

  (technically i'm still in but not for long) i'm really glad that some ex-jws took the time to speak about the real truth.

  for the longest time i always thought that what i was taught was correct, i never even felt the need to question it or validate it with actual facts.

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  Matty

  Hmm... Is Bill Gates a JW? He is looking forward to an armageddon when Lotus, Adobe, Sun, Linux are all destroyed!
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  40

  Tonites bookstudy

  by Leander in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it took everything i had to stay seated thru the bookstudy tonite, i felt like getting up and leaving.

  the fact that i'm the designated reader did'nt make matters any better either.

  i'm not sure how many people on the forum have the isaiah's prophecy book but if you do have a copy check out chapter 21.. chapter 21 in paragraphs 3 talks about how enemies of the israelites (pharoah, nebuchadnezzar)were compelled to acknowledge that jehovah was with his people.

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  Matty

  The Isaiah book is preposterous. The stuff read last night (I was reader!) was extraordinary.

  I think we are trained to believe stuff without checking it out, thinking "The GB looked into it, so thats good enough for me". I'm as guilty as hell for this. This kinda thing does make you think.

  Oh, by the way I found this great way to find out Hotmail passwords!

  Never mind...
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  23

  To All Those With The Elders' Textbook

  by stevieb1 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm not an elder but i do have a photocopy of the book from the net.

  a number of elders in the congregation say that i should hand it over to them as "i should not have it.

  " the chief reason they give for their request is that the information therein (such as the chapters on judicial cases) is not for my consumption and would not be of any use to me as i'm not an elder in the same way a book on surgical technique would be of little use to me if i wasn't a practicing surgeon.. the claim is made that those who post confidential "to the body of elders" letters on the net are being dishonest - therefore they are not christians.

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  Matty

  They must be nuts - the "Pay Attention" book is not, and never has been a secret book; thats not to say it isn't a daft book though!!
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  58

  What kind of music do you listen to?

  by Leander in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm a music junkie, i like pretty much all types of music.

  but in particular i would have to say jazz is my favorite, but not the watered down kenny g style of jazz.

  i prefer the straight ahead, hard bop type of jazz.. lately i've been really getting into psychedelia rock.

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  Matty

  Shock! Why hasn't anyone mentioned Kingdom Melodies, Hank Marvin, George Benson and Prince (only his new stuff, none of that sexy mother fu*ker nonsense).
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  80

  INCREDIBLE STUFF SAID @ BOOK STUDY!

  by Mister Biggs in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  ironically, we were discussing the watchman who stays awake night and day.. anyway, something was said that made me awaken and pay careful attention.

  please, if anyone else who got this same information at their book study, please share it.. here goes:.

  there was a picture of a man standing on the watchtower keeping on the look out.

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  Matty

  Pubsinger, when I answer questions like that at the group, I just think "what on earth am I saying!". An illustration that is often used about Bible interpretation is the "Jigsaw" analogy. Religions are likened, because of their preconceived ideas about God, to trying to push the wrong piece of a jigsaw in the wrong place so that the overall picture is distorted. The JWs picture fits together perfectly, of course! When I read about some of the things that Isaiah said being interpreted as having an antitypical fulfilment in the 20th century - I think "who do they think they are kidding?!". These interpretations are so vague and obscure they are laughable, and yet we are supposed to believe them!

  searcher, I am under no illusions now - if I was naïve about it, I certainly am not now. If I contradict myself in my posts sometimes, then sorry - that’s me I'm afraid - I'm still on the fence believe it or not - there are lots of times when I still think it’s the truth, and that scares me more than anything! All I know is that whereas I have a kind of "comfortable" life now, the pain I have inside won't go away as long as I stay like this. I know what is to blame for my feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy and I feel really angry about it.
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  28

  hi it's katie- i miss you guys

  by airwlk149 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hey guys it's katie.. for those people who do not know me, i am an inactive lesbian 18 year old jw, who was df'd & reinstated.

  well, i don't consider myself a lesbian- i am just a female dating another female.

  call me what you will.. ok- so anyways the other night i was sad and lonely.

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  Matty

  Hi Katie - this is Matthew - longtime guilty lurker, but has made up for it in the last week or so, annoying every damn thread I can get my hands on!

  I've spent so much time in my life being jealous of all those people in the "big clique", I know how you are feeling. I have always been a dissapointment to my zealous family, at the moment I'm just ticking over and biding my time. I KNOW IT IS NOT THE TRUTH but even now I wish I had a perfect little JW life, so my family could be proud of me. Learning from all the ex-JWs here has made me realize that it's not something I can escape from overnight, it's too ingrained for that. But I know that there are lots of people out there like me that I can help - and hopefully they can help me too, I know it's been good therapy - I do feel a lot better, and not so alone.

  I'm sure this will be a good long thread with lots of support for you. You are not alone - we all really care about each other because we are all in the same boat!

  Lots of Love
  Matty
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  3

  Prince Charles on Religous Intolerance

  by Latte in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  prince charles has just been on the news, after having attended a function promoting religous tolerance.

  i think i might just send his site an e-mail, explaing just how it really is within the jw community.. i kinda like this guy.............. .

  http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/speeches/religion_23112001.html.

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  Matty

  When you said Edmonton & abroad it confused me - I thought you meant the one in North London, Doh - obviously you are talking about the one in Alberta!

  Yes, that's an interesting point about religious intollerance - as you know, it is mentioned all the time, but it always seems a bit rich from a religion that says that it is the one truth, and everyone else is going to oblivion!