snare&racket

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Posts by snare&racket

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  18

  I told my parents I no longer believe any teachings of JWs

  by Fognomore in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  since my last post i have spoke with my parents and told them i am no longer a believer.

  i told them i just can't anymore.

  here is my short story.

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  snare&racket

  Well done for being so brave. The real world and a normal life await you 😉
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  24

  Question for PIMOS but all welcome

  by ZindagiNaMilegiDobaara in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  so once pimo how do you deal with going to the meetings, ministry, social getotgethers, conventions assemblies?.

  for one you know it is all off key,.

  two your 2 hours or more so just wasted (not counting the time getting ready,travelling etc).

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  snare&racket

  I honestly think you are all very brave and special people. I also worry about the consequences to your mental health if required to live life like an undercover spy in Russia or N.Korea.

  I can’t reiterate enough, it feels incredible to simply leave and it’s as simple as leaving! You just stop going and you decline to talk about it with anyone.

  Your only regret will be not doing it earlier. I’d you have loved ones in the JW’s....don’t think how the GB want you to.... see it for the reality it is. YOU are the one that opened the door first, YOU let the fresh air blow in to your family. YOU were the brave one that acted first BECAUSE you loved your family. YOU become the beacon that loved ones turn to when they become brave enough to question. All you have to do is stop going and stop talking to the JW authorities. Within a few years you will be so forgotten about you can live a normal life.

  For those that feel they can’t leave. My heart goes out to you. It really does. If you watch documentaries of dangerous cults, you find yourself screaming at the tv.... “why didn’t you leave at that point?” .... “why didn’t you get out and drag your family with you?” .... “you can just leave! So go, get out and take your kids with you!”

  We know how hard this is in reality! But it’s still good advice!
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  10

  Armageddon has started in Astoria, Queens

  by ShirleyW in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  now we know that the con ed plant in astoria, queens had an explosion, but before anyone knew what the heck was going on, so many people were posting on social media their pictures of the "strange blue circle light" that was in the sky this evening,usually st. johns which is near me has a fireworks display after a game, i thought this doesn't look like fireworks, much brighter and no sound, it actually looked like it was 4pm in the afternoon right before the sun leaves the sky.. i live in the jamaica section of queens (just up from trump's foot dr. if you saw that article in nytimes.

  com the other day) and haven't lost power but laguardia is dark now, no flights in are out.

  just wondering how the old school dubs that saw the lights outside window, thought "finally, the big a is here" !.

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  snare&racket

  It's been so long now since I was a JW, i forgot that they think like that. Every storm, eveey loud bang, every power cut... "It's here!"
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  43

  Are the G.B.members really good business people ?

  by smiddy3 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if i was an author of a book i think i would be over the moon if i was guaranteed a sale of around 5 million or more books for my work.. the jehovah`s witnesses have over 8 million members plus relatives that are fringe dwellers who come to the memorial once a year ,.

  so what a gold mine they have been sitting on as a publishing house .. why didn`t they keep publishing books for the faithful ,they could have even upped the price , and the faithful would have paid especially in prosperous country`s in the west.. they could have milked this venture for years to come as the faithful would have bought anything they would have published .. and their prophets (profits) would have soared ,literally and figuratively for many more years to come ..

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  snare&racket

  Time is sort, I really belive that, 10 or 20 yrs max.

  Printing is a very, very expensive industry. It's an industry that can't survive on charity handouts. The watchtower has also shot itself in the foot, having spent 100 years claiming that it's financial stability was a sign of God's support. It also has shot itself in the other foot by declaring itself the provider of spiritual food in the form of literature.

  Financially and legally, the WT in the western world was forced to drop charges for literature to maintain charitable status (not for profit), They shot themselves in a third foot that was totally unnecessary....the foot didn't even exist,,,, instead of admitting that literature was now free for legal ressons they chose to be deceitful by stating the decision was new light, jesus said come take life's water FREE and so no more charges! I remember the letter being read out as do most JW's in the west. (Ironically in UK bethel we made literature for africa at night and they still had prices on i.e. they were still being sold in the 2000's to the poorest people on earth. An eye opening moment for me and likely illegal.)

  So what do they do? Reduce literature to bare minimum, staff cuts in all bethels, pile up global assets by selling off as much property as possible. They try to get all JW's to voluntarily promise a monthly financial amount. There is no means to police it and their recent financial begging is a clear indicator that JW's aren't paying. After 50 years of hammering careers, education, keeping your life simple....the spare cash isn't in the members pockets.

  This is the point we are at. They have a pile of cash now. They have cut back where they can now. They have sold what they could sell. They will have a good idea how long that pile of cash will last. Printing literature for 8 million followers every month, for free...is not cheap.The problem is they have to keep making literature, its their prophetic reasoning for existing. They would love to turn the printers off and move everything online. But they know old school JW's will say... what about the poor? What about people with no internet? Not every JW has money for ipads/pc's/internet! Not even the obvious PR rebrand of the Watchtower Society to JW.ORG could convinve the average JW to drop printed literature. So they reduce print ss much as they can and to reduce literature handed out to householders by setting up witness carts.

  But.....they are still forced to keep printing and distributing globally in hundreds of languages...for free.

  Hence I think they have little time left. They either start eating through the pile they have and see how long it lasts... 20 years max? Or they take that pile of cash and invest it. This I truly belive they will do and likely are doing, it's the only way to be sure they have a chance of being around in 50 years. Those GB members living in bethel need more than 10-20 years security. It's where they live! It's all the have! This means that cash, if being invested, is not going into literature or 'spiritual food'. They figured a big spend on a studio where cheap to produce monthoy videos could make up some of the reduced printing, but they are under no illusion that it can replace the written text. Not to mention the huge cost to the brand of showing the GB on film regularly. Every video clip reveals their awkward humanity and questionable authority.

  A big pile is also now funneled to the legal department for child abuse lawyers and settlements i.e. brand protection. The figures being consumed in these cases are not insignificant.

  Between the internet/knowledge revolution and these finances, I truly believe time is short for WT, it's run by uneducated men with power and money they didn't earn but inherited through religious obedience. It's inevitably doomed.
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  31

  Don't give them 2019

  by snare&racket in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am writing the post i have wanted to write for some time.

  it's a heartfelt note to those still attending meetings, still caught between the lines of watchtower and the world.

  those with kids or a spouse in the society..... despite being mentally out....those who have weighed up that there is too much to lose in leaving.

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  snare&racket

  DOC,

  I never stepped into my KH again.

  I didn’t try and play their game or explain myself and my feelings, I realised after that meeting that there was ‘Obey’ or ‘Go away’.

  So I ‘faded’ and simply left. I didn’t respond to requests to have a friendly chat or phone call. I declined requests to study again and explained that my spirituality was my own personal issue. Over time every last JW stopped contact, including very close friends. Of course true friends don’t care if you believe in Zeus or worship Mr T.

  There were huge consequences and very hard times. I was living in my car and penniless. I had no job and no qualifications. I started from scratch. But it was 100% the best thing I ever did.

  My only regret.... I didn’t do it earlier!
  
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  31

  Don't give them 2019

  by snare&racket in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am writing the post i have wanted to write for some time.

  it's a heartfelt note to those still attending meetings, still caught between the lines of watchtower and the world.

  those with kids or a spouse in the society..... despite being mentally out....those who have weighed up that there is too much to lose in leaving.

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  snare&racket

  Half a bottle of famous grouse to be exact 😬

  Maybe I should have left it for another time but everyone (not JW’ or exJW’s) had gone to bed and I was left to my own thoughts for a little time.

  I’m sad someone said it was preachy. My whole point was to make clear that you shouldn’t listen to me but I’m compelled to say it all the same. Life was REALLY hard after I left, I had nothing. But it was still the best thing I ever did!
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  31

  Don't give them 2019

  by snare&racket in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am writing the post i have wanted to write for some time.

  it's a heartfelt note to those still attending meetings, still caught between the lines of watchtower and the world.

  those with kids or a spouse in the society..... despite being mentally out....those who have weighed up that there is too much to lose in leaving.

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  snare&racket

  I’m so sorry, I wrote it very late at night on my old iPad (like 3am) after a whiskey or two and it’s a grammatical shambles. But hey ho!

  My sentiments were sincere. I hope more leave this year as there is a life worth living!

  For those that felt it necessary to write a reply saying that the post was too long and so didn’t read it...... then the post wasn’t for you and that’s ok. I had an amazing Christmas and felt compelled to communicate years of thoughts to try and help others leave..... that and the Whiskey.

  Have a good 2019, I hope you have the bravery to leave if you are still in!
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  31

  Don't give them 2019

  by snare&racket in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am writing the post i have wanted to write for some time.

  it's a heartfelt note to those still attending meetings, still caught between the lines of watchtower and the world.

  those with kids or a spouse in the society..... despite being mentally out....those who have weighed up that there is too much to lose in leaving.

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  snare&racket

  I am writing the post I have wanted to write for some time. It's a heartfelt note to those still attending meetings, still caught between the lines of Watchtower and the World. Those with kids or a spouse in the society..... despite being mentally out....those who have weighed up that there is too much to lose in leaving.

  Who am I to offer advice, information or instruction on what anyone should do? You've already been lied to, manipulated, deceived by the people in whom you entrusted your faith, your life, your family, your children! It is foolish to trust someone such as myself, here espousing 'wisdom' on an Internet forum of all places........and yet what is a person in my shoes to do?

  I have been the commited Jehovah's Witness baptised at 15, pioneer at 16, bethel at 18. I was the JW refusing blood for an urgent medical procedure. I was the JW that walked past my sister, head down when she was disfellowshipped. I was the JW building Kingdom Halls, renovating Assembly Halls. I was the JW on circuit and district assembly platforms. I was the JW that turned my back on educstion, careers, a secure future in this world, i even turned away from JW females I was deeply fond of... Jehovah's will as set out by the american head office was my roadmap!

  Despite this,,,,,I am also the exjw.

  I am the exjw who told the elders I no longer belived the 'truth' was the truth because of contradicting doctrines, scriptures and conscience. I was the exjw who lost all my friends and most of my family in one night with said elders. I was the exjw living out my car awaiting a college course to start. I was the exjw who worked hard to get into and through six years of university. I was the exjw who met a girl and has been in love with her ever since. I am the exjw who now tesches at the same univeristy i attended. I am the exjw who has just had a huge and wonderful Christmas with loving and caring people around me..... it was incredible, despite my age (late 30's) Christmas is just magical!

  I'm the exjw who over the last ten years has helped 8 family members and several friends leave the 'truth'. I am an exjw who read the bible 3 times to see what the JW's were getting so wrong, I also read the Quaran. I was the exjw who got the history books out and devoured information on ancient civilizations and the forming of religions, including the relatively recent writing of the bible. The very questions i ignored as a JW I now faced head on! I devoured biblical texts and debates, lectures & ideas. I was the exjw that was hungry for knowledge and scoured the accessible books on science, physics, evolution and ancient humans. I was the exjw who built up the bravery to read the ex governing body member, Ray Franz memoirs 'A crisis of conscience'.... hands shaking as I began to read, I realised I had been manipulated. I had been brainwashed! Here I was with a book in my hands, having a physical reaction due to fear. Why was i so scared to read something negative about Watchtower???...because i personally 100% wanted to read it! Why would a man fear a book? What had they done to me? The ropes of indoctrination started to come loose.....

  I was the exjw who trusted nobody, no idea, no belief system... I cared not for anyone else's interpretation of anything. I only knew my motives and agenda so sought out all the data in order that I could decide what is likely true for myself.... I realised those men in bethel were nothing special, quite the opposite! I could read, i could decide for myself!

  I am the exjw that went from being mentally chained down to bronze age doctrine, intepreted by unlearned men whose livelihood and that of their wives depended on followers never doubting or being permitted to question their utterings.... and i broke free of those chains and became empowered snd self determined. Looking back I saw a dangerous, dark and closed minded cult behind me..... full of people i loved. People with a need for humanity, being policed by their 'brothers and sisters' in a spiritual fascist regime. Children are denied love, joy, freedoms.... all under the pretense that it was in their best interests.... your OWN children's happiness dictated by men you would never meet who have never lived in the real world, who have never had their own offspring or family unit. With no education in theology they tell you gods wants on their own behalf, mostly...you should give more....to them! With no education in history or sciences they dictate the make up of the world around you, to you....for you dont have the intelelctual means to interpret the science yourself or the spiritual awareness to know when substituting experimental results with biblical verses are required. Without relevant qualifications in psychology, psychiatry, care, support or mental health they dictate interaction betwen their members from dating to divorce... including sex, abuse, violence, development, clothing, entertainment, dating, your vocabulary and even your thoughts!

  So how can I not speak up? .....to those of you still chained to the JW's, still too fearful to doubt or question. So tied down mentally, so invested to not even have the autonomy to prevent your own children succumbing, should the need for blood arise. To those who in 2018 are living in such fear and obediance to the organisation that they are denying their children the most incredible things in life.... autonomy, a free mind, a free life, birthdays ane christmas with YOU....

  How can I see both sides of this fence ans not speak up? How can I not scream from the rooftops....

  That you should not waste one more day in the 'truth'!

  That leaving is as simple & as easy as simply leaving.

  That yes It'sfrightening to take the step...but then its done!

  That it will be the best decision of your life

  That your ONLY regret will be that you didn't do it sooner

  That your life will find balance, peace and deep joy

  That you get your REAL family back, your extended blood relstives who miss you dearly

  That real life awaits you NOW!

  That a paradise earth (not one bible verse peomises it or even uses that phrase) is an unseen, unproved future, promised you by an American religion, younger than Coca-cola, led by untrained, uneducated men that have spent 100 years giving out false dates for the end of the world, claims and flip-flopping doctrines that evolve to 'new light' when proven false ....a religion now famous for paedophilia and selling property portfolios!
  

  But who am I to tell you? Who am I to convince you that you and your family can be happier this side of the road from the Jehovahs Witnesses?

  Think about it from the JW perspective.... i could indeed be the most unkind man, evil to the core, seeking to pull you away from the only truth there is....a doctor of medicine and tesching by day....trying to pull JW's out of the real truth by night!

  Or.....i could just be me, the JW who became an exJW and was desperate to inform you just how good life can be if you dare to question what you believe. Just look and see how twisted it is, look how scared you are to EVEN question. Surely you know that is not normal? Not healthy! Not what truth needs.... truth doesnt need protecting, it's self evident snd cant be proven wrong, though lies can be....very easily.

  For those of you still in, still going to meetings, still giving the WT society your time, your thoughts, your efforts..... come join us in the real life ....today!

  Your children deserve you to be that brave, your spouse does, your loved ones too.... but mostly ... YOU deserve it. Don't give them 2019....... take your lives back from the society!

  It's as simple as ssying enough is enough.....

  an exJW

  Snare x
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  22

  Crazy WT stories

  by scruffmcbuff in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  dennis was offered £5 by cool kids smoking pot and fornicating.

  he turned it down and went to read the wt as he turned the page.

  what did he see?a £5 note.

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  snare&racket

  What about that one with the guy.... the linen salesman that decided to write a load of bible literature and start his own religion and then he tried to sell miracle wheat to his followers and then his wife left him then 100 years later a cult had developed all over the world but they are not allowed to read the founders writings because they are so batshit crazy.... like how the pyramids have secret codes such as the end of the world was the length of a corridor in a pyramid ...1914.... oh remember that one?
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  23

  Merry Christmas 🎄

  by snare&racket in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it’s that awesome time of year again...... food.

  drink.

  tree.

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  snare&racket

  We watched muppets Christmas carol too.... it’s brilliant!

  Currently watching miracle on 34th street!

  What a cosy day x