Well done, I love not being a witness.....you can think for yourself, make your own choices and have genuine friends. Everything we were told about Worldly people was not true, I have amazing friends who don't judge. I'm so happy that you find yourself in a happy position.....life is wonderful, enjoy it x
Posts by Peony
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65 years since I attended a kingdom hall meeting, feels so good!
by Joliette inwell, i'm 25% there, but i can't put in words how good i feel!!!!!!!!!
once i move to a different city i'll have this travesty of a religion out of my system, i'll be at 100%.
two more years, i'm 33 years old and more excited then ever.
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Conversation on FB with a witness who doesn't know me
by Peony inso on my facebook feed this morning pops up a picture with the words 'jehovahs witnesses the happiest people on earth' i have no idea why i can see this must have come from a friend of a friend!
anyway i take a quick peak at the comments, about 30 of them all saying the same jw propoganda.
then ,non jw, makes a comment about a terrible person she knows that is a jw and that jw's break up families and listen to man and not god.. jw replies: just because someone says they're from a certain faith doesn't mean they're living it.
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Peony
Stephane I doubt she read any of the last comment.....but deep down I hope she will know that she was unable to give scriptural proof. I had the same thing when I was in.....I couldn't answer why the God of the Old Testament was cruel I dreaded being asked it in the ministry. I think waking up is a process of many things combined, all we can do is hopefully chip away.
Free and Clear, I'm happy to wait and see about the future and isn't gruel a bit like porridge, I'm Scottish, love a bit of porridge, lol
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Advice needed
by Peony incan someone tell me the scriptural basis (according to jw's) for shunning disassociated ones.
only asking because i don't remember (probably wasn't that interested) i'm sure the shunning in the scriptures was just applied to disfellowshipped.
i've only been out 3 years but i seem to have forgotten any scriptures or reasoning!
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Peony
I've posted the conversation..........its rather long i'm afraid. -
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Conversation on FB with a witness who doesn't know me
by Peony inso on my facebook feed this morning pops up a picture with the words 'jehovahs witnesses the happiest people on earth' i have no idea why i can see this must have come from a friend of a friend!
anyway i take a quick peak at the comments, about 30 of them all saying the same jw propoganda.
then ,non jw, makes a comment about a terrible person she knows that is a jw and that jw's break up families and listen to man and not god.. jw replies: just because someone says they're from a certain faith doesn't mean they're living it.
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Peony
So on my facebook feed this morning pops up a picture with the words 'Jehovahs Witnesses the Happiest people on Earth' I have no idea why i can see this must have come from a friend of a friend! Anyway i take a quick peak at the comments, about 30 of them all saying the same JW Propoganda. Then ,non JW, makes a comment about a terrible person she knows that is a JW and that JW's break up families and listen to man and not God.
JW Replies: Just because someone says they're from a certain faith doesn't mean they're living it. It's not God that breaks up families, People make that decision.
So I'm afraid this is red rag to a bull for me as i disassociated from the religion and will not take the blame for the fact that family are shunning me and I'm not sure I believe in God anymore but I'm sure he doesn't want to be blamed either, so I answer.
Me: 'JW' I think you have just agreed with 'non JW' she says you believe what man says and not God, you say God does not break up families.......So presumably the shunning of Disfellowshipped/Disassociated ones has come from Men.
JW: Thats from the Bible
Me: So GOD breaks up families then? Does he tell you to shun people? Where is that Scripture?
JW: Read the bible its pretty clear, God doesn't break up families, he tells you how to have a happy family. He doesn't force anyone to worship him, Dont worry.
Me: I like that he wants us to have a happy family, that is how it should be, but I'm Confused, you said shunning had come from the bible......how does not talking to a family member help you to have a happy family life? If God doesnt force any to worship him, how come if you leave you lose your family? Is that not emotional Blackmail? At this point i can believe she hasn't cottoned on!!!
JW: The only way you get disfellowshipped is if you are committing Gross Sin, (blah blah lists every Gross sin) Be glad he gives you guidelines and then upholds them. But it is a free will choice, we have free will to listen or not. (yeah right)! Then i get an example of a married man having an affair.......she goes on and on about this. And then says : so what breaks up families - affairs.
( i ignore the bit about the affair as i'm feeling she has issues) Me: So what if you have done nothing wrong (broken no laws) and just disassociate because you just don't want to be a witness anymore (as you said God does not force us to worship him) why then do they get shunned and again where is the scriptural basis for that?
JW: You're not (now i'm confused, is there new light, am i not shunned anymore)!
JW: (before i get to answer) She does me a screen shot of 1 Cor 5
Me: That's talking about those who have done something wrong........what about those that just disassociate?
JW: Hebrews 10.26 Once you willfully know the truth from God and Turn your back on it etc
Again before i can answer she gives me a gift from heaven JW: Again, all in the bible, even the King James Bible.
Me: The King James Bible says 'if you sin willfully there will be no sacrifice for sins' so we are still talking about sin. Maybe your bible has been changed to fit your beliefs. You still have shown no scriptural proof that says to shun those who choose (because of God given free will) to leave.
Here comes the avoidance tactic JW: I'm happy I know the truth. You sound bitter and unhappy living 'as you please', (she goes on about boundaries being there for a reason. And then harps on about the sin of christmas and easter (more avoidance) And based on this conversation you are either disfellowshipped or disassociated (finally she gets it) so i will let the bible speak for itself 1 Tim 3.16 (this killed me i think she meant 2 Tim 3.16)
I'm rumbled so i got everything off my chest, i have had a year to think about this!!
Me: You've obviously got me wrong, I am not bitter at all, I have the best life ever......I walked away and disassociated myself which is why I have the best life ever. I could not be associated with an organisation that told me that the UN were the Wild Beast and yet were members for 10 years! Your own organisation book says if someone affiliates themselves with an organisation contrary to Gods Kingdom then they have disassociated themselves, Your own organisation has done that, ironic! An organisation that has covered up over 1000 child abuse cases in Australia and are currently under investigation there. Also under investigation by the Charity Commission in the UK for their practices added to the fact that my monthly donations went to pay out of court settlements worth millions of dollars to those abused while many abusers are not disfellowshipped and enjoy good standing in the congregations. So yes I have been surprised that i am shunned for exercising my God given free will and left. I know there is no scriptural basis for shunning disassociated ones which was why I was trying to get you to use your critical thinking skills and question that teaching. As you could not answer my question and give scriptural support to your beliefs I emplore you to question what you are taught. It is mans word, not Gods. I only answered this as it came up on my fb feed and made me chuckle 'JW's happiest people on earth'....half my congregation were on anti depressants! So I am not bitter, I am happy to out of it and wouldnt trade that for anything. Perhaps you had better not reply now you know, its not worth you getting into trouble over, I genuinely wish you well.
Well that was it, needless to say it disappeared off fb but hopefully some of the previous posters had seen at least some of it ( i doubt if it will make a jot of difference but i do believe you can't unsee something once you have seen it)
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Advice needed
by Peony incan someone tell me the scriptural basis (according to jw's) for shunning disassociated ones.
only asking because i don't remember (probably wasn't that interested) i'm sure the shunning in the scriptures was just applied to disfellowshipped.
i've only been out 3 years but i seem to have forgotten any scriptures or reasoning!
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Peony
I think i may post my conversation as i knew she would try to play the Sin card, so i was asking for scriptural proof of shunning disassociated ones that just wanted to leave, JW's have a spin on it but it is not scriptural so i knew she would not be able to answer. I think i will start a new thread.......it may take a while to type. -
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Advice needed
by Peony incan someone tell me the scriptural basis (according to jw's) for shunning disassociated ones.
only asking because i don't remember (probably wasn't that interested) i'm sure the shunning in the scriptures was just applied to disfellowshipped.
i've only been out 3 years but i seem to have forgotten any scriptures or reasoning!
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Peony
Thank you all for your comments
I had quite a few Facebook comments with her in the end......was quite surprised she didn't cotton on that I'm disassociated.....and no surprise she could not give scriptural reason for shunning disassociated. I took screen shots of our comments, that was just before they disappeared on FB. Hopefully made her think though.
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Advice needed
by Peony incan someone tell me the scriptural basis (according to jw's) for shunning disassociated ones.
only asking because i don't remember (probably wasn't that interested) i'm sure the shunning in the scriptures was just applied to disfellowshipped.
i've only been out 3 years but i seem to have forgotten any scriptures or reasoning!
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Peony
Thank you xanthippe and alanv
I replied to (Jw) and said ***** I think you have just agreed with *****(she had made a comment that JW's follow men and not God) she says you follow men and not God, you say God does not break up families so where does the shunning of Disfellowshipped disassociated come from.
They can't have it both ways.....if she says its scriptural(which we know it isn't) then God breaks up families and if it's not scriptural they are following men.
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Advice needed
by Peony incan someone tell me the scriptural basis (according to jw's) for shunning disassociated ones.
only asking because i don't remember (probably wasn't that interested) i'm sure the shunning in the scriptures was just applied to disfellowshipped.
i've only been out 3 years but i seem to have forgotten any scriptures or reasoning!
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Peony
Can someone tell me the scriptural basis (according to JW's) for shunning disassociated ones. Only asking because I don't remember (probably wasn't that interested) I'm sure the shunning in the Scriptures was just applied to Disfellowshipped. I've only been out 3 years but I seem to have forgotten any scriptures or reasoning! Think I've blocked it out. I've seen a comment on FB (jw who must be a friend of a friend) where a witness has said they believe in Gods word, not mans and then said God does not break up families, I want to comment to the effect that they have contradicted themselves......if God does not break up families then where has the shunning policy come from. I know the usual stock answer from JW's is 'you broke your contract with God' you knew what you were getting yourself into' blah blah. But for me I disassociated, I'm hoping with a bit more understanding of what their basis is I can be prepared to answer that stock reply. -
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Trying To Leave - Im Going Crazy
by pale.emperor inthis is my first post.
i really feel i need to leave the jw's rather than go along pretending everything is perfect etc.
no friends, me at work.
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Peony
Pale Emporer
What a sad story, I really feel for you. At the point you need love and support instead you get hassle. It's all too familiar I'm afraid. It's the lack of love that may wake your wife up. My husband and I dissociated last year, we couldn't take the lack of love and double standards. My Father in law elder criticised everyone too, he once said 'if there was one person I would love to have disfellowshipped it would have been*****' I couldn't believe it. I told him it was a terrible thing to say! It didn't stop him carrying on criticising though. That's when I knew I couldn't have a relationship with him anymore......too toxic. We started to see our life was ok and the only time we had problems was when JW's were involved. Hopefully they will carry on being a nightmare, your wife will soon want to leave (short term pain for long term gain) it's a really hard road but trust me it will be worth it.
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Disfellowshipped for celebrating Xmas?
by Theburstbubble ini could really do with some advice on what's acceptable when you leave.
we have left of our own accord about 6 months ago.
we didn't celebrate xmas this year but have just celebrated my daughters birthday.. a friend of mine who is still a witness told me that an elder had approached her and asked if we had celebrated xmas and that if we did it was a df offence as is classed as apostasy!
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Peony
Hello Theburstbubble
My husband and I had left for just over 2 years when we got a text from the elders saying they had reports that we had celebrated Christmas. My husband had been an elder. I think it definitely depends on your local body, a couple who left at the same time as us in a neighbouring congregation (he was an elder too) celebrated straight away, lights and all and were left alone. We waited 2 years before we put lights up and they came after us. Celebrating Christmas is not a disfellowshipping offence but they say by celebrating you have disassociated yourself because you have affiliated yourself with an organisation that is contrary to Gods Kingdom. The irony is the Governing body did the same thing being members of the UN!!!! It's in the green organised book. It's also the reason when questioned by the Australian Authority the GB member said it was not his understanding that people get disfellowshipped for celebrating Christmas........no they are automatically classed as disassociated........very sneaky!
We ended up disassociating ourselves so we could get on with our lives......for us it was the best decision we've ever made even though we have lost family. A year down the line I now have skin cancer and hoping none of them come to visit, I don't want to go through the pain of them coming back into my life to leave yet again when I hopefully get better xx Good luck with whatever you decide to do xxx