Peony

Joined

• started 6 topics
• posted 65 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by Peony

• 
  45

  Berkshire Circuit (UK)

  by Dont_Believe_The_Truth in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm hearing rumours of huge changes within the berkshire circuit here in the uk .

  congregations being dispanded and kingdom halls closing down and being sold off.... official announcements within the next month apparently .

  does anyone else have anymore info?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Peony

  Doesn't Reading Whitley Wood also use the Caversham Hall. Wonder where they will be going?
• 
  74

  What song explains what you have gone through in life?

  by brandnew in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this is mine....watch "coolio ft. l.v - gangsta's paradise (official music video)" on youtubehttps://youtu.be/cpgbzylnz7c

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Peony

  Religious Vomit.....Dead Kennedys
• 
  41

  Long time lurker, first time poster ...

  by LettMorrisSplaneit in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i finally had the guts to create a profile to be able to post.

  i've been lurking for a few months and have read all your experiences and comments dutifully.

  you have been a great help in my process of waking up from this cult posing as the one true religion.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Peony

  I love your name....made me smile. Welcome to the forum. A place where you can be yourself. I know you are looking back with regret of the wasted years, I too pioneered from school and only got out (physically as well) at age 45. But I have to say once physically out I was so happy (way more than I expected) that I thought if I can live to 90 I've got another 45 years to enjoy (true enjoyment)! It's never too late. It's not an easy road to take (mine was 3 years ending in Disasociation and losing my family) but it was worth it. I wouldn't have thought so when I was at the stage you're at but as time goes on and your life fills more with non JW things, the JW things have less and less hold on you. Best wishes to you....there's a wonderful life waiting for you, grasp it.
• 
  40

  Closer/death/Funerals

  by Leela1 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  hello all i am fairly new to this site even though i have been da since i was 16 years old i am now 35 years old.

  i have had very little contact with my family since i left maybe a handful of times over the years.

  i thought i put the past behind me and moved on i have 4 amazing kids of my own really supportive partner and great friends who have become my family.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Peony

  Hello Leela

  I felt so sad reading your story. What an awful thing to go through at such a young age. Perhaps if you don't visit you could get what you want to say down in a letter it may help you get it off your chest (this was suggested by my husbands therapist after we disassociated). Regardless of whether it is read or not you will have got your thoughts out there. As for funerals I've given this a lot of thought......for me I don't think I could walk into a Kingdom Hall again let alone be ignored at an emotional time. If I miss my mums funeral I'm sure people would bad mouth me but in reality they probably would bad mouth me even if I went. Seeing everyone again to be followed with shunning would open up wounds again that I've managed to close, I couldn't do it. But that's me and you have to decide what's best for you. Whatever you decide will be your right decision, best wishes to you.
• 
  6

  5 years since I attended a kingdom hall meeting, feels so good!

  by Joliette in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well, 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.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Peony

  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
• 
  4

  Conversation on FB with a witness who doesn't know me

  by Peony in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  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.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  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
• 
  14

  Advice needed

  by Peony in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  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!

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Peony

  I've posted the conversation..........its rather long i'm afraid.
• 
  4

  Conversation on FB with a witness who doesn't know me

  by Peony in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  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.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  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)
• 
  14

  Advice needed

  by Peony in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  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!

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  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.
• 
  14

  Advice needed

  by Peony in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  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!

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  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.