i have just returned from visiting friends and family.
when i was disassociated my parents had contact with me a few months before my dad was diagnosed with cancer.
i was reinstated 20 months after his funeral and then they disfellowshipped me 5 months later as they are convinced i had not changed my life enough to be a jw again.
Disassociated Lady 2
My Mum dislikes me anyway as she sees the "free and wild spirit" in me that was in her before she gave in fully to the JWs. She doesn't want to be reminded of it, so it is easy for her to have an excuse not to see me. Very sad. x
Very insightful of you that you can see this.
Hugs to you
'in order to extend mercy, the committee must be convinced that the wrongdoer has a changed heart condition and that he has a zeal to right the wrong and is absolutely determined to avoid it in the future.'.
shepherd the flock page 91. i remember this is one of the first things that concerned me as an elder because it seemed to sound like a person is guilty until proven innocent rather than 'love believes all things', especially given the word 'convinced' appears in bold.. then in a training video one elder said something like 'unless we are convinced of repentance the shepherd the flock book says we must disfellowship'.
that was the begining of the end for me as i thought surely true christians would reason the other way round and show mercy wherever possible.. any thoughts?.
Disassociated Lady 2
I was disfellowshipped a month ago because I live in the home of a retired "witch". She is no longer involved in this work and neither am I now, but they refused to believe that. I told them I cannot afford to move out and have no other options, but they believe that because I live there I must be engaging in all kinds of demonic practices. I knew there was no point in appealing as it would go against you anyway to say the elders are wrong. Ho hum!
Too bad shes retired.... I am seeing a nice little hex on some superstitious elders.
The fact that the whole JW religion is based on superstitions of one variety or another and that superstitious behavior is encouraged among its flock, is something I am only just now realizing.
'in order to extend mercy, the committee must be convinced that the wrongdoer has a changed heart condition and that he has a zeal to right the wrong and is absolutely determined to avoid it in the future.'.
shepherd the flock page 91. i remember this is one of the first things that concerned me as an elder because it seemed to sound like a person is guilty until proven innocent rather than 'love believes all things', especially given the word 'convinced' appears in bold.. then in a training video one elder said something like 'unless we are convinced of repentance the shepherd the flock book says we must disfellowship'.
that was the begining of the end for me as i thought surely true christians would reason the other way round and show mercy wherever possible.. any thoughts?.
After being seared by their vindictive policies (albeit second hand) I have slowly healed and come to the conclusion that I am glad they have the policy they do.
People are getting DFd and after an attempt to come back (usually met with a "not yet") they give up altogether. Most of these are young people who will go on to marry and raise a family not tainted by the Org and its policies.
Others still in will see how well their lives work out in a compare/contrast and be emboldened to leave also.
This is one way the Org is participating in its own well deserved self destruction.
another leak from my collection of talks that i was ordered not to share.
an elder gave me a ton of talks from bethel and special assembleys to put on his ipod.
of course i copied them to my computer and will share them for all of us.. depression is a part of this life by brother nathan fuel.. this talk also touches on the subject of family members being disfellowshipped, feel depressed?
Well he is half right....if you are a JW depression IS part of the package.
if he get pass this, america deserve him...... conversation 10 years ago..
redvip2000
Certainly this was a calculated move by either her campaign or somebody who favors her, but it seems you actually saying both the Dems and GOP are actually in collusion in order to elect Hillary. If this is what you mean, you are way off.
Yes to the first part of your statement which I took the liberty of highlighting.
I dont think the Dems and the GOP collude. That wasnt my point.
Hillary's is a carefully crafted campaign with more money and power behind it than Trump could ever hope to amass.
This was (it is hoped) a final salvo and carefully timed for now.
If this doesnt do the trick, watch for another head shot.
if he get pass this, america deserve him...... conversation 10 years ago..
Hillary is going to be the next president. This was always going to be the case.
But there had to be someone for her to pretend to run against, right?
Ask yourself..
why did this tape of Trump saying those things surface now?
Its 11 years old.
I am amazed that the news pundits are worrying about the what (the tape)
and not the why (the timing)
so the wife was watching the latest installment of jw broadcasting and near the end there was a new segment on dating and courtship.
it starts at about the 39 minute mark:.
https://youtu.be/vuir-azsdm0?t=38m52s.
Funny that they show watching sports as an alarm bell as to this brothers suitability as a marriage mate but they will turn right around and counsel a married woman who is getting smacked around to "try harder" to please her husband.
This is a weird organization.
brother melvin mallett delivers a talk entitled beware the spirit of independence.
(because, you know, thinking for yourself is not what jesus wants.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7znpzkakaki.
oh, and remember folks... this isnt a cult or anything!.
Its easy to see why an independent spirit is something they lecture against.
The amusing part is they pride themselves on being a break away (independent) religion from the christian mainstream.
I liked reading this last post Phaedra. It was a well written reminder to people like myself that arent so aware of all that it takes from those behind the scenes.
I know that here in front of the "scenes" this site has given me so much.
I am very appreciative.
i have not been active here lately just lurking mostly but i have no one to talk to and i need some help i guess.i started working out and became friends with my personal trainer(we went to school together).i started going out with him(lying to my mother about what i was doing,another thing to add to the list of lies,it's becoming too easy!
) and i notice i'm slowly becoming the worldy people that the jw's described.i've become very selfish and rude and very apathetic towards everything and everyone.i always thought the values that jw's taught were really good.if i cut ties with the only friend i have now , i would probably slip into a deep depression and i that is something that i want to avoid at all costs.i start university in january and my plan was to stick it out in the organisation until i got my degree and became fully independant but as of late a elder told me i am being considered to become a m.s and told me what i need to work on and since then the other elders have been nagging me to work on the same things.i'm trying to rid my self of my 'priveleges' in the cong but nothings working...if anyone has experienced a similar situation what advice would you give?
, oh and my mom was always super into the religion having been a pioneer and bethel worker for years but we went to the regional convention two weeks ago and now she is even more exasperating (for example a sister asked my why i was 19 years old and not a ms or serving at bethel yet, which is fine i've learnt how to deal with these questions but when i told my mother whom has always been content with me just being in the religion and never pushed me towards anything asked me if i was happy with what i was and if i would not be happier at bethel or regular pioneering.
Im kind of working off Outlaws post here
It seems to me that a lot of us Witnesses think in absolutes about character. You are either
a JW
a potential JW
or a lost soul.
So when we leave, we view ourselves as lost souls sometimes. Then we start to act that way.
Actions always follow thought.
As others have said above, find yourself, anchor your identity. Define what you want to be about.
Lose the concept that only Witnesses really have it going on.
When you do that?
You will meet the most incredible people. In fact, you will become one.
