Posts by MrDarkKnight

22

What is Your Experience with Non-Christian Religions and Philosophy ONLY?

by MrDarkKnight in

i have been slow to start a thread because i wanted to see what topics were already being discussed.

having left wt i have a disdain for organized christian religion at the moment.

i am interested in your experience, research or observations about non-christian religions and philosophy only.

MrDarkKnight

Thanks everyone who posted and thanks to those who sent private messages with interesting links!

Let the journey continue......

22

What is Your Experience with Non-Christian Religions and Philosophy ONLY?

by MrDarkKnight in

i have been slow to start a thread because i wanted to see what topics were already being discussed.

having left wt i have a disdain for organized christian religion at the moment.

i am interested in your experience, research or observations about non-christian religions and philosophy only.

jay88 - Frankly after 38 years of going to meetings three days a week I have not pursued anything. I have avoided the supernatural aspects of religious writings in general and focused on the message of Buddah, Tao and Confucious. I have had to adjust to not having any friends or family who will talk with me and it takes some time to drop the thinking that outside forces are constantly meddling in your life. It was only about a month ago that I realized, "life happens". That realization has made me even happier and now I feel ready to connect with other people in a real way not in the superficial way I have in the past.

Rocky_Girl - At this point I honestly am trying to avoid groups. I am more interested in reading literature that is spiritual or inspriational in nature and seeing what if anything I can use in my life.

Sinis - I don't know I really like it here on earth, I like the area where I have moved and I love my career in Engineering. My company is paying for me get certified as an Engineer. I have enough practical experience I can do it without a Engineering degree (I was one of the lucky guys who actually learned a skill at Bethel that allowed me to have a succesful career and make money when I left. For that I thank the WTS.)

As long as I have breath in my body I want continue to be happy, be a good citizen of the world and help my fellowman. Anything that will help me do that is what I am seeking.

22

What is Your Experience with Non-Christian Religions and Philosophy ONLY?

by MrDarkKnight in

i have been slow to start a thread because i wanted to see what topics were already being discussed.

having left wt i have a disdain for organized christian religion at the moment.

i am interested in your experience, research or observations about non-christian religions and philosophy only.

MrDarkKnight

I have been slow to start a thread because I wanted to see what topics were already being discussed. Having left WT I have a disdain for organized Christian religion at the moment. I am interested in your experience, research or observations about Non-Christian religions and Philosophy ONLY. I respect atheists but I am not ready to consider that route at this moment. Thoughts?

15

Patterson Bethelites and Reassignment

by Patty Cake in

hi eveyone,.

i grew up in a family of jw's, i was never baptized.

i have two brothers who are elders, one is a bethelite in patterson.

MrDarkKnight

When I left Bethel 16 years ago I went right into full time work which was frowned upon of course. I didn't care. I knew that I needed to make as much money as possible to make it. Fifteen years later I am glad I did. Having left the WT I have a newtork of business associates and friends all over the country that I would not have had if I had lived as miser and suffered.

When they would talk to me I used to tell all those leaving Bethel who ask me what they should do: "Get a job and work hard. Learn to take care of yourself, because no one else will."

Happy is the an who finds refuge in himself.

24

To ex-elders,that are df'ed, disassociated, fadeing and a wife thats still in please answer this.

by TheLoveDoctor in

me ex elder, pioneer was very active but am trying to fade.

one elder knows how i feel and i would not talk to anyone but him.

i miss most meetings now.

MrDarkKnight

LoveDoctor - I agree with dozy. The elders are expected to respect your headship and meet with your wife in your presence. Additionally, if they have a concern about you they are supposed to "man up" and address it head on. This does not always happen. In my 15 years as an elders I served with many spineless men with no backbone and no ability or desire to act on their own. They did not like confrontation and cowered when meeting with "free thinkers."

I always got the job of talking with the "free thinkers" over the years (probably because I knew in my heart I was one of them). As I think back each one of them had valid issues and concerns and we simply brushed them aside with our standard pat replies. Most them got frustrated and left WT. I completely understand why because I have done the same thing.

I hope you can preserve your marriage. Mine fell apart. But honestly, it was a long time coming and I am truly happy.

44

What was something that you loved but were denied as a JW?

by Chemical Emotions in

i could go on and on about all the things i loved, but i'll keep it brief and just mention one, rather trivial thing: music.

i love grunge and punk, and occasionally heavy metal, and can't listen to a lot of it as a witness..

MrDarkKnight

Organized sports. I was recruited every year for basketball and track and baseball and every year I asked my Dad if I could play. If I hear 1 Timothy 4:8 again I think I will scream!

Now that I am inactive and out of the congregation I recently became certified as a Coach with National Alliance for Youth Sports. I will be coaching football and basketball this year. I CANNOT WAIT!!!!

My son, who is 12 years old and lives with his JW mother, was upset when I told him I was coaching now. He said, "But Dad you won't be able to coach me." I told him when he visits he can practice with the teams and if he's here when we have a game I will let him play, after all I am the coach. When I told him I would make sure I had a uniform for him his eyes lit up and he flashed a big smile and said "Cool."

I think forbidding kids to play organized sports robs them of a really, really good time. It sucks.

90

Best way to step down from being a servant

by RayPublisher in

hey i'm wondering if anyone can give some good advice on how to step down in the safest way.. i have served as an ms for a number of years, but can't do it anymore.

i know too much i want to fade in the future when i get some family things straightened out.

i can't move right now so that's out unfortunately.. what should i tell the body?

MrDarkKnight

Ray Publisher - The pool of Ministerial Servants is VERY LOW compared to years ago. This was mentioned at the last Elders school. If the number of servants continues to drop their will be qualified brothers to become elders. It will become more and more difficult to sustain the number of congregations and they will have to be dissolved as they have been in New York City for the last 10 years. This is why they are making all this effort. It has nothing to do with you. It has everything with keeping the mothership afloat.

Fade on brother.

61

What made you leave "The Truth"?

by Chemical Emotions in

for me it was many things.

most concerned certain teachings that invloved genders, children, sex, sexuality and sexual orientations, disfellowshipping, apostates, blood, rape, and few other things, as well as the jw's unloving attitude toward so many people..

MrDarkKnight

I agree with the other former Elders. The higher I climbed the more hypocrisy I saw. For all the time I invested in being a WT operative I received no support when I needed it. The pat responses to my concerns no longer worked on me and finally one day I said: "I'm out."

49

Movies that resonate with you as an ex-JW or awake JW

by RayPublisher in

the matrix - "do you want the blue pill or the red pill?

", "all i offer you is the truth", "ignorance is bliss", "the matrix is all around us".

shutter island - creepy, is it real or isn't it, it turns out the whole thing is a dream.

MrDarkKnight

As a burned out elder I love the Jason Bourne line from the Bourne Ultimatum: "Do you even know WHY you a supposed to kill me? Look at us, look at what they make you give."

140

The effect we are having on the Watchtower is HUGE

by jwfacts in

i was inspired by a recent thread i know i aint gunna crumble the wt, but a girl can dream to look at the effect we as individuals are having on the watchtower society.. 3dogs1husband quoted a story to show that even helping only one person is worth it.. it is encouraging to note that the one person you may have helped has lead to millions being helped, due to the power of compounding growth.. compounding growth is well illustrated by the rice on a chessboard problem.

if you start with 1 grain of rice on square one, and double it to 2 on the second, 4 on the third, 8 on the fourth, by the last (64th) square there would be 18,446,744,073,709,551,615 grains of rice.. likewise, if you help one person out of the grip of the watchtower this year, then next year you help one more and they help one, in a few years that is going to have a formidable result on the number of jehovahs witnesses.

look at the following statistics.

MrDarkKnight

I served as elder in a NYC congregation. We easily had 30-40 young people during the time I was there. As of this moment only 5 are are still in organization.