This is a very confusing story! Where did that sword come from? I don't know when the sword was invented, but I think it was 'way after the Garden of Eden.
Posts by Mum
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12The Bible as explained to my 5 year old son....
by stuckinamovement inthis is a long story son, are you sure you want to hear it?
ok here goes......... it all began when a talking snake tricked a naked lady into eating a piece of fruit.
her husband decided that he liked the fruit so he ate some too.
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Former Unbaptized Publisher, New Here
by GloomySunday informer unbaptized publisher, here.. i'm new to the forums and have hesitated for months to join this forum.
i was raised in a jw family, and was never baptized, because one of my parents didn't think i should be baptized early.. my mother became inactive, but i eventually went back for social contact, eventually starting a study.
i raised a few questions, only to find that the conductor would get irritated and defensive when my questions would get deeper into the topic.
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Mum
Welcome, GS. Congratulations on choosing not to get baptized!
I have been free since 1979. I had to get out for mental health reasons. I don't feel nearly as crazy as I did back then. Another thing that was bothering me was the realization that I had been a better person - kinder and more accepting and understanding - before I became a dub.
My "worldly" family helped me to start college, and I was a pariah. I had to get out and gain some perspective. That was it. It felt so good I couldn't consider going back!
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WHAT IS GOING ON?!!
by MsGrowingGirl20 ini feel as though i'm losing it.. firstly, my mom isn't baptized but has been around witnesses for a long time.
when i was in, she would have problems with the religion.
we were always at ends with eachother.
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Mum
This story sounds a lot like mine. I started "publishing" when I was 15. My parents started studying with the witnesses when I was 9. My mom was very critical, called me a fanatic, said she noticed that the CO got special treatment, sarcastically called me "the preacher" when I did anything she didn't like, and so on.
I quit the dubs when I was 32. A few years later, my mom got baptized and became a "true believer." I think it was because she had failing health and "couldn't" do all of the Jw stuff. She listened to the meetings by phone and did not go out in service. When my daughter pointed out some doctrinal inconsistencies, she said, "I would talk to them about it, but they'd take it the wrong way." When I was not around, apparently she sorrowfully would tell other family members (none of them dubs), "My oldest daughter used to be such a gooood little Jehovah's Witness."
Who could ever know what she was really thinking? Not I.
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When "The Persecution" Comes - What a Let Down that turned out to be!
by cofty inwhen i was young there was endless speculation about "the persecution".
i have very clear memories as a child sitting in the old kingdom hall in coatbridge hearing it talked about from the platform.
it was a frequent topic at home.. sometimes there was lurid detail about what sort of torture "they" might use against us to make us betray others.
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Mum
In fact, there is more tolerance than ever now for people who have strange beliefs. I know that may not be true in all parts of the world, but it certainly is true in the U.S. JW kids can't be taunted or tormented by teachers and bullies without consequences to the taunters/tormentors.
I'm very happy that we were "let down" on this craziness!
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69
What would it take for YOU to come back?
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Mum
You're so welcome, ff. I hope you start on a new path that will take you to the place of your dreams!
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The more time I spend with "worldly people" the more I realize...
by confusedandalone in... that they actually have more of a desire to get to knoww you then jehovah's witnesses.
for years at the kingdom hall although i was an elder everyone "knew of me" but no one knew me.
i realized that i never really had a friend who knew anything about me as a person or my background.
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Mum
It's good to have the freedom to make your own judgments about people, eh? You were accepted immediately without any questions to determine your "spiritual" status. Keep it going!
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Another year done......thank you JW.net
by snare&racket ini have just finished the most difficult year of my academic life by far, since august i have had 4 days off.. the exams were from hell, i ran out of money with 2 months to go, 2 months rent to pay and 2 huge exams to go.
with few friends and family around, it made for a scary situation.. but i did it.... today i got the 'pass'.... 6 years done, one to go.... i am it i'm the final year of doctor training.
for all the kind words and encouragement from people here, thank you xxxx .
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Mum
Congratulations! It's wonderful that you're doing something significant with your life!
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Losing my religion
by vikesgirl101 inhowdy!
i have been out of the jw's for about five years now.
it has been about four years since i've posted.
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Mum
Before I was a JW, I had very religious Bible-believing grandparents. In a way, I think they made me a sitting duck for the witness propaganda. It is almost impossible for a group of human beings not to have contentions and strife among themselves. The key is to become the best person you can be and don't worry about the others. Be there for them if you can help them in any way, then go live your life.
It is the duty of every person to accept others as they are, and to be there to help them if they wish to change anything or need a helping hand.
If one church (or anything else) is not to your liking, try another. Then keep trying until you find what you're looking for. I certainly would avoid any church that has a self-righteous, exclusionary philosophy.
There is always the option of not attending any church and developing your own spiritual life.
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What would it take for YOU to come back?
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Mum
factfinder: You have just made a decision that could lead to happiness and fulfillment. First, you need to set goals and take steps to achieve them.
I don't know how old you are, but you need to find out what you want to do with the rest of your life. Do you already have a satisfying career and happy personal relationships. If not, you probably will in the near future.
Best wishes for a happy future. Keep coming back and letting us know how things are progressing for you.
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HELP NEEDED for the book I'm writing!
by Terry ini'm about 90% finished on a book i started nine years ago.
it will deal with jehovah's witness policy on conscientious objectors during war time.
from the 1800's through the end of the draft in the early 1970's.. i am also giving a personal biographical account of my own introduction to the religion, process of assimilation and ministry experience.. additionally, i'm working in timelines connecting the 2nd adventist teachings with russell, rutherford and mainstream watchtower doctrines.. .
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Mum
For what it's worth, these are the interesting topics that I'm not sure most people know:
1. On the conscientious objector matter, no individual decided for himself that he was a conscientious objector. This "conscience" was injected into them with WT propaganda. I was a young dub (but female) during the Vietnam war. I was told by several young brothers that they could not accept a position in a hospital in lieu of military service because that would be considered "compromise." Again, the brothers did not themselves necessarily see it as "compromise." A young man had to be sentenced to public service work by a judge before that would be considered an acceptable way to avoid military service.
2. "Worldly" people have told me that JW's were harmless crackpots. I remind them of ruined lives of people who forego education or make a misstep which leads to being cut off from their own families.
3. Medical quackery is BIG in the borg. Vaccinations used to be forbidden, dubs were told not to chew gum, not to use aluminum cookware and similar crazy pseudo-scientific claptrap. The biggest tragedy of all is that dubs refuse blood transfusions that could save their lives because of what they are told is meant by scriptures not at all related to medical procedures.
You probably have already included all of these items in your book. Best wishes with publication.