Dearest Phebe, I send you my love and compassion. My husband had a similar reaction when the same thing happened in our family. It was when we realized this isn't just a local thing, that this is everywhere.We realized that many of those 'faithful' brothers we had known for years were rapists, kidnappers and child molesters- all in one hall, all interacting with the cong freely. If this was God's clean org this could not happen. It could not be happening throughout. This is hard. This is a quake to our very reality, but if you do believe in God know He will be a strength to you. He will guide you. He is guiding you. You know that 'by their fruits you will recognize them' and 'one faithful in least is faithful in much'. God is allowing you to see what you were once blind to. Now comes the time of free will. This is your choice. You have a God-given conscience and it is screaming out to you. I know this is scary, but you are not alone. There is your family and this wonderful ex-jw support system. Taste and see- you might find truth,freedom and friends. You might come to see your self as deserving. Phebe, this is hard, this seems to shake your core. Take a breath, see the beauty around you and step into it. Trust God, trust him like you never thought you would have to. Trust him directly, and see what happens. We have not been to a meeting in a little over a year. We have taken it slow, carefully and did research. I can say we have never been so happy, or known the Bible as well as we do now. We have been blessed with new friends and some old ones that were friends still are. Those who would ask you to ignore your conscience are not used by God, see them as they really are. Ask yourself, if someone who was not a witness came to you and told you to act against God's standards and your own conscience what would you do? You have held to strict standards for over 50 years, this was not easy. You can do this- I send my prayers.
notalone
JoinedPosts by notalone
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Just an update on me
by Phoebe inhi everyone, i came on here a few weeks ago and told my story and you were so kind, caring and welcoming.
your messages of support moved me to tears.
i was so grateful.
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notalone
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Ranting
by FedUpJW inplease excuse me for long-winded ranting.
i know, as do most of us here that "love" is not something that the jdub's are known for except in their deluded, feeble minds.. i can handle their hypocrisy when it is directed at me, but when it is aimed at family who for decades have genuinely been the type of jw that the watchtower presents to the public, and when it is motivated by pure hate, then i get pissed!.
my mother was dunked in the 1940's and my father in the 1950's.
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notalone
Dear Fedup, I want to express my deepest sympathy to you and your father. There were many sincere ones that truly from their heart have spent a life trying to be disciples of Christ, and I agree with your mother. This is not the organization I knew years ago. I remember there being schedules to aid elderly ones. This is not he case today. In our congregation there is a couple, one of the first in our area that were a backbone of the congregation and extremely humble, the wife now has Alzheimer's and the husband is her full time caregiver. They are in their late 80's early 90's. The elder's have not only not helped but were also pressuring him to put her in a home. He almost gave in, but just could not do it. So he stays at home caring for his wife in love, reading the old publications and wondering where have all the 'friends' gone. Another older one in our cong could not make it to the evening meetings so she listened in on the tie -in. She was told this was not good enough and she needed to ride with someone. This is still hard for her as she is also nearing 90. When she finally accepted a ride she was told how much it was going to cost for each ride. A third in our cong who is in a nursing home is being ostracized due to a friendship he has formed with a preacher. All we can do is try and be there for these older ones and let them know they have worth and are loved by someone- someone who does not go to the meetings, someone who does not make unreasonable and uncaring demands on them. Console them with scriptures and let them know- by their fruits you will recognize them.
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"Forced" study with an Elder - The first question i will pose, help appreciated.
by CitizenofEarth inhello folks.
as some of you might know my dad couldnt keep quiet about my view of the world, so i have been "forced" to study with an elder.
otherwise i would be dragged to questioning, which is to much pressure for a young inexperienced person like me.
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notalone
There is one thing that really woke my husband up. It was the interlinear. The society printed one when I was younger. I got one off amazon. Get every bible the society ever printed.Then get a Strong's concordance. The society use to refer to it once upon a time. Then when the study starts start looking up everything have the books stacked all around the table.. Tell him things had become stale and that you realized after prayer that you really had to get a deeper understanding. Use books nothing electronic if you can help it.Say electronic books get to you eyes after a while. This takes time, alot of time. Try learning some key Hebrew words use them and their definitions. Refer to the Septuagint. If there is one thing they are not particularly fond of is real study. Just see how far this study gets. Who knows you might wake someone else up.
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Spiritual food from the org on the same level as the Bible?
by CitizenofEarth inhello to you all again.. i just told my father:"be carefull that you do not put the so called spiritual food at the same level, or on the same pedestal, as the bible.
it is clear to me that they are not.
" to me, at the moment, this is self evident.
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notalone
A good friend was recently told by the CO that when Word is capitalized in the Bible, it means the Bible, but if it is not capitalized it means the publications.
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just asked to send letters to Russia
by notalone inokay, so i don't know what this says about me but, a close friend has just sent me a link to write letters to officials in russia.
пожалуйста, пожалуйста, запретите свидетелей иеговы.
please,please ban jehovah's witnesses s. .
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notalone
I just realized this was a thread under another heading.
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just asked to send letters to Russia
by notalone inokay, so i don't know what this says about me but, a close friend has just sent me a link to write letters to officials in russia.
пожалуйста, пожалуйста, запретите свидетелей иеговы.
please,please ban jehovah's witnesses s. .
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notalone
Okay, so I don't know what this says about me but, a close friend has just sent me a link to write letters to officials in Russia. So I did.
Пожалуйста, пожалуйста, запретите Свидетелей Иеговы
Please,please ban Jehovah's Witnesses s
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Are There Many JWs That Have Actually Left?
by minimus init seems that most people who have been witnesses that i've known in the last 20 years are still jws.
they may not be as zealous as before but they still remain as jehovah's witnesses.
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notalone
The three generations of the five that are still alive in my family have left to never return. I know of another family in our area four generations deep,ALL left, great grandma was first, I know of a third family also 4th or 5th gens and half have left. These are people I have known for many decades,with a deep "spiritual heritage" and active, especially older ones with many decades in. There are still some very sincere ones inside but strong cracks are forming. I personally feel that before long only the fringe complete culties will be left inside with a large group with PTRD ( post traumatic religious disorder) on the outside. May we all heal and help those who are recovering. -
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Sample Disassociation Letter please?
by LifesNotOver ini want to send a disassociation letter to the elders at my old congregation.
how do i address it and what wording do i use?
i know it's not something i have to do, it's symbolic for me.
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notalone
To the congregation of ------,
I am writing this letter to inform you that I no longer wish to be associated with this religion. I am asserting my rights legally in stating that I do not wish to be contacted or discussed by any members of this organization. If I become aware that this is occurring I will take any and all legal steps at my disposal.
If possible have it written by a lawyer-totally freaks them out.
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Confused
by confused3426 ini am a newbie, and yes current jw.
i have been dealing with a lot confusion for months now.
i guess it started last year when i found myself losing my zeal, desire for spiritual things.
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notalone
Dearest confused, I know this can be overwhelming. Go at your own pace. Follow what is important to you. This path is different for each of us.If you don't want to deal with a specific topic set it aside until you are ready. The best advice I can give is read a Bible not produced by the org and to don't allow them to continue to influence your perception. Find out about 'grace'. This is really important for anyone following the christian path. If you are a person of faith- pray! Realize the you are not 'undeserving of kindness' but someone of profound value. Never allow anyone to tell you otherwise.I personally was really helped using Beroean Pickets, it is a great site to help untangling the scriptural twists we find our self in within the JW mindset. Keep coming to this site. Read what upbuilds you avoid what tears you down. There are many on this site who truely will be there when you hit ruff spots. As we have been told so often- taste and see.
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I need advise. I' exJW in Japan.
by yoko N ini need advisei need advise about lingo of jw community.a publisher is required to report time spent in preaching, and field service.in japan.
we say something like“ put time in report card’how do you say in english language?.
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notalone
" turn in my time'