Posts by 3rdgen

47

Suicide or Real Freedom? - My Story As One Of Jehovah's Witnesses

by dubstepped in

"sometimes i think the only thing i could do that wouldn't upset someone would be to kill myself.".

those were the frustrated words of my friend as we stood out in his large yard in the country, just about to enjoy a nice bonfire on a beautiful night.

what was it that could have been a lesser evil than killing himself?

3rdgen

Mike, (glad I can call you Mike) Your post was so moving. You are able to put into words the profound turmoil so many of us have suffered as children born and reared in the JW culture. I also had parents and grandparents who either abused alcohol or prescription meds which adds an additional element of anxiety and fear for children that takes it to the level of trauma.

You have inspired me to write letters to my closest family members who are shunning me because I no longer am "active". I know it won't change how they treat me but at least they will read my own words as opposed to the BS they have heard through the "Grapevine".

31

heart troubles

by zeb in

jw
friends

dear all,.

my health took a beating over the years with stress from various sources, not a little from the wt; and dangerous areas of work involving fumes and so on.

the arc also took its toll and i have had recently a heart attack.

3rdgen

Zeb, I am so sorry for your your pain. If you must have surgery I hope it goes perfectly. You have people here who genuinely care. We wish you only the best.

12

New song, "Who We Stoning Today" For my good friend Eric on JWSTRUGGLE.coom

by Greybeard in

jw
friends

i wrote this song after watching eric's judicial stoning.

i used the words he spoke at the beginning of his video and added more words... here is to you eric, thank you for all you help at jwstruggle.com .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjkxp1tc4t0.

3rdgen

Greybeard, I enjoyed your performance. You MUST try to make it to Tahoe next year. it turns out that Cha Ching and I were in the same congregation in 1968!!!! we hadn't seen each other since. Yet, it was as if no time had passed. Thanks for the musical reminder- I am trying my best to stop letting fear rule my life.

10

"Attn Lurkers- Terror, fear and your future- How terror groups and JW.org use similar tactics

by stuckinamovement in

jw
friends

we have nothing to fear but fear itself is a famous line uttered by franklin delano roosevelt during one of the usas most uncertain and scary time periods during the height of ww2..

fear can immobilize a person, make them afraid to help others in times of critical need.

fearfulness can change a persons personality forcing them to act in ways that they wouldnt otherwise.

3rdgen

SIAM, Hi! Good to hear from you . As a person who has lived her whole life in fear I GET it , I really get it.

35

Saddest thing about being DFd

by kairos in

jw
friends

i always enjoyed being kind.

when someone genuinely needed a hand or what not, it felt good to help family or friends.. i don't really miss them anymore.

i faded over two years ago, so they long ago shunned me.i think about them less and less and have even forgotten some names.i did enjoy some of the friendships and the association.

3rdgen

Wow, Kairos,

I got your "inside joke". Is the "loving" elder and wife still driving the BMW? They both have sizable JW families but you came through for them even more than than a literal brother. I think it is also interesting to note that the barn and motor home being used by said loving elder is being provided by a man who is not and never has been a JW. (JW mom)

Never change your giving nature-it's who you are. The so called friends who have abandoned you are the ones who have lost the most. Besides, you have made some great new ex-JW friends right?

50

Is this a BEAUTIFUL STORY--or what?

by Terry in

is this a beautiful story, or what?.

act one________.

now in an ordinary romance of the golden hollywood era, the boy goes off to war while the young lady waits nervously for his safe return.in a cary grant, debra kerr movie, the two vow to meet after a certain period of time and tragic circumstances intervene.. in my story, the young man is a conscientious objector who goes to prison instead of off to the vietnam war.

3rdgen

Awwwwwwwwww, Great story Terry. You have found a long lost friend at the least and maybe, just maybe................You know!

20

Gas prices today & the book study

by LevelThePlayingField in

we all remember, one of the main reasons for removing the bookstudy was the high gas prices, well, have you looked at the gas prices today?

nationwide, the lowest is about $1.65, the highest is about $2.67.

isn't that right about the same gas prices as when they cancelled the bookstudy in the first place?

3rdgen

Nic, good point. The WTBT$ has never lost any sleep worrying about hardships of those outside the USA. It was NEVER about gas prices. What, they LIED????? Yeah, I don't think the society thought the truth would go over too well.

Imagine sitting at the KH and hearing the letter read....

Dear Brothers,

It has come to our attention that there is an ever increasing number of pedophiles among us. Since the Congregation Book Study is a place where there are greater opportunities for these pervs to groom and molest their victims, we will discontinue this meeting as of next week.

Please be assured that this decision was made out of our Christian love for the brotherhood and NOT because we are getting our asses sued off.

Your brothers,

The Legal Department

20

Gas prices today & the book study

by LevelThePlayingField in

we all remember, one of the main reasons for removing the bookstudy was the high gas prices, well, have you looked at the gas prices today?

nationwide, the lowest is about $1.65, the highest is about $2.67.

isn't that right about the same gas prices as when they cancelled the bookstudy in the first place?

3rdgen

It was a fertile ground for pedophiles.

31

The Thief of Always

by YinzerDad in

prologue... .

a brief precursor about myself.

i've been lurking around for almost 2 years.

3rdgen

YinzerDad, Welcome! I enjoyed your post. I too, am twice your age but didn't mentally leave the Watchtower until i was almost 60.

My only living child (daughter) is your age so I am always interested in the perspective of the early thirty somethings raised as Witnesses. She asked me if she could take dancing lessons when she was about 8. I agreed, reasoning it wouldn't be much different than piano lessons-something perfectly acceptable in JW culture. Little did we know she was extremely talented. After only a couple of years she was moved to the advanced classes in Ballet, Jazz, and tap and the teachers were pressuring me to let her dance competitively. Needless to say, the congregation did not approve and I'm sorry to say, I didn't let her take her talent to it's natural limit.

Fast forward to the present. Daughter left JWs nearly 10 years ago after being baptized only 2 years. Like you she has recently started therapy. Not all of her pathology is JW related but more than she admits to- is. However, I am happy to report that after leaving JWs she took up Ballet again as an adult, not to compete but purely for the love of dance.

I mention this to say that there might be an interest you had in your childhood that you have put aside or forgotten about. You now have permission to explore those interests. Even if they seem childish, who cares? Go for it! I wish you and your family all the best. Keep us posted.

40

What is the org’s view on extraterrestrial life?

by My Name is of No Consequence in

i am sure that it has been discussed before.

but just out of curiosity, what is the orgs view on extraterrestrial life?

the org certainly agrees that the universe is infinitely large.

3rdgen

Beth S gave the standard JW answer which is: Earth must be the first planet to be inhabited because otherwise the issue of Universal Sovereignty would have already arisen and been settled by JeHOvah.

I agree that if intelligent life is found on another planet they will likely say it is a Satanic hoax. Yet, when i was still "in" there were those who thought that after the big A and the paradise earth is filled some other planet might be prepared (by God) to support human life. Then humans might be transferred there to beautify and fill it. I know, weird.