It's absolutely normal for this to happen. It happens to people who get out of abusive relationships too. Deprogramming can take a lifetime. Personally, I don't like watching YouTube videos or reading ex-JW books but I am more focused as to the process of what's happening emotionally and mentally. Books like The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse, Combating Cult Mind Control really help analyze the power this cult has and how it connects to your thoughts. I feel it helps me understand the level of control the cult has over me and what I need to do to continue deprogramming. It also helps to identify the tactics and manipulation they use and how to reject it.
Whynot
JoinedPosts by Whynot
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26
Affected by assembly
by Saltheart Foamfollower inhi - first some context - i have been pimo for about 20 years now and so have been to a lot of assemblies in that time.
last weekend i went to a circuit assembly and for the first time afterwards i was able to talk directly to someone who knows i'm out.
i realised then that although i didn't agree with any teachings (i sat picking holes in the arguements as usual) the experience of being there had affected me - the way of life started feeling normal as did the overall way of viewing the world.
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Matthew 24:34 not fulfilled in the first century
by Jules Saturn ini was discussing with an elder the generation teaching and telling him when jesus christ says in matthew 24:34 “truly i say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things happen.” he was referring to the generation from the first century in 33 ad and these events that were to take place took place with the destruction of jerusalem in 70 ad.
now the elder tells me to go back to a few verses to from verses 29-33 which read: .
“immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened,+ and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.+ 30 then the sign of the son of man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in grief,+ and they will see the son of man+ coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
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Whynot
Josephus documented some strange sightings, trumpet sounds, celestial objects before 70 AD. So, I don't know what he's talking about that it wasn't fulfilled.
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What Is The Most Ridiculous Thing You Have Heard From A Witness?
by minimus ini remember an elder questioning a woman who had admitted to giving and receiving oral sex from her unbelieving mate.
he asked her the most intimate questions which clearly flustered her.
interestingly, she “confessed “ to the elders because her conscience bothered her.
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Whynot
My mother has said ridiculous things like if you go to high school you will get DF and if you go to college you will get DF and never come back. My favorite, if you get a job you will become a drunk, drug addict and fornicator. My parents forced me to drop out of school. When I was old enough I got a job against their will. They really just wanted me to live with them and regular pioneer. I did become a regular pioneer but I wasn't allowed to work or go to college. It was horrible! I was so happy to get out of there. They still try to control me but I keep my distance.
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How do you deal with the loneliness after leaving?
by Whynot ini'm having one of those days where i feel lonely and wish i had someone to just hang out with.
my husband got disfellowshipped 3 years ago and even though i didn't do anything wrong i was pushed away.
my so called "friends" decided to avoid me.
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Whynot
My husband and I are still together. I am so happy I posted this. There's a lot of ideas you guys suggested that I need to try. I guess my next step is therapy. There's definitely a lot I need to process.
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How do you deal with the loneliness after leaving?
by Whynot ini'm having one of those days where i feel lonely and wish i had someone to just hang out with.
my husband got disfellowshipped 3 years ago and even though i didn't do anything wrong i was pushed away.
my so called "friends" decided to avoid me.
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Whynot
I'm having one of those days where I feel lonely and wish I had someone to just hang out with. My husband got disfellowshipped 3 years ago and even though I didn't do anything wrong I was pushed away. My so called "friends" decided to avoid me. I couldn't believe it. I guess being a stay-at-home mom with 2 autistic boys makes it harder to make new friends. I feel like I need to be careful with making "worldly" friends. I was raised to fear anyone who is not a jw. I hate it! How do you deal with these horrible feelings? There is a co-worker that wants to hangout and I would really like to. How do I push this endoctrination out of my head that it's not fine to be friends with someone who is not a JW? I feel like a big mess bleh.
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Humans brought to Earth, not native to it.
by Bad_Wolf inbelow i link the article.
i thought some points on the claim were interesting.
such as how prolonged direct exposure to sunlight hurts us vs other animals, sicknesses, etc.
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Whynot
Lol This would make a cool movie
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Roll Call for the benefit of Newbies and Lurkers. In One Sentence tell why you left the Org.
by Wasanelder Once inroll call for the benefit of newbies and lurkers.
in one sentence tell why you left the org.
not 2 sentences.
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Whynot
I have always had doubts but was always told to wait upon Jehovah and just trust the governing body. I had a crisis in my life that forced me to reconsider my whole life decisions and beliefs. I questioned everything. It made me realize that religion is not the answer and that WT is just another business. I didn't realize how much I was looking to WT as I would God. The WT was my god. I also realized that pretty much everyone I know who is a JW has this feeling as well. My journey isn't over but it's been a rollercoaster that has been gradually stabilizing.
I still believe in Jehovah, Jesus and I'm restudying the Bible. I feel like I had to start from scratch. This time I'm open minded and willing to see ALL facts. My faith is still there even though it did get trembled. I find myself praying, reading and studying more.
A book that really helped figure myself out was The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse. It helped me analyze myself, my emotions, my thoughts since I felt so overwhelmingly scattered by the life crisis I was going through. Crisis of Conscience, In Search for Christian Freedom also helped process my thoughts towards the organization.
I find it absolutely fascinating to study the Bible in a different light. I've been reading on the books in the Dead Sea Scrolls, secular history while learning greek and hebrew. I'm not an expert. I just think it's interesting and fun.
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My search for religion.
by joe134cd insince leaving the jws i have become more interested in finding out about other faiths.
here are a few of my findings.. lds: i just couldnt get my head around the mental gymnastics i would have to do to understand their doctrines and theology.
i attended their services twice.
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Whynot
Wow! You're truly making an effort. I do want to mention that JWs leave their religion they temd to be vulnerable and desprately look for a substitute. It's like leaving an abusive relationship and falling into another. There's also religious co-dependence. During this time, i would focus on strenghthening your relationship with God and follow Jesus NOT religion. Religion can be good at introducing people to faith and sparking that desire within for a spiritual life. God is a spirit and those worshipping him do it in spirit and truth. Humans have a need to belong but if you pray about you WILL find your tribe. I highly recommend you read a book called The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse by David Johnson and Jeff VanVonderen. It's extremely important to know who you are, how being a JW affected you and how to avoid falling in a similar pattern.
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jwartwork.org
by bs_since_1870s ini just updated my website, any feedback is welcome!.
jwartwork.org.
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Whynot
The link isn't working
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7
YMCA membership what is the current belief?
by Whynot ini know that having a y membership was a huge no, no for jws.
there hasn't been any information on this subject in decades.
i met an elder's wife a few years ago that goes to the y and also has a membership.
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Whynot
I know that having a Y membership was a huge no, no for JWs. There hasn't been any information on this subject in decades. I met an elder's wife a few years ago that goes to the Y and also has a membership. So I'm thinking there was an unwritten change somehow. It just hasn't been published for some reason. At the same time, if it's not acceptable for JWs to have a membership, wouldn't that also mean that they can't eat at Chic-fil-a or Cracker Barrell or any business who supports "christendom"? It may even affect JWs going to Starbucks, right? I also don't understand why it would be ok for JWs to have an NGO membership with the UN but not at the Y.