Posts by OrangeBlossom

Do you think the WTS will ever reduce the number of meetings per week, maybe drop one night a week? Just curious! It seems that everyone is so whipped from working all day, I really think that's why there is such a drop in meeting attendance. I know for me, back when I still believed it was the truth, I missed a lot of meetings just because I was so tired from working. Let's face it, you work all day, come home, make dinner, clean up kitchen, who has time for anything else? I'm usually in my jammies by 8pm and nodding off to the TV by 9.

OB

21

Kingdom Hall thinning out?

by OrangeBlossom in

jw
friends

i was thinking about the post about japan closing about 300 congregations in the past 3 years.

i know that the hall i occasionally go to is usually less than half full compared to a few years ago.

my mom says that the elders in her hall are trying to come up with ways to get more to attend as attendance is really bad.

OrangeBlossom

I was thinking about the post about Japan closing about 300 congregations in the past 3 years. I know that the hall I occasionally go to is usually less than half full compared to a few years ago. My mom says that the elders in her hall are trying to come up with ways to get more to attend as attendance is REALLY bad. I have heard that the Society is concerned in the lack of meeting attendance in the US. Has anyone else noticed a decline in their area? Has anyone heard of any congregations combing, i.e. 2 congregations downsizing to 1? BTW, I'm in Florida, just curious to know if it is going on anywhere else.

Have a great day, ya'll!!!

37

would you come?

by rollercoaster in

jw
friends

i want to get married.

he is not in a jw.

i don't care.

OrangeBlossom

Yes, I would come. I'm in Florida, if that's anywhere close I'll be there in the flesh. If it's too far away I will be there in spirit and will drink a toast to you and your husband. BTW, weddings are over-rated. Enjoy the honeymoon and the new life as a married couple, that is the real joy.

9

Mental Anguish

by doubtingsister in

jw
friends

i'm getting ready for the book study.

the only reason i'm even going is because i've got several friends i don't want to break ties with yet.

they are counting on me to help them stay strong in the "truth".

OrangeBlossom

I'm in the exact same boat as you. I occasionally go to meetings just to keep us the front. But in my heart of hearts I have left "the truth". It's very difficult when you have loved ones that are so brainwashed. If I were to completely walk away now it would crush my mom so I keep pretending. But as someone else mentioned above, start missing a few meetings and see how you are treated in the hall. I haven't been in field service for at least a year and I know that I am secretly marked. Of course I could give a rat's patooty about that. One elder in my hall knows that I have doubts and he's been trying to help me, and he is really a great guy. If all elders were like him I may have never doubted that JW's had the truth, but that's another story.

Anyway, keep posting. It's encouraging to know that there are others that can relate to what you are going through. BTW, my mom-in-law tells me all the time what an encouragement I am to her, talk about guilt...I keep up the front because I don't want to disappoint her either.

16

WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?

by Unchained in

jw
friends

this is my first time at this so bare with me.

i will be turning 21 tomorrow so i decided to celebrate like this.

my family threw me a surprise birthday a week ago and we even had a pinata .

OrangeBlossom

Great username, btw. It helped me alot to read Ray Franz' books, "Crisis of Conscience" and "In Search of Religious Freedom." He brings out how the appeal of the JW's is that they seem to possess knowledge about the future and there is a certain contentment to knowing exactly what is going to happen. However, it is their perceived knowledge of the future, and we know how often that changes.

It is not easy to go from "knowing the future" into the unknown, but try to look at it as a journey and try not to put too much pressure on yourself in the process. I'm still on that journey myself. There are days when I feel like I've made a huge mistake and that I have been completely duped by Satan, but most of the time I look at it as glad to know that it is just another religion, with some very sincere, loving and misguided people.

But most important, imho, is that you try not be bitter. You are only 21 and came to the realization early, some of us were twice your age or older when we became aware of things. Even still, you lost out on a childhood that could have been filled with some wonderful memories and it's hard not to be bitter about that. Just count your blessings that you are still relatively young enough to enjoy many guilt-free years and the freedom to truly examine all religions if you choose.

Happy birthday!

12

Did you know that George Benson is a JW?

by Kent in

jw
friends

did you know that the jass musican george benson is a jw?.

http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis/web/vortex/display?slug=jazz25&date=20000825.

kent

OrangeBlossom

I heard Teresa Graves left the BORG.

Vince Gill's ex-wife, Janice Gill is a JW.

My brother met George Benson a couple of years ago and he is still a JW.

Heard that Prince and Chaka Khan are studying. According to George Benson, Larry Graham is/was studying with Prince.

That's all I can think of for now.

Edited by - OrangeBlossom on 23 March 2001 16:40:34

2

Japan

by OrangeBlossom in

jw
friends

someone recently posted, either here or h20, about the decline of number of congregations in japan.

it was startling.

does anyone remember that?

OrangeBlossom

Thank you!

2

Japan

by OrangeBlossom in

jw
friends

someone recently posted, either here or h20, about the decline of number of congregations in japan.

it was startling.

does anyone remember that?

OrangeBlossom

Someone recently posted, either here or H20, about the decline of number of congregations in Japan. It was startling. Does anyone remember that? I was trying to find it so that I could jot down the numbers and now I can't find it. Any help will be appreciated.

15

Mother's letter

by silentlambs in

my wife recieved this letter from her mother thursday.

i thought i might share it at her request to see your opinions as to how she might respond.

i offer a slightly edited version of her letter, any suggestions?.

OrangeBlossom

Silentlambs, I think you and I must have the same mother-in-law. Reading her letter was like listening to my own mother-in-law. I feel for you and your wife, you are trying to stand by your conscience and are being ridiculed for it.

One thing that she mentioned about JW's being the only organization preaching the good news...that's not exactly true. There are lots of organizations that preach, maybe not to the extent JW's do, but, nonetheless, they preach. The other issue is the unity. My husband and I have had numerous discussions about this. Yes, JW's are unified in thought and action because they HAVE to be. If someone in the congregation were to preach anything that was not in the WT or from the WTS they would be disfellowshipped, therefore, they are unified.

I personally have not walked away from the JW's (officially or unofficially), not because I am afraid of losing my friends or relatives, as I could count on one hand the close friends I have as a JW, and I was born into it, but, because it would kill my mother for me to leave. I'm trying to hold on until she dies and then I'm gone. I do hang on to this fantasy that something will happen in the meantime to open the eyes of my believing relatives and then I won't have to wait, but it is a fantasy. I doubt very seriously that your mother-in-law or mine will ever see the WTS for what it really is.

Anyway, keep up the good work. You are doing nothing wrong, IMHO.

OB

P.S. Wasasister, I really enjoyed your reply, EXCELLENT!

OB

Edited by - OrangeBlossom on 17 March 2001 10:50:4