Posts by John Free

i feel like i need to vent my story out, as i feel quite helpless at the moment.. i'm 31 year old, married, father of toddler with another one on the way, due later this month.

i've been serving as elder for about 4 years now in a south florida congregation.

Enjoyed reading your post and I think you've handled matters very well so far. I, like you purely left over doctrine, and was also suppressing doubts for years that were too important to ignore. I can also say that I didn't dislike anyone in my Cong, and don't blame individuals in the org- its just a monster that's evolved into being. Well done on finding the courage to be true to yourself.

36

Good news to report: Congregations merged because lack of attendance, publishers & field service

by Khaleesi in

so it's official, i am happy to report that we merged with another congregation having the same problem.

why is it good news???

because people are either waking up, fading or just not buying into this organization any longer or walking away.... i think many young ones are just not buying into it as much, i see many in the congregation i go to very depressed and some i know personally going thru major depression especially the young "sisters" in their early 20s.... .

John Free

Same thing happened here 18 months ago, 4 congs became 3- with 1 KH being sold (all money straight to Borg HQ). Same story of pressure to conform to arrangements-loyalty to Jah is at stake blah blah blah.

The meeting attendances were meatier for a while but already slimming down lol. 'ah well there'll be more people there so nobody will notice if I have a night off'

121

Hey ya'll! My first post. Please help. In need of advice/comfort.

by Stepford Wife in

jw
friends

hey ya'll!

i have been lurking for years on this site and others but never had the courage to post anything.

actually i was afraid of posting on an apostate site in the event i was wrong.

John Free

No James that is not a disfellowshipping offense lol.

A full list of disfellowshipping ofenses is available on the jwfacts website.- its worth any recent fader checking that list- just to know the enemy

121

Hey ya'll! My first post. Please help. In need of advice/comfort.

by Stepford Wife in

jw
friends

hey ya'll!

i have been lurking for years on this site and others but never had the courage to post anything.

actually i was afraid of posting on an apostate site in the event i was wrong.

John Free

When I suddenly stopped attending elders wanted to meet with me but I told them there is no point because I have doubts that cannot be resolved. Still, some came around uninvited; I welcomed them in, but when they tried digging I simply repeated the statement 'I have doubts, I don't want to talk about them'- they left soon after.

Remember- having doubts is not a disfellow offense neither is not wanting to talk about them.

Still, best to avoid the meeting altogether. You know their motive and you know you're not going back-the meeting can achieve nothing good.

A warm welcome to the forum!

150

Start A Butterfly Garden!

by Bonsai in

jw
friends

time to take a break from debating religion.

take in a breath of fresh air and be healed by the wonders of nature around you.. how many of you have a garden?

how many have a nice flower patch to go with your vegetable garden?

John Free

Very refreshing post! I will be sharing it with the family later, it sounds like a nice project. -on a side note one of the first things we did after leaving the Borg was buy 3pairs of walking boots, instead of being bored in KH on Sunday mornings we saw some of nature's wonders last summer.

Again, thanks for the suggestion!

16

Why do American Christians stand with Muslim Nations on the Question of Evolution?

by fulltimestudent in

jw
friends

some statistics.

this graph charts national responses to the statement, "human beings, as we know them, developed from earlier species of animal," and show some strange bedfellows.. .

as you see, a huge majority (70% and higher) of western europe people surveyed, accept evolution (in some form).

John Free

It's probably the same Americans that are backing Donald trump? These people are from the stone ages.

20

My Story

by Freeandclear in

just thought i'd introduce myself and share my story.

up front, i'm not bitter.

okay now that that's out the way..... i first heard "the truth" when i was about 14 years old from a friends mom who was studying.

John Free

Thanks for your story, agreed God would let us know unequivocally what the truth is. It is sad not to have all the answers- but then we never did have them...

Welcome to freedom.