outnfree

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Posts by outnfree

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  13

  So Can DF'ing Be A Bonus?

  by Englishman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  im passionately opposed to the unscriptural practice of disfellowshipping.

  i believe that it preys on mankinds worse fears of being left alone, an outcast, a pariah shunned by ones own tribe, a person so reprehensible that even ones very existence is left unacknowledged.

  its certainly not the invention of a caring creator, and as for it being a loving act for the dfd one, please dont insult my intelligence.. that being said, i wonder whether or not disfellowshipping can actually be a refuge for the disillusioned witness?

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  outnfree

  It just occurred to me that some WITH FAMILY inside the Borg might find disfellowshipping to be a better way out, as long as they have family that will not cut them dead.

  Sorry for my narrow-mindedness.

  outnfree
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  13

  So Can DF'ing Be A Bonus?

  by Englishman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  im passionately opposed to the unscriptural practice of disfellowshipping.

  i believe that it preys on mankinds worse fears of being left alone, an outcast, a pariah shunned by ones own tribe, a person so reprehensible that even ones very existence is left unacknowledged.

  its certainly not the invention of a caring creator, and as for it being a loving act for the dfd one, please dont insult my intelligence.. that being said, i wonder whether or not disfellowshipping can actually be a refuge for the disillusioned witness?

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  outnfree

  Skimmer!
  Such wit! Such poetry! Such fun!
  ROFL

  Englishman,

  I found disassociating myself to be very liberating -- hence my moniker here. I had emotionally disassociated myself about five months before I actually wrote the letter. (I had SERIOUS questions for about a year and a half before that. I had doubts and niggling worries for YEARS before that.) Meetings were to be endured. Inanities were to be rued. Field service became out of the question.

  At the point that I decided to make my move -- the 5 months out point -- I actually did do things that were disfellowshipping offenses according to BORG rules. But they were not unscriptural things. Rather, I visited a sick, disfellowshipped sister, I went to area church services looking for a possible new home, I read apostate material, I met with a local minister, I prayed for and with non-Witnesses about health and other concerns, I shopped for Christmas presents with my non-JW husband, I BOUGHT my non-JW husband a Christmas present. But, alas! my downfall -- for there were never TWO WITNESSES to any of these things -- I tried to share the truth about "the Truth" with my dear friend on the inside.

  Yes, she reported me to the elders, which precipitated MY decision to just walk away. I might've done otherwise, but I decided to lose her (and a very few others) and end it. I had only stayed because of hoping to help her. I had no illusions of my being able to reform the Organization.

  You DO find out who your real friends are. Mine are two [previously]inactive sisters and my ailing disfellowshipped girlfriend. And I have no family who are Witnesses.

  I DID try to point out a few things in my last two meetings with the elders so that they might have a CLUE as to why so many are slowly leaching away. But I don't think I made a dent. And I didn't want to give them enough ammunition to DF me.

  It was VERY important to me to be able to walk out of the KH after my DA announcement with a big smile on my face so that the congregation would understand that I had rejected Jehovah's organization and it had NOT rejected me.

  So, now, if you're thinking of leaving and you want to make a similar statement, don't do something they can disfellowship you for, just write your polite letter and GO.
  But stay for the announcement.
  And walk out with your head high.

  And, as Skimmer noted, you don't have to shun THEM just because they shun you!

  Peace.

  outnfree

  A man must not swallow more beliefs than he can digest.
  -- Havelock Ellis
• 
  34

  belly up to the bar, guys and gals

  by unanswered in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  with all the confrontation/negativity on the board these last few weeks, maybe we all need to sit back and have a drink, or a cup of tea or coffee, if alcohol's not for you.. seriously, i'm not trying to pretend that i haven't gotten caught up in the negativity at times, or trivialize important issues/feelings, but things haven't been as fun, lately.

  i've noticed a change even in the short time i've been posting.

  i didn't start this topic to point fingers or to act like my opinion is somehow special, but wouldn't it be nice for all of us to see an increase in civility?.

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  outnfree

  It's true, it's true -- I got fed up with Wayne and what I thought was righteously indignant at both the lightweight issue of CO's and their dietary requirements and the heavierweight issue of those elders in Missouri who are busy being the Society's pawns (oops! there I go again! SIGH!) who are refusing to tell what they know of an alleged confession of a child rapist.

  I pledge to be less sarcastic if some of our Aussie friends can supply me with a glass or two of Blues Point Chardonnay Semillion.

  outnfree
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  31

  WTBTS Monitoring Discussion Boards??????

  by normie67 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  just curious many say that the org monitors dbs, but anybody have concrete proof of this??

  oh by the way at the recent ca dbs were mentioned from the platform!!!

  the thought was "some jws were visting jehovahs witness discusssion boards and trying to correspond with some"...might not be exactly what was said(not an actual quote)...they mentioned put a doubt in your mind and start questioning your beliefs!!!

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  outnfree

  jst2laws:

  You said, "I was reminded by Farkel the greatest risk is not what we say here but what we may say locally, to a seeming trusted friend in the congregation, or out. It may be too late for me."

  Did something happen lately that endangers your anonymity? If so, and you're feeling worried or betrayed, we're here for you.

  outnfree
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  1

  SURVEY??

  by Big Jim in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  what percentage of decrease would there be in the societys's numbers if they were to back out all the minor kid's that are included in the numbers?

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  outnfree

  I think you have a VERY interesting question, Big Jim.

  Because it's PUBLISHERS that count, not just BAPTIZED Witnesses in the figures. There are plenty of children who are unbaptized publishers out of a desire to please their parents who will never become productive, baptized Jehovah's Witnesses. How many, indeed?

  For YEARS, my four children's bodies were warming seats in the Kingdom Hall. They are now 17, 15, 12 & 11, and NONE of them would describe themselves as Jehovah's Witnesses any longer. (Actually, they made the break before I did.) So for, say, 10 years, attendance was at 3+ for most meetings, but only one of us was a dedicated & baptized BELIEVER.

  outnfree
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  8

  My Exit

  by Big Jim in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  my name is jim,i have been in a slow but now i feel complete process of removing myself from the chains of mind control.. before i left i was a ministerial servant as well as a regular aux pioneer, i also had book study in my home along with sat.

  morning field service.

  unfournatley i was raised in the non-truth since i was 8 years old, i refused to get babtized as a youth because even then i felt like things were not like they really should be from a relegion that claims to have love among themselves as well as love for neighbor.. at the age of 16 i started to rebell against the non-truth with the result being that i did not want to be a witness i could not live in my loving witness parent household.

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  outnfree

  Welcome, Big Jim.

  I, like Zazu and ShaunaC am also saddened by the grief that your association with the WTBTS has caused and is still causing you.
  The information Shauna recommended is VERY good. Use your position as head of the household (for now, anyway ) to get your wife and children thinking.
  
  I just disassociated myself last month and I'd have to say that it was a combination of cognitive dissonance AND people who truly love me asking me questions while offering me unconditional love. I'm sure your family has at least SOME issues with the Org. and you sound as though you have plenty of loving concern to offer.

  I wish you all the best, BigJim.

  outnfree
• 
  5

  Another self introducton

  by Skimmer in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  greeting to all the readership:.

  i am a newcomer to this board, and as i have enjoyed reading the self-introductions of others, i'd thought i'd post one of my own.. in 1966 i was a nine year old boy and my parents where going through a messy divorce.

  i wound up spending some time with an aunt and uncle who had been jws for all of their adult lives, and they gave me a copy of the wtbts book _from paradise lost to paradise regained_.

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  outnfree

  Thanks for your story, Skimmer, and welcome to the Board!
  Very interesting that you became an adult convert to Catholicism -- one place I've always said I'd never go (being brought up Protestant and then a Witness convert). I'm curious now about Mere Christianity and may just have to read it. It's already been pointed out to me that unlike the Witnesses' faithful and discreet slave, the Roman Catholic church CAN actually trace its history back 2000 years. However, there seems to be much superstition involved in the worship rituals that have evolved (my kids all go to parochial school as my husband is Catholic) -- a major turn off for me. How did you come to believe in "transsubtantiation" for instance? Will the book explain it? Or can you offer me something right here?

  Thanks,
  outnfree
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  66

  i am new

  by knight in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i have read the various posts here an i have my own story to tell i amstill a witness not as active as i used to be but stillfaithful i think the main problem that jws have is that they put c.o's m.s's elders and the like on pedestals and when you do that you set yourself up for a letdown and when that person does something you dont think is right you are letdown but one should not let this block his/her relationship with jehovah.

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  outnfree

  Hello, knight.
  It is true that many tend to see the MS, elders, etc. AS the Organization. They are not. But neither is the Organization God.
  This is a very important mantra to learn for most Witnesses and ex-Witnesses alike: "'The Society' does NOT equal Jehovah. To know Jehovah one does not have to know the Society." Of course, it's not the mantra the Society preaches.
  My best advice to you, still faithful Knight, is to sit and read your Bible daily -- WITHOUT study aids nearby -- and develop a relationship with your Creator as Prisca has. It's very freeing. Also, don't neglect Jesus. Jehovah God himself exalted Jesus and we on in heaven, on earth and under the earth are encouraged to bend our knees to him (Php 2:9-11). Crossroads had a point.

  I wish you well and hope this board helps you on your journey.

  outnfree
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  13

  Allow me to introduce myself...

  by MuzicmanCa in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i am a new face to this website, although i have poked around in it for some time.

  i was born and raised as a witness starting in brooklyn, new york in 1973. i was disfellowshipped on my 26th birthday, november 20th, 1999. i am not one of those that feels bitter about it.

  i know full well that the jw's have a code of morals and behavior that quite honestsly, i did not live up to.

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  outnfree

  Welcome, MuzicmanCA!

  Your life's path is, indeed, a journey, and how nice that your birth and freedom from tyranny dates coincide!
  
  I particularly liked your points that people have different reasons for going to church or practicing a religion and that organized religion provides that. I think the organization fulfilled a need in me for a time, but that I grew spiritually (or maybe just logically)while the organization remained stagnant. I still have a long way to go. But for now, I'm happy to be

  outnfree!
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  1

  Leo Tolstoy letter

  by Drue in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  heres a letter a famous russian writer leo tolstoy wrote to his accusers when he was excommunicated from the russian orthodox church.. i find the parallels in the churchs dealings with him remarkably similar to those of the wts when accusing the so-called apostates of being proud, rebellious etc.. ironically, the letter is reproduced in the official web-site of jws in russia ( http://www.jw-russia.org/eng/frames/press.htm).

  to people in russia the wt evidently try to present themselves as fighters for religious freedom and tolerance (whereas making the russian orthodox church appear as enemies for such freedom).

  jws do not acknowledge that their shunning policy is much more unkind than rocs attitude and that they do deny people who disagree with them the same privilege roc denied to tolstoy.. the bold in the text below is mine.. .

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  outnfree

  Thank you, Drue, for sharing that. I had never read it, although I read somewhere that Tolstoy was not a Trinitarian.

  It was encouraging to read and I also am

  1/ not surprised that the Witnesses have it up on the Russian website,
  as it promotes a non-Trinitarian view; and

  2/ not surprised that the WTBTS cannot see the parallels you mentioned
  in the harshness of their disfellowshipping action and the reaction
  of the rank and file to their df'd "friends" with the reviling
  meted out to Tolstoy in letters and comments which other Russian
  Orthodox Church members were allowed to send and make and the less
  harsh excommunication of the ROC which only prevented Tolstoy from
  participating in the sacraments (which he no longer had any desire
  to do anyway).

  Ah, well! Posts like yours might open the eyes of posters here who have not yet made the connection.

  Thanks again.

  outnfree

  A man must not swallow more beliefs than he can digest.
  -- Havelock Ellis