Posts by John Aquila

41

Ganged up via Telephone

by vinman in

i've been fading for about 9 months.

the elders know exactly why.

i received a phone call a couple of days ago.

Sister attendants not able to give directions to a brother..Misogyny

by Theburstbubble in

at our recent rc i was advised by a sister who was an attendant that they have been advised not to be able to give brothers directions as this should be dealt with by the brothers.

apparently at the pre-convention attendants meeting, the sisters were asked to stay behind.

this was when they were given the news that the brothers should deal with brothers.

John Aquila

the embarrassing situation of a brother asking the sister for directions. The sister just looked at the brother and said 'I'm afraid i can't help you, you'll have to ask the brother who i'm attending with'.

That's just crazy, no other way to explain it. Poor people.

8

Is it More Difficult for Us?

by vinman in

it seems that as ex jw's, we have a harder time with ttatt then other religions.

is that just because we claim to only use the bible unlike mormons?

is it because they like no other religion keep claiming to be jehovah's organization?

John Aquila

It’s hard because you were promised that you wouldn’t die.

You were promised that you would live forever in paradise earth.

It was explained perfectly why there was wickedness on the earth and why we grow old and die.

Then after many years and when your life is almost over, they pull the carpet under your feet and take away your family.

Other religions don’t do these things.

69

Why Me?

by John Aquila in

do you ever wonder why out of all the witnesses, you are the one that woke up?

i wonder many times why me.

i know many men and women that are much, much better persons than me; either they are much smarter, more humble, kinder, more successful, or just better persons all around.

John Aquila

Driving Force
When I first became a witness I use to think, "Why do I have the privilege of knowing the truth", now I think, "Why do I have the privilege to know TTATT".
Oh shit, I went in a complete circle, and it took me nearly thirty years to do so.

It better not be a half circle, I don't think I can take any more awakings. Plus I don't have another 30 years.

69

Why Me?

by John Aquila in

do you ever wonder why out of all the witnesses, you are the one that woke up?

i wonder many times why me.

i know many men and women that are much, much better persons than me; either they are much smarter, more humble, kinder, more successful, or just better persons all around.

John Aquila

Ucantnome

john your avatar is Dexter?

Yea I liked Dexter. Serial killer BUT, only killed those who deserved it. True Justice. No beating around the bush. No judicial committees. No two witness rule. No waiting for Jehovah to take care of the matter. And he always got away with it. Like someone higher was watching over him so he could mete out justice.

69

Why Me?

by John Aquila in

do you ever wonder why out of all the witnesses, you are the one that woke up?

i wonder many times why me.

i know many men and women that are much, much better persons than me; either they are much smarter, more humble, kinder, more successful, or just better persons all around.

John Aquila

vinman

. What I am seeing and reading in books like Diane Wilson's book, The Awakening of a Jehovah's Witness, actually is irritating to me. Why? If you read this book, you will see clearly that she remained in the organization for years. However, it is clear that her thinking processes were always in tact. She was never really asleep. Just complaining in her head why this and that were wrong.

Holy cow! I never heard of that. To remain for years despite knowing. Another curve ball!

69

Why Me?

by John Aquila in

do you ever wonder why out of all the witnesses, you are the one that woke up?

i wonder many times why me.

i know many men and women that are much, much better persons than me; either they are much smarter, more humble, kinder, more successful, or just better persons all around.

John Aquila

Ucantnome
Was this a reference to 2 Peter

2 Peter 2:9,10 Jehovah knows how to deliver people of godly devotion out of trial, but to reserve unrighteous people for the day of judgment to be cut off, 10 especially, however, those who go on after flesh with the desire to defile [it] and who look down on lordship.

Yep, and it didn't work well for Lot either. The city of Zoar was spared probably thousands of those who go on after the flesh with the desire to defile it, but God executed Poor Lot's wife for just looking back. Which sin was worse, looking back or going after flesh to defile it?

The chances of surviving that destruction were better if you were a flesh defiling Zoarite rather than the Wife of Godly Lot.

69

Why Me?

by John Aquila in

do you ever wonder why out of all the witnesses, you are the one that woke up?

i wonder many times why me.

i know many men and women that are much, much better persons than me; either they are much smarter, more humble, kinder, more successful, or just better persons all around.

John Aquila

Magnum
Maybe it is. You assume

Yea, I do, I really don't have any answers. Everyone here so far makes a point I can't refute. I almost have my second degree and read tons of books on different subjects and I'm still as lost as ever. So I decided to just admit I don't know and probably won't before the final breath. And I'm not really ok with it but what else can I do? Nothing but try to enjoy the last few moments of life I do have.

69

Why Me?

by John Aquila in

do you ever wonder why out of all the witnesses, you are the one that woke up?

i wonder many times why me.

i know many men and women that are much, much better persons than me; either they are much smarter, more humble, kinder, more successful, or just better persons all around.

John Aquila

done4good

They actually dig their heels deeper to avoid the effects of the cognitive dissonance, at least for a period of time, and often that time period lasts years, if not decades. A person can only take so much of the conflict, so shutdown is a common response. The belief in spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary of that belief is just another form of mental shutdown. It is only when a person is forced into the state of cognitive dissonance to such a degree that their normal shutdown mechanisms are no longer effective, that the cognitive dissonance actually forces them to wake up.

You just described my ex perfectly. I'm waiting and hoping that ultimately she is forced to wake up. That's why I love stuff like the RC. Exposure, exposure, and more exposure, that's the key.

69

Why Me?

by John Aquila in

do you ever wonder why out of all the witnesses, you are the one that woke up?

i wonder many times why me.

i know many men and women that are much, much better persons than me; either they are much smarter, more humble, kinder, more successful, or just better persons all around.

John Aquila

You all have brought out some great points that I'm sure will benefit not just me, but others who read the comments.

Caleb, yes I do feel like I've been in a plane crash. And and husbands, wives, grandmas, grandpa, teenagers, and infants have all died and only I have survived. It makes no sense.

That's what happened yesterday I guess when my mom started naming all the speakers at the conventions. I was there with all these speakers giving talks at the conventions also. I have a long history with them. Several families I grew up with asked my mom how I was doing. One family even told my mom they have a few cassette tapes where they recorded some of my talks. And every once in while they play them on study night for the whole family because they are so encouraging and it helps them remain strong in the truth. (WTF)

It can drive a person crazy.