I too had no JW friends despite being born in. Also, not close to my family so i didnt really lose anything or anyone when i left.
I like your writing style. Great story Gabe.
Are you in the UK?
thanks for the warm greetings all.
wow!
i am very moved, really.
I too had no JW friends despite being born in. Also, not close to my family so i didnt really lose anything or anyone when i left.
I like your writing style. Great story Gabe.
Are you in the UK?
just had a coffee on way home when two young mums with babys in strollers came in with the usual bags and stuff for the little ones needs.
i recall our days of little ones and the times we rarely went out.. i bought a coffee voucher for each mum and gave them my best wishes.
i delight in doing random acts of kindness.. i wish everyone here as well a safe and happy christmas/ new year time.
My daughter and I have personally been on the receiving end of Zeb's kindness all the way from Oz! So thanks again Zeb. Her toy Koala is still pride of place (she actually put it on the Christmas tree a few days ago instead of a bauble).
Just reading here on this forum, I've noticed that ex JWs seem to be more giving than when they were in as well as current jws. I've noticed a pull in this direction for myself as well. Any ideas or theories as to why exciting the bORG seems to make people more giving?
I find myself a lot more outgoing and friendly. I cant believe i used to look down on these people and see them as not real people. I think in all cases, as soon as one group dehumanizes another group it makes it easier to treat them with disrespect, easier to not empathize with them and easier to think of them being destroyed without a care.
The Nazi's did it with the Jews.
The Japanese did it with the Chinese.
And Jehovah's Witnesses to it to everybody else.
Once you're out and see the world as a wonderful, exciting place you appreciate it more because you've missed so much. So you jump in with both feet and want to get involved.
That's my take on it anyway.
my (very fake) name is gabriel syme or gabe for short.
i have been lurking in the shadows for many years and i want to give all here a heartfelt thank you for all your indirect support.
this website, as well as youtube, and eventually reddit, were all key in me finally accepting the “truth” being not that at all.
Welcome Gabe
I kinda wish i picked a better name now after seeing yours.
I look forward to reading your future posts.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/how-to-escape-from-jehovah-s-witnesses-religion#/.
for $150: collaboration with the backer so that their story of successfully escaping an abusive belief system (300 words max) features along with others in the final pages of how to escape from jehovah's witnesses.
the text will be written by the author but will include a minimum of one quote worded by the backer.
I thought about writing a book on how to leave too but then i didn't because you can sum it up in 19 words:
Stop attending meetings. Don't talk to elders. If they question you about religion say it's a personal matter. Repeat.
You only need to visit this forum and tell your story and we'll all advise on how to leave FOR FREE, but it's basically the above advice.
I don't mind his videos at all, i have no personal beef with him but this is just shameful.
a little advice please.. it's now 7 months since i stopped going to meetings.
we still get regular calls by elders - at least every 2 weeks.
i can handle them.
Did it read something like this?:
A letter that was posted through my letter box by an anonymous "sister" in my old congregation. There are nice people out there, regardless of the cult they're involved in.
Why not surround the happiness that it brings to be part of the huge JW family? If you have faith in Jehovah, he will listen to your prayers so as to help you out. I have actually been witness of his ‘grandeur’. He is a God of love and compassion. Actually, i am only 18 years old and i have known enough to be able to talk about the Jehovah’s Witnesses. James 1:13 says that if you are experiencing some difficulties, it is not Jehovah who is testing you because he can’t even do that to his witness. This is why in the bible it is said not to fraternize with ‘The World’ because such as 1 John 5:19 say ‘ We know that we originate with God, but the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one. ’ They are using temptation to tear us apart from what is really good. 1 John 5:3–4 shows us how Jehovah loves his witnesses and with our faith we can follow the path he’s showing us. Nothing is difficult when you believe in Jehovah.
I hope that someday you will see how the world is full of cruelty and that you come back amongst us. Remember 1 day for Jehovah is 1000 years for us, the end is near. Just take your bible for only a few minutes and read verses that you know and appreciate. This will be a great help.
i know wifibandit will post the pdf soon, this is just a snack for you guys and girls.... .
15 min breaks?
45 min talks, 55 min talks, MORE 55 min talks then just a 15 min break?
From the conventions we all remember our attention drifting after 30mins. The brain needs 5 - 10 min breaks every 20 mins in order to learn and retain information.
Hi Jrjw
Lets get something very clear... you're describing an abusive relationship.
This man is abusing you, maybe not physically, but mentally and emotionally. A marriage, or even a partnership, is two people respecting each other and taking their needs into account. He isn't doing that. He's looking for a woman, a person to have sex with, an emotional punchbag - and to top it all you're both in a religion that lives by ancient Hebrew laws that are stacked in the mans favor. How dare he say you cant separate because you have no grounds!
You are a woman. You are strong, capable and intelligent - dont let any man or organization tell you you're anything less.
Unfortunately you're experiencing first hand that Jehovah's Witnesses wont even entertain the idea of divorce unless one of you commit adultery.
I know exactly what you're going through. My ex-wife has severe OCD and she hid it until we married. My 8 years of marriage was a living hell. Very much like what you've described here. The congregation would assume i was treating her bad when in fact i couldn't have been any kinder. I was being used and my kindness taken advantage of.
I'll PM you. But first things first, realize that his behavior is unacceptable, and if it's affecting your daughters mental health too then do you really want to raise her around such a person? Mental/emotional abuse is grounds for separation. And if you get professionals involved like a woman's shelter or therapists the Watchtower Society will likely back off from any judicial action.
i have friends who are called "worldly people" by jws.
these people are actively involved in feeding the homeless over christmas.
managing thrift shops so they can send financial aid overseas to poorer children.
I remember knocking on one door and a woman saying Jehovah's Witnesses should be helping the homeless and the poor. I think she worked for a charity.
I had no answer for it. I couldn't think of a reason why we didn't. About an hour later i thought of what I should have said... some crap about "Jesus also fed people spiritually ^_^".
Yes, i was that indoctrinated.
the report is finally out.......... ————————.
recommendations to the jehovah’s witness organisation.
recommendation 16.27. the jehovah’s witness organisation should abandon its application of the two-witness rule in cases involving complaints of child sexual abuse.. recommendation 16.28. the jehovah’s witness organisation on should revise its policies so that women are involved in processes related to invesation and determining allegations of child sexual abuse.. recommendation 16.29. the jehovah’s witness organisation should no longer require its members to shun those who disassociate from the organisation in cases where the reason for disassocia on is related to a person being a victim of child sexual abuse..
And unfortunately the rank and file are completely no the wiser about there even being an ARC.
Going by the last broadcast, they think our problem with the "two witness rule" is a general one and wont know we're talking about the safety of children. Their children.
this may have been covered before but have you noticed the logo design of the "inside story" on this months video the 143rd gilead graduation.
it appears as a pyramid containing the masonic symbol of the compass and square, with this reflected below the text.
the art pieces on the shelf are also interesting and maybe someone has some thoughts on these.
No it looks nothing like the square and compass - lol!
They're two completely different symbols. The masonic square an compass creates a small square shape in the middle with overlapping lines.
It looks more like a Domino's Pizza logo if you ask me, but i wouldn't go around suggesting the watchtower society is secretly feeding the members pizza.