Whenever I bring up the point of "This doesn't happen with just JW's, it happens in many organizations." to my parents, they (especially my mom) get angry and says things like "That won't last, they're in false religion" or even "Who cares, if it's not Jehovah doing it, it's not worth spit." JWs can't stand to think that their precious "brotherhood" ain't all that special when it comes down to it.
Posts by Sorry
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20Strip off the old personality
by eyeuse2badub inyesterday’s watchtower talked about how by becoming a jw it enabled “worldly” people to ‘strip off the old personality’ and make really significantly good changes in their life.. paragraph named 4 individuals (anonymous names of course and probably embellished tales)) sakura, ribeiro, stephen, and hans.
their lives changed for the good because they found god or because they became jw’s---right?.
so on the way home from this wt meeting, my wife commented to me how wonderful our brotherhood is and how it helps people who would otherwise be ‘lost’ n this world.
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21
It's Going Down: The Family Is About to Go to War Over... Halloween Decorations.
by Sorry inyup, you read right.
despite other personal turmoil that needs to be addressed, my family has decided to go nuts over halloween decorations being "too close" to our yard.
a new family just moved in next door; their kids are super young.
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Sorry
Yup, you read right. Despite other personal turmoil that needs to be addressed, my family has decided to go nuts over Halloween decorations being "too close" to our yard.
A new family just moved in next door; their kids are super young. They watched excitedly as their mommy decorated the voltage box into a mini coffin with spider webs and ghosts. I thought it was the cutest thing. Unfortunately for my folks, they caught wind of this and were pissed. "The box is right by our yard. There's no fence so you cant tell who's who. What if the witnesses drive by? What will they think?"
Not "Oh, this is against our beliefs. They're in our space." Nope, just what the witnesses think. My dad was angry and ready to curse them out (despite the latest WT talking about abusive speech). My mom had a better idea: go cause a big mess at the Homeowners Association like she normally does. Then she was going to print of some literature and leave it at their porch. I know JWs were nuts, but it's really come to this?
I got the popcorn out...
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27
Out of the world, into the Truth
by apalro infor some background - i studied on & off as a child with a jehovah's witness who has been patiently working on lots of our family for more than a decade and never gave up on any of us.
as a middle-schooler and a highschooler, my love for jehovah and any association with my childhoood bible teacher... faded.
disappeared.
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Sorry
You know, I'm glad you found a sense of community and belonging with the JWs. If you feel this is the best place for lyour mental health, I say go for it.
But I want you to think about this: is this decision ruled by carefully thought out logic or by emotion? It sounds from your post that the bad choices you've made (such as taking back your ex) was because of your feelings.
Speaking from experience, emotional decisions tend to be the worst and more easily avoidable. Even though I'm very young, I now tend to put away the rose colored glasses and make a mental note of the pros and cons.
The decision to go back not only concerns your livelihood, but that of your young child. Many of JW policies will have a heavy impact as your child grows up.
I'm glad you've found happiness after your troubles, but I urge you to research and look at unbiased sources of information before you make a final decision. Really look at all the potential positives and negatives, and see for yourself if you still want in. I wish I had someone remind me of all of this before I made many of my choices.
I genuinely hope everything works out for you.
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41
JW Elder fired from bank for privacy violation regarding fellow JW employee
by Zoos in"thou shalt spy on and report your brothers and sisters to hq.".
https://www.tv6tnt.com/news/local/industrial-court-finds-there-are-limits-to-freedom-of-religion/article_5a485b94-a327-11e7-9c32-57b15184bc6a.html.
editor's note: due to the nature of this story we've changed the names of the parties involved.
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Sorry
Yeah, it's not your "Christian duty". These people are just using 'Jehovah' as a crutch to control and condemn others, to make themselves look better and feel superior. Why else would they dedicate an entire search to find something on you (because confidential files are not easy to find and don't just accidentally pop up)? The fact their self-righteous is so grandiose that they think this is normal is very alarming and warrants a psych evaluation.
And they wonder why people leave. Everyone spying on each other and acting like a bunch of damn tattletales. And for what? To gain approval from people who can't wait to do the same to you the second you slip up?
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41
Will YOU Ever Leave The Watchtower Org.?
by minimus inthere is usually a metamorphosis that takes place for a person to leave the jehovah's witness religion.
most people do not just up and go simply because they realize this could not be the truth.
it often takes time.. for those that go to meetings or engage in the ministry, will you forever continue doing these things, knowing that it is all bs?
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Sorry
If I could afford to be out on my own, I would've left a long time ago. But, one sweet day, I'll have my freedom.
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22
has any one had this feeling
by Akid48 ini remember having this feeling when i was younger that something was off when it came to meetings and the people there seemed just off.i had feelings like that when i was like 5 or 6 and i would say i was kinda dumb back then but still i had a feeling like that when i would not have that often.still to this day i dont know what got me to have that feeling i was just wanting to know if any had this feeling to and still cant remember what made your mind give you a red flag..
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Sorry
When I was about 10 (when we seriously started going to the meetings), I remembered being bored out of my mind during the meetings. Whenever I told my parents this, they'd become extremely pissed off so I just kept my mouth shut. I did like the people though. They were quite fun and laid back. Then we moved to another one. I always felt kinda stressed and uneasy, because not only was it boring, but the people at my current one are very uptight and gossipy. Becomes really draining to have to constantly watch every little thing I say, do and wear because these people get offended by EVERYTHING.
Now I know better. If you feel uncomfortable, you shouldnt be there.
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What would happen if everyone who ever lived came back? - Video on Youtube
by ILoveTTATT2 invery interesting video showing what would happen if everyone who ever died came back...tldr: 90% would die (again) within two months because of famine.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-s34gz3xwgtherefore: "paradise" is just impossible..
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Sorry
"Leave the matter to Jehovah."- every Dub ever.
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Do JW's ever really grow up ?
by Phizzy ini ask the above because of my personal experience.
as a born-in i was naive, socially inept and had never really thought deeply about anything.. i was also unable to accept arguments based upon reason and facts.. just like a child.. it was only after freeing myself from the mind-control of the jw cult that i educated myself and matured as a person to being (almost) an adult.. jw's attitudes and their inability to debate in any meaningful way, (they could start by actually listening),means they have not grown up..
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Sorry
Yes. I see this in my father, mother and if I'm being completely honest, myself.
My father left the dubs when he was 18 and returned 30 years later. My mother wasn't born in and met my dad a while after he left. They went through some hardships in those days and that's why they think it's the truth, but they both fail to realize they have many more hardships now.
Starting with my dad, he has always been emotionally unstable and financially irresponsible. But he made a lot more money back then and was under less stress, so his problems weren't noticeable. Now that he's back with the dubs, he has less money and seems unable to control his emotional outbursts, which is mostly anger. This leads him to constantly scream out childish insults or the "silent treatment". He spends compulsively and pays the bills he wants, and leaves the rest to Jehovah. He flat out told me that life doesn't have shades of grey, that's a lie perpetrated by "the world". Everything is either/or. He'll never admit it, but everything he does is for the approval of the elders and to fit in with them, it's like teenage peer pressure. He never does anything without consulting them for permission, like he's their kid. In some ways he does gives valuable life lessons, but for the most part he acts bizarrely immature.
My mom is more practical than my dad having not been born in, she can see different sides in situations. She also has a great handle on her emotions, and is rational with money. However, she is very "my way or the highway" and won't debate or listen to facts if it in any way conflicts with her thoughts. When upset, she also goes into the silent treatment and throws out vicious insults towards people if she doesn't agree with them or they didn't do something she wanted. She doesn't lose control of her emotions often but when she does, it mostly consists of a tantrum involving yelling and throwing her limbs like a 3 year old.
As for me, I'm a mix of them. Like my dad, I'm extremely emotional and can be loose with money. Like my mom, I'm very stubborn and can act really cold if I don't get my way. I'm also kinda naive and way too trusting with people. However, unlike them, I love a good debate and can accept if I'm wrong or consider a new viewpoint. I acknowledge life isn't clean cut and there are grey areas. I also couldn't care less on how others view me and am not particularly star struck by people in power (elders and MS).
Like my Nana used to say, "Some people grow old, not up. Just ask your mother."
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2017 Convention Recording: JWs Applaud 10yo Girl For Shunning Her Own Sister
by pale.emperor inthis poor girl was baptized at 9yo.
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she isnt old enough to buy alcohol, to vote, to decide her own medical treatment, to buy a pet, to travel alone... yet she was deemed old enough to dedicate her life to a religion that will cut her off from her family if she ever leaves.. here she is applauded for shunning her own sister who tried to keep in contact with her after waking up.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yzgnfda8ki.
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Sorry
It's sickening (and kinda sad) that JWs view this type of behavior as 'loving' when really, it's just manipulation at it finest. I notice that in multiple WT articles, the person coming back to says something along the lines of "If they would've given that one dose of association, that would've satisfied me, and I would've never came back to the truth." Essentially saying that didn't even want to come back, they just missed their family. That's just plain messed up.
Even if some (like my own family and some in the congregation) acknowledge the effed up dynamic, they'll just blame the one being shunned: "They should've stayed with Jehovah" "They knew what they were getting into when they got baptized, they brought this on themselves". Even if shunning their lived one brings them great distress and depression, they just can't see that. But JWs have "natural affection" and are the "happiest people", right?
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26
Jehovah's Witnesses and Race/Culture
by kneehighmiah ini have also attended spanish congregations.
this has helped me to understand and respect totally different perspectives and narratives on race.
please be respectful during this discussion.
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Sorry
Having been to the Spanish congregation, an all black congregation and a black church (oh the horror), this post is 100% accurate. When u first went to my aunt's church, I was bewildered, yet entertained. Everyone was so lively, and so many people would about out their agreement from their seat. I like it because that told me they were genuinely believing what they heard. Not to mention, most were pretty nice,al awesome people. Sure you have the nosy gossipers and judgmental Judy's. Buy everyone was real. What you saw was what you got, and I appreciate that. Ever since, I can't stand how subdued the KH is and how the dubs talk shit about people shouting their praises in church.
I went to the Spanish congregation in my old city for a couple of weekends and went to a ton of gatherings. Beautiful music and a ton of dancing. No one complained, and the atmosphere was so relaxing. You could even dance with the opposite sex and no one raised an eyebrow. I was in love.
My current cong is mostly black, but it is cliquey and kind of snooty and uptight. My old one, was pretty fun. Many of the people were so sweet and put a lot of emphasis on family values, so I knew a few who had DF or inactive family yet still kept in contact with them. The environment was pretty relaxing, engaging and forgiving.
And this is why "I don't like the people at the hall." is a legitimate excuse for not attending. The people can make or break your experience and determine if you still want to bother.