young elder(mid-thirties) in my congregation stepped down last night.
nicest guy, with two lovely kids, a great supportive wife.. it got to be too much, as the other elders are practically useless, let him do all the hard work, while they did all the "important" stuff.
literally ran him ragged.. he's still in good standing, gave the final prayer.
westiebilly11>
Even though I'm out, I will never forget the kindness shown to me by those elders years ago.
That's very kind of you to say...some really gave their soul and deserve to be remembered, but in this internet/information age it must be harder and harder for really sincere elders to remain ignorant and still spread lies in the name of YHWH.
just read some of this latest awake on the org's webshite.. it begins by talking about the 'supernatural' - wizards, witches, vampires, etc.
- their popularity and why they might appeal to people.
then it goes on to state the wt belief that someone is 'behind it'.. now, i like a few horror/scary films - when i was a kid, i always actually liked being a bit scared by them, tbh.. the silence of the lambs, a nightmare on elm street (1984), the ring, the witch, the thing (1982) and a few others are all great, imo.. they are just genres and subgenres of film, that's all.
Me and my wife enjoy "The Walking Dead" and we're not the only ones. Seven seasons already!
there's a beautiful sky this morning.
it's my birthday, today i'm 64 and look every inch of it, but i appreciate my life and feel fortunate to be cult-free.
also very fortunate to have a purposeful and entertaining existence here in gorgeous north georgia (in the usa).
Congratulations from Holland dear Marina!
february 13, 2017 to all bodies of elders re: memorial and special talk.
"...please convey the love and concern of the Governing Body"
i will go next year :-) .
@ Schnell
LOL
young elder(mid-thirties) in my congregation stepped down last night.
nicest guy, with two lovely kids, a great supportive wife.. it got to be too much, as the other elders are practically useless, let him do all the hard work, while they did all the "important" stuff.
literally ran him ragged.. he's still in good standing, gave the final prayer.
This could be an ongoing trend. In 2015, at the age of 48, I stepped down in order to start my fade. I was the youngest. In 2016, the long serving Secretary in his 60's stepped down as well and this year another elder died a natural death in his 80's. It's a matter of time before the rest will become too old/burnt out as well... it's inevitable! Now look at the greater picture...
What signal is given to the rank and file?
Being an elder does not seem to fit Jesus' promise from Matthew 11:30 " . . .For my yoke is kindly, and my load is light.”
Hebrews 13:7 is also very telling: "Remember those who are taking the lead among you, who have spoken the word of God to you, and as you contemplate how their conduct turns out, imitate their faith."
Well, not much to imitate is there? Unless, with few exceptions of course, you are willing to ruin your family life and (mental) health in some way.
And what is told to elders when the load isn't light anymore? Right... delegate some work. But if the younger ones leave, what is there to delegate? If the only way to cope with the pressure is turning to zombie modus or growing a stomach ulcer, the choice is clear and therefore...
CIRCLE COMPLETED! Isn't it just a matter of time before the org will be weakened/eaten from the inside?
I pity the circuit overseers, who's asses can now be kicked by the GB if their new responsibility to appoint elders and MS turns out to be not productive enough. Besides a dying generation of loyalist elders, I think only the bullies and egomaniacs in the BOE's can survive...but is this the way the flock wants to subject themselves to the loving care of the GB?
february 13, 2017 to all bodies of elders re: memorial and special talk.
Wifibandit, thanks for keeping us informed...... always! The force is strong with you.
my mother wanted me to know that the co gave a talk that kinda-sorta reprimanded an elder in her hall.
he is not the reason i left at all, and this does not address anything to do with me or our family.. my mother-in-law sent me texts which i ignored and now she has sent a picture to my wife on facebook just for me, and it's a prodigal son meme that says, "you see the signs, come back it's not too late".. yeah, it's not too late to accept a global flood in 2370 bce, or that man was created in 4026 bce from a golem spell, or that an us-and-them cult mentality is at all healthy or loving, or that religion is going to be banned by the un, or that i should expect anyone else at the door to accept these stupid ideas in the information age.. what am i supposed to say?
i usually just ignore them, but before i do that, i see that shit and i storm into this weird internalized rage where i start writing a response and deleting it.
Schnell, you have every right to be upset. The only thing that might work, is standing above it. JW's can't face the knowledge that the truth is not the truth. On the long term we will win because time will prove us right but, we must accept that the ones who refuse to see are simply blind, too brainwashed and that sir, is very sad.
first, i've been out of the organization for 20 years this very year!
i was baptized in 1979 and attended one of the lancaster ohio congregations.
realizing i was gay, i left and after being in the columbus gay community for 6 months, decided bar hopping and cruising was not my cup o' tea.i decided to return in late '90 and was reinstated in '91.
Thanks for your story Larry and welome to this forum...it's my daily manna now.
i'm a 4th generation jw.
i started to realize it wasn't the truth over 2 years ago in late october/early november 2014. i don't know how exactly it happened.
i remember i had just heard about confirmation bias, and it hit me: i realized that i would be guilty of confirmation bias if i didn't look at the other side.
Thanks for your story WeatherLover, I suggest you wait for the right moment to start your fade. Do it well and strategic in order to avoid as much pain in your family as possibly, but it will always hurt in one way or another. Your win (freedom) will be their loss, but it's YOUR life, especially when one day you will live on your own. Play the I-feel-weak/discouraged-card, avoid elders or at least keep your real thoughts to yourself and try to minimize your activity for the Borg. They'd rather have a weak, difficult-to-reach brother around than having to deal with an apostate. My first steps on the way to TTATT were triggered by looking for information regarding the Candace Conti's abuse case in 2012. Before that there have been accusations of sexual abuse in my congregation. The accusations luckily turned out to be false but it had put me on the same path to find truth instead of confirmation bias as you've pointed out and experienced yourself. My point...it took me 3 years to fully realise the impact of what I've investigated and to start my fade without fear or doubts. I wish that period would've been shorter, but hey, it explains if you know I'm 50 now! You however are in a different situation...good luck and very good you've looked for support here...it's an awesome forum!
