Posts by Simple Minds

32

How this Jehovah’s Witness feels about the Australian Royal Commission

by Simple Minds in

i know the arc is old news i know i am preaching to the converted but i had to express how i feel because most of my jw friends and family dont want to hear .

so this is how i feel.

i have faithfully served as a jehovahs witness for over 25 years..

Simple Minds

I know The ARC is old news i know i am preaching to the converted but I had to express how I feel because most of my JW friends and family don’t want to hear

So this is how I feel

I have faithfully served as a Jehovah’s Witness for over 25 years.

I was deeply distressed by the reports coming out of the ARC into child sexual abuse with in our organization

When I heard the testimony from the victims, how there innocence and trust had been ripped away from them by so-called “brothers” I was heartbroken and so deeply saddened I cried.

Jesus said,“ There is nothing hidden that will not become manifest, nor anything carefully concealed that will never become known and not come out in the open” Luke 8:17

I still can’t get the thought out of my mind that these animals have ruined hundreds of thousands of young lives, and their suffering is still on going. I feel disillusioned thinking how could this be happening in Jehovah’s spiritual paradise?

When the ACR was in session, there were thousands of news agencies worldwide running Critical headlines like “The ARC has brought to light evidence that the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses child abuse policies have fail to protect children, have traumatize the victims, and protect the abusers.”

I feel deeply saddened that the way organization has handed cases of child abuse has brought so much negative criticism on Jehovah’s people and reproach on Jehovah’s name.

I understand that we are all sinful and imperfect, but I am still really shocked by the fact that there are so many child abusers within our organization.

I remember being out in the ministry and pointing the finger at the Catholic Church when the media first started revealing the truth about pedophiles in their church, I remember saying

“By there fruits you will recognize them” But now feel like a hypocrite

The information the ARC reviled was from Bethels own secret files and the testimony of elders that showing that we do have a serious problem with child abuse, In regards to child abuse I see we are no different from other religious organization, but it is not just the fact that we have this problem, its all the secrecy and the way abuse victims are treated that really

Upsets me, Jesus said “whoever stumbles one of these little ones who have faith, it would be better for him if a millstone that is turned by a donkey were put around his neck and he were pitched into the sea” Mark 9:42

As a Jehovah’s Witness, I know I have to remain silent, about what I think and feel if it is in any way critical of the organizations child abuse policies, because that would be viewed as causing divisions. But if the organization wants to know how I feel about the ARC I feel disillusioned, depressed but most of all you silencing any criticism make me feel helpless.

78

January jw-tv broadcast with Lett

by bohm in

jw
friends

lett is back with a vengance!.

* the last money-begging effort increased donations by 15% for two months; a letter by a 13 year old who donated is read out loud.

* since last may "so many good things have happened".

Simple Minds

I am newly awakened and still raw with emotions; So just the thought watching Steven Lett do a broadcast makes me feel like vomiting

Simple

6

How to remove a thread?

by Simple Minds in

hi i am new to posting on this forum, i posted my first post today .

some people are concerned i may have shared too much in my post and are worried this could get me in trouble.

saying that, if the elders are searching on here, there is a chance that my letter could be found, and my comments used to incriminate me.

Simple Minds

Thanks driving force

I think i am to late to Edit

6

How to remove a thread?

by Simple Minds in

hi i am new to posting on this forum, i posted my first post today .

some people are concerned i may have shared too much in my post and are worried this could get me in trouble.

saying that, if the elders are searching on here, there is a chance that my letter could be found, and my comments used to incriminate me.

Simple Minds

Thanks Landy

Sorry I am not very technical literate with all this but once it is posted how do I edit it?

thanks

6

How to remove a thread?

by Simple Minds in

hi i am new to posting on this forum, i posted my first post today .

some people are concerned i may have shared too much in my post and are worried this could get me in trouble.

saying that, if the elders are searching on here, there is a chance that my letter could be found, and my comments used to incriminate me.

Simple Minds

Hi I am new to posting on this forum, I posted my first post today

Some people are concerned I may have shared too much in my post and are worried this could get me in trouble. Saying that, if the elders are searching on here, there is a chance that my letter could be found, and my comments used to incriminate me. Someone suggested it might be worth requesting Simon to removing my thread, or deleting the letter part of it.

Can anyone please give me some advice on how to remove a thread?

Thanks

Simple

94

ELDERS, ha ha ha ha....!!!!!

by brandnew in

jw
friends

so as many know....ive been df'd goin on 19 years already.

i drive pops to meetings, and drop him off on saturdays for fs.. well yesterday, the elders ask to speak to me, and tell me that if i plan on returning to jehovah, i had better shave my beard off..

omg!!!!!!

Simple Minds

I had not been to the meeting for a couple of weeks and had not shaved and this elder drops in to visit.

the next meeting i went to i had shaved so this elder made a point of telling me how "clean" i looked

i said "i don't want to stumble anyone with a week conscience"

it is alright to cover up child abuse but hair on a mans face is so discussing

fading fast

37

My First post

by Simple Minds in

i have been lurking on this site for 3 years and this is my fist post.

i would like to thank everyone for helping me wake up.

i was baptized at 24, married at 25, ms for 18 years mentally in for 24 years but started to wake up 3 years ago doing research to give public talks, and the actions of arrogant and narcissistic brothers and sisters did not help.

Simple Minds

Thanks for your all your great advice and encouragement

It is a really painful thing to confront ones own feeling but as berrygerry said "Writing out your thoughts is good therapy" my next post will be how i feel about the ARC.

Asking the BOE to pray for me would be a good way to finish the letter, Thanks listener and cha ching

PS you will have to put up with my spelling i am a bit dyslexic, normally my wife helps me with spelling and grammar but she is not going to help me post anything on here Ha Ha

60

Those keenly following umbertoecho ARC Brief Update.

by MightyV8 in

i feel it is comfortable to say,.

yes her arc hearing has come and gone.. yes her hearing was so powerful, her allotted time was tripled!.

yes, information handed over "mind blowing" response from arc.

Simple Minds

I love people who are willing to stand up for justice and the rights of victims thank you umbertoecho's

Can i read umbertoecho's hearing from the ARC web site?

37

My First post

by Simple Minds in

i have been lurking on this site for 3 years and this is my fist post.

i would like to thank everyone for helping me wake up.

i was baptized at 24, married at 25, ms for 18 years mentally in for 24 years but started to wake up 3 years ago doing research to give public talks, and the actions of arrogant and narcissistic brothers and sisters did not help.

Simple Minds

Thanks for being the first comment level the play field

37

My First post

by Simple Minds in

i have been lurking on this site for 3 years and this is my fist post.

i would like to thank everyone for helping me wake up.

i was baptized at 24, married at 25, ms for 18 years mentally in for 24 years but started to wake up 3 years ago doing research to give public talks, and the actions of arrogant and narcissistic brothers and sisters did not help.

Simple Minds

I have been lurking on this site for 3 years and this is my fist post. I would like to thank everyone for helping me wake up. I was baptized at 24, married at 25, MS for 18 years mentally in for 24 years but started to wake up 3 years ago doing research to give public talks, and the actions of arrogant and narcissistic brothers and sisters did not help. I have been slowly fading for the last 3 year, but the ARC was my last straw, now totally out mentally, no privileges, miss meetings, never answer, no field service and will never donate to the Org. sadly my wife is still in.

Now the elders want to know what is up and want a shepherding call with me. I don’t want to get DF or Disassociate at this moment because my daughter is getting married soon and don’t want to cause trouble for her as 90% of family and friends a JW.

So I am letting them know the reason I am no longer active is anxiety and depression and with out directly saying it, letting the elder see how the ORG affects people’s mental health.

So this is my letter to the elders

Dear Brothers

From the time I became a Jehovah’s Witness I tried my hardest to do the best I could for my family and myself spiritually, reading and studying the bible, attending all the meetings and assemblies, being regular in field service, doing meeting parts and public talks, following all the organizations rules, and continually praying for Gods holy spirit to give me strength. At the same time working hard to provide for my family.

I also made some painful sacrifices to become a Jehovah’s Witness, I cut of all association with my close friends I had grown up with, left my girlfriend and rejected my families religion, for doing this my fathers treated me like I was disfellowshiped, he would not talk to me or let me in his house. This made it very difficult for my children and I to have a close relationship my mum

But no matter how hard I tried, I always had this nagging feeling of guilt that I was not doing enough in Jehovah’s service and the constant sense of urgency, living in the last days, knowing Armageddon could come tomorrow, fearing that my family and I might not be saved, because I felt I was not be doing enough, my sense of urgency turned to panic. I would fly into a rage at the kids or my wife for stupid reasons, like, if they made me late for the meeting or didn’t want to study the watchtower or didn’t want to go in field service or played up during the meeting. I would then feel like a terrible father and husband for being such a psycho, my moods would swing from anxiety to anger to depression.

When a close brother in our congregation died suddenly in a car accident it pushed me over the edge emotionally and I had a brake down. I went to see a doctor who sent me to a phycologist. They said I was suffering from an anxiety disorder and major depression and put me on medication to help dull my feelings of fear and guilt

We moved congregations and I continued to serve as a ministerial servant doing meeting parts, public talks, taking field service, as well as being literature and accounts servant. We would go to all the assemblies but instead of feeling encouraged I would come away feeling that I was still not doing enough, I remember a CO gave a talk at an assembly he asked, " If you are a regular publisher, can you auxiliary pioneer? If not, why not? If you are an auxiliary pioneer, can you regular pioneer? If not, why not? If you are a regular pioneer, can you special pioneer? If not, why not?"

I felt like no matter what I did it would never be enough to be saved.

Then my parents got Alzheimer's and Dementia so as well as my responsibilities within the congregation and working to provide for my family, I was diving 4.5hr to Perth every couple of weeks to take them to appointments, cook food for them and clean, if there was a crisis having to drop everything at a moments notice and drive to Perth. So once again I went into a downward spiral of anxiety and depression. It got so bad I stepped down as a ministerial servant and had to stop work.

Since moving to Perth my anxiety has not got any better. Any stress or confrontation causes a panic attack or I flip out and get angry. I get this sick feeling of dread in my stomach that something really terrible is about to happen and then my heart starts racing and I feel like I cant breath and when the panic attack stops, I am left feeling depressed, totally brain dead and with no motivation to do anything in the service or with my life. And after watching the hearings at the Australian Royal Commission into child sexual abuse with in our organization, I feel disillusioned and even more depressed. I feel ashamed because Jehovah’s people are supposed to be the happiest people on earth, but I am not.