I researched the religon when I was a teenager and I thought that JW's were closer to religious truth than most religions...of course this was about 5 - 6 years ago, before I even knew about the internet or any secular literature that put the organization in more honest light.
Preston
JoinedPosts by Preston
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113
Please Respond To Survey! 25 more needed please.
by Big Jim init seems like to me the majority of people who are in the truth, are were in the truth was a result of either a family member are a friend witnessing to them and not many seem to have been found in the door to door work.. from my years of associating with the borg i cannot recall many coming in the truth from the door to door work.. how were you sucked in?
for me it was my aunt who has now even though i am not disfellowshipped decided to write me out of her will to the tune of about $150,000.00 (maybe i should hang around a couple more years)dont think i will.. please respond .
thanks.
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25
Were You Really HAPPY in the borg.???
by Latte inwhen you were in the borg.
in all honesty, could you say that you were h.a.p.p.y?
i mean really happy.
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Preston
At first I was happy becuase I felt I knew what my purpose in life was. The more I did though, the more miserable I became. I was happy that I managed to to to a University and get my degree (ASU) and, interestingly, almost every single person in the congregation supported my endeavor. Even with the workload at school I still felt proud I was doing something udeful in a secular sense. Nevertheless, College did open my eyes to a lot of things and the more I engaged in critical thinking (OH MY GOD! NO!!!!!) the less crazy I was about doing more in the congregation. My happiness was sparked somewhat when I became a ministerial servant until later when I found out that it wasn't what I imagined (how do you spell MINISTERIAL SERVANT? ANSWER: W-O-R-K). I think I was a pretty good ministerial servant: I never criticized anyone, and I always tried to respect everyone. I was always willing to give talks at the last minute and I thought (without sounding too narcissistic) I was a pretty valuable person. Nevertheless, it seemed like people only liked me for what I did in the congregation (I KNOW! ISN'T THAT BIZZARE!). Even after the five years I spent in the congregation nobody calls me up (GO FIGURE). I've tried not be bitter since I left, I love all people, even Jehovah's Witness. I don't despise anyone, and I respect everyone's teachings, even though I was accused of a lot of things. Neverthless, I despise the way the organization is structured. To tell you the truth, even if I felt that everything they taught was true, I still wouldn't want to live forever with these people becuase I would feel isolated and alienated for the rest of my life. Anyway (LOL), To answer your question, I was happy when I started being a JW, then I was sad before I left. Now and then I'm still a little sad but I'm happy that I tried to stand up for myself, even when I got scared.
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Is this a apostate website
by robertK innothin on this website is positive, its all anti-witness!!
it helps nobody and does no good, and is for breaking down not building up, is there any righteous witnesses out there??
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Preston
Original Post:
Nothing on this website is positive, its all anti-witness!! It helps nobody and does no good, and is for breaking down not building up, is there any righteous witnesses out there???
Hi RobertK, I was interested in your comments becuase they peaked my interest and I would like to respond to your post. I think it would be too easy to identify this web site as being "anti-witness" because I think that label can be very deceptive. I think like a lot of organizations there's a lot of good things you will find in the world-wide organization of Jehovah's Witnesses. Likewise, there may be things we're not all going to agree on. There are more than 6 million Jehovah's Witnesses in the world today. Would it be reasonable to conclude that they are all going to believe the same things. Likewise, I do not believe that when Jehovah made humankind, he assumed that everyone who would fill his planet, all the billions of people, would act and think alike as well. The watchtower and awake magazines continually emphasize the beauty in diversity we see in nature. Would it be wise to concude that mankind, the most glorious of his creations would be reflective of that as well. I find the web site to be conducive for helping me voice by fears, doubts, hopes, and feelings. Not once have I tried to criticize Jehovah's Witnesses. I think we live in a world built upon the free market of ideas and I think there is room for all sorts of opinions as long as they involve respect for other people's opinions. You'll find a wide variety of opinions on these boards, and I find very little of it to be anti-witness. Personally, I'm not anti-witness, nevertheless, the boards have given me room to be honest about how I feel. Something that I felt I could not do in the congregation that I went to. Anyway, that's my view. Thank you for posting.
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A short statement on the long shift
by Preston inas a sit writing this i will say that i am possibly going through one of the toughest times of my life right now.
i have recently told the elders of my congregation that i have identified myself as "queer" and it has been one of the toughest roads i have ever had to walk.
i am not trying to offend anyone on the boards by telling you this but i feel that it's important to live honestly and my decission to "come out" to people in the congregation is one based on trying to live honestly.
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Preston
Hi roamingfeline, I wanted to thank you for responding to my post. In response to your questions, It was my decision to distance myself from the congregation and to make the transition as peaceful as possible. In other words, I wanted to leave on my own terms rather than having to go through a judiciary hearing and having a bunch of scary guys in matching suits telling me what I should and should not do. I do not want to disassociate myself primarily becuase I think it is easier for them to picture me as being removed from the congregation rather than treating me as a human being with hopes, fears, and feelings just like they do. Likewise, this is my battle, and I think being publicly villanized in front of the congregation would only drag my family into it unecessarily. Anyway...I would love to talk to you some more and see if you could impart any wisdom in order to help me out with what I'm dealing with right now. Or, if you don't want to that's fine too. Thank you for your response.
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2 parents in ICU
by Esmeralda inthis is the only way i can get the word out that justin and i. each have a parent in university hospital intensive care units.
at the moment.
one in my home state, one in his.. my father had a brain aneurism 12 days ago and after brain surgery, and many long nights seems to be stable.
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Preston
Hi Esmerelda, I just wanted to say that we are with you and I would like to offer you my support during this time becuase I know how very hard it must be for you. My grandmother had a brain aneurism two years ago and even though I didn't know her well, it was a time of endurance with no support whatsoever from the congregation. I'm not saying that all Jehovah's Witnesses don't know how to offer comfort but I think it's more realistic to say that you will get more support here. Many, Many hugs for you and I really hope everything turns out well. We are here for you.
Preston.
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A short statement on the long shift
by Preston inas a sit writing this i will say that i am possibly going through one of the toughest times of my life right now.
i have recently told the elders of my congregation that i have identified myself as "queer" and it has been one of the toughest roads i have ever had to walk.
i am not trying to offend anyone on the boards by telling you this but i feel that it's important to live honestly and my decission to "come out" to people in the congregation is one based on trying to live honestly.
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Preston
I just wanted to take the time out to thank thinkers wife, larc, Francoise, Cautious, think41self, Maximus, and Mulan for you kind words and your support, You do not know how much I appreciate it at this time. I also wanted to say some additional words. In response to the question fo Francoise, It is not my desire to go back to the congregation and be accepted, it has only been my desire to leave peacefully and not force my position on anyone. I think it's all part of the free market of beliefs and understandings and there is beauty in diversity. The congregation's lack of sympathy toward people who are "queer" I think is a problem that goes up to the very top and if they don't want to address what it a greater realty then that is their decision and I will have no prt of it. Second, I know there are a lot of people on the boards who disapprove of gays and their lifestyle and it is not my desire in any way to get in any vicious debates or shouting matches. I think there is a way we can disagree without being disagreeable. That's not to say anyone has been critical of me ont he boards. So fsar everyone's been supportive, it's just that I do not want things to lead to anything upsetting. Besides, it has already been very difficult to realize the feelings I have myself, and criticisms like those the elders put on me are not going to help. Nevertheless, I would still like to talk with all of you, on all subjects. Anyway, thank you for helping me out. I really appreciate it. Thanx!
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A short statement on the long shift
by Preston inas a sit writing this i will say that i am possibly going through one of the toughest times of my life right now.
i have recently told the elders of my congregation that i have identified myself as "queer" and it has been one of the toughest roads i have ever had to walk.
i am not trying to offend anyone on the boards by telling you this but i feel that it's important to live honestly and my decission to "come out" to people in the congregation is one based on trying to live honestly.
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Preston
As a sit writing this I will say that I am possibly going through one of the toughest times of my life right now. I have recently told the elders of my congregation that I have identified myself as "queer" and it has been one of the toughest roads I have ever had to walk. I am not trying to offend anyone on the boards by telling you this but I feel that it's important to live honestly and my decission to "come out" to people in the congregation is one based on trying to live honestly. I not trying to push any views on people it's just my desire to do the right thing. Straight people have no idea what it's like to live like this, especially in the congregation. I've had to put up with years of abuse from junior high to college and it has been truly painful trying to live this way. It is a life of loneliness, self-hatred, and self-loathing and In my quest to distance myself from the congregation I feel like they are trying to vilainize me. Today there was a sheparding call in which they asked me if I was having sex, and I was accused point blank of spreading apostasy. They also asked why I was condemning myself from my so-called "stand". Not to sound like a narcissist, but I consider myself the most functional person that I know, how they could accuse me of such things was wrong. I felt mentally violated from their questions and I told them point blank that they were entirely off-base. How they could continue to say they were "helping me" was ludicrous. They told me emphatically that it was important for me to get back to meetings and they wanted to meet with me again to prove me how wrong my "stand" is. I swear...If God exists and he backs these people then he's a cruel and wicked God and I'd like to kick him in the backside (sorry for the blasphemy).
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10 Things That You Never See At Assemblies:
by Englishman ina mexican wave.. cheerleaders.. a streaker.. ice cream / hot dog vendors.. people standing up with their fist raised high saying "yes!".
extra time.. presentation of awards.. autographs.. booing.. the audience waving their lighters as night falls.. there must be more!.
englishman.. ..... fanaticism masquerading beneath a cloak of reasoned logic.
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Preston
The 10 Things That You Never See At Assemblies But Should:
1.) "Pin the Tail on the Circuit Overseer"
2.) "Public Floggings of Elders who give the longest prayers, most boring talks, criticize people for going to the bathroom, etc... at District Conventions"
3.) "Awards for Best Dressed Goth in the Congregation"
4.) Makeshift Version of "weakest link" show with elders who know very little about anything...
5.) Viewings of reality show of Jehovah's Witnesses try to recruit members in leather bars, sex shops, and gay clubs. IT'S FABBUULOOUUUSS!!!
6.) "Elders say the Darndest Things!"
7.) Art Show of the Surrealisitc and dadaist influnces incorporated in Watchtower art!
8.) Public apologies by elders who disfellowshiped people in the congregation. Elder who gives the worse apology gets sent to Beirut for a full year!
9.) FIGHT CLUB!
10.) Public Concert where elders are coerced into singing songs by Prince and Village People.
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Asembly security questions
by Skimmer ini've been reading the comments on the recent district assemblies and i've got some questions about the wtbts convention security teams.. 1) is it a given that anyone who tries to get in without a convention badge is going to be carefully scrutinized?
questioned?
tailed?.
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Preston
1) Is it a given that anyone who tries to get in without a convention badge is going to be carefully scrutinized? Questioned? Tailed?
Heck! The day I served on security even I wasn't even permitted to get in!
2) Are all of the security staff JWs, or to they hire for some of the positions? I have heard that they do hire armed guards for cash transport.
The conventions I served on consisted of only JW staff. It's better to hire labor that you can't pay for where you can expect the service anyway.
3) Does the security crew use two way radio? Has anyone checked which frequencies they use?
I wouldn't know...they usually use two soup cans with a piece of string connected in between.
4) Would it be fairly easy to make a badge that looked a whole lot like an official badge? I'm not suggesting counterfeiting, but rather something that was close enough without being fraudulent.
They usually make their badges at stores that are easily accessible to the public. The problem is they usually only hand them out the day of the convention early int he morning before anyone else has arrived.
5) Has anyone tried attending with press credentials?
I haven't
Bonus: If you could have a balloon inflated at a WTBTS assembly, what would you want painted on its side? "THIS WAS COMPLETELY UNCALLED FOR! - GOD"
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10
On sex, lesbians and gay's - question
by Celtic inthe first time you went to bed or had same gender sex with your partner after leaving the jw experience, how did you feel?
and what led to this event, could you put it into words?.
sunshine and peace.
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Preston
Hi Celtic, I think as a newbie on the boards myself there is no need to be chastised simply for where you placed your post. As a self identified queer ex-witness I have been on several dates with people of the same sex since I've left the congregation. It has never bothered my conscience nor should it since gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, questioning people are as capable of entering sexual and romantic relationships as their heterosexual counterparts. My first "sexual" experience was a moment of love and affection that made me truly feel wonderful about myself. I met an older man in my home state and the first time I went to his house we made intense love in front of a mirror. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my entire life and it does not bother me one bit. C'mon, why should anyone feel the need to be compelled apply the sex laws from a bunch of old guys in Brooklyn. Has anyone seen what some of these guys look like? In fact, one of the reasons why I left the congregation was the fact that I was part of an environment which was not conducive for queer people to be accepting. How much more so for people who want to share sexual feelings with another person. No wonder so many Jehovah's Witnesses are big time homophobes.