Posts by Wayward

51

" you will never grow old..."

by mrquik in

jw
friends

" you will never grow old..." a more grievous lie is hard to imagine.

i heard this one first in 1957. i was 6. my mother had just converted.

i heard it many times after that.

I was born on December 30, 1975. If the WT hadn't been a false prophet, the world should have ended and I should have died as an hours-old infant. But the end did NOT come and my mom converted in 1980. I was told by older 'brothers' and 'sisters' that the end was coming any time now. I wouldn't ever go to high school. I'd be lucky to finish elementary school. I started high school the same year the first Gulf War began. My congregation was buzzing with talk that here at last was the Big A we'd been promised.

Fast forward to July 15, 2016. The world is still very much here. I graduated high school 22 years ago. Both my younger sisters did too and all three of us are married. One has three girls of her own, the oldest starting high school in September. I have gray hairs, lines on my forehead, and I ache in places I didn't know I had. My mother is looking at retirement and is afraid she won't have enough resources to get by on. And the 'brothers' and 'sisters' who kept telling me none of this was ever going to happen? They all passed away many years ago. The generation who lived in hope/fear of 1975 are rapidly aging, the youngest in their early or mid-60s. It's a terrible tragic waste.

14

Many Ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses Have Received Texts from Loved Ones Ending Their Relationships Forever

by ttdtt in

this was a very painful article to read, and i can only imagine that after this years convention - people will be even more emboldened to cut off friends and family.. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/07/03/many-ex-jehovahs-witnesses-have-received-texts-from-loved-ones-ending-their-relationships-forever/?utm_source=silverpopmailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=atheist%20071316%20(1)&utm_content=&spmailingid=51830798&spuserid=mty4mdi2oty3odkws0&spjobid=961945281&spreportid=otyxotq1mjgxs0.

Wayward

My Jahoovamom hasn't been to her convention yet. Kind of bracing myself for whatever might hit the fan. We've had a good relationship for the 15 years I've been away and I'd hate to lose that.

44

i'm leaving this site forever

by stan livedeath in

as the title says--i'm out of here for good.. the site is full of atheists, communists, 7th day adventists, creationists, believers, deceivers, receivers, football supporters,.

dodgy types, cantleave---and assorted wankers.. so no place for me--because i'm none of the above so dont fit in.

so--this is goodbye forever my friends--its been almost average knowing you.

Wayward

Someone needs a Snickers! lol

That's what I was thinking! :)

10

What's with the Ethan fetish?

by neat blue dog in

three major characters in jw movies named ethan in 2012, 2014 & now 2016.. coincidence, lack of imagination, or something more?.

Wayward

No Ethans here, either. I did run into a little Annikin a couple years ago.

37

The story of a secret Apostate Anointed

by TerryWalstrom in

the remarkable sister pettifog.

this morning i arrived on my bicycle at the local starbucks early, before the intensity of the texas sun boiled to full blaze rendering me a soggy, wrung out mess.. i took up my perch on the outdoor patio in the shade, eager to work on my book of short stories.

this will be my 3rd book and i’ve been enjoying the process daily.. .

Wayward

I suppose it is easier to think about Great Crowd ex-Dubs than anointed ex-Dubs because there is a mythos

about the remnant. At least, there was when I was active.

The anointed remnant were kinda spooky

I met an elderly anointed gentleman when I was eight or nine. Everyone else was awed by this sweet old man, saying how they could 'feel' the Holy Spirit around him. My big-mouthed little girl self said "But he's just and old man!" Yeah, I got beat when I got home.

83

Seeking support ... Where can a Christian go

by Sevan in

jw
friends

hey all, .

so i recently posted for the first time and introduced myself.. i have been spending time reading various posts.

some informative, some not so much.. since i've been reading on here, i've read a lot from atheists.

Wayward

When I first left the JWs, Sevan, I didn't set out to become an atheist. Atheist was like a swear word when I was growing up. Only horrible, terrible people were atheists! Never mind that I'd stopped praying when I was ten. I figured it was the Witness god I didn't like and I'd have no problem embracing god once I found the one true religion. So I started my journey. I've read the Bible (big mistake!), the Quran, books about Buddhism and Judaism and a lot of other 'isms. At the same time, I was reading books on ancient history and science. I found that science made more sense to me. And then it hit me. "Holy cow! I'm an atheist!" That was a few years after I left the Witnesses.

Your journey is just starting. Not everyone follows the same path or reaches the same destination. Sometimes where we end up isn't where we expected to be. You won't necessarily lose your faith along the way, and that's ok. Take it slow. Do your research. You'll be okay, no matter where your road takes you. Best of luck.

27

How the Kevin Class started...

by Stumpy in

jw
friends

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djtu_mozj5y.

Wayward

Very catchy song. I love the video's ending. Kevin ditches it all, steals daddy's car and takes off to start a new life. It's what I daydreamed about standing at doors.

16

Am i reading this right...? The preaching work is done??

by Nobodyspecial in

im sorry if this has been addressed, i have not seen any topics on this yet.. the wt for today seems to state, quiet plainly, that preaching work is done.

para 14,15 the question asks:.

"what proves that jehovahs witnesses have fulfilled jesus' prophecy with regard to the scope of the work?".

Wayward

Exactly right, Outlaw. How can they, poor things, when the official line changes every couple years and gets more outlandish every time.

43

At a regional convention today....

by Nobodyspecial in

jw
friends

it really stands out to me just how phoney the bonds of forced brotherhood are.

the smiles are paper thin when they see each other in hotels.

the laughs forced.

Wayward

Have you ever noticed its a bit like dealing with reptiles? Their mouths smile but their eyes are so cold.

The very last time a pair of elders showed up at my door to 'show concern' for me was three? maybe four? years ago. Been so long I can't remember. They came by because they wanted to discuss my skepticism about the Bible as divine revelation. That conversation had taken place two years, TWO YEARS! before. Such love. Such concern for a long ago strayed sheep. After I told them no, I don't believe in the Bible, instead of trying to reason with me, they spent half an hour talking with my non-JW hubby. Probably trying to get my 'husbandly owner' converted so he'd drag me back in. The whole time I never felt that those elders, men I've known practically my entire life, had any sincere interest in me.

28

What is the current suicide and mental illness rate among JWs and previous members

by 060702015 in

jw
friends

there seems to be no current data on this information and there is questions concerning the validation of past data.

apparently there is high rate of mental illness and suicide.

jehovahs witnesses suicide rate 5 to 10 times above average.

Wayward

I can't give you statistics, but I can give you a few examples from my old hall. One elder's wife suffered a nervous breakdown. Another elder's daughter attempted suicide and was hospitalized for several days. There was a middle-aged 'sister' with mental illness, not sure which. My former best friend was diagnosed as bipolar. My mother suffered bouts of depression when I was growing up. I began having suicidal thoughts and depression beginning when I 13. There were probably others but these are just the ones I know of. That's six people out of a congregation of just over a hundred.