Hi thinker belle! Yes, I joined another church after researching and deeply thinking about each and every doctrine. The Trinity, holidays, 'Jehovah',non fundamentalism, you name it. Then I researched all the Protestant religions and chose one whose general beliefs and mindset most closely fit what I had learned and how I feel. Not that I believe it is the only approved denomination, but simply because I am most happy here. As a church we are close, and I love the feeling of community it brings. It's a mainline Protestant religion but still there is a lot of freedom on what people personally believe about evolution or how liberally or conservatively they want to interpret the Bible, etc. There is healthy variety and it's refreshing not to feel pressure to subscribe to the exact beliefs of everyone else. So do your research and of course avoid anything high control. Sometimes 'non denominational' churches can actually be high control.
FayeDunaway
JoinedPosts by FayeDunaway
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If you still believe, do you go to church?
by ThinkerBelle inwhile i'm still finding my journey and figuring out what exactly i believe in, i'm curious to know if others on this board who do still believe in a god attend other churches and what drew you to them.
sorry if this topic has been brought up before, i tried to do a search, but didn't find what i was looking for.. having been born and raised in jwland, how easily do you give up those doctrines that have been so thoroughly engrained?
even sort of celebrating (more like acknowledging, no party) my son's birthday seemed so strange to me because i've never done that, but it felt good to see him smile about it.
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Hello everyone! I am new here and want to tell you about myself - my bio
by Hollywood20 ingrew up in east la in a bad neighborhood to a black mother and white father.
i never knew my father because he died in a car accident when i was a few weeks old.
my mother converted as a jw soon after when two sisters came to her door and offered her comfort, which was something she needed.
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FayeDunaway
Hello Hollywood.
Youve got to live your own life. I know you love your mother but this is killing your soul. Get back out there and pursue your goals. You know you have to. You want to feel like this for decades? Throw your dreams away? Get back out there!!
and welcome.
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Need advice
by Darkknight757 inhi.i've been pouring over this site for the past few days looking for some advice and i hope there is someone here that can help a guy out.
i'm desperate.....short bio: i came into the organization after high school and shortly after married a wonderful girl who was born-in.we have been happily married now for nearly 20 years and things were well until 2015 hit.
by the way, i currently serve as an elder and have the ""privilege"" of being the "watchtower overseer".. either here nor there, we were told we would never have children but late last year my wife became prego!!
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FayeDunaway
When you see or hear something shocking from the congregation, WT or GB, share it with her. Start sharing your doubts openly, as they come. Go through this together. Maybe a good idea would be to go on vacation soon and bring up he two things you already mentioned, and talk about it in that neutral space.
i am so sorry for the losses you and your wife have had. Be there for her, spend a lot of time cuddling with her. Be a team, work with her through it. Maybe you can come out of that false religion together too.
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My First Birthday.....
by The Marvster ini awoken today and realised immidiately i'm 44 today... and after 3 years of being out, decided to acknowledge my birthday.... i'm off out to treat myself to a big hearty breakfast with cup of tea in the local weatherspoon's by the massive pond full of weird bird-life, later today i'm giving myself a gift of a 90 minute relaxation session in a float tank down by canary wharf in london.... only really have 2 close friends (it's a slow process trusting people agian) and they probably won't be able to see me today, but i'm sure i'll have a belated surprise from them both.... the first thing i did when i remembered was to rush to the computer, connect to the web and put on stevie wonder's 'happy birthday', as i listen to it, tears stream down my face... all those years of my life stolen ' but..... i'm free....'.
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FayeDunaway
Happy first birthday Marvster!! I hope that by next year you have enough friends that they throw you your first party...or maybe organize your own, no shame in that, I did it and it was great!! -
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Goodwill stores: A gathering place for Jehovahs Witnesses.
by Joliette ini recently started working at a goodwill here in wisconsin, and i've never encountered more witnesses ever in my life.
every time i go to work, i see at least two or three people that i used to go to the kingdom hall with getting suits, dresses, etc.
some of them say hi, but some of them i just ignore, or they ignore me.
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FayeDunaway
James I had no idea!! If my mother knew, she would freak! Goodwill was the only 'approved' place to donate stuff and she donated all the time....What's a witness to do?? Start their own charity?!?! Oh...wait...they ARE....a......charity..... -
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Hubby has been doing research on the internet!!!!
by atacrossroads inmy husband was recently subjected to an intervention by his parents.
i am apparently a danger to his spirituality.
after i stopped attending meetings and went apostate hubby decided to resign as a ms to spend more time with me.
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FayeDunaway
I actually don't think this could go either way, especially if you take the advice of recommending Jwfacts over most of the other sites. And then leave him alone about it for a good while. You might ask how he's doing but leave it there until he's ready to talk at length about what he's learned. This news is SO amazing!! -
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Paranoia after today's Watchtower
by Truthexplorer inboy oh boy did i feel paranoid at today's wt.
not only are we to watch our associations outside of the congregation, but also watch our associations 'within' the congregation.
this was emphasised by the wt study conductor.
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FayeDunaway
I'd like to know if one finger salute made a comment today. Seems like you could say something nazi, like 'watch out for your parents, your children, your brothers and sisters...those against us could be nearer than we think! And we should report this opposition promptly to the local elders. -
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Any funny stories of when a"brother" giving a talk, said something "funny" or "questionable", and didn't even realize it?
by Dunedain inthere were always all types of speakers in the org.
myself, growing up a "witness", must have heard all types of talks, and given by all manner of speakers, especially on sundays, when almost every week we would get a "visiting" brother giving the public talk.. sometimes, you would have a "great" speaker, all fluent and animated.
other times we would get a comical speaker, one who would maybe purposelly get a few laughs outta the audience.
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FayeDunaway
We had a very prominent P.O. Powerful guy, respected everywhere. His ministerial servant son, always trying to rise to prominence like his father, was giving a talk one night. He lost his place, and, bewildered, muttered 'Jesus.' -
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Peshitta, Aramaic New Testament
by Connie inhas anyone come across this line of research on the new testament?
i stumbled upon it today researching the divine name, and textual criticism of the nt.
it seems that the peshitta is an aramaic translation that has been handed down through the centuries without the controversies of the greek translation.
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FayeDunaway
Connie yes there are a few changes in the OT but not near as many...and that one you mentioned was connected with Jesus calling himself God later! It's pretty much the only parts of the bible they outright changed...obviously they had an agenda. The more I researched this subject, the more I started to see a sinister pattern. It is truly disgusting. Before realizing this, I thought the religion I was born into was mostly harmless, even if my doubts about it were correct. Research changed my perspective considerably. -
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FayeDunaway
Witnesses definitely don't talk to Jesus. If they did, they would get in trouble, because it would be verrrrry 'false religion' to them. I think your friend is nuts for saying this. He wants to look 'normal' in your eyes? But still, he sounds like an absolute heathen form of JW!! Seriously they don't do it.
When I was coming out of the religion and becoming an actual Christian, I felt a strong desire to pray to Jesus, but it felt SO scary to start. I actually asked the Father's permission first, praying that I hoped it was ok. It all seems so silly now!! And no, there's no difference between talking to Jesus and praying to Jesus.