Posts by Phoebe

42

Returning to the truth.

by Justmeok2 in

hi i am just starting to rebuild my relationship with jehovah.

.

i would like to hear from people who may be or have been in similar situations and now want to dedicate their lives to him..

Phoebe

Justmeok2

I am just starting to rebuild my relationship with God, too. Only this time I'm doing it without an organization ordering me about.

The thing is, I realise I never really knew God. I was just studying what the organization was telling me to study. I was lazy, I just trusted their every word. Well, it turns out they were often - not always - but very often, lying. So the God I thought I knew, well I didn't know him at all really.

My nightly prayers were literally me begging forgiveness for not being a good enough JW and for letting my kids go out the truth. I felt their blood on my hands.

Now I'm free, my prayers are calm. I enjoy thanking God for this beautiful planet. I enjoy talking to him. I am learning about him all over again and it is refreshing. I have peace in my heart. I'm no longer locked into the fear and guilt Watchtower puts on you.

So, please rebuild your relationship with him...but just him...not an organization and 7 portly men sitting around a table voting on what WE are allowed to believe.

The above websites given you really helped me, as did Youtubers EXJW Critical Thinker/Spike R/John Cedars

31

Homophobic "story" in June 2017 WT

by ILoveTTATT2 in

jw
friends

.

Phoebe

It's probably not a real story. I think half of them are made up. I remember seeing a video on YouTube and the ex JW brother was talking about how the whole 'swimming across crocodile rivers to get to meetings' was a complete exaggeration as apparently most of the villagers had to swim across the river anyway.

Guess there must be a lesbian problem the way they keep going on about it! After all, according to Sam Herd if we have a 'I think I'm just as good as a man' thought in our heads us women are homosexual anyway. (see my previous thread)

19

A Short Life Story - Part 4 (Finale)

by pale.emperor in

a continuation from part 3, which is here: https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/4807117397557248/short-life-story-part-3#!#4918071166763008.

my wife had settled into a routine of waking up at 6am each day, cleaning (so no chance of a lie in for me or our daughter with the vacuum cleaner going), eating very little, picking the skin off her lips while she sits there in a trance obsessing over things that are out of our control and dont matter anyway.

she never did return to work.

Phoebe

Brilliant last line....just brilliant

Loved reading your story, thank you so much for sharing.

33

JWs biggest problem is not doctrinal issues

by Chook in

it's biggest problems are associated with its lack of genuine love and concern for the rank& file.

the average person doesn't need a food critic to tell them their hamburger is shit, in the same manner the average person can discern kindness and love.

gbs fake love and concern is evident in the way head office deals with victims of sexual abuse by jw clergy.

Phoebe

It was the lack of love, compassion or any kind of empathy, that made me leave after 50 years. I put up with it decade after decade, always putting it down to 'imperfect men' and making excuses for them.

But in the end, I saw what a bunch of hypocrites they really were. I was shunned because my two eldest went to university. I sat by myself on an empty row for meeting after meeting. No one would sit anywhere near me. I couldn't get anyone to work with me in the ministry because they saw me as spiritually weak. Even though I'd been faithfully going through a life threatening illness, tragedy, depression and so much hardship. My husband did everything for the brothers before he left and continued to help bros after. When he needed help...they were nowhere to be seen.

I saw old sisters sitting in nursing homes, faithful for years, no one went to see them. No elders -- ever.

Brothers suffering from depression, treated as if they were useless. I could go on. I've seen a lot in my life.

People say there are good people in the R&F and maybe there are a few, but mostly they are cold, clinical and look down on people who they don't think are good enough - in or out of the organization.

I seriously have no time for them anymore and I'm just sad it took me 50 years to realize it.

Isambard Crater

I don't know you, but I care. Everyone on this forum cares for you. Take care of yourself my dear.

10

A Short Life Story - Part 3

by pale.emperor in

continuation from part 2 (which is here: https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5769422536966144/short-life-story-part-2).

so im 25, married, and my life seems to have ended when it should be in it's prime.

i have only two non jw friends.

Phoebe

I really enjoyed reading it but it's so sad and makes me so angry. You didn't deserve to be treated like that and that elder was disgusting.

I'm glad you are sharing it because these life stories really help people. Every life story reaffirms why we shouldn't be part of this cult.

I look forward to the next episode.

2

Chapter 12 of New Boy Fifty Years a Watchtower Slave

by new boy in

jw
friends

i'm writing by book again and will be posting it here for any feed back, corrections and impute.

i turned around and gave him another $10.

the brooklyn heights area is one of the most upscale neighborhoods in all of new york.

Phoebe

I loved reading this and as a fairly new person on here I've been trying to go back in your posts and see where you started the story. I love reading people's experiences and life stories.

40

Post Convention Euphoria

by Phoebe in

jw
friends

there is a plethora of convention photos on my instagram this morning.

(a lot of my jw friends have forgotten i'm on their followers list) .

smiling faces standing next to convention posters with comments like 'nope, i'm not giving up.

Phoebe

Magnum

that was a brilliant illustration, I'm going to remember that one. Hear you, too. I'm 64 and until my husband got too sick to work, we were cleaning for a living and scraping by. Husband was a pioneer for awhile, too. We brought up 3 kids and had no money for pension plans. Now, we're still working albeit doing something different, but still working 7 days a week, just to keep a float. We've been told we work because we're materialistic but we have nothing nice. No holidays. Old car. We just pay the bills. Work is a sin in my congregation. I left school at 16, no qualifications. We were encouraged to pioneer, the end is right around the corner. You won't see middle age. It just saddens me to see the cycle continually repeated.

dozy

Conventions were the social occasion of the year. Much planning went into convention outfits! It was a chance to meet people. We never listened to anything, we were there to have fun. If you volunteered you might miss all the talks! I once spent the entire convention slicing tomatoes for sandwiches. It was great fun!

6

A Short Life Story - Part 1

by pale.emperor in

in the spirit of some great life stories i've read on here i'd like to share mine.

sitting comfortably?

good, then we shall begin.. i was born into a jw family in 1984. dad, mum, two sisters (twins) and two brothers.

Phoebe

Thank you! I love life stories. Looking forward to the next installment.

34

Really struggling to go on

by Isambard Crater in

jw
friends

so, so much has happened in my life over the years and continues to happen, but i won't go into the details as it would take a long time.. i don't really know why, but i returned to "the truth" 15 years ago.

in 2012 when the tv broadcasting station launched, i started to develop doubts.

the australian royal commission and other scandals made me angrier, and i now don't believe most of the core teachings.. the only reason i show up at 5 or 6 meetings each month is to keep in contact with my parents and a few other family members.. but it's killing me, literally.

Phoebe

The one thing that really helped me when I was in the middle of depression was being told to distance myself, as much as possible, from toxic/negative people. What is it they say? Once you let go of negative people, positive ones appear.

So I looked at what was really causing me to flounder in this sea of depression. It was some members of family, the congregation, even a work-related forum I was on at the time. I just cut them out as much as possible. Once their negative influences weren't round me I started to feel so much better.

You have your own little family, you and your husband. Put yourselves first for once.Please take care of yourself. xxx

4

Killing in the name of....

by Confusedalot in

my story:.

i grew up as one of jehovah's witnesses with all the normal complications which include but are not limited to: having no friends because the other kids are worldly and the other witnesses are not spiritual enough, being tormented every day at school for not saluting the flag, not participating in birthdays, not swearing, being a virgin and using the name of god.

this was not only verbal and emotional torment but even progressed to physical abuse.. through all this jehovah was my only friend and i used to pray a lot, and felt that all of these things don't matter as long as i have him.. after school and starting work i met someone and we got married.

Phoebe

Confusedalot

Your story was heartbreaking. You have been through such a lot. Thank you for sharing it with us. I'm glad to see that you are coming through it.

Leaving the Watchtower and the pain that goes with it feels like walking through fire sometimes, but you have got to the other side of it. You story is so encouraging to those of us with the same struggle.

I wish you so much love and good wishes for the future.