Posts by Phoebe

15

Doubling up on Circuit Overseers for Apostahunts?

by Wakanda in

in my area i know of four congregations dissolved in one circuit, so that leaves eight weeks a year empty for that circuit overseer's calendar.

dissolving congregations is happening more than in my area, so i believe we can assume other c.o.s have open time.

it appears that c.o.s are visiting with a companion c.o.

Phoebe

This video is one of witness nomore on youtube.

I've been following him. He's in the north of England. He tried to ask questions and he secretly taped all his conversations with them. They are quite interesting. They even called the cops on him at the meeting.

He has been disfellowshipped now. He's a really nice guy. He just wanted some answers.

Interestingly, during his appeal, when he was sent out of the room, one elder said to the other 'well, that didn't take 10 minutes, did it?' As if they just wanted to swan in, uphold the disfellowshipping and be out of there in 10 minutes. He even heard an elder say they should do what the C.O said and 'purge' the congregation.

He bravely recorded everything so we could hear what went on in his J.C. and when he tried to talk to elders.

33

What Simple Pleasures Do You Enjoy Since Leaving Watchtower?

by pale.emperor in

what simple pleasures do you enjoy since leaving watchtower?

here's some of mine, in no particular order:.

a cigar: i dont smoke cigarettes at all, but i do enjoy a good cigar from time to time.

Phoebe

My husband brings me breakfast in bed on Sunday mornings...I think he can't quite believe he's finally got me out of the Watchtower and is keeping me sweet! -- I may use this to my advantage for some time ;)

I did the lotto.

I'm not afraid to make friends with non JWs.

Ditto on the good swear word...it's quite liberating when the occasion warrants it.

Best of all - freedom from headship. Not that I ever took any notice of that anyway, but when I did get a bit bossy with my old man I'd feel so guilty because I wasn't like the other submissive sisters and have to beg Jehovah to forgive me.

5

Chapter 13 part B New Boy 50 years a Watchtower Slave

by new boy in

jw
friends

i was given the rest the day off and told to report to housekeeping monday morning.

everything would start on monday the day i was supposed to have arrived at bethel.

every new boy was assigned to a house keeper for three days before they got their work assignment.

Phoebe

I really enjoyed reading this and as I'm fairly new here, I've been trawling through your previous posts to read all of your story. So interesting. I can't wait for more...

By the way I was baptized the same year and month as you!

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!