i have, for about 6 months now, been trying to watch every single movie that was "cool" or interesting since 1960.it started out with a desire to watch as an adult all disney movies.
then it morphed into all bond movies (except for the non-canonicals).now it's turned into pretty much any and all movies.
here is my list, scratched out are ones i have seen, green are recent next-in line.turns out there was a lot i had never seen before, about 70% because of the cult restrictions!
I'm also catching up on gradually on movies and books that were disapproved by the cult leaders. Racing around trying to keep up with the "theocratic routine" didn't leave time for much of anything else anyway.
I'll find your lists helpful as I didn't really know where to start. Thanks! 😊
this photo is doing the rounds on jw inspirational on instagram.
although the brothers and sisters think this is "oh so amazing" and "so cool" it's actually very sad and quite shocking.
what, people cant even enjoy their wedding day without the cult invading their special day.
I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't even their idea. They were probably pressured to do this by "the friends."
i want to thank everyone for the support you give in this forum, i know i'm just one of many who feel this way.
i'm not just talking about feedback about my issues but overall i have leaned so much from what is said to help others who have/are leaving the wts.
i also want to add the ripple effect that what help one person here goes forward to everyone else in our lives!
I want to thank everyone for the support you give in this forum, I know I'm just one of many who feel this way. I'm not just talking about feedback about my issues but overall I have leaned so much from what is said to help others who have/are leaving the WTS.
I also want to add the ripple effect that what help one person here goes forward to everyone else in our lives! 💙💜
i hope all is well.
my last post over a month ago was going to be the last considering i wanted to get away from all things jw but this place is much harder to ignore than previously thought.
life has taken some very interesting turns since late last year.
I'm really happy for you, epecially babies on the way. Congratulations!
just needing a listening ear, so in advance thanks for being here, no one other than ex-jw's could understand.
they may try, but i think only a person who lived through it could know what's its really like.. i wish i could be supporting others here but i'm so broken myself i can't seem to do that yet.
i hope that will come in time though.. for now, i'm trying to undo the damage done to my family by the wts.
Saethydd, thank you for your input, I'm making small steps in making new friends, also I started volunteering at one of the elementary schools helping second graders with math. We have fun together and I'm happy to do something for them in a small way. Great suggestions, thank you.
just needing a listening ear, so in advance thanks for being here, no one other than ex-jw's could understand.
they may try, but i think only a person who lived through it could know what's its really like.. i wish i could be supporting others here but i'm so broken myself i can't seem to do that yet.
i hope that will come in time though.. for now, i'm trying to undo the damage done to my family by the wts.
Thank you Ding, I'm trying to let go of the guilt, they aren't blaming me. It's just me working through it. I hadn't thought of my therapist being able to advise. I can call tomorrow, thank you.
just needing a listening ear, so in advance thanks for being here, no one other than ex-jw's could understand.
they may try, but i think only a person who lived through it could know what's its really like.. i wish i could be supporting others here but i'm so broken myself i can't seem to do that yet.
i hope that will come in time though.. for now, i'm trying to undo the damage done to my family by the wts.
Just needing a listening ear, so in advance thanks for being here, no one other than ex-jw's could understand. They may try, but I think only a person who lived through it could know what's its really like.
I wish I could be supporting others here but I'm so broken myself I can't seem to do that yet. I hope that will come in time though.
For now, I'm trying to undo the damage done to my family by the WTS. At least now that I'm out I won't be creating any further disasters.
I have so much guilt that I raised my kids in that crazy cult. Because I was third generation, I knew nothing else. But that doesn't change it, the damage is already done. Fortunately, they all left before they were reached twenties. It may appear that by leaving so young they would be OK. But, those early years is when the personality is formed, education choices, the whole thing. Everyone here is healing.
Yet, at this moment my youngest only 19, recently married, and now expecting a baby is in financial crisis. As in, the power was shut off today at their apartment. $600.00 to get it back on. Past due rent, $500.00. And both of them possibly coming to stay with me tonight. They can't stay here for any length of time, my lease doesn't allow it.
Yet, it's so easy for people in general and even some family members to say it's her own fault. They say she made bad choices and there is no point in me trying to defend her to them. I've tried. I'm the cause, I think. She has some mental health issues, as do I. I'm much better now after years of therapy. I'm down to only one medication. I've been stable for two years.
Is this because of being raised in a cult? Hmm, well if anyone outside the organization were to view the video on JWFacts called something like "Growing up as a Jehovah's Witness" (not sure exactly) they could see the potential psychological effects. It's a crazy religion. All of my years in therapy I never suspected it was the root issue. Who would? But, now that I've left, talked with my psychiatrist, therapist(s) it's all come together. They were appalled by the video, it mirrors my life. The teachings, attitudes, everything I was taught and believed is incredibly twisted. My doctor, and therapists are attributing my problems to it. But, it's in the past, already I've become so much better. After only one month out last April, there have been no more anxiety attacks. I can think clearly, I'm not afraid of dying at Armageddon, I'm not being constantly lectured that I'm not doing enough, and the list goes on...
I can think for myself at last instead of hoping Jah would do something useful, knowing he never had. I no longer believe in God, what a relief! I'm not helplessly in someone else's control.
I'm actually able to at least help my daughter figure out how to get out of this disaster, and hopefully prevent it from happening again. Though I don't know how really. She has walked away from an ideal situation living with a good friend, her second Mom. Much better than me. But she returned from there, Florida, to a not so great city in the Midwest. No opportunities. Friends who are dysfunctional, like herself, like me. That's not sound thinking. It's illogical. No one would choose chaos of they really understood what was going on. I gave/give love, but how to live in the real world, I didn't. I'm barely learning now myself. I'm receiving SSI for my mental health issues. No, it's not visible, I'm not socially odd. But, I'm just now learning how to keep myself intact. This little daughter is everything to me, and she loves me, we'll get through this. I know we will. Every day is a step forward. We're learning. So glad my other two are alright.
Just pointing out that though the religion may not be entirely at fault, it's a major reason. Thankfully, it's rare for JW's overall to get to this extreme point.
Also, I am embarrassed to admit the above, about my mental health, or lack thereof, but it is part of the subject I stated with. Just how difficult it is to pick up the pieces after the influence of my lifetime and my family's in the supposed "Truth." I would appreciate any advice related to how to improve this situation going forward. I'm done with lamenting to myself and therapists about the past, it's gone. It's over, it's all a matter getting on with living.
Thank you for listening and any thoughts/suggestions.
my wife is still nominally in, but only because it "makes me (her) happy".
there is nothing academic about her beliefs and when i try, she interprets me as negative.. but then she cusses like a sailor and watches certain movies with me.
her birthday is coming up and it's also right around valentine's day.
I agree with wrapping it up really pretty, she'll love it!
i remember once in berlin south germany there was a local needs part for the men only, and how they should use the toilet.
in all seriousness for ten minutes a retarded nigerian was going on about how men need to sit down when using the toilet.
no mention of anything else.. it transpired that some little kraut boy from an "interested" family would aim for the side of the toilet and leave a great big puddle for others to clean up.
Dogs. The CO actually lectured about how the Bible had " nothing good to say about dogs." He went on to point out several scriptures to back up his personal dislike for them. How ridiculous.
Shoes. While staying with a family during one of his visits (free, nice meals included) he counted an excessive number of shoes in the sister's closet.
not too long ago, i posted a topic where i pointed out that there are about 1 million xjws alive right now.
that number only represented the disfellowshipped ones... didn't account for those who had become publishers and left or anyone else who got hurt by that group by proxy.
so, why are there so few of them online?
I think as was mentioned, some of those who were DF are still in pain regardless of how long ago it was. Posting about those feelings means reliving them. One of my close family members is that way.
I know many who have left that were never baptized. They were raised in the "truth" or around it and that in itself has seriously damaged them. They don't want to talk or think about it. This must apply even more so those who were officially disfellowshipped.
Another reason, as was also brought up are those who have been DF, yet are going back. I personally know some of them don't have any disagreement with the WT organization. Unfortunately, they feel they have sinned and accept the judicial committees decision. They sit meekly in the back row until they are reinstated. These wouldn't be participating or even looking at ex-jw sites online, as they don't consider themselves as such. Maybe someday, they will see the TTATT and find support groups such as this. At that point it could be a lifesaver for them as it has been for me. I'm one who really needs to express my feelings, have them validated by others (like on this forum) who have gone through this and come out to live happier lives.
