as a former witnesses, i have spoken to tons and tons of christians since my exit.
some want to convert me to their faith, heal me of what they see as false information in my youth and so on.
when ever i speak to them, not being a christian now, i have certain things that guide me.
Botr, I'm imagining you were in Central PA. Not much to talk about in certain areas out there. While I attend different churches according to my moods, I was raised and confirmed in the Episcopal faith. Welcome!
I agree with Lisa on this... it's enough to agree that there's a higher power and to celebrate an agreement on that. The rest is opinion.
i like a lot about christmas, lights, music, smells, food.
i like the idea of lots of presents, too, but i totally don't like the idea enforced by advertising that all of us must spend loads of money buying gifts for everyone we know.
and i think that gifts for adults should be consumable, a bottle of wine, candy, that sort of thing, a token of friendship, a little treat, but nothing grand.. so, i've made about four dozen jars of jam from wild grapes i picked in the fall, and i'm going to make lots of cranberry bread and pumpkin bread.
It's a good feeling to be basically done.
Must we brag? I haven't started! I told my daughter to buy her own boots and that I'd reimburse her, I haven't been near a toy store for my niece, and ...I mean... how hard could it be to find a sweatshirt and some slippers? *sigh*
as a former witnesses, i have spoken to tons and tons of christians since my exit.
some want to convert me to their faith, heal me of what they see as false information in my youth and so on.
when ever i speak to them, not being a christian now, i have certain things that guide me.
Wait... wouldn't you have spoken to more non-JW Christians who wanted to convert and/or heal you from the perceived falsehoods taught to you as a youth before your exit? Since you had to knock on doors?... This has only been happening after you've left?
Has this happened to anybody else on this forum...
as a former witnesses, i have spoken to tons and tons of christians since my exit.
some want to convert me to their faith, heal me of what they see as false information in my youth and so on.
when ever i speak to them, not being a christian now, i have certain things that guide me.
So, you left the JWs and created ....rules. Interesting...
I'm curious as to how you've managed to get into "tons and tons of conversations with Christians" who want to convert you. I deal with people at varying levels of association daily and am in an institution of 1500+ employees. I touch each of their lives at least once a year and many on a daily basis, but I can only tell you the denominational affiliation of a handful. NONE have EVER tried to "convert" me. I'm over 40 and have been a non-JW all my life. I've never run into this..."problem."
If I got into tons of tons of conversations, maybe I'd create rules too. I dunno....
i like a lot about christmas, lights, music, smells, food.
i like the idea of lots of presents, too, but i totally don't like the idea enforced by advertising that all of us must spend loads of money buying gifts for everyone we know.
and i think that gifts for adults should be consumable, a bottle of wine, candy, that sort of thing, a token of friendship, a little treat, but nothing grand.. so, i've made about four dozen jars of jam from wild grapes i picked in the fall, and i'm going to make lots of cranberry bread and pumpkin bread.
Hortensia - Good for you! your gifts are from the heart. That's really cool. The cost of the gifts exchanged amongst many of those that I know (I'm a non-jw) are typically tokens of appreciation. The big-ticket items are reserved for the kids. You're only a kid once.
My 22 year old asked for boots. Her birthday gift was an Iphone. My mother asked for a football team's sweatshirt and my Dad wanted slippers. I buy nothing for my brother nor his wife, but buy something for their daughter and they do the same for mine. None of us relies on another to buy a gift that we can buy ourselves.
I suspect most over 30 would agree that the true goals of Christmas are the get-togethers and the food - not the gifts. :)
i received a parcel at work from my daughter and her boyfriend.
it contained a birthday card in the shape of a motorcycle leather jacket and a book on rides you can take using the back roads in my part of the world!
my eyes filled with tears as i was reading the card.
WAAHOOOOOO HAVE A BLAST! :)
Make sure the blast is legal, okay? (giggling)
getting a visit tommorow our kids that are in are concerned as to why we are missing meetings.
our family is basically ignored by the congregation long story we just don't want to go anymore.
i have told the kids how rotten i have been treated and also i have had some seriou health issues but you know you should still be at the meetings.
If they really really get on your case in the future (not at this visit), say that what you need is lots of help from the elders to mow your lawn and have your meals cooked and laundry done because of your health. Say you don't want the congregation members other than the elders helping as the whole thing is embarrassing and you would like to keep it between you and them.
May not fit your circumstance, but THIS is hilarious.
i am just watching my neighbours across the road putting up christmas lights while their children run around bursting with excitement.
i am feeling all christmassy now.
can't wait for my daughter to come home from uni next weekend so we can go and buy a tree from the garden centre.
Blondie! GREAT JOB! :)
i am just watching my neighbours across the road putting up christmas lights while their children run around bursting with excitement.
i am feeling all christmassy now.
can't wait for my daughter to come home from uni next weekend so we can go and buy a tree from the garden centre.
Joe134cd,
There actually are families that decorate, celebrate, but don't exchange gifts. Here in my area, there was an industry that employed probably half the men in the community. That industry's failing affected just about every head of household in my extended family. Given each family's economy, a decision was made to NOT exchange, but to enjoy the season with multiple pot-luck dinners. The host family provided the meats but the side dishes were provided by the attendees. Those were the best memories. No stress whatsoever. Tradition is part of what connects us.
I am absolutely sure it's not the case with all JW families, but I can think of four that seem to have no real meaningful connections to extended family outside of being JWs. God, don't be an ex-jw for they're most likely not even invited to the house. If extended families do not attend the same KH, they seem to get together for religious conventions, weddings and funerals. That wraps it up.
As an outsider, it's hard to watch.
another of my rants.... .
why am i still scared when i read something that the jw's have written?
why does it still upset me to read jw literature?
I'm a non-jw who started researching the history and evolution of the denomination and became fascinated. To be honest, I was probably more effective in communicating TTATT before I started studying the deconstructions of the dogma. After reading the deconstructions of "The TRUTH," I was totally lost. Discussing anything with a JW became a monstrous task because I was challenged with attempting to remember constructions AND deconstructions.
It's enough to know that the interpretations being thrown at the Witnesses has mal-intent. Become confident in your understanding and I suspect the intimidation factor will be reduced. To be fair, I have no emotional scarring to overcome, but whether theist or atheist, confidence seems to be the pattern I see here on JWN as well.
You have a mouth and now you have wisdom. I'm hoping that over time and as you keep reading outside of the WT, you'll become more confident.
Luke 21:14-15
14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.
