Posts by HereIgo

55

Why do ones that got out come back in?

by moreconfusedthanever in

i have not been to a meeting for about 2 years now.

i do not intend to go back but one thing has me baffled.

why do ones that have faded and been out for years return?

HereIgo

Hi moreconfused,

In my opinion, they come back because brainwashing is such a powerful cult tool. It has been drilled in the heads of members that the world is a dark and scary place and one will never be successful upon leaving. I was personally told that the "world will eat me up and spit me back out" which has never happened btw. Also, due to the shunning that one experiences, they become traumatized and miss their family and so-called "friends" whom are actively avoiding them, so they come back to gain that association again. Also, as others have mentioned above, the organization is familiar, especially for those that were born in.

180

What is the most bizarre counsel you received as a JW, from a JW?

by Funchback in

there were many addressed to me.

for example, i once had a sister tell me i was gambling because i liked playing skill crane (the machine where you have to try to pick up prizes like stuffed animals) at the arcade.

i then fired back a her: "you saw the r-rated movie 'backdraft.

HereIgo

Years ago, while I was in and still living at home, about 20 years old, I took my 16 year old niece to a meeting. She wasn't even apart of the congregation that me and my mother attended but she was visiting. Anyway, we walk in the hall, before I could even make it a seat an Elder took me to the side and counseled me on how short her skirt was. I didn't even notice the length, but it didn't appear to me to be inappropriate! After the conversation, It felt creepy and confusing as he wasn't her Father or family. Just another negative experience as a JW. One thing I learned while in, the Elders LOVE to counsel about it anything and everything, it strokes their ego.

12

How did you overcome feelings of lost time in the Org?

by Skepsis in

jw
friends

i'm a very positive person who always try to focus on the good side of things.. however, my fading is becoming increasingly painful and i'm starting being shunned by some i thought were friends.

i'm missing some meetings so the rumour is spreading to neighbouring congregations where i'm known that i'm not as spiritual as i used to be.

elders want to have a shepherding meeting with me.

HereIgo

This is a great topic. I personally was able to overcome feelings of lost time by just accepting the fact that I lost that time and trying to look at the positives, although there are hardly any. I do feel to an extent that being in the religion helped me overcome my fear of public speaking and also helped me curb my social anxiety that I had at the time which was able to help me deal with people better in the real world. This was done obviously by public speaking and field service. Also, since I was raised around the "troof", If I had never been involved, I would have always wondered if it was indeed the truth. Since I was able to see for myself that it wasn't, I was able to move on knowing TTATT. I feel like any experience we have in life will shape us into who we are today, so that's how I try to look at it.

41

What woke you up?

by MrRoboto in

for me, i think it was just the right time as i was starting to wake up on other fronts as well (anyone who had went through these will know what i mean).

but it started when i was looking for what info goes on a publisher card, which led to me reading one person's story (ex bethelite) which was pretty crazy to an all-in jw but who trusts those apostates...?.

then i started watching videos on cults, as if my subconscious was trying to tell my concord mind something... when i saw a particular one about a young man in lds getting ready to start their 2 year preaching campaign, including a school, social activities etc, i realized that i couldn't tell the difference between the folks of this mormon cult and the jws (save for some religious differences) .

HereIgo

it was a multitude of things, mostly small things I noticed shortly after baptism as a teen, questions I would ask myself and one day I decided enough was enough. I questioned not the existence of God himself, but whether he backed the organization and also the man made rules that the Org created. If Jehovah's holy spirit appointed MS and elders, then how does the CO have the power to sway a decision or delay an appointment? (personal experience). Why is there an unwritten time limit that must pass before a DF person can be reinstated? Why can men even DF a person in the first place? Why isn't the word "disfellowship" in the bible? Why isn't "judicial committee" in the bible? Why must a DF person be punished by men when more than likely God already forgave him? He forgave King David instantly? Why is a man in the United States considered non spiritual if he has a beard? Why do we have to read several man-made books and answer questions before an Elder before we can be baptized? Why cant we just accept Jesus like the Ethiopian Eunuch did and become baptized instantly? There are countless others, but I knew there was something afoul with the organization and I knew I had to make a decision. Leaving was the best thing I could have done.

36

There is no Holy Spirit.

by hoser in

there is no holy spirit.

i lead a double life.

i post on apostate web sites, swear like a sailor, covertly subvert the watchtower religion and do many other things i'd rather not mention.

HereIgo

Hoser,

I came to that conclusion after the Elders asked me before being appointed as an MS the famous line " is there anything preventing you from becoming an MS?" I said no of course, but there was quite a few things that probably could have prevented it. lol

34

7 day conventions?

by HereIgo in

did any of you attend the old school week long conventions?

i have heard stories and it seems like these were mostly in the 70's and 80's before my time.

i couldn't imagine.

HereIgo

I didn't realize this thread would get so many responses, thanks for your experiences, I enjoyed reading them all!

34

7 day conventions?

by HereIgo in

did any of you attend the old school week long conventions?

i have heard stories and it seems like these were mostly in the 70's and 80's before my time.

i couldn't imagine.

HereIgo

Did any of you attend the old school week long conventions? I have heard stories and it seems like these were mostly in the 70's and 80's before my time. What were they like? I couldn't imagine. I grew up going to the modern 3 day conventions and was dying to go home by the end of Sunday!

20

Dealing with Loneliness and Social Anxiety

by NoviceLocs14 in

hello, this is my 1st initiated post on this site, so i'm a bit nervous.

i did search for similar topics on this site, but a lot of them have been inactive for several years, so here goes.... a little background, i was pretty much born in "da twoof", baptized at 17, pioneered for about 6 years, was part of the rbc part time, and was even in the foreign language field for the last 3 years i was a jw.

so i pretty much had a pretty active social life within the organization due to being part of all of those things.

HereIgo

Novice,

I have faith that one day you will find someone that you "click" just be patient and try your best. Hang in there!

12

What is your happy or comforting memory from your childhood?

by MissFit in

when i think of my childhood i tend to organize my memories based on the houses i lived in.

the house i remember the most was the house on the hill when i was 6. i can still picture it in my mind.

it had a big porch with a porch swing.

HereIgo

Basically any time before my mom forced the JW religion on me at age 16 and now we haven't talked in years.. I have good memories waking up before sunrise going fishing with my dad, road trips, playing old school jams in the car with my mom talking about normal stuff, back when life was simple. Good times.

56

Would You Outlaw Jehovah's Witnesses If You Had Your Way?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i still believe in freedom of religion even if i disagree with the beliefsof the religion.

what about you?.

HereIgo

As much as it damages families and relationships, I wouldn't outlaw it. I believe people should have the freedom to believe in whatever they want.