growing up a jw makes a person unique, long after you leave.
even though i strongly disagree with much of what i was taught, i still am tainted by my upbringing in that i think a thought and then correct myself with what i now should think (or visa versa, think something and then remember what i once would have thought).. even now that i am far removed from watchtower thinking, i still feel somewhat of an alien from those around me.
though i am loved at work, i feel they laugh at me more than they laugh with me.. for some time now, i have been meaning to chronograph the concepts that a witness child is indocrinated with to show just how damaging an upbringing it is.
My pleasure New South Wales. Thanks for the thread.
Mostly Dead, I love the term "theocratic spell" - that gave me a good chuckle.
Had lots to do this evening, don't know what inspired me to check in, soooooooo glad I did.
"Grateful, grateful, truly blessed and duly grateful".
Sloboy's wife aka Dragonfly5
growing up a jw makes a person unique, long after you leave.
even though i strongly disagree with much of what i was taught, i still am tainted by my upbringing in that i think a thought and then correct myself with what i now should think (or visa versa, think something and then remember what i once would have thought).. even now that i am far removed from watchtower thinking, i still feel somewhat of an alien from those around me.
though i am loved at work, i feel they laugh at me more than they laugh with me.. for some time now, i have been meaning to chronograph the concepts that a witness child is indocrinated with to show just how damaging an upbringing it is.
Hey all. Haven't been to the sight in years. Using spouses sign on.
Grew up around witnesses. Baptized at 12. Now 50. Quit going in 2002. I spent my youth pioneering. Was taught that if I went to college (and there was a community college as well as a university within minutes of my home) that I would have premarital sex, get pregnant, have an abortion, take drugs, and end up believing evolution. I was taught that we didn't need an education; because doctors, nurses, lawyers, and teachers wouldn't be needed in the new world. Additionally, I was taught, marry if you must (to avoid fornication), but do not have children in this system. Do not buy a house or worry about your finances - Armageddon's coming.
Where did that all get me? After decades of pioneering and being a faithful W.T. cheerleader and NOT doing any of the above, except getting married? I spoke out about child molestation (elder's son molests small children) - took seven years for me to see they would never get it. Sloboy disassociated himself first. The final straw for me was a witness got a restraining order against 7 of us, separate orders for my spouse and I - because we had knowledge of his daughter being molested by his brother-in-law. The elders came to my house and met with Sloboy and I - accused us of a death threat against the perpetrator and one of the elders - said I phoned and shot off a gun and said that they'd better not sweep this under the rug.....accused us or "one of our group of doing it.
Thryroid blew out from stress, became chronically anemic, went back to community college, took care of health, after 8 years got two associates degrees in business - had to work full time while going to school. Have no eggs left to have babies. Hit the financial skids when sloboy got sick 10 years ago and sold his business at a loss to some "brothers" who made a killing off of it and his clients.
Today? Regular therapy. Bikram yoga. Staying in the present. Been to Ireland and loved it! Have had two promotions at work thanks to college work and degrees. Still married to husband after 32 years, still love him. MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT OF MY LIFE? I got out of the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses after four decades.
I will wrap this up with saying that I still fight to trust people. I still feel I am on display at times, and worry way to much about what others think, and that I fight "the blessing and the malediction thinking". Lastly, the witnesses gossiped so much, were so critical and judgemental of others - something I hate - and I still do it at times - but am aware of how unhealthy it is now. Still, it gets better day by day. God, who I chose to call "Creator of the wind" is still good. What I think, say, and do in each moment is my spiritual program.
Bless you all for being here. Be good to yourselves. God IS love, no matter what we've been through or done. We are more than the worst thing we've ever done.
Love Dragonly5
so i went to last nights bookstudy which discusses 6 paragraphs of the daniel book so there was lots of room for comment.
the study itself already was pretty frustrating it was taken from chapter 17 paragraphs 24-29 and it goes on about how the fds has to be lead by jehovah because of all the prophecies of daniel that fits them (1335 days was this convention to that etc etc).
but the paragraphs also mention the failed prediction for 1925. here are some interresting quotes from the book: .
" ever give a comment and told the real truth"
Whoooaaa, hold on there. Let's just cut through all the flowery oratory and call what it is:
" THE TURD IN THE PUNCH BOWL "
. Yeah, that's right. Anyone who would even dare to approach a ' true ' comment, well heck, they just might as well have stood-up and ripped-off a stinky ol' loud one and then giggled hysterically.
.
how about the "godly oatmeal" convention.
....or how about the "divine chocolate cake" assembly?
In a similar vein.............while fading from the cult, my wife and I attended a district convention as ' Ura and Ima Pruved'. Got a lot of interesting feedback from the rank and file.
when we had our children we planned them.
we made this known to any in the cong who asked if we 'got a surprise' when we found out we were pregnant.
we basically said, 'no, we wanted children'.
Yeah, it is amazing how duplicity becomes a way of life for most dubs who just want to enjoy some of what this "worldly life" has to offer. One young couple got married, spouted all the standard 'Tower crap ( ' got married so we could pioneer together at Bethel, blah, blah, blah). When they turned up pregnant, same ol' " he wouldn't let me up" excuse. After their fifth child, it was like, uh " riiiiiiiiiight ".
Hey y'all.....Joined when I was twenty-one; honestly didn't realize the 1975 date was being pushed so hard, but it was. Come to find out while I went up one side of the street "encouraging" people to have a relationship with Hova, my buddies were on the other side telling them "Make up your mind now cause you only got a couple of months before you will be vaporized". Anyhoooo......Liked the point of Almostatheist's post...thinking of all those old Witnets who knew they'd been lied to many, many times and didn't have the "integrity" to drop me and others some little clue, like " WHAT A CROCK OF BULL THIS ALL IS, DON'T FALL FOR IT, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND PLAN FOR THE FUTURE!!!". Although I now understand their silence, I certainly don't respect it.
in the jehovah's witness church, the elders were allowed to tell other church members because everyone in the church is considered an ordained minister.
but they were not allowed to tell authorities outside the church, the court records said.
i wonder if she misunderstood?.
Once again, sitting here, shaking my head, wondering how JayDubs reconcile all this malevolent litigation with the supposed Christian qualities of love, compassion, and humility.
Sloboy
in a local paper.
sickening
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/pmextra/#link3
Purza,
I live near this area and have heard about this abuse for some time. Good to see they're finally moving ahead with the case. Though these house-trained, lap-dog WBTS lawyers use all the legal cunning at their disposal, what really jumps at you is the lack of TRUE compassion for the victims. This is the real witness for the public!
.
she's just looked up her results online and found out she passed her latest open university exam.. well done love, i knew you'd do it !
again, another box to tick on the immigration forms to get a few more points ...
Congratulations Angharad!!!....and Simon too. How does the saying go, " behind every successful woman is a good man", or somthin' like that. And I can't believe it hasn't already been said, " You must have read alot of Witchtower and Asleep magazines to get that smart!"
well, after four elder meetings at 2 hours a pop, they sill want to get together with me.
the last meeting i told them to give me scriptural backing that disproves that the 70 years ended when babylon fell as spoken of at jer 25: 10,11. i also asked for scriptures to prove why they insist on 607 rather than 587 as the fall of jerusalem.
they said they would do that and get back to me.
Just remember, MOST elders aren't to be trusted. They have sold their integrity to a man-made organization and aren't able to deal fairly. I gave my dissassociation letter to my "friend" the P.O. He got back to me, asking that if I were to re-consider, he would simply give the letter back and we would basically keep it between ourselves. Thinking that my "point" had been made, I agreed and told him to drop the letter at my house. Lo and Behold, he tells me he is happy that I re-considered, but the "brothers" would like to meet with me and "clear-up" a few things. I smelled Bethel big-time, and after meeting with him privately, told him to keep the letter and let it stand. I truly believe, in hindsight, that by doing so, I did them out of the pleasure of disfellowshipping me. Follow your conscience, but always keep in mind the type of men you are dealing with. By the way, I am once again sickened by their efforts to drive a wedge between you and your wife, and doing it in the name of Christianity.
