Posts by TonusOH

3104

It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars (continued)

by Simon in

jw
friends

uh oh, looks like the mega thread gave up the ghost, so while i investigate / fix it just continue the discussion here .... it's been a long 9 years lloyd evans / john cedars.

TonusOH

DerekMoors: I'm sure that next book he talked about is never gonna materialize

It depends on how much work is required. I think he really does want to release a revised version or a follow-up, so that he can add his version of the last two years and spend at least a few pages (if not a whole new chapter) griping about how he has been treated.

If he mentions anything about the past two years, it is prudent to remind him not to libel anyone. Those meager book profits are probably not as far out of reach as the M7 are.

46

Nobody else understands

by ElderBerry in

if you once were fully pimi and truly believed jw doctrine to the core like i once did, when you come to the reality that it is not the truth at all it can be extremely devastating.. i think only other ex jws could ever understand.

i wasted my entire life i thought the real life was yet to come to wasted the best years knocking on doors.

now i’m so angry.. i can understand why so many top themselves when they realise it was all lies..

TonusOH

Teddnzo: This is a question to anyone- If you had the option of taking the Blue pill now and genuinely believing in the Bibles promises again, would you be more happy?

I was always an optimist and a generally happy person, and still am. Frankly, the things that affected my happiness the most were stuff like finances or people around me, and that did not change a lot when I stopped believing (the people around me did change, but the type of people didn't).

It's less about what I believe regarding god. It's more about whether or not I can do the things that make me happy, or set up my life in ways that make me happy. Being a JW did impact that a bit, but there are plenty of religions out there that aren't as restrictive or limiting, and I'd be happy if I was a believer in one of those.

But, as far as wanting to believe something I found to be false? I wouldn't want to go back. It wouldn't make sense.

43

Hip replacement on Monday. Wish me luck.

by GrreatTeacher in

as the title says i'm having a total hip replacement on monday.

the pain has grown over the years and now i'm using a cane to walk.

after steroid injections and physical therapy, it was decided that a total hip replacement is appropriate.

TonusOH

Hope it goes well! I wonder sometimes if I won't need one myself within the next 10-15 years.

5

Holiday Humor

by GLTirebiter in

has this ever really happened?

it's in the bee, so you never know!.

TonusOH

That's not humor, Ron. That's horror.

46

Nobody else understands

by ElderBerry in

if you once were fully pimi and truly believed jw doctrine to the core like i once did, when you come to the reality that it is not the truth at all it can be extremely devastating.. i think only other ex jws could ever understand.

i wasted my entire life i thought the real life was yet to come to wasted the best years knocking on doors.

now i’m so angry.. i can understand why so many top themselves when they realise it was all lies..

TonusOH

That is the attitude that the GB would push to the rank and file. If you leave the org, you will descend into sin and destroy yourself. Few people want to leave the WTS out of a desire to lose themselves morally, IMO. Most just want to do things like question a specific teaching without feeling as if they are drifting into the deep end of the pool. Or celebrate a birthday, or get a tattoo, or wear a beard.

When you have been walking on eggshells for a long time, you don't even realize how much anxiety it can cause. The relief that many feel upon getting out must be absolutely immense.

3104

It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars (continued)

by Simon in

jw
friends

uh oh, looks like the mega thread gave up the ghost, so while i investigate / fix it just continue the discussion here .... it's been a long 9 years lloyd evans / john cedars.

TonusOH

He trusts her not to share the contents of those mailings with others?

6

Anti-gravity in the new world!

by BoogerMan in

from golden age, march 24, 1926. https://jws-library.one/?file=data/1926/g_e_19260324/g_e_19260324.html#bookmark22.

"many have wondered how accidents would be avoided during christ’s kingdom, since we are told that nothing shall then hurt or destroy.

most accidents are due to gravitation and its effects.

TonusOH

So, they believe that god exists and that he has full control of the physical world, but they feel a need to reassure people that they won't get hurt when they fall down in paradise?

29

No Reporting of Time, Tithing is OK, Now WT Teaches a "Rapture" - What's Next?

by Sea Breeze in

those who will be taken to heaven will first need to be “changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, during the last trumpet.” therefore, while we do not use the term “rapture” here because of its wrong connotation, the remaining faithful anointed will be gathered together in an instant of time.

- the watchtower—study edition | july 2015. ok so they refuse to use the word "rapture".

kinda like they refuse to use the word church and clergy (except when it suits their purposes in court cases).

TonusOH

Imagine that poor teacher, having to dedicate so much time to one student because he was taught to fear a Thanksgiving meal. I'll bet she was super-receptive the next time a JW knocked on her door at 10am on a weekend!

46

Nobody else understands

by ElderBerry in

if you once were fully pimi and truly believed jw doctrine to the core like i once did, when you come to the reality that it is not the truth at all it can be extremely devastating.. i think only other ex jws could ever understand.

i wasted my entire life i thought the real life was yet to come to wasted the best years knocking on doors.

now i’m so angry.. i can understand why so many top themselves when they realise it was all lies..

TonusOH

That might be the one thing that could change the WTS for the better, but I don't know if they could ever do it- reject the concept that JWs must limit/avoid association with "the world." That might be the one biggest thing that affects us, because many people can't really see it. You can converse with people at work or at school, and they can think "JWs aren't so bad, they are regular people. They miss out on one or two things, is all." They don't see how JWs isolate themselves from non-JWs the rest of the time.

It's not that you go to X number of meetings and spend X hours preaching (although that can certainly drain a person); it's that the rest of the time, you don't get to behave like a normal person. Going out with non-JWs for dinner, or a movie, or to hang out, and so on. That might be even worse than not celebrating birthdays or holidays. You see yourself as being isolated from this world that is always right in front of you.

46

Nobody else understands

by ElderBerry in

if you once were fully pimi and truly believed jw doctrine to the core like i once did, when you come to the reality that it is not the truth at all it can be extremely devastating.. i think only other ex jws could ever understand.

i wasted my entire life i thought the real life was yet to come to wasted the best years knocking on doors.

now i’m so angry.. i can understand why so many top themselves when they realise it was all lies..

TonusOH

I was 101% in when I was in. I went through a period where I faded pretty gradually, still telling myself it was the truth but my subconscious mind had already checked out. By the time I realized I was out, it wasn't traumatic. I was in for 30-40 years or so, made it to MS with people sure that I'd be an elder in due time. I'm sure there are a lot of people who feel that I wasted a lot of potential.

I do feel a bit of sadness for losing out on some possible career paths that I decided not to follow, but I got lucky- an opportunity in IT when I was just beginning to fade allowed me to develop a career and make a decent living. My life was in good shape when I finally let go and walked away from the org. No bitterness, no looking back.