happy@last

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Posts by happy@last

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  24

  Have I really left?

  by KateWild in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  it was a meeting night last night.

  i didn't go nor did i stay on jwn instead.

  nugget gave me her time.

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  happy@last

  I'm an all or nothing person, it is hard as my eldest child still goes to keep her mother company, if it wasn't for her I wouldn't give it a second thought about what day it is. Enjoy the freedom
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  8

  An Interview with an Apostate: happy@last

  by happy@last in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  tell us a little about yourself and your family.. born in the 1970s in glasgow, currently married, 2 children in their early teens.

  were you a born in or a convert?.

  neither, my mother became a jw when i was 7, she was a single parent by this time having divorced my father.. are your parents / family jws?.

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  happy@last

  I wrote it without a Scottish accent :-)
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  8

  An Interview with an Apostate: happy@last

  by happy@last in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  tell us a little about yourself and your family.. born in the 1970s in glasgow, currently married, 2 children in their early teens.

  were you a born in or a convert?.

  neither, my mother became a jw when i was 7, she was a single parent by this time having divorced my father.. are your parents / family jws?.

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  happy@last

  Tell us a little about yourself and your family.

  Born in the 1970s in Glasgow, currently married, 2 children in their early teens

  Were you a born in or a convert?

  Neither, my mother became a JW when I was 7, she was a single parent by this time having divorced my father.

  Are your parents / family JWs?

  Mother, brother and sister. My father is not and never has been

  How many generations have been JWs?

  Started with my mother

  Did you hold any position in the WTS? (MS, Elder etc...)

  Ms then elder for 10+ years

  Did you *really* believe in the bible, in spirits (angels, demons)?

  I did, though I never thought anyone could actually read my thoughts. I tested the demons a few times just to see if they existed, turns out they weren’t interested in me/don’t exist.

  Did you get baptised? When and why?

  Yes, in Crystal Palace when I was 15, the reason was I wanted to be happy and thought I would be by dedicating my life to god

  What was the initial trigger that made you start questioning things?

  There are a few things I can point to, the hypocrisy I saw when I was about 17 years of age got to me, I put it down to imperfect humans, the biggie was when the monster who abused me over a period of 5 years was reinstated.

  Where did you find information? Internet sites? Books?

  I read CoC, and then found silentlambs, then JWSurvey, then JWN. To be fair these only reinforced what I already worked out for myself.

  How difficult or painful was the process of leaving?

  I had a nervous breakdown when I knew I could no longer cope with the realization that it was all a sham

  Was it a big dramatic exit or a careful quiet fade?

  Careful and quiet for me, dramatic for everyone else.

  Did you convince anyone else to leave with you?

  My youngest child, still trying to save my eldest child

  How were your family relations affected by your decision?

  The relationship with my wife is strained anyway, it was just another thing to argue about. It was confusing for my children to see something I had spent all my life committed to suddenly being very anti about.

  Were you or are you still being shunned by those who didn't leave?

  My family do not shun me, my wife’s family do, though they did anyway! I find it funny how certain JWs squirm when they see me in the street.

  How long have you now been out?

  Just over 2 years

  Was there anything you looked forward to doing when you left?

  Having some 'me' time

  What are you most proud of achieving since you left?

  Saving my youngest from the clutches of a cult

  Is there anything you miss about life in the congregation?

  Nothing

  Red pill or blue pill? Do you regret waking up to reality at all?

  No regrets at all, wished I had taken the red pill sooner

  Did you become an atheist or transfer your faith elsewhere?

  I believe I was a Deist for a long time before I stopped, now I do not want to believe anything I cannot see

  How do you now feel about religion in general?

  Cruel man made way of controlling people

  Do you feel any guilt celebrating xmas or birthdays or doing any other JW "no-no"s?

  Not at all, I remember them from when I was little and enjoy them just the same now without giving it a second thought

  Have you attended any face-to-face meetups of ex-JWs?

  Yes, someone on the forum said they would be working close by and did anyone want to meet up for a pint. I offered and met up for a meal, it was very pleasant exchanging stories.

  Describe your circle of friends - mostly other ex-JWs or regular people?

  50/50

  Do you tell people about your JW past?

  No

  Do you feel animosity or pity toward current JWs?

  It depends on my mood, sometimes I feel angry and wonder how they cannot see reality for themselves, other times I think they do and don’t want to think their life has been all a waste of time and they hold onto a hope, and then I feel sorry for the little old sister who tries her best believeing all she has been told.

  How do you respond to witnesses when they call at your door?

  I smile, tell them how well I am (they always says I am looking very well), and wish them a pleasant day.

  Storm the barricades or tend to the wounded? (do you favor activism or support)

  I used to storm the barricades, it didn’t work for me, now I am happy to offer support

  What do you think is the most effective approach to reaching people still in?

  Only approach when they experience a crisis, failing this they are under mind control

  Do you think the WTS can or should be destroyed, will continue on as-is or grow / change?

  It should be, I don’t think it can be. I do not see it growing much though.

  How has your life been impacted by your JW past?

  It affected all the major decisions I made as a youth, and they are different decisions I would have made had I had no dealings with JWs.

  Are there things in your life you blame the WTS for?

  I blame me for having been influenced by them, I can’t blame them for making decisions for me. I would never have married when I did, who I did. I would have had a different career.

  JW upbringing - a protection or a curse?

  Curse, I was abused by a JW pedophile for many years and had no friends due to being ‘no part of the world’.

  How do you fill your time now it's not filled with meetings and field service?

  I work, spend time with my children, time with friends, visit interesting places, learn card tricks, watch TV, eat good food, drive fast cars, live my life.

  Do you still have an interest in JW beliefs and doctrines?

  Not at all, I feel sick to my stomach looking at any literature and get angry hearing their beliefs and doctrines

  How much of your time is still spent on JW related matters?

  Just the time I am on JWN, and the few hours it took to build www.x-j-w.org

  What do you think of the ex-JW community?

  It can be a bit of a no mans land, unless you are an ex JW you cannot describe to anyone what it is like, I feel happy for ex JW’s and hope they can truly find peace of mind

  Do you see yourself still being associated with the ex-JW community in 5 or 10 years time?

  Perhaps, I don’t like to categorize people

  Do you fear the future?

  No, what will be will be

  What advice would you give to anyone starting the journey of leaving the WTS?

  Never stop asking questions, be true to yourself

  What would you change in your life if you could go back and talk to yourself?

  Do not get baptized, walk away when you first had doubts

  Do you have any regrets about life since you left?

  None

  Can we read your life-story anywhere? (links to online or books)

  Maybe one day, I am still on my fading journey and still have some loose ends, once I have closed the final chapter I might write it all down
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  4

  Small tattoo

  by happy@last in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  so yesterday after serious consideration i decided to walk into the parlour and get a small tattoo on my wrist.

  it's a small emblem/logo i created that has great meaning to me but wouldn't make sense to anyone else.

  i am so pleased with it and this morning can't stop looking at it and feeling happy about it.

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  happy@last

  So yesterday after serious consideration I decided to walk into the parlour and get a small tattoo on my wrist. It's a small emblem/logo I created that has great meaning to me but wouldn't make sense to anyone else. I am so pleased with it and this morning can't stop looking at it and feeling happy about it. It's amazing how a small decision or action can have a big effect. Just thought I'd share this. By the way I can see how it could be addictive, I really enjoyed the experience!
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  1

  RIP Paul Walker

  by leaving_quietly in

  1. social
  2. current

  so sad.... http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/30/showbiz/actor-paul-walker-dies/index.html?hpt=hp_t1.

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  happy@last

  Very sad, a reminder that we are not immortal.
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  36

  Interview with an Apostate: Template

  by Simon in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  here's the template of questions to use ready to copy / paste and complete.

  feel free to add suggestions for additional questions and to nominate people you'd like to read about (but not no one is obliged to do one).

  also, add your own story too!.

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  happy@last

  Marked
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  5

  Time for you to meet Paul

  by usualusername in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  just had a read of simons brilliant thread.. .

  i am fed up of hiding my true identity.. .

  in my next post i will reveal all.. .

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  happy@last

  Good for you, I think many will benefit from hearing your story.
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  44

  Could we quantify how many posters their are from different nations ? Would you like to know ?

  by smiddy in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  maybe its just me , i`m just curious as to how many people on this site are from australia as i am .

  how many from germany , italy , zambia , etc.

  etc.. do two or three "countries " seem to dominate the threads ?

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  happy@last

  Simon would have the stats for visitors via his website host, I'm in the UK
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  20

  Very proud!

  by caballoSentado in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi friends,.

  although i read the forum dayly, i rarely post.. but i had to tell you this!..

  i have 3 children 2 boys and a beatiful girl... this is about my second boy.

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  happy@last

  Woohoo, thank you for sharing your joy
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  31

  USA, Oklahoma | Jehovah's Witness church elder Ronald Lawrence arrested over sex abuse claims dating back to 1980s

  by jwleaks in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  usa, oklahoma | jehovah's witness church elder ronald lawrence arrested over sex abuse claims dating back to the 1980's.

  a 76-year-old mcalester man was arrested tuesday on 19 counts of sexual abuse after police received claims he molested several children while in a position of authority more than 30 years ago.. mcalester police detectives were alerted to the alleged sexual crimes conducted by ronald lawrence back in august when his first accuser reported abuse at the hands of a jehovah's witness church leader.. a woman now in her 40s told detectives lawrence, an elder at mcalester's kingdom hall of jehovah's witnesses, abused her when she was just eight years old, inviting her to his home, where he fondled her and raped her in his bathtub, according to her testimony found in lawrence's arrest warrant, which was issued tuesday.. two other accusers, also in their 40s, then came forward with similar stories of abuse.

  both said they were very young, with one telling investigators the molestation took place from the time she was 10 until she was 13 years old.

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  happy@last

  My thoughts in reading this are exactly what RO said ^^^

  Is this correct, he was disfellowshipped, confessed to abusing a child, reinstated and later appointed an elder?