Posts by GoneAwol

35

Does being a "born in" blur parental vs JW issues?

by obfuscatetheobvious in

thank you to the many people who have posted their experiences and advice on this site!

i have browsed a few topics but the threads that i seem to gravitate to the most deal with family.

there is certainly a lot that i can relate to in many of the anecdotes i have read.

GoneAwol

If you are in the borg, you are considered 'successful' if you manage to raise kids that stay in. If you dont and they leave at some point, you have failed in your spiritual duty. For this reason I think parents are pressured to put a JW spin on all dealings with their children, in or not. They have to be seen as a success to others. I personally think it will be very difficult to try and get your father to be 'himself' as opposed to the JW he has been trained as.

I'm having this exact same struggle with my mum. Everything has to be done the JW way. And now my step sister has announced this week that she doesnt want to go to meetings anymore, my mum is even more loyal to the borg. She clashes even more with our family, basicaly trying to elevate herself or distance herself from perceived failings with her children in order to preserve her standing in the cong. If that makes sense...

Welcome Obfuscatetheobvious! Think i`ll just call you Obvious!

GA

28

Anxiety Attacks At Meetings

by EmptyInside in

jw
friends

i believe i posted on this before.

but,i was recently thinking back when i was still regularly going to meetings.

and how sometimes,just the thought of having to start to get ready to go,sent me in a panic.

GoneAwol

With me it was when the song was introduced. That was my q to start sweating until it ran into my eyes. In the end, I tried to avoid the songs. I begged to do anything to keep my mind off it. I borrowed babies, pretended I was on my mobile, I even pretended it was my turn on attendants just to get out of singing the songs. One time I even put roll on deoderant all over my face thinking it would make me look normal, or even give me confidence to BE normal. It didnt, it ended up a sticky mess. Arse emblies were the worst. After every song I had to try and calm myself down. It was very tiring. And all this even though I love karaoke!

Now I believe it was because the song was the start of the "leave your brain behind folks" time. It was my body rebelling against the brainwashing that was to follow. Now? Not a peep from the old sweat glands.

55

Lot's of talk on the July Watchtower?

by noonehome in

jw
friends

so i've heard lots of talk from within about the 'new light' in this watchtower...i'm yet to look at it in any detail.

i'm kind of surprised actually...i first heard about it here before it was even available but close to the time it did come out people started bringing it up - even our co.. some say things like "have you heard about this?

" or "big changes," or "allot of things they said we believed, i didn't realize,"(lots of that) or "brain-overload" or " too much information, but i've never felt more pumped up" or "it's soo exciting to see jehovah's spirit lead his organization..." or "it requires time to sink in, but it's a good feeling!

GoneAwol

The GB trying to fit scripture retrospectively into their current situation is like the 8 ugly sisters trying to squeeze into a beautiful glass slipper, with all the ugly excess flesh hanging out the sides....

9

We don't need AAWA group and organization

by Nebeska Nada in

jw
friends

do we?

GoneAwol

A support group could be a real need for those leaving. But to try and mix a support group with activism against the borg? Cancels each other out.

55

Lot's of talk on the July Watchtower?

by noonehome in

jw
friends

so i've heard lots of talk from within about the 'new light' in this watchtower...i'm yet to look at it in any detail.

i'm kind of surprised actually...i first heard about it here before it was even available but close to the time it did come out people started bringing it up - even our co.. some say things like "have you heard about this?

" or "big changes," or "allot of things they said we believed, i didn't realize,"(lots of that) or "brain-overload" or " too much information, but i've never felt more pumped up" or "it's soo exciting to see jehovah's spirit lead his organization..." or "it requires time to sink in, but it's a good feeling!

GoneAwol

I asked my Dad about this today. "If Russel pictures John the Baptist as the foundation for Christ's coming, whom do the GB picture?" He answered Jesus! I was gobsmacked that he answered the way he did. My follow up question to him was "and what do they say they are with regard to communicating with Jehovah?" His answer "the sole channel" Me "Do you think they are taking the place of Christ as mediator for all men?" Him - no answer, eyes going cloudy, staring into the distance. This cognitive dissonance thing is a very powerful enemy...

34

New here.

by joe134cd in

hi everyone.i have been reading the blogs here for some time and have just decided to have an in put.

i am still a current member of the wts and am sort of planning to fade.

i realise 2 things (1)i have to build bridges in order to replace the ones that will crumble behind.

GoneAwol

Welcome Joe! This is a big journey you`ve started on, so plan well and stick to the plan. You get over the feeling foolish bit, then will come the anger, then that hoplessly lost feeling with the "what do i do now question". Keep studying and ask lots of questions. Dont take someones word for it, always back it up for yourself.

Take your time my friend, its gets better!

535

AAWA is here!! (The Association of Anti-Watchtower Activists)

by cedars in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcic4g5tulw.

http://www.jwactivists.org.

facebook the association of anti-watchtower activists.

GoneAwol

Just watched the vid, loved it. I love this idea! Thankyou to you all.

Watchtower? Be AFRAID! Be VERY AFRAID!

38

Long time reader first time poster

by MissMyHarley in

jw
friends

trying to get out after only being in for a year or so.

my wife and i were really taken in by these folks.

we are both have degrees and should have known better.

GoneAwol

MissMyHarley,

Welcome from a Brit biker! Great to hear you got out with friendships still in tact. We were in 30 + years so had to start all over again. I ride a BMW r1200rt and wifey FreeandHappy goes pillion. Its amazing that all our new friends we've made are all bikers, they really are a happy welcoming bunch. As is everyone here!

We've done a tour of Ireland and off in June to see France, Germany and Switzerland. Man, we love being freeee!

GoneAwol..for good

50

Hi! I'm New Here

by alecholmesthedetective in

jw
friends

hi there, as was suggested to me, i'm starting this thread to say hi to everyone.. my awakening began recently, after the new light on the 'slave'.

i felt it didn't add up and went to check and found out ttatt.

for a while i tried to find evidence of whether the wt might still be god's organization, i needn't say i couldn't.. i had already resigned as a ministerial servant and a pioneer, had already had several issues with the elders and did not put up with their nonsense for a long.

GoneAwol

AlecHolmes:

"When I did my research recently and came across all the stupid generation changes I pinched myself and asked, "Where the hell were you when this happened and how come didn't you realize it sooner?" And then I remembered I was either just not going to meetings, or just trying to solve problems with elders whilst still trying to hang on to my faith."

A belated hello Alec! Recently i have been scouring the inside of my brain to try and remember when the overlapping generation thing came to be. I cant remember a darn thing about it! In fact, I think I learned of this wonderful new truth (cough) on JWnet!! Having a newborn daughter probably didnt help at the time, in-fighting between families etc would have been a distraction. My wife has just trundled downstairs to greet the new day, and I asked her the same question. Do you remember when this new light about the overlapping generation happened? "No, not a clue? Is this another new light?"

In fact, thinking back, our whole life in the jw machine is just a fog. Certain things are highlights or when things went wrong, but on a spiritual level, it was a wilderness full of nothing...and it was only 5 or 6 years ago when we left. Strange, but it feels as if my life is only just starting.

GoneAwol..for good

13

QUESTIONS FROM READERS - W15, 01/01 .... new light!

by EdenOne in

questions from the readers (w15, 01/01).

what is the christian position regarding looking out the window ?.

"gods word, the bible, commands us to thoroughly make sure of all things; hold fast to what is fine.

GoneAwol

I was expecting you to write "would God look out of windows? No, he is too high up in heaven. We should follow Gods example and not stoop so low as to do things that God himself would avoid", or, "looking out of a window gives someone a different viewpoint. Is a different viewpoint wrong? Yes! Apostates view things from a contrary position to that of our beloved governing body. So therefore, we would want to avoid looking out of the window, just as they avoid putting windows in their f%"*^ing ivory towers!"