Posts by scratchme1010

42

To Fade or Disassociate

by Jules Saturn in

hello to all, so i did want to talk about this topic because i think it is very important to me.

i have a grandfather who faded several decades ago.

he occasionally attends an assembly and the memorial but no longer attends meetings or goes on field service.

scratchme1010

...However I do know that if you're caught breaking the rules, then it's possible to get disfellowshipped. And then there's disassociation, where you lose your friends and family only because you wish to no longer be associated with the organization. What have been your past experiences with this and what have you done? Fade? Disassociate? I'm not asking what I should do, just asking for what people have done and what works. Thank you very much.

My experience considers the fact that in my case I also needed to distance myself from my family. They were not very supportive people. So in my case it was easier for me to walk away without looking back. I decided that I can't care less about anything that they are, do or say. I wanted nothing to do with them. That meant that if "I got caught", as you put it, I couldn't care less since they [never] had a saying in my life and decisions.

I also know that they were a bunch of cowards and would never confront me directly, not to mention that probably they knew what awaited them if they dared approaching me with their Jehovah crap.

I believe that fading or disassociating should be a personal decision, based on the circumstances of each individual. However, here are a few things that I believe that decision should come about:

Self loving - do what is good for yourself
Well planned - either decision should be well though of, including visualizing your life after. Many people think that they are done by just breaking up with their congregation, without thinking about what to do with their lives once they lose that congregation crutch.
Realistic - there's freedom from the Jehovah crap, but life is still life. Bad things happen, the world has an ugly side, and most importantly, your JW family are still as JW as they have always been
Geography - it matters how much you see and bump into JW people that you know. I had four JWs working with me when I started fading, and I had 3 JW roommates too. It was a lot for me to send to hell at once. Part of my plan was making sure that I minimized my interaction with JWs, at least in the beginning of my fade.
Dependence - Some people want out while still living with JW parent, or while they are still depending physically, financially or emotionally on JW family. Whatever is needed to take care of that properly (from moving out, to therapy, to family counseling, etc) is important before taking any action.

Just my two cents.

One more thing, part of your recovery from them involves not feeling "caught" when they see you.

31

Is there any humor in the bible?

by Normalfulla in

humor plays a big part in a lot of humanity and we all like a good laugh but as far as i'm aware god's supposed word has no actual humor ,of course apart from being a joke itself ,why wasn't there a passage or something like "jesus farted and giggles broke out among them " or something, is anyone aware of any notations of humor ?

all to.serious really.

scratchme1010

Maybe that's why I used to write smart remarks and bad words in my bible.

11

There is no true religion.

by atomant in

l came to this conclusion based on the fact that humans are imperfect living in an imperfect world.the bible was written by imperfect human hands and is impossible to interpret with 100% accuracy.religion is man made to help control the masses..

scratchme1010

l came to this conclusion based on the fact that humans are imperfect living in an imperfect world.The bible was written by imperfect human hands and is impossible to interpret with 100% accuracy.Religion is man made to help control the masses.

I agree. However religion does do some goodness. Many organized religions provide healthy outlet for people to socialize and belong to a community in a healthy way. It keeps some people away from trouble, and it provides some guidance to some people who otherwise would be clueless. The social aspect of religion is an important part of society.

48

"You're going to die in Armageddon"

by Jules Saturn in

i'm sure i am not the only one to have heard this come out of the mouths of my loved ones.

it's a very painful thing to hear, especially when it comes from the people like your own parents/family.

even after i've been told that, they would say "we'll just continue life without you.

scratchme1010

I'm sure I am not the only one to have heard this come out of the mouths of my loved ones. It's a very painful thing to hear, especially when it comes from the people like your own parents/family. Even after I've been told that, they would say "We'll just continue life without you." "It's okay, we won't even feel your loss because in Paradise, we won't feel pain". After having been told that, later they apologize but still, it's almost as if the apology doesn't matter if weeks later the same things are said again. How does a person respond to this? How have you responded? It can be very disturbing and distressing on an emotional and mental level.

Like a sociopath, I coldly looked at them, emotionless, right to their eyes and said: "There's no Jehovah, no Armageddon, no paradise. Do yourself a favor and don't waste your saliva".

They get completely disarmed when you show that what they say have no effect on you because it's all crap. Loving your family deeply doesn't mean enabling WT nonsense. It is nonsense. They are wrong in their assertions and actions, and they are the ones who should be ashamed for their actions based on nonsense.

Of course, I only act like a sociopath when it comes to the WT crap. For the rest I act normal (or so I think).

29

JWs Ban TRUE RELIGION!

by Cold Steel in

the governing body of jehovah's witnesses, known for its aggressive worldwide proselytizing efforts, stunned many of its 12-million members by declaring war this week on a los angeles denim and designer jeans organization that goes by the name “true religion.”.

“as members of jehovah's one true religious faith we have no business of associating with any organization that claims to be jehovah's true religion!” a letter from the gb states.

it was dated july 20.. in its opening salvo, the seven-member gb directed believers to not “shop at, buy, nor even wear” true religion's products.

scratchme1010

ttdtt, read again:

The Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, known for its aggressive worldwide proselytizing efforts, stunned many of its 12-million members...

Only their members are stunned, the rest to the 7,520,316,068 people in the planet can't care less.

46

10 years on.....

by snare&racket in

jw
friends

i was a window cleaner, i was at the time unemployed, homeless.

i had no education to be proud of (high school one a two b's rest c's) i was a jehovahs witness.

i had been a pioneer.

scratchme1010

Thank you for such wonderful story. Amazing reflection of your ten years out. I relate to everything except:

I kept my thoughts to myself, smiled with sincere sadness in my heart for him and walked away.

I wish I had the ability to keep my cool that way. Beautifully done.

Once again, thank you.

44

Verifiable proof of Jesus' existance outside the Bible

by unsure in

thought i'd start a separate discussion on the subject.. those who know me know i'm struggling with faith; i want to believe, some days i do but it becomes difficult.. many believers say there is verifiable proof of jesus' existence outside of the bible.. please post this proof..

scratchme1010

Many believers say there is verifiable proof of Jesus' existence outside of the Bible.
Please post this proof.

It has been well proven that Jesus of Nazareth existed. That man was a real person. Jesus the miracle maker, son of god, walking on water, reviving people and turning water into wine, for that there's no proof.

From the Wikipedia:

"The main accounts of the life and teachings of Jesus are third party narratives written years after his death. The Christian Testament represents sources that have become canonical for Christianity, and there are many apocryphal texts that are examples of the wide variety of writings in the first centuries AD that are related to Jesus. Many scholars have questioned the authenticity and reliability of these sources, and few events that are mentioned in the gospels are universally accepted.

Non-Christian sources which are used to study and establish the historicity of Jesus include Jewish sources such as Josephus and Roman sources such as Tacitus. These sources are compared to Christian sources, such as the Pauline Letters and the Synoptic Gospels, and are usually independent of each other; for example, the Jewish sources do not draw upon the Roman sources. Similarities and differences between these sources are used in the authentication process."

When it comes to the reliability of the Bible as it refers to Jesus and his teachings there are differences of opinions (some of which have caused wars and death).

My own belief is that Such person existed, but he wasn't what Christianity says he was.

31

Hello

by Jules Saturn in

hello, i've been lurking for quite some time here on this forum, reading a whole lot and i've finally made the courage to create an account as a form of escape and in hopes to be understood and not feel "mentally diseased".

little background on me, i am a born in but i consider myself a pimo (physically in mentally out).

i feel like i've always had doubts but these doubts would sink with the meetings and the assemblies and every other little thing that drowns any doubts a witness may have.

scratchme1010

Welcome Jules. It is insane and undeserved to be labeled "mentally diseased" simply because you have a mind of your own. Please feel free to share as much as you wish.

Whatever you don't feel ready for or disagree, just let it go. There are many good people in this forum, and there are many perspectives too. Take what you like and leave the rest.

18

Call for investigation into JW child abuse in the Netherlands

by Anders Andersen in

after yesterday's newspaper articles about how jw (mis)handle child abuse cases, today the newspaper reports that both members of the national house of representatives, and the national commissioner on human trafficking and sexual violence against children are petitioning the minister / secretary of state to launch an investigation into jw and other closed religious communities.. the newspaper article (in dutch).

the newspaper also published the personal story of a victim, and how he fought for justice within jw to no avail.this story is from my home town (just few years before i move there), different congregation in the same hall..

scratchme1010

Good for JW children, but overall, that approach is more based on what is news than preventive.

4

Apparently, ISIS fighters have been caught fleeing Mosul dressed as women ...

by LoveUniHateExams in

i suppose this is one of those pieces of news that could have been posted in the entertainment section.. yes, isis fighters have been caught by the iraqi army trying to flee mosul dressed as women.. some have been caught wearing the full face veil.

a sensible choice, as it hides those masculine cheekbones, heavy jaw or five o' clock shadow.

others have been more creative, dressing like prostitutes in a shakespeare play.

scratchme1010

Apparently, ISIS fighters have been caught fleeing Mosul dressed as women ...

Just like Americans who shove condoms with cocaine up their asses to bring to the USA.