Posts by yrs2long

33

Stupid things that happened as a Witness...

by ballistic in

jw
friends

anyone got any stupid questions they were asked or things that happened as a witness?.

when i was at school, a kid asked me "if you don't celebrate birthdays, how do you know how old you are?".

*

yrs2long

Retracking our steps to find a new brother in field service who'd remained behind at a door only to find him lugging books and literature that a smug householder had placed with him. The householder had told him to brush up on his information and the humble brother had replied thanks, he would.

15

looking for validation

by yrs2long in

i'm new to this site and inactive(so far).

i have been glued to this site for the last few days.

my b/friend says i'm obsessed.

yrs2long

Outnfree - I really like your name too and wish it applied to me.

Thanks for the warmth that shows in all your replies. Last night in chat, I noticed how you kept welcoming all who joined and you kept trying to respond pleasantly and in all earnest to SUS' questions. I am very glad to be here, and I am not bothered by anyone here. Some of even the most caustic replies are acceptable to me right now because the right to express contrary opinions have been denied for so long. I am trying to catch on to all of the logistics around here, but just how do you frame your quotes with the line? Also, how do you include a picture?

I am feeling better everyday about my decision. Most times I feel so free. Yesterday, in chat, you mentioned that it would be better to disassociate myself rather than be df'ed. Other than the personal satisfaction of being able to say I walked away, is there any other positive reason to do so?

I really thank you for welcoming me. Just the little friendliness that you have extended to me has been enough to make me feel better.

Thanks

8

Anointed

by yrs2long in

jw
friends

this subject is really confusing to me.

since it appears that the wtbts is not what it purports to be, what exactly is giving the "anointed" the impression that they have a heavenly calling?

does any of ray franz' books tell exactly what made him feel that way?

yrs2long

Thanks for all of your responses. Actually, I was more interested in just what it was that made people in the WTBTS claim to be anointed. I haven't actually begun to research the concept of whether all do or should have the heavenly hope just yet. I haven't looked into other religions as I still trying to remove the shackles of the WT society.

Outnfree- thanks for the tips. I found the info you were referring to regarding Amazing and others, and my question (which was more limited in scope than what was given here) was answered.

thanks again to all.

8

Anointed

by yrs2long in

jw
friends

this subject is really confusing to me.

since it appears that the wtbts is not what it purports to be, what exactly is giving the "anointed" the impression that they have a heavenly calling?

does any of ray franz' books tell exactly what made him feel that way?

yrs2long

This subject is really confusing to me. Since it appears that the WTBTS is not what it purports to be, what exactly is giving the "anointed" the impression that they have a heavenly calling? Does any of Ray Franz' books tell exactly what made him feel that way? Are they 'touched' in some way?

18

Worthless without Watchtower

by joelbear in

jw
friends

i see so many posts here saying that jehovah's witnesses are brain dead.

i just don't think that is the case.

i think its worse than that.

yrs2long

I don't see JW's as evil or 'braindead'. I see them more as being in a "gb' induced coma or trance. What I can't stand is the duplicity of telling worldlies that they need to search their religion and ask questions and yet they won't do the same. Also, there is the smug self-righteousness that is a definite turn-off. When I couldn't reach worldly people I didn't feel sadness, only a sense that I was helping to provide a witness against them at Armageddon. Now when politely and innocently ask a dub about changes in policy as an inactive person out of the loop and I get such extreme negative reactions I shrug and tell myself that at least I got to throw a few seeds their way. I feel that they may repeat the info even in ridicule to some other witness and maybe that person may keep it in the back of his mind.

6

Rescued!!

by Chrissey in

i think its wonderful that there are so many who chose to tell their story here.

some are very similar, some very different, but no matter what the story is that is told one fact remains; lives will forever be changed, and must be lived.. i'm no different than any other df'd jdub.

i was baptized at 15, quit public school and started regular pioneering.

yrs2long

Chrissey,

Thanks so much for sharing. I really gain strength reading of the "real" experiences of my fellow sisters and brothers. I, at times feel lost and overwhelmed at the loss of my system of beliefs and I feel very down about facing it alone. This board has been a lifeline over the past week and a half. I am sorry about the situation with your children. I haven't had any due to my prolonged wait on Jehovah to clear up my situation. I am happy for you to have found someone near you with whom to share your feelings and yet, at the same time, I feel a twinge of jealousy. There really isn't anyone near me who can relate to what I am going through, almost like a grieving process. Take care and I look forward to more of your warm and encouraging responses. I also look forward to hearing from your 'sistah'.

19

Here's my story (I'm new here)....

by crownboy in

i am a 4th generation witness (on both sides of the family) and indeed my entire family (save for the few who "fall away" in every family) are jehovah's witnesses.

my dad is an elder, my mom a regular pioneer and my two elder sisters the same.

my younger sister is 17 and still unbaptized, so therefore she is sort of a "black sheep" in our family and "spiritually weak" for not having already "taken the dip in the pool" (however, due to her overall open-minded nature, i am perhaps closest to her).

yrs2long

Crownboy,

i really feel for you. I am inactive and it is much easier this way -o d r i f t away. It's funny, although I consider myself a fairly intelligent person, I never really questioned the teachings. It was the people who drove me out. If as mymailmum insists, Satan is testing people such as us, how does he get so many JW's in the congregation to cooperate? Are they his agents or something? I moved from congregation to congregation looking for the acceptance and love I felt I should get from Jehovah's people until there was only one other place to move - out. No one wants to associate with a separated, then unscripturally divorced sister. Furhtermore, i get queasy everytime I hear a witness say the end is near, so hang in there. how meaningful is an illusory new system to your present misery? and let the elders tell it, my abusive ex will be there too, so why would i want to be? mailmum, dont try to scare people straight with talks of "the end" We got those armageddon questions right too when we qualified for baptism. deal with the real issues and recognize that many of us here could probably quote you under the bed. and please, stop mixing up loyalty to jehovah with loyalty to a corporation.

Crownboy - you are well ahead of most - keep researching the truth and lie low until you really know what you want to do. my opinion as a new person not quite out.

upp

15

looking for validation

by yrs2long in

i'm new to this site and inactive(so far).

i have been glued to this site for the last few days.

my b/friend says i'm obsessed.

yrs2long

i think I am going to hang around and that I will be one of those who engages in extensive research on the WTS. since reading postings at this site, i am starting to talk about the wts as they. and i now see people differently, not just as doomed evil flock who exist only for conversion. i just ordered the book Crisis of Conscience and hopefully that will cement my resolve. one good thing is that even though my family are all witnesses, let's face it, most are never going to get any parts in the assembly about their experiences.

Lark - thanks for the history and book and websites - i've looked at all the ones at the bottom and even the official website of jw. while perusing the beliefs section i kept thinking that they lure you in with sweet delusions of peace and unity but neglect to post how they also believe that if you run into problems they cause or cannot help you with that you must wait for jehovah to reveal and solve all of your problems.
Sweetone-what is causing you to doubt again and how often does this happen? this kind of scares me(i want peace from thoughts of doom)
Introspection- it is amazing at how deep the indoctrinization and fears go. I have an extensive fear of dying that i feel developed from always feeling I wasn't in a good enough standing to face judgment. That fear transposes everything else in my life...As for the christian support group - i get the heebee jeebies just thinking about placing another yoke upon my head.

15

looking for validation

by yrs2long in

i'm new to this site and inactive(so far).

i have been glued to this site for the last few days.

my b/friend says i'm obsessed.

yrs2long

thanks for your responses. i just left the associate witnesses website against blood and i feel sick to my stomach. of course, like everyone else, i have many stories to tell about being an abused wife in the organization. you wouldn't believe the things the elders told a 22 year old beaten wife... i was a non-entity. i have lived a ghost of a life for many years now, choosing to get an education and live like a hermit away from family and of course, all witness friends. the funny part was, after all of the abuse, my ex finally left me. although the elders recognized my ex had gotten more violent, still the frequency had gone down and not wanting to "discourage him", they looked beyond my sufferings and promoted him. anyway, i haven't felt this much excitement and 'support' in so long, probably since i first announced my desire to get baptised. i feel as if a weight has left my shoulders, but i still feel twinges of something lurking when i am away from this and other sites. i just wondered if perhaps, time would be all that was needed to sustain my newfound feelings; or should i read literature, hang out, something? this has really been like a therapy, i just can't get enough, asd if i am feeding from the breast of my mother.

15

looking for validation

by yrs2long in

i'm new to this site and inactive(so far).

i have been glued to this site for the last few days.

my b/friend says i'm obsessed.

yrs2long

hello. i'm new to this site and inactive(so far). i have been glued to this site for the last few days. my b/friend says i'm obsessed. i never believed that 'apostates' were such real people with such humor, insight, and love like all the rest of the jw posse. i always had the impression that you were mad and bent on the destruction of others just because you couldn't cut the mustard. sorry about all of the cliches, i guess i'm tongue-tied. i have so many questions. how long has this site been up? when do you get together? how can i really free myself from all the fears and residue of leaving the 'true' organization? please respond.