What an emotional saga! A deep and moving tale of friendship Lost! ..and friendship regained. How glad I am to hear that you have been able to reforge such close bonds, as many know that task isn't easy when you leave JW behind. Thanks for sharing. {{hugs}}
outbackaussie
JoinedPosts by outbackaussie
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24
The Story of Beans (Finally)
by Beans inmy short journey out and now reunited with friends!
in the beginning, my father was a pioneer in the province of quebec and in south western ontario and i always asked why these places and he said it was because the need was great in these regions, im sure it still is!
my mother was in toronto pioneering and was sent here from germany to spread the word and was on her way back when she met dad the super pioneer.
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7
A joke with an Australian flavour
by why144000 inthe ceo of ingham's chickens manages to arrange a meeting with the pope at the vatican.
after receiving the papal blessing, he whispers, "your eminence, we have an offer for you.
ingham's is prepared to donate $100 million to the church if you change the lord's prayer from "give us our daily bread" to "give us our daily chicken.
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outbackaussie
Love it!!
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34
My new toy
by Princess ini see lots of people posting threads about their new toys.
mostly male, trucks, motorcycles stuff like that.
this afternoon while making lattes for mulan and big red, my espresso machine became quite rude with me.
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outbackaussie
That is one fine looking machine! Make mine a latte please :)
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8
Some blurry recollections
by outbackaussie inhaving now read some other people's accounts of their life with jw, i thought i would be able to share my recollections, albeit blurred with the passage of time.. i wasn't always a jw, i celebrated xmas at the age of 4 in 1975. in 1976 my mum had joined the truth so we didn't have xmas that year.
mind you it didn't really seem that big a deal, my parents had divorced when i was 3 and mum didn't have wads of cash to buy presents with anyway.
we (mum, my brother and i) found shelter and comfort in a new "extended" family of brothers and sisters and life was good.. until my mother remarried when i was 10. a series of life-changing events rocked our world, but through those events the jw were still our "rock".
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outbackaussie
Having now read some other people's accounts of their life with JW, I thought I would be able to share my recollections, albeit blurred with the passage of time.
I wasn't always a JW, I celebrated Xmas at the age of 4 in 1975. In 1976 my mum had joined the Truth so we didn't have Xmas that year. Mind you it didn't really seem that big a deal, my parents had divorced when I was 3 and mum didn't have wads of cash to buy presents with anyway. We (mum, my brother and I) found shelter and comfort in a new "extended" family of brothers and sisters and life was good.
Until my mother remarried when I was 10. A series of life-changing events rocked our world, but through those events the JW were still our "rock". As a young teenager, I was rebllious but not overly so and usually responded to disciplinary talks from my mother. I passed through high school as a confident, enthusiastic girl. I was passionate about my religious beliefs and was outspoken on all the contentious issues...evolution, abortion, blood. At age 15 I asked to be accepted as a baptised member of the congregation. Yes, I was very young but I was so sure so why wait? And in October 1987 I took the "plunge" with 98 others at a DA in Sydney.
Did I find my family of brothers and sisters eager to accept me as a young but genuine member of the family? Sadly no, I found that brothers were increasingly cautious to spend time with me and sisters were simply catty. For I had started to become a woman...and that is one thing that will be sure to make life hard for a young female in the JW. I was not detered though, and entered the auxilliary pioneer work after leaving school, having found part-time work to help support my mother and "pay my way". This only served to heighten my alienation from the others in the congregation. Cliques?? You bet, if you weren't an elder's child you weren't a cool pioneer. We had lots of young pioneers in our congregation but I hardly saw them. I was frequently left in the territory without transport or left out of the communication loop. I began to feel my confidence and happiness dwindle.
Then I found myself the continued object of elder's attention, my dress was too short, too tight, too colourful. I was once told that I would have been stoned in Israekite days for wearing a dress that had little slashes at the shoulder, for you could see my skin through the slits. I wore too much makeup, I acted too old, I flirted with my eyes. I became more disenchanted with my life. But I knew that I had to change these shortcomings and try to be a better JW.
Then at 17 I met a young man though a friend who was also a JW. She worked with this man and I was in the habit of meeting her for lunch breaks. He was some 3 years older than me. We fell into easy conversation and just hit it off. I was always upfront with my religious beliefs, and my moral convictions were of the highest order, after all I was a baptised JW. I invited my new friend to have a bible study (as all good JW do) and followed all the protocols...he studied with a brother from my book study group. He was indeed a hard egg to crack, for he was a very considered athiest, and rather unshakeable in his convictions.
Still I prayed that he would find Jehovah and gain the Truth, then maybe we could get to know each other better. But things don't always happen how you might hope. After some months of studies, phonecalls, visits we formed closer and closer bonds. I could feel what was happening and I called our developing relationship off...at least 7 times.
After what felt like an eternity but in reality was only weeks, he and I spoke to an elder that I felt particularly close to. I told the elder that I had strong feelings for *** (I wont identify him here) and that I was going to continue to let our relationship grow. We hadn't engaged in any sexual wrongdoing or misconduct, and I just wanted to dispense with the shroud of secrecy that we were veiled in. I didn't really know what to expect by telling the elder this, maybe counselling or admonishment. Not what happened next though.
Four days later I ws summoned to a judicial committee, with my mother present. I was told I was considered to be having impure thoughts, and by association, immoral activites had to have occured. I was numbed by these accusations, that I could "fall from grace" and land with such a sickening thud. I didn't know what to say so I stayed mute. My head spun with the likely consequences of this chain of events. I was told that I was to have no further contact with *** and I was not able to pioneer. I was to submit to a lengthy series of counselling meetings and would be placed in the spiritual guidance of an older sister in the congregation who would report on my performance to the elders. I said I couldn't do that. I felt like I was falling over backwards spinning into space as my world was wrest from me in an instant with that statement.
The Committee concluded that I was unrepentant (of what sin I am still unsure) and that my DF would be announced that following Thursday. And so, I was no longer a sister. And by extension, I ceased to be a daughter, granddaughter, cousin, neice. But I still had ***.
The months that followed were simply awful, as anyone who has experienced shunning will testify. I look back at my diary from that time and still grieve the loss I incurred that year. I was terrified that Armageddon would come before I could be reinstated with my family. It consumed my every waking and often sleeping thought.
During that time, I left home, and took up (sinful) residence with ***. He continued to be a supportive tower for my weakened spirit, even though he had no belief in common with me. We married 2 months after I turned 18, the earliest I could manage it. My family naturally, didn't attend our celebrations. I knew they couldn't and I didn't feel sad, just empty.
While I was in the land of the lost, what I identify DF to be like, my dear aunt was consumed and killed by a brain tumour. We had been very close, but I was refused access to be with her at this painful time, in case I might bring her frail soul into some ill favour with god. By the time I was reinstated she had become all but a shadow of her former self, supported by machines, and unaware that I had come to see her. She died soon after.
Yes I was reinstated, after what was, with hindsight, a curious meeting with the elders that had served on my committee the year or so before. I was asked all manner of impertinent questions about my sexual relationship with my husband. "Did I engage in anal sex, or other perverted acts?" I near fell off my chair, I was still a "very good girl" at heart, which comes of being raised a very strict and fearful JW. Indeed, I was quite the prude in our early relationship, but still I wondered at their motives for needing to know these details.
I was set up in study with a young pioneer sister, who had the task of overseeing my return to spiritual health. Imagine my dismay, when at our first meeting she informed me that given how "bad" I had been it wouldn't be surprising if I didn't make it through Armageddon anyway. I didn't go back again. My mind was racing with wonder at what had been suggested I had done to be so unworthy of salvation.
These days, I don't spend too much energy wondering. I went through all the anger, resentment, grief along time ago. I am comfortable with my personal views on god or the lack of one. I am always happy to debate these things of course. I suppose I feel a mixture of emotions about my youth, but it is what it is and I am just thankful that I have the life I lead now...without regrets.
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6
Huh? Watchtower necklace charms?!!
by DanTheMan in.
on page 105 of her book awakening of a jehovah's witness, diane wilson writes that she knew many witness women "who wore a charm of a watchtower on a necklace as an outward symbol of the organization, the source of their salvation".. i have never heard of this practice, and i find it difficult to believe.
can anyone verify that this indeed is true, that at one time it was common for jw women to wear watchtower charms?
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outbackaussie
That isn't one that I heard of here in Australia.
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44
Top Five Forbidden Watchtower Subjects
by metatron inif you are an 'old timer' and wonder why the watchtower and awake.
magazines are so bland and lacking in content, it may come as no surprize.
to you that it's often because a number of topics are 'off limits'.. that is, certain subjects are so troublesome to the watchtower leadership.
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outbackaussie
Wow, things have certainly changed since I last paid attention to the JW publications.
As someone said earlier...what exactly does the Society "teach" these days? Everything I grew up with seems to be on this list LOL
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Newbie with question
by outbackaussie inbeen browsing around...and i have to say it is alittle difficult to tell if this is a pro or anti jw site.
any takers on filling me in on what the attitudes are around here?
it seems there are quite afew inactive and df or da people but then there seems to be alot of chat about meetings etc.. for the record, i was raised jw from age 5, baptised at 15 and df at 17 and reinstated at 18. i would call myself inactive...most of my family are still active but talk and associate with me.
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outbackaussie
Wow, I have really been missing out!! The world ended again and here I am clueless! LOL
Was it good for you? I suppose there has been a revised estimate. Or perhaps the GB has gotten out of forecasting the future of the planet.
Oh and can anyone give me a headsup on this COC stuff??
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12
England on the ropes
by refiner in200 behind the ozzies first innings leads, england stand at 2 for 20. .
trescothic went for a duck.
butcher lasted about three balls i think.
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outbackaussie
I heard they were thinking of sending the Croydon Girls under 9's over...they can't do any worse!
Try these on for size (apologies if you have seen them all before)
Q. What's the difference between Nasser Hussain and Saddam Hussein?
A. Saddam Hussein has more victories.
Q. What would Mark Waugh be if he were an English batsmen?
A. In form.
Q. How dominant is 's No. 1 fast bowler?
A. Well, most people in think their opening batsman's real name is Atherton B McGrath.
Q. What's the outstanding feature of 's pace attack?
A. Andy Caddick's ears.
Q. What is 's best chance of a win in the second test at Adelaide Oval?
A. Telling the Aussies the match is at the MCG.
Q. Heard about the new Ashes trophy?
A. Yes, if lose another series they're going to keep the bails and burn the players instead.
Q. How bad is the English batting?
A. Well, the selectors are thinking of moving Extras up the batting order.
Q. Why are the players demanding increased match payments?
A. Someone has let on that Ashes Tests sometimes go to a fourth day.
Q. What is the height of optimism?
A. An English batsman applying sunscreen.
Q. What does Alan Mullally put in his hands to make sure the next ball almost always takes a wicket?
A. A bat.
Q. What would Glen McGrath be if he was an Englishman?
A. An allrounder.
Q. What is the English version of a hat-trick?
A. Three runs in three balls.
Q. Why don't English fielders need pre-tour travel injections?
A. Because they never catch anything
Q. What do you call an Englishman with 100 runs against his names?
A. A bowler.
Q. What was the most proficient form of footwork displayed by English batsmen?
A. The walk back to the pavilion.
Q. Who has the easiest job in the English team?
A. The guy who removes the red ball marks from the bats
Q. What advantage do Nasser Hussain, Mark Ramprakash, Uzman Afzaal, Alex Tudor and Alan Mullally have over the rest of their team-mates?
A. At least they can say they're not really English.
Q. Who spends the most time at the crease of anyone in the cricket team?
A. The person who ironed the cricket whites.
*~~~~~~~~~~*
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Newbie with question
by outbackaussie inbeen browsing around...and i have to say it is alittle difficult to tell if this is a pro or anti jw site.
any takers on filling me in on what the attitudes are around here?
it seems there are quite afew inactive and df or da people but then there seems to be alot of chat about meetings etc.. for the record, i was raised jw from age 5, baptised at 15 and df at 17 and reinstated at 18. i would call myself inactive...most of my family are still active but talk and associate with me.
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outbackaussie
Well, this is going to be one cosy little place to hang out then! :)
I hadn't really thought much about the JW since forever ago, not sure why I checked it out tonight even. Someone will have to give me the latest on when the system is going to end...I don't ask my family and they don't tell me anything either. (isn't that a "blessed' situation to be in? LOL )
Tiffany
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Newbie with question
by outbackaussie inbeen browsing around...and i have to say it is alittle difficult to tell if this is a pro or anti jw site.
any takers on filling me in on what the attitudes are around here?
it seems there are quite afew inactive and df or da people but then there seems to be alot of chat about meetings etc.. for the record, i was raised jw from age 5, baptised at 15 and df at 17 and reinstated at 18. i would call myself inactive...most of my family are still active but talk and associate with me.
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outbackaussie
Been browsing around...and I have to say it is alittle difficult to tell if this is a pro or anti JW site. Any takers on filling me in on what the attitudes are around here? It seems there are quite afew inactive and DF or DA people but then there seems to be alot of chat about meetings etc.
For the record, I was raised JW from age 5, baptised at 15 and DF at 17 and reinstated at 18. I would call myself inactive...most of my family are still active but talk and associate with me. I suppose my religious beliefs extend towards agnostism/atheism these days. I am always happy to discuss my feelings on these topics though ;)
So what is the general "rules on engagement" around here?
Tiffany