this past weekend i was going thru some old photos and found one of a friend who had moved overseas years ago.
she was a jw and a regular pioneer.
i typed her married name into google this morning and found a phone number in ireland at her place of employment.
That's terrible Tim, I sure hope you can find his whereabouts and reconnect. My brother died when he was 23, about 11 years ago and I sure wish I could have one more day to talk to him. Your brother doesn't know what he's missing. Good luck, hope you can find a way to dig up some info on him.
Anne
not alcoholics anonymous, mind you.
:) atheists/agnostics.
i know there are some of us here; who's with me?
Agnostic for the time being.
just thought i would come by and say hi.
i'm new here and very new to the idea that the wtb&ts isn't the truth.
i'm not all the way there, but if anything, reading these boards help me get over some of my anxiety attacks.
Hi Dan,
I've been where you're at and it does get better with time. The freedom to think and enjoy life minus the fear and guilt is worth the growing pains now. I still have to deal with the possible shunning and loss of family and friends, but I have to follow my heart and stand up for truth. I hope you can get some of the support you need here. It's great to meet up during an apostofest or other informal get together with others here. Welcome!
Anne
ok.. firstly let me see i can explain this with out too much rambling..... for those who know me, know that i was disfellowshiped in june this year.
before this time, my mother, stepfather and sister shunned me.
since my disfellowshipping, i have not had contact with my parents and an occasional text message from my sister.. i found out last week that my sister was getting married on the saturday just gone (11th october) so i decided to give her a call on friday to wish her luck for her wedding.
Kelpie,
If you can be strong for a little longer you may be able to be the one your sister comes to for information to help her finally break free from the religion and it could in turn wake your parents up to investigate too. If you go back, they will believe that you made a mistake and are repenting and that you are wishy washy, please, hang tough and just try to show them love, even if they won't accept it. Work on your mom, seems like she may break. I'm sorry you're going through this, my mom just started enforcing the shunning and it really hurts, I didn't realize how bad it would be, but I plan to be there when her witness friends show their true colors.
Best wishes whatever you must do
Anne
i thought my mom would never change, that she'd never really go along with the shunning, but last night she wouldn't let me stay to eat at their house when my dad made dinner.
my parents and i have been close all our lives, we've been through a lot together and for her to say that she has to be getting a lot more counsel from the elders.
she is being guilted into shunning me, hoping it will help me eventually come back to the truth.
Thank you everyone! I know so many have gone through this and it helps because people here understand. I'm feeling better, just the shock that she actually could turn against me and go along with that was hurtful, but I do know the way they mess with your head and that she's just trying to do what she thinks is right. It sure seems like we have to keep being strong.
I'm so glad we have this forum, thank you for all your encouraging words.
Anne
i thought my mom would never change, that she'd never really go along with the shunning, but last night she wouldn't let me stay to eat at their house when my dad made dinner.
my parents and i have been close all our lives, we've been through a lot together and for her to say that she has to be getting a lot more counsel from the elders.
she is being guilted into shunning me, hoping it will help me eventually come back to the truth.
I thought my mom would never change, that she'd never really go along with the shunning, but last night she wouldn't let me stay to eat at their house when my dad made dinner. My parents and I have been close all our lives, we've been through a lot together and for her to say that she has to be getting a lot more counsel from the elders. She is being guilted into shunning me, hoping it will help me eventually come back to the truth. I'm sick, didn't think I'd react this way, but I'm so depressed and feeling so mad. I guess "welcome to the club" is in order huh?
I keep thinking of egging cars at the kingdom hall, those kinds of things, but I think an article exposing the way they shun people is my best bet. I just need to find a proper outlet for it. I just went through a divorce, am working so hard to stay afloat financially and now my mom is being made to feel guilty for associating with me. I never t hought I'd see it. She's always bent the rules with other relatives before. I'm usually quite strong, but been crying my eyes out all night. I knew it would make me feel better to come and write all this down here. I do feel better.
Anne
wondering if anyone is interested in doing secret santa again this year.. last year was soooooo much fun.
i am quite happy to put up my hand and organise it... .
christy did such a fantastic job last year i will have a lot to live up to.. let me know what you all think.. merry christmas.
I'd like to join as well.
Jingle Bells Jingle Bells...........
;)
a couple of years ago i was part of an on-line writers group.
a few of us got together and wrote an anthology of xmas stories called tales of christmas.. i wrote a story about my first xmas after leaving the dubs.
the book is being published.
Congratulations, that's really wonderful to hear!!! It sounds like a great read too. Might gather some interest by the talk shows. I'm a writer (newspaper, magazines, etc) but never have had a book published, although I have a cookbook that's almost completed. I know how hard and long the process can be, but what an amazing feeling to know they want to publish your book. I'm excited for you. Keep us posted.
Anne
> is it wrong for a corporation to make revisions on a matter?
where as if a jehovah's witness elder does such a .
> be a collection of quotes defending what jehovah's witnesses believe today.
Quotes, you are The Great Teacher.......
Keep up the great work, it's helping people think and leave that awful religion.
Anne
what were some of the stupidest places either you or another jw have left tracts or magazines, hoping someone will find it and want a bible study?
I can't believe I did this, but when I worked for the airlines (Northwest) a couple times I left older magazines in the magazine pockets on the aircraft when cleaning it in the morning.
To think I actually felt guilty when I threw magazines away. I felt so much better thinking someone might read one. DUH
