Posts by Lutece

21

Apostates Crash Gilead Graduation

by Xena in

.

news at 10........

Lutece

Have you seen the stuff they do with Photoshop on www.worth1000.com ? I love Photoshop and there's a lot to inspire you at that site. Great pic Xena

32

Higher Educaton

by franklin J in

jw
friends

what is the current thinking of the watchtower society concernng higher education these days?

in 1977 i entered college from a full pioneer status and was duly criticized from the local elders.

back at that time, higher education was actively discouraged.

Never has this been such a sore subject for me than it is now. I work so hard trying to support myself and I've come a long way learning on my own, but much of the struggle is caused by lack of a college degree. I have all kinds of strengths and experience, but some employers won't even give you an interview if you don't have a degree. This is for work where it's not necessary to do the job, but they prefer to see you wanted to "better yourself" I guess. I was completely discouraged from even thinking about college and even though I was considered "gifted" by several teachers when I was younger, I was never told to dream of a career, that the system wouldn't last long enough to worry about such a thing.

Now, I realize I could go to school now, but it's just not practical. I'm raising two children and just starting to see an increase in my freelance work, so it's going to get better, but this year has been hard emotionally. I work three times as hard and see less results, it's enough to make you doubt yourself, especially when you don't have the college degree that seems to be included in every job posting (even for the simplest of positions). I write for my local newspaper and have a column with them, create and maintain websites for large businesses and other writing assignments as I can get them. I've done that on my own, out of a desire to succeed. I'm just sick thinking of how it might have been had I been encouraged and supported by family, friends and dubs to "be all I could be". I was sitting at a black tie affair last evening where the guest speakers were James Carville and Mary Matalin. I was a reporter and I was able to interview them. I had to ask questions about their books and other non-political topics because I didn't want to show my ignorance of politics (another thing I never developed a taste for due to my jw upbringing). Not that I blame this totally on being a dub, but it certainly put a mental block in place for me where politics are concerned. Later in the evening, I was sitting with the other reporters from the tv news and a radio station and everyone was talking about their college and joking about something (I missed the first part of the conversation) and I laughed at someone's comment and he asked me what school I went to. I suddenly felt small (and usually I don't let things bother me like that) but I just said "school of life baby". Turns out our honoree for the event never even graduated high school and he turned out to be a very successful area businessman. Hearing about his determination, hard work and believing in himself, it was a great reminder to me that it's what you do with what you have that's important. Thanks for letting me spill all of this out, feels good to share.........

Anne

27

Jehovah will destroy you!!

by little witch in

i have wanted to share this event with you all for the longest time, and i am finally ready.

oddly enough, i still feel ashamed that this happened to me, although i understand it wasn't my fault.

the story begins in the late seventies, and i was about twelve years old...... i lived in a very small town in the midwest.

Lutece

Thank you for sharing that. I showed it to my 13 year old and we both cried because of pure happiness at being out of that horrible religion, but also of her school friend who she's known since she was little and a witness. She sees her already having many of her dreams squelched and having to give up the after school activities to go out in service. Her parents wouldn't physically hurt her, but the things they say make her feel the guilt that gives her stomach aches. There are so many on this board who are survivors and that pain can't always be easily shared with friends that haven't been JW's. Thank you

2

Sleep Paralisys

by heianderen in

jw
friends

have you ever suffered sleep paralisys?.

if you don't know what sp is, take a look here http://www.skepdic.com/sleepparalysis.html and here http://www.skepdic.com/sleepparalysis.html.. i used to have this kind of "nightmares", now sometimes i experience it, but something has changed, since i did some meditacion practices when i did taiji and since i don't belive in demons, i can control what happens when this "nighmare" comes.

therefore i conclude that this phenomenon is purely psycological and it's has nothing to do with the paranormal.. for me this have been the most frightening experience of my life, until i've gained control over it.. depending on the nature of the question and the populations surveyed between 20 - 40 % of people report having had such an experience.. have you ever suffered sleep paralisys?

Lutece

I've had some terrifying dreams in teh past like that, so bad that I was convinced as a witness that it was demons. After reading what someone on this board said about it and explain what it was and send me more information, I realized it was normal and nothing to be feared. I've never had one since. When I was a witness, I had the worst fears and nightmares in my life. The connection is very clear to me.

20

Mom's Being Guilted to Shun Me

by Lutece in

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.

Lutece

Thanks guys, yeah, writing an article about it is something I've been thinking about doing .I was holding off because I didn't want to add to the pressure my mom was getting, but if they make it so she stops talking to me altogether I will write something that will really hit the fan.

BeckyBoop, been doing better, went through some rough transitions, but we survived. My ex is taking more time with the kids, learning to enjoy his time with them and the kids are less stressed. It's been hard because of work, etc, but things are slowly picking up. Thankfully, I have this board to remind me there are others and many who have it a lot harder than I've ever had it. It helps keep things in perspective. Even Jourles, you poor thing. How much longer can you stand it? Hang in there!

Anne

7

Thanks to google, I found another old friend!

by TresHappy in

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.

Lutece

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

87

Who are the A/As on the board?

by starfish422 in

not alcoholics anonymous, mind you.

:) atheists/agnostics.

i know there are some of us here; who's with me?

Lutece

Agnostic for the time being.

43

Greetings

by Dan76 in

jw
friends

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.

Lutece

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

45

My Sister's Wedding - Good and Bad News

by kelpie in

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.

Lutece

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

20

Mom's Being Guilted to Shun Me

by Lutece in

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.

Lutece

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