I skipped going to college out of HS in 1983 because the New System was then, as now, "just around the corner." With my perfect grade point average, my guidance counselor was in shock that I was going to pioneer FT instead of going right to college. That summer after graduation, as my former comrades were preparing to leave for college, I worked as a janitor in a nearby school... After I left the JW, I finally earned my AA, then BA, and then finally MBA nearly ten years ago. Glad I am no longer waiting for the NSOT!
hyperpen
JoinedPosts by hyperpen
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46
"You will never grow old in this present system of things" -- some campaign tools
by FatFreek 2005 ini am approaching 76 years old.
i can clearly recall that awake!
statement and similar during the pre-1975 hype -- "staying alive in '75", et al.
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hyperpen
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Jw's and beards
by wannaexit inwithout going into details.
it appears that new light might be coming down the pipes that beards are acceptable.
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hyperpen
That's great! Maybe James Harden of the Houston Rockets can convert now!
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Brooklyn Eagle article about JWs moving out Brooklyn Heights in September
by AndersonsInfo inhttp://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/2016/8/5/jehovahs-witnesses-will-start-moving-out-brooklyn-heights-headquarters-september.
the jehovah's witnesses will start moving out of brooklyn heights headquarters in september.
farewell to the jehovah's witnesses, who are moving out of their world headquarters at 25-30 columbia heights.
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hyperpen
I think back in 1969 the WT Society recommended selling one's possessions since the end of the present system of things was just around the corner. From the GB perspective this means, sell while the market's hot and get a nice place in the country. I'll bet they wanted to sell earlier but 9/11 put a temporary crimp on selling property so close to Ground Zero. Oh well, with the money they made from the sale of these gems they should be sitting pretty for a long time even if Watchtower's don't sell like they used to.
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Separated From The Flock
by hyperpen inhello all, i've started a new blog to share experiences of living outside of the "flock" of jehovah's witnesses.
it can be found at https://separatedfromtheflock.wordpress.com.
i look forward to any comments, criticism or shared stories of life since you left the jw!.
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hyperpen
no more word press in site name now just https://separatedfromtheflock.org
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I need a little help
by Darryl inmy story is i've been df'd for about 20 years.
a couple years after i started attending church and found it to be a tremendously uplifting experience.
from the people to the music, message everything drew me in.
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hyperpen
Hi Darryl, the great and wonderful thing is you have complete FREEDOM to figure out what you believe, and find YOUR path to God without interference and direction from men! You can even choose NOT to believe in God if you want to. I believe that religion is nothing more than a man-made "to do" manual for a relationship with God. I DO believe in God but I do not believe in Religion. I have gone to church on occasion to receive a message of inspiration (I also occasionally tune in to Joel Osteen on Sunday mornings, even if you're not a religious person his message is usually spot on with regard how we need to look at things to bring happiness and success into our lives). I love the fact that I can go to church IF I WANT TO, without fear that someone will call on me to find out why I've missed a Sunday! I can pray to God in the privacy of my home IF I WANT TO, with no one asking me how many times a week I pray, or ensuring I say a prayer of thanks before EVERY meal, whether I'm out in public or not (I always hated that!). Go to several churches, read many books from people who do and no not believe in God (I recommend Nietzsche), and guess what no one is going to ostracize you because you read a book by an atheist! Life is meant to be lived uncensored; as long as your beliefs don't harm anyone else you're good in my book. Check out my site https://separatedfromtheflock.org where I share my views and stories related to having once been a JW.
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disfellowshipped family and friend being reinstated
by Together innew to the forums and looking for someone who may have had a similar experience.
i have been disfellowshipped going on 30 years now.
within those thirty years i have built myself a life and slowly learned to cope with the shunning from family and friends.
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hyperpen
Hi Together, I too have been out nearly 30 years. I have a couple of close relatives on Facebook, one reinstated, one disfellowshipped (but may go back). I'm puzzled that after the shunning video that just made its rounds at the conventions that the one back in has kept me as a friend (we don't communicate through Facebook at all). My father was maintaining very light contact with me until about a year ago and I suspect now knowing the nature of his "conscience" that he won't be having any sort of contact with me after having been given the instruction to not even answer the phone if I call. I stayed off of these boards for a long time afraid that I would burn bridges with these family members for good but have come to realize that me relationships with them, and to some extent, their love, are conditional. It's time I did what's right for me. I've even gone so far as to start my own blog at https://separatedfromtheflock.wordpress.com. I'm not afraid anymore!!
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Why are anniversaries allowed but not birthdays?
by hyperpen inthe scripture quotes aside, i was always told that we don't celebrate birthdays because that is a celebration of the self, which has no place in jehovah's organization.
then why celebrate anniversaries?
anniversary celebrations are about the joining of two selves, isn't that twice as selfish?.
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hyperpen
Great response OneEyedJoe...I sure stood out like a sore thumb in elementary school when I had to sit in the corner while everyone else celebrated a classmate's birthday. The worst was when my kindergarten teacher tried to celebrate my birthday at the end of the school-year and nearly forced me to eat a cupcake she had made for the occasion. I refused to eat it and the story spread around the Kingdom Hall like wildfire. I was a hero! I never get excited about my own birthday.
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Why are anniversaries allowed but not birthdays?
by hyperpen inthe scripture quotes aside, i was always told that we don't celebrate birthdays because that is a celebration of the self, which has no place in jehovah's organization.
then why celebrate anniversaries?
anniversary celebrations are about the joining of two selves, isn't that twice as selfish?.
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hyperpen
The scripture quotes aside, I was always told that we don't celebrate birthdays because that is a celebration of the self, which has no place in Jehovah's organization. Then why celebrate anniversaries? Anniversary celebrations are about the joining of two selves, isn't that twice as selfish?
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How Many People are Living a Lie?
by awokenjw inone of the things i often wonder about at the meetings is how many of these people are actually living a lie or sinning in secret?
and more importantly, how do these ones stomach it?
in my case, i have secretly dated and done things disapproved by the wt with a pioneer sister in my congregation for years and we both go to the same meeting twice a week and pretend everything is perfect and nothing has happened.
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hyperpen
I can say from my own experience of living a "double life" for at least a year, that it is probably quite common. For me, what caused what little faith I had left to become completely extinguished, was when despite my habits of drinking to excess and getting high on a frequent basis, I was actually appointed as a Ministerial Servant. As Witnesses, we were taught that congregation appointments were made by Jehovah's Holy Spirit. It did not make sense to me at all that the Holy Spirit would have appointed me to that position given what I was doing behind the scenes. At that point I became fully conscious of the idea that this was a man-made and man-run organization, and not one that had God's blessing or direction. Another take on this is I've had several siblings become disfellowshipped at one time or another (long after me), and they would occasionally tell me what they were doing but ask that I don't tell our parents...now if you really believed that this was "the truth" then you would be in fear of God's displeasure and not your parents'. Even the most recent shunning video that has been making the rounds provides the message that the only reason for desiring reinstatement would be to be reunited with your earthly family, and not actually with Jehovah. I've met many, many disfellowshipped ones in my life and they almost unanimously have told me the primary reason for wanting to return is to be reunited with friends and family. No one, NOT ONE, has ever told me because they believe it is the one true path to a relationship with God. Very telling. If you're interested in what I have to say about my own reflections on life as a former JW please check out my blog at https://separatedfromtheflock.wordpress.com/ Thanks!
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Separated From The Flock
by hyperpen inhello all, i've started a new blog to share experiences of living outside of the "flock" of jehovah's witnesses.
it can be found at https://separatedfromtheflock.wordpress.com.
i look forward to any comments, criticism or shared stories of life since you left the jw!.
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hyperpen
Hi Vidiot, that's a point I hadn't thought of!