I feel I missed out on my Senior Prom. That is the one thing I regret. I was living a double life in high school and I had a worldly boyfriend at 16. He did not attend my school, he was an older man! 19 years old...LOL I wanted to go to my prom with him but I could not see how I could hide this one. I had Witness friends at school and I am sure everyone would have found out. I guess I could have went but, I was too afraid of what people would think of me. Oh well, I am over it now but if I could go back I would do it all over again and attend my prom.
Posts by sandy
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30Do u feel u missed out being a JW Teen?
by Shytears indo you feel that you missed out on the social part?emotional part?how do u feel your parents handled it?were they strict,let u do anything?
i just have alot going thru my mind,just wanted to hear some of your comments
laura
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15
Have We Really Been Lied To?
by sandy inwe were told that the brothers in mexico had been oppressed by the government, so that they could not sing or pray at meetings.
we were not told that the society had registered as a "cultural" organization because religious organizations were not allowed to own property in mexico.
as a "cultural" organization, the brothers were obliged to downplay the religious aspect.
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sandy
We were told that the brothers in Mexico had been oppressed by the government, so that they could not sing or pray at meetings. We were not told that the Society had registered as a "cultural" organization because religious organizations were not allowed to own property in Mexico. As a "cultural" organization, the brothers were obliged to downplay the religious aspect. The restrictions upon their actions derived primarily from a Society decision rather than government action
I found this statement on line in a DA Letter somebody wrote to the Society and I was wondering if any of you have any comments. How can I verify these statements? The letter was on a website called something like ... 'Beyond Jehovah's Witnesses'.. I should have pated the link.sorry I'll find it later and post it.
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What's with such young "elders"?
by Gig inhow can the wts consider an unmarried man in his mid-twenties qualified to be an elder?
clearly the "theocratic" process of election by the holy spirit is not what's happening.
ever known any (too) young elders?
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sandy
NEWBIE,
MAY I ASK WHY YOU LEFT THE ORGANIZATION?
I AM IN ACTIVE NOW AND NOT REALLY THINKING OF GOING BACK. YOUR RESPONSE TO THIS QUESTION MADE ME WONDER WHY YOU LEFT.
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33
Desire to talk to an elder
by Eppie inhey everyone,.
i have a question: i am happily faded but i recently got the desire to talk to an elder of my old congregation.
the problem is that he doesn't know i am faded (i kinda disappeared from jw archives while moving to college), and that i do not want to get into trouble by this.
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sandy
I read your comments on why the Organization covers up Child Abuse accusations. I did see part of the Dateline special, unfortunately I missed the first part of it. I think i remember hearing the Legal Department telling the Elder to Wait on Jehovah. My family was rallied around the TV and still after hearing that they (my sisters) were just calling the victims apostates. I was very upset but didn't say anything to them. My mother stood quiet. I don't want to betray Jehovah or his organization if it truly is his but, I cannot just pretend these issues or problems are not there. I have not been attending meetings for 4 years now and its not because of these child abuse cases. well, now it is. I will talk to my brother the Elder and ask him his views and how does the Society scriptually back this up. This brother in my hall was accused of child molestation and it was kept a huge secret until the Blab-all Elder told some members in the congregation. Sadly he didn't tell people to protect them but to talk trash to make himself look high and mighty. The same reason he told bros and sis of other sins some had committed. But, I was glad that it did spread through the congregation because of course it made parents aware and to look after their children a little more closely. I cannot help but think, as someone said earlier, that probably, one reason they cover it up is because they are guilty of it themselves. It is so common, kids are abused all the time, sad to say. I see it, not the abuse in actuality but I work in Dependency Court, most of our cases are abuse cases even JW cases come through here. It is always made known that they are JW but never any other religion. Does anyone have any thoughts on that.
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Desire to talk to an elder
by Eppie inhey everyone,.
i have a question: i am happily faded but i recently got the desire to talk to an elder of my old congregation.
the problem is that he doesn't know i am faded (i kinda disappeared from jw archives while moving to college), and that i do not want to get into trouble by this.
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sandy
I am sorry I have hurt or offended so many people. I really wasn't trying to. I do not think this is the place for me after all. Someone told me there is many different well-balanced views of JW's on this cite. I have seen some. Everyone else either just puts down the religion or the people in it. I understand a lot of you still have JW friends and family but that doesn't seem to stop you from bad mouthing the religion. And no I am not talking to everyone, just the majority and you must know who you are. I made a statement that I am not looking to trash talk the JW's and I am not looking to un-cover the faults with the people or the religion. I heard about the child abuse accusations and I believe that they are true. But, what I don't believe is that the Society advises the Elders and Overseers to cover these matters up. I do not agree with them not demanding the victims to go to the police. I believe that to be completely wrong. I know they justify the matter or at least try to. But not all of them. I can't believe that. I was in this situation and the Elders informed me that it is my decision weather or not I wanted to report the matter to the police and whatever I decided they would support me. I was already an adult at the time if that makes any difference, I don't know. Everyone's situation is different. YES I THINK THEY SHOULD CHANGE THIS COUNSEL, POLICY, AND RULE WHATEVER THEY CALL IT. THEY CAN CERTAINLY JUSTIFY HAVING TO REPORT THE MATTER TO THE GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITIES THROUGH SCRIPTURE. WHY THEY DO NOT IS BEYOND ME. THIS IS SOMETHING I WILL ASK MY BROTHER. HE IS AN ELDER AND I KNOW HE WILL TRY TO ANSWER MY QUESTION WITHOUT JUDGING ME. (I AM NOT YELLING, JUST TRYING TO STRESS MY POINT) The more I think about this the more disturbed I become. WHY DOESN'T THE SOCIETY MAKE IT MANDATORY TO REPORT THESE MATTERS TO THE POLICE? OR DO THEY? ISN'T THAT A CRIME IF THEY DON'T? Can someone explain to me how they get out of this? I guess I really do need to do some research on my own. I cannot say I agree with everything people are saying on here, but on this Child Abuse Issue YOU ARE RIGHT ON!!! This is a very serious issue too, so unless I get some real answers from them or unless they follow Bible Principles to Obey the Laws of the Land AND REPORT THE ABUSERS I will not feel guilty about not being a active Witness.
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My first post....
by Urpi inhello, after one year of lurking i finally decided to write, introduce myself and tell my short story .
after being jw for more than 20 years, one year and 4 months ago, my husband read some news in internet.
it was the un affair.. i cant use any more words that have been already used to express what it ment to us to discover what we did.
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sandy
Can somebody tell me what this UN thing is all about or where I can find the story on my own?
Thanks,
Sandy
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Is everyone on this Web Board a Jehovah's Witness Basher?
by sandy ini grew up in the religion and was baptized at.............supposedly the most important day in our lives and i cannot remember how old i actually was, anyways...... i believe it was 13 or 14. i was never disfellowshipped.
i have a "worldly" boyfriend whom i love dearly, and i no longer attend the "meetings".
i do not disagree with the organization entirely; in fact i am not even sure if i disagree with it at all.
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sandy
Eppie,
please email me at [email protected]
We are in the same boat. You seem like just the person I was hoping to find on here. I also replied to your "elders" topic, please read it and reply to me.
Take Care,
Sandy
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33
Desire to talk to an elder
by Eppie inhey everyone,.
i have a question: i am happily faded but i recently got the desire to talk to an elder of my old congregation.
the problem is that he doesn't know i am faded (i kinda disappeared from jw archives while moving to college), and that i do not want to get into trouble by this.
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sandy
EPPIE, I WOULD BE VERY CAREFUL IF I WERE YOU COMING ON THIS WEB BOARD. I AM NOT SURE WHAT I AM DOING ON HERE. MAY I ASK HOW OLD ARE YOU? I WENT THROUGH A SIMILAR THING AS YOU, I THINK. I STOPPED GOING TO MEETINGS COMPLETELY AT 20. THEN A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER I WAS SO CONFUSED. I WENT TO MY SISTER FOR HELP AND SHE DIRECTED ME TO THE ELDERS. I WAS GOING THROUGH SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS MAINLY BECAUSE OF MY CHILDHOOD. I WAS SEXUALLY ABUSED FROM THE TIME I WAS 4 TO ABOUT 9 OR 10. I WAS ACTING OUT MY DEPRESSION BY BEING A LITTLE LOOSE AND CHOOSING ALL THE WRONG BOYFRIENDS. I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT TWO OF THE THREE ELDERS WERE VERY LOVING AND AS UNDERSTANDING AS THEY COULD POSSIBLY BE. I REALLY FELT JEHOVAH WAS BACKING THEM WITH HIS SPIRIT. I WAS NOT DISFELLOWSHIPPED BECAUSE I REPENTED AND SHOWED THAT ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. BUT ONE PROBLEM DID ARISE WHICH IS WHY I AM IN-ACTIVE NOW. I CANNOT PROVE IT BUT I TRULY BELIEVE ONE OF THE ELDERS THAT WAS IN MY COMMITTEE MEETING TOLD HIS WIFE AND FAMILY SOME OF MY MOST PERSONAL EMBARRASSING SINS AND SOME OF MY INNERMOST THOUGHTS. HIS STEPDAUGHTER MADE A COMMENT THAT SOUNDED SO MUCH LIKE MY PERSONAL SITUATION DURING ONE OF THE MEETINGS AND THEN LOOKED OVER IN MY DIRECTION. I WAS SITTING VERY NEAR TO HER AT IN ANGLE WHERE I COULD EASILY SEE HER. I FELT SO HUMILIATED I NEVER RETURNED TO THAT HALL AGAIN. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 4 YEARS NOW. I HAVE ATTENDED THE MEMORIALS AND A COUPLE OF FUNERALS BUT I HAVE NOT RETURNED TO THAT CONGREGATION. IT COULD ALL BE A COINCIDENCE WITH THAT SISTER BUT, SINCE I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT ONE PARTICULAR ELDER HAS PASSED ALONG CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION IN THE PAST, I KNOW IN MY HEART HE DID TELL HIS FAMILY MY PERSONAL PROBLEMS. I DO NOT BLAME ALL THE ELDERS OR ALL JWS THOUGH. I WAS JUST SO ASHAMED THAT I DIDN’T WANT TO SHOW MY FACE AGAIN. AND AS TIME WENT ON IT WAS JUST EASIER TO NOT GO TO MEETINGS. NOW SINCE SO MUCH TIME HAS GONE BY I AM HAVING DOUBTS ABOUT JW AND RELIGION IN GENERAL. I DO BELIEVE IN GOD. IF I CHOOSE TO GO BACK I WILL TELL AN ELDER I KNOW I CAN COMPLETELY TRUST. SOMEONE WHO IS NOT JUDGMENTAL. DESPITE WHAT PEOPLE SAY ON HERE THERE ARE TRULY GOOD PEOPLE IN THAT ORGANIZATION WHO WANT TO HELP YOU SPIRITUALLY. JUST LIKE ALL RELIGIONS THOUGH, THERE ARE BAD SEEDS. I WISH I COULD TALK TO YOU PRIVATELY BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE IN A SIMILAR SITUATION. I AM AFRAID TO GIVE YOU MY EMAIL ADDRESS. I THINK SOME PEOPLE ON HERE TRULY HATE JW’S. I CANNOT AGREE WITH THEM. I HOPE I HELPED YOU IN ANY WAY.
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Is everyone on this Web Board a Jehovah's Witness Basher?
by sandy ini grew up in the religion and was baptized at.............supposedly the most important day in our lives and i cannot remember how old i actually was, anyways...... i believe it was 13 or 14. i was never disfellowshipped.
i have a "worldly" boyfriend whom i love dearly, and i no longer attend the "meetings".
i do not disagree with the organization entirely; in fact i am not even sure if i disagree with it at all.
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sandy
Thank you everyone for your replies. i must admit I am a little scared to continue on in this cite. I will though for now anyways. I am not in agreement with putting down my religion or any other religion for that matter. I would never imagine going out in fron of an assembly hall and protesting the witnesses. I know there are faults in the religion but, I believe the majority of them to be good-hearted people. I am not in search of a new religion either, I actually have doubts about being involved in any religion. I try to live my life as a good moral person. I have had somewhat of a bad experience in the religion like most people on here I guess. Though I am not sure if that is what pushed me away. i believe myself to be strong-minded and capable of remaining on this web-cite without one day becoming the apostate person I've seen all my life outside the assembly hall protesting us and trying to save us. The reason I said I am a little scared is because I have been taught and it has been deeply put in my mind that talking to persons such as many on this cite will be very spiritually harmfull. I do beleve in God and the Devil and I can't help but think maybe I am inviting a demonic presence in my life just as the Witnesses warned.
Like I said I am not interested in uncovering the faults in the JW religion, I am just looking for an understanding heart.
In response to somebody on here advising me to inform my boyfriend of my thoughts about maybe some day going back...Thank you... I have talked to him about in in great depth. We talk about religion often. We both doubt religion but deep down respect the honest hearted people who truly do believe in it. He was raised a catholic. I am well aware as he is, of the problems we we place upon any children we may have. I know I need to make a decision soon, My biological clock will start ticking in the next few years....
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56
Is everyone on this Web Board a Jehovah's Witness Basher?
by sandy ini grew up in the religion and was baptized at.............supposedly the most important day in our lives and i cannot remember how old i actually was, anyways...... i believe it was 13 or 14. i was never disfellowshipped.
i have a "worldly" boyfriend whom i love dearly, and i no longer attend the "meetings".
i do not disagree with the organization entirely; in fact i am not even sure if i disagree with it at all.
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sandy
I grew up in the religion and was baptized at.............supposedly the most important day in our lives and I cannot remember how old I actually was, anyways...... I believe it was 13 or 14. I was never disfellowshipped. I have a "worldly" boyfriend whom I love dearly, and I no longer attend the "meetings". I do not disagree with the organization entirely; in fact I am not even sure if I disagree with it at all. I was very involved in the congregation from the time I was 12 years old to about 18. Then I slowly but surly began to shy away. Now I am really confused. I know I have no intention of going back any time soon but I wonder if and when I marry and have children if I will change my mind. I am not on this cite looking for people to talk me out of or into going back, I just do not have any friends that can understand completely the things that weigh on my mind. I am hoping to make new acquaintances or friends that can relate to me.
Thanks for taking the time to read this. I hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
SANDY