Some people love the attention. They are so special God chose them personally, the Devil is after them, they are so spiritual demons see them as a threat,. I definately agree with the other comments that the borg is the only way some people get respect or power they crave. I knew quite a few uneducated, practically illiterate men serve as elders and mispronounce words from the platform. Yet he'd get a pat on the back after his part. I also think the concept of the worldwide brotherhood is attractive to many. It was cool to think that I could travel to any part of the world and be welcomed by other witnesses. It took me years to realize how conditional that love is and how easily that spirit of brotherhood is broken. I'm very grateful to be free. - Victorian Sky
Victorian sky
JoinedPosts by Victorian sky
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64
Some People Enjoy Being Jehovah's Witnesses For Various Reasons
by minimus insome individuals truly enjoy being jehovah's witnesses.
i think about those that would have liked to be in acting.
well, having a part in a demonstration in the service meeting or giving a talk in the theocratic ministry school gives one the opportunity to act, be melodramatic, show a little comedic talent,etc.
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Do JW's have a judgmental gene? Just venting...
by Victorian sky inhi everyone, okay i need to calm down.
just got back from a relatives anniversary formal.
they are jw's and when i walked into the reception hall it was my worst nightmare.
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Victorian sky
Hi everyone, Okay I need to calm down. Just got back from a relatives anniversary formal. They are JW's and when I walked into the reception hall it was my worst nightmare. A room packed with Elders, C.O's & D.O's. Most have known me since I was a kid. I stuck to my non-witness relatives but the dubs surrounded me with hugs and how are yous. Well I got the infamous quesiton: 'So what congregation do you go to?' I felt stupid for not thinking of an answer to this before but I wasn't gonna lie. I felt no guilt or fear when I said, 'I don't attend a congregation so how are you?' I got blank stares, one 'brother' walked away from me without another word, a sister visibly paled as if I was the antichrist and said 'Oh I'm so sorry, that's terrible!, you don't attend meetings?' Thought she was going to pass out. At that point lying didn't seem so bad. Their reaction was getting on my nerves. One of my few active JW 'friends' said, 'Well what did you expect? In their eyes you are dying!' I was so pissed off I said, 'The only one who determines whether I live or die is God, he's the only judge that matters, not you, not any other man.' She hung up on me. It sickens me to know that I judged people so harshly and I hate that I was ever a part of this. Has anyone else had a similar judgmental reaction from JWs and if so how do you handle it without telling them to go take a flying leap?
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Here's My Witness Experience and Why I Left
by PRB ini got baptized as a jw around the end of 1981 and continued as an active publisher for about eight years.
however, i gradually started to become disenchanted with the organization.
it wasnt just one thing, but an accumulation of things that eventually got to me.
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Victorian sky
Dear PRB, Welcome to the board! There are some wonderful people here who will help you through the healing process. I know my recovery wouldn't have gone nearly as smoothly without the board. You and your wife will get through this and make peace with the decisions you made and your regrets. It sucks about college. They tried that whole pressure on me, yep I got it from the platform too and just to shut them up I pioneered while I went to school. (I understand not everyone could do that) I nearly killed myself trying to please everybody. One Bethalite told me that I'm going to die at Armageddon if I continue pursuing higher education. How ignorant can these people be? Anyway, It was rough going for a long time. Think the only reason I didn't drop out was because I have a non Witness parent who would have kicked my butt! I'm really sorry about what you had to give up. They have no idea how much they hurt people and ruin lives with man made opinions and stupid rules. And to target you from the platform is so petty. But you've come this far and that's a great thing. You're going to make it through this, happier than you ever were as a JW and again, welcome. - Victorian Sky
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Can "Born-Into-Its" Ever Be Happy?
by Englishman injust wondering....take a 40 year old male ('cos he's an ex-elder!
) who's been born a dub.
he becomes disenchanted with dubdom and eventually decides to leave.
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Victorian sky
I think I lucked out. I was raised in it and I left when I was 30. I was able to go to college and I have very supportive relatives who are cool christians. I didn't lose my whole family like so many have. I've lost 'friends' and that was painful. Overall, I'm a happy, positve adult but when it comes to men and dating I'm painfully shy about it and reserved, I know that comes from the JW sexual hangups. Years of 'marry only in the lord', 'date only for marriage', 'bad association' and dire warnings about worldly men (they all have AIDS, they can't be faithful and so forth) makes it real tough for me to trust any of them. So when it comes to dating, I'm clueless but I'm happy and well adjusted in all other aspects of my life. - Victorian Sky
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Anxieties ??? what was yours while you were a JW ???
by run dont walk inwas there anything in particular that made your stomach turn upside down in knots while you were a jw ?????.
armageddon ???.
giving talks ???.
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Victorian sky
I knew I was toast at Armageddon, would have nightmares about it. I hated being 'bold' out in service, I always thought it was pushy and imposing on the beliefs of others. I would cringe during local needs talks because the congregation always knew that it was targeting someone and everyone knew about their situation. I never had to go before the elders, thank God. Watchtowers about what sexual positions God approves of and the comments that followed were ridiculous and embarrassing. And one of my pet peeves were uneducated brothers trying to sound smart and mispronouncing words and the Bible study looking at me like, 'I'll join when your elders graduate from high school!' - Victorian Sky
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Any one in the South Florida area?
by Victorian sky inhi all, just wondering if anyone lives in south florida in either dade, broward or palm beach county?
- victorian sky
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Victorian sky
Hi all, just wondering if anyone lives in South Florida in either Dade, Broward or Palm Beach County? - Victorian Sky
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Do You Enjoy Being "Part of the World"???
by minimus insince before a witness gets baptized, they are told to "be no part of this world".
that is beaten into everyone's head.
now that you're not a jw or are on the way out, how does being part of the "world" feel?
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Victorian sky
I feel grateful and truly alive. The JW numbness has worn off and I'm still working on living my life, my way, without fear and guilt. I'm taking classes, enjoying hobbies, meeting new people and it's fascinating to realize that JW's are missing out on being a part of the human family. I'm so relieved I left and I'm much happier for it. I agree with Tammy, it's great to feel 'normal'! - Victorian Sky
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Was Jesus and Mary Magdeline married?
by Victorian sky inokay don't pelt me with stones for asking and nobody laugh.
for those of us who still believe in the bible - i recently read the novel, "the da vinci code".
great work of fiction but i was wondering if anyone ever heard of the plot's basis.
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Victorian sky
Interesting, thanks for sharing your viewpoints. Silverleaf, you're a pagan? How do you personally define that? And what list did you get the book from? Just from the novel alone, I had no idea how 'pagan' everything was, and I thought the WTS was just paranoid (which they are) about stupid little things being pagan, if only they knew! I looked up a picture of Da Vinci's "The Last Supper" and I was shocked, I never noticed the woman sitting beside Jesus or the menacing gesture Peter was making towards her. I'm going to do research on the books of the bible that were voted upon at the Council of Nicea, I know the WTS has mentioned the council before but they've never said a peep about the Bible being voted on by man, hmmm I wonder why?
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Was Jesus and Mary Magdeline married?
by Victorian sky inokay don't pelt me with stones for asking and nobody laugh.
for those of us who still believe in the bible - i recently read the novel, "the da vinci code".
great work of fiction but i was wondering if anyone ever heard of the plot's basis.
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Victorian sky
Okay don't pelt me with stones for asking and nobody laugh. For those of us who still believe in the Bible - I recently read the novel, "The Da Vinci Code". Great work of fiction but I was wondering if anyone ever heard of the plot's basis. That Mary Magdeline was really the wife of Jesus and they had a child. That the Catholic church killed off The Knights Templars and the Priory of Sion members to keep the secret quiet. That along with being his wife, Jesus left Mary in a high position of spiritual authority and that women did teach in the congregation because of Mary's status. That her remains are the Holy Grail that historians seek and not the chalice of Christ. That in order to solidify the power structure of the church, Mary was vilified I know it's only a book, very entertaining I might add, but do any of you think it could be true? And if it is could Jesus still be the Messiah?
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WHY THE HELL DO I STILL FEEL GUILTY??!!
by Mary inok, i've known for a long time now that this is not "the one true religion", but i can't for the life of me, seem to make the final break.
i seldom go to meetings and am usually bored out of my mind when i do go, but for the life of me, after i've missed about 3 or 4 weeks i start feeling guilty about "missing meetings" and i'll go.
i'm really frustrated and angry with myself that i can't make the break, but in all honesty, there's still some people at the hall that i care about and i guess i'd miss them if i left completely.
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Victorian sky
Dear Mary,
I empathize with you. It took me 3 years to fully leave after reading "Crisis of Conscience". I tried to force myself to think the way the borg wanted me to think. But my brain rebeled! I would zone out during the meetings. I would even pray about my doubts and boredom while the speaker went on ad nauseum about false dates, obeying the GB at all costs, bow down to the elders, your husband ect. I felt torn for a long time for the same reasons you do - 'friends' I'd miss & family. They threaten and inflict fear by saying 'Where are you going to go? You learned the truth from us, we're you're only friends/family' Well that's bull. The friends I've made since I've been out are nonjudgmental and every bit as caring as the JWs claim to be. I agree with the other poster, to do something you love, something just for you during the meeting time. I read novels, my Bible, rented movies, watch TV. I've taken long walks on the beach or in the park - It's a great way to feel closer to God, very peaceful. I know how hard it is, I really do. You can break free, just give yourself time. You're stronger than you think. One day you'll walk away and you won't look back. - Victorian Sky