Posts by Redneckgurl

40

As a JW did you "take a turkey" or accept the Xmas Bonus?

by confusedjw in

i felt it hypocritical to take a turkey abviously meant for thanksgiving.

i didn't like buying the easter candy after easter either as it was "food sacrificed to idols".. years ago at a place i worked they gave out a xmas bonus which i returned.

( a few hundred dollars which we sure could have used) they assured me that it was an "end of the year" bonus.

Redneckgurl

YES, I always did, and it is because of following the wonderful example of my father who is an ELDER, who said he deserved it and called it "end of the year" gifts. This is also how he reasoned going to the Christmas Parties, he said another name for it would be "End of the Year" party when they give out the service awards. Not sure that he spread that one around the hall, that he and my mom were going to those, but I figured it was ok if he did it! My parents also let us accept birthday gifts from our grandparents too, since after all, we didn't get anything else from them all year. My mom can't wait for Xmas time to see what kind of gifts she will get from her students at work either! How funny, hah?

Seems like there would be so much hope for them to see what they are really involved in..........(sigh)

Krissy

41

Depression & Jehovah's Witnesses

by minimus in

jw
friends

is it me or does it seem that nearly all jws go through depression in varying ways??

i'm not talking about what the average person could deal with because of a loss of a loved one or a job termination, etc.

i'm referring to being depressed because you're a jehovah's witness.

Redneckgurl

What makes it even worse is going to a meeting or an assembly (especially Circuit Assembly!) when you are a bit down, in a slump, or actually depressed, and then getting a dose of GUILT, and more GUILT and you leave feeling like you are worth NOTHING and a big loser!! I couldn't stand it anymore! I noticed it so much more and it was unbearable when I started going through depression several years ago. Thank goodness my husband started questioning things and I found a way out of my darkness! Oh, BTW, Prozac and Wellbutrin have helped a lot too!

Krissy
a member of NAMI and CABF

45

Is there new light on disfellowshipping?

by Chasity in

jw
friends

i had no idea there were so many ex jw's.

i have been out since 1998. officially booted in feb. 2001. i am not sure on what grounds though because i never went to my meeting.

all i heard is that accusations had been made.

Redneckgurl

Chasity,

I agree there is no change, and according to they way they are supposed to believe, they should not be staying at your house. My dad is an elder and still comes over to my home to get his hair cut, and even came over to help us build a shed. I paid him for that so he would come over, but that was my way of getting him here! I am sure they are reasoning that they could save money, and of course won't speak to you about religion, however, I am also sure that they WON'T be spreading it around that they will be staying there either! My parents never tell people that I still cut their hair for them.

Let them stay, show them you are still a good person (which I am assuming you are! lol) and be nice to them. After all, this is one step they are taking "against" the org. whether they are thinking that way or not!

Krissy

13

The WatchTower's Moat of Blood

by Tigerman in

jw
friends

i just received the free minds journal of nov.2004/jan2005.

on the last page there is a discussion and quotes from the watchtower 6/15/04, re: blood transfusions.. " some would refuse anything derived from blood ( even fractions intendedto provide temporary passive immunity ).

that is how they understand god's command to abstain from blood .

Redneckgurl

Funny thing is, it isn't WE who reasoned that way, it was THEM (WTBTS) who told us that is how to view it. Another example of how they play with the wording of things to play with peoples minds. Obviously, any good witness who was reading that would say to himself, yes, I am one of those they are speaking of, so that is how I believe too, or else they would have a guilty conscience. How many times I tried to believe what I was hearing so I didn't feel bad about myself. geez........

33

busted by a fake evergreen tree

by cab1000 in

jw
friends

my wife and i have not been to a meeting for well over a year.

we are not disfellowshipped, but would be if we admitted to the elders what we've been up to, mainly smoking.

we was both born and raised in the "truth".

Redneckgurl

Hey! I didn't say I agree with it! LOL That is one of those things that never sat well with me. I guess I didn't have enough faith.....(rolling eyes)

Just another example of the ways things are twisted so that they can "make sense"

but it never did!

-Krissy

40

Anyone raised a Witness and broke free?

by rune in

jw
friends

hello, my name's daniel and i'm new to the forum.... i was raised a witness for the first 14 years of my life and then finally got out when my dad turned atheist...i live in ottawa, ontario of canada... i'm 21 now... still kind of unaccustomed to the world at large, if you catch my drift.

my msn is [email protected] if anyone wants to chat.

nice meeting you all

Redneckgurl

Daniel, welcome to the group.

To you and the others who are new, obviously you see a lot of things that are not right. You need to do some more investigating about this "truth" you have been taught, and you probably won't lose that sinking feeling you have until you are resolved that this is nothing more than a mind-controlling cult, much like others out there. It took me a couple years, bits and pieces, and then I thought, I have so many doubts and at this point, there is no going back. I am not going to be convinced again that these people are the only good things on this earth! I also couldn't live a lie, and didn't like the superficial person that I was. It isn't easy though.

I was raised a JW, and along with my husband, we left completely last year, with our 3 kids and have such a heavy burden lifted off of us. Yes, we both lost our families, parents, siblings, grandparents, etc., but we have filled our life with others who care about us.

This is a great place to come for support while you are going through this. There are some people who are VERY bitter against the religion, and they have good cause to be, and there are others who have a good time making fun of it, but don't let that stop you from coming here. It isn't all about bashing the JW's, it's about getting support and understanding from others who can relate.

Hope you stick around!

Krissy

33

busted by a fake evergreen tree

by cab1000 in

jw
friends

my wife and i have not been to a meeting for well over a year.

we are not disfellowshipped, but would be if we admitted to the elders what we've been up to, mainly smoking.

we was both born and raised in the "truth".

Redneckgurl

So you can't say that "the Light was getting brighter and brighter", because he already knew it had been a pagan holiday..........

Mary,

I recall having that conversation with my dad once. I think there was even a WT article that we studied and it talked about that. The explaination was that is was not the right "time" for that light to get brighter yet. They did see how wrong it was "yet". If you are in the dark and then suddenly walk into a bright room, can you see well? No, it hurts your eyes. Therefore, the light must gradually get brighter and brighter. We should be so glad the light is shining so brightly today! (I think I am getting a headache)

Makes sense to me!.............doesn't it? LOL

Krissy

31

tell me about yourself

by bagpuss in

jw
friends

.

in a recent thread someone said that bagpuss was a good name but didn't know what it meant.. bagpuss was a character from a childrens programme in the 1970s and is becoming popular again now.

i chose this name as like bagpuss i am soft,cuddlyand loyal, but will get the claws out when needed.. why did you choose your 'alias' and what does it tell me about you?

Redneckgurl

Well, Redneckgurl ( I thought "gurl" was pretty cool lookin) was taken from the song by the Bellamy Brother's "Redneck Girl" because I love that song. I am fun, a loyal friend, and although born in Evanston, Illinois, I am a southern chic all the way. (but I miss the snow!)

I just didn't want to use my name since I wasn't officially "out" yet when I joined.

***Krissy***

12

Crazy JW Sister

by sandy in

my sister will not allow my nieces to go to the amusement park with me this weekend if my disfellowshipped niece (other sister's 20 yr. old daughter) comes along.. my family is aware that i have my doubts and complaints against the org and that i am living in sin with my boyfriend, and they still talk to me.

not that i am complaining.

i am grateful.. but i had to stick up for my df'ed niece today.

Redneckgurl

When we DA's ourselves, my mother called and said "why did you have to do that to us??" She knew we were celebrating holidays, and not going to meetings, I even expressed to her that I thought it was a cult, but something about that "announcement" made it all official I guess.

My brother called me and said "Kris, if you just stopped going to meetings you could do whatever you want, but you didn't have to write that letter" ????? Hello?? I thought the same thing, Am I missing something?

They can't even see how nuts that is! I could see it before though, couldn't understand why family members talked to those who were doing wrong things, but then stopped talking to them when their announcement was made. Maybe that's because I knew a long time ago that this wasn't the truth, I don't know. Maybe I was never completely blinded? It's just like talking to a wall, I swear. No sense at all.

--redneckgurl (Krissy)

55

Before You Leave The Witnesses, You MUST Make New Friends!!!

by minimus in

jw
friends

my advice to anyone that is thinking of leaving the "organization" is to make friends (real friends) with people other than jehovah's witnesses.

the sad truth is that jws are only conditional "friends".

they will drop you like a hot potato if they think you want to leave.

Redneckgurl

Redneck, I know , SWINGERS.

whatever that is!

Yes, my kids have joined Brownies, Cub Scouts, my husband has joined our local Volunteer Fire Dept., my son is part of the Football and Basketball teams in his Junior High, and then there is our newfound "social life" that we are really having a good time with. It's simply amazing the things in life that we have taken upon ourselves to enjoy, whether or not others agree or not, that some really really good and nice people are part of. We have never met more people in our lives, been invited to more get togethers, family BBQ's and pool parties, out to dinner, shopping, and even on vacations, than we have in the past year. Most of them even go to church! We are not quite ready for that step yet, although my son goes to some social gatherings at a local church downt the street with his friends. He has so much fun, he WANTS to go!

I think we are adapting very well to our new life. You just can't do that very well if you stay shut up inside your home with nothing to do. Especially if the JW's are the only thing you have ever known. Call us nuts, or sheltered for too long, whatever, we are good people and happy too!

Mingle, mingle, mingle, and make new friends! Agree completely! Great advice for those who are wanting to come out, or who are in the process. If you have just broken away from this stifling religion, VOLUNTEERING is a great way to meet new people, and very appreciated too!

--redneckgurl (Krissy)