Posts by Hapgood

15

You LURKERS Out There......This Could Happen to YOU !!

by xjw_b12 in

jw
friends

1000 posts, i thought it would never happen.

i originally joined and lurked for the longest time, before i started posting on a regular basis.. this board was a place of comfort through justification.

i still clung to some old feelings of dread, and the old "what if?

Hapgood

Congratulations xjw_b12 on making 1000 posts ! I was a lurker at the H20 board, then when that board had some tech trouble (I think), I followed the group that was posting there, here (as a lurker). I probably have been lurking for years. I just came out of the lurking mode 2 weeks age (still a little paranoid). I really don't think I'll ever make 1000 posts, I enjoy reading all the other posts so much that before I know it my time on the computer is up. I too look at this board as a place of healing, comfort and of course for all the great information that you all find and share with the rest of us. I was feeling so alone, I prayed to God to help me find fellow jws that were feeling like I was, I found H20 then I came here.

Hapgood

32

What In Life Have You Kicked Yourself For?

by minimus in

jw
friends

we all have wished that if we had just one more chance to make a decision and could have changed things, we would have done something differently.

is there anything that you would have changed in your life if only you could?

Hapgood

Studying and getting baptized as a JW at the age of 19, I would really like to kick myself for that one. At the time I started studying with the JWs, I was going to college (this was in 1974-75). College was really frowned upon back then, so I dropped out. I could really kick myself for not finishing college.

Hapgood

40

Did Any Of You Ever Believe In The Explanations Of JW Prophecy?

by minimus in

jw
friends

as a born and raised jw, i was taught that not only did we have the truth but we also had the keys to understanding of bible prophecy.

i was able to explain the gentile times timetable, the reason for 1914,etc.

but there came a time when i really came to appreciate that i had no real foundation for these "truths".

Hapgood

I believed in the explanations of jw prophecy with all my heart and I would try to defend it the best I could, but I didn't understand the majority of it. I just figured that if it was taught by the fds it must be true. I just let others do my thinking for me without really trying to understand what was being taught. It wasn't until after leaving the jws and researching the religion that I began to understand the beliefs. Boy, what an eye-opener.

Hapgood

18

A child of nine.

by nicolaou in

"it's paradise, a 1000 years!".

"no more sorrow, no more tears.".

see the pictures in my book?.

Hapgood

Nic, thank you so much for kind words of comfort. My daughter will be 23 this year, she left the "truth" when she was 18, she was never baptised, so at least we didn't have to deal with her being df (my hubby is still a jw). I think the guilt will always be with me, I was raised as a non jw, so I had a normal childhood. She had to deal with all the JW stuff as a child. I think that is why I feel so bad. She's seen pictures and heard stories about me when I was a child growing up, living a normal life, holidays, birthdays, dating, doing all the normal stuff kids do. And there she was stuck with this JW lifestyle. She did have some bad problems as a teen, I was in denial that her problems had anything to do with the JWS, but now I know that was the main cause of some of the things that she went through. And yes, I realize that the Watchtower is part of the blame and at the time I was trying to do what I thought was best for her. I'm working things out, and reading others experiences really helps, and that we are not alone. Now I'm trying to be the best Mom and Grandma (she has a son) that I can be.

Hapgood

23

For those who raised children "in the truth"

by berylblue in

jw
friends

whose children have left "the truth".... .

i don't even know where to begin to broach this subject with my daughters (should they ever speak to me again.

they are not witnesses, and were never baptized, they are angry at me for something else).... .

Hapgood

Rosemarie- I'm going through the same thing. I still feel the guilt. My daughter never got baptised, she just left the "truth" when she was around 18. I like what some of the others posted and it is so true, that we did what we thought best for them because we loved them. We wanted our children to live forever on a paradise earth, it was, we thought at the time the ultimate gift that we could give our children. We thought that we were protecting them from all of the evils out there in the "world". The guilt I have I'm still working on getting over, I was raised as a non jw, I don't know if that is the reason why I feel so guilty, I didn't have to deal with all the jw crap as a child, but my daughter did. She claims that she is over it, she doesn't talk about it much. Right now we're working on having a normal relationship, and I'm trying to be the best mom I can be now, trying not to think to much about the past.

"Hugs" Rosemarie, your not alone.

Hapgood

63

Do You Know Of Reasons Why Some Got Removed From Their Privileges?

by minimus in

jw
friends

pioneer, ms, elder publisher???

?

Hapgood

My husband got removed as a MS for turning in less then 10 hours a month of service time several months in a row. I guess he just wasn't creative enough in counting his time.

Hapgood

51

Do You Feel That Your Parents "Did a Good Job" Raising You?

by minimus in

jw
friends

being raised a witness, my mother has asked me whether or not i held her responsible for her bringing me up in the way that she has.

i feel that my upbringing is something my mother can be proud about.

even though i do not believe in the "truth", i do feel that she did a good job of raising us.

Hapgood

Hi Minimus, long time lurker, love your questions!

I wasn't raised a jw, so I didn't have the jw issues that some of you had to deal with. My parents were very loving, couldn't do enough for us. Sometimes they did without, just so we could have the things that all kids seem to need. My Mom and Dad were always there for us, they were kind but strick. I grew up in a nice middle-class neighborhood. My parents did an exceptional job in raising me. My Dad died 12 years ago, it still hurts, but I have such great memories. My Mom just turned 73 last week, I got to celebrate her birthday for the first time in years.

Hapgood

17

Could you ever go back ??? What would the elders ask/make you do ???

by run dont walk in

jw
friends

not meant to give anyone nightmares !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

i'm sure we will all answer no, but for the fun of it, what would have to happen for you to return to the kingdom hall,.

and what would the elders/judicial committee say to you if you wanted to go back.. do you think even if you returned with a new attitude, that you would always be "marked" by the congregation.. should get some interesting answers !!!!!!!!!

Hapgood

I had this very discussion with my jw hubby last week. I told him that he would have to grab me by the hair, kicking and screaming to get me to go back to the meetings at the Kingdom Hall. Although I still go to the assemblies to keep my hubby company (long drive), plus I like to hear what their latest new light is. I have some very strong feelings concerning the wts, I could not in good conscience ever participate in that cult again no matter what type of reforms they came up with.

Hapgood

18

A child of nine.

by nicolaou in

"it's paradise, a 1000 years!".

"no more sorrow, no more tears.".

see the pictures in my book?.

Hapgood

Nic, this poem is so touching. It brought me to tears. I wasn't raised a jw but we raised our daughter in that cult, it just cuts me to the heart what we put her through growing up. I don't think I can ever forgive myself. "Hugs" to all of you that lost your childhood to this cult.

Hapgood

30

Hello! New kid on the block.

by Hapgood in

jw
friends

first of all i would like to thank simon and angharad for this wonderful board.

it has been a lifesaver!

thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your hard work and time spent on this board.

Hapgood

Introspection- From your reply about the music, I thought that you knew where I got the name Hapgood from :-) I got it from the Broadway play "Anyone Can Whistle" that was redone in 1995 as an AIDS benefit concert. My favorate actor played the character of Hapgood. I have the CD to this play and the music is great. I really like one song in particular entitled "Everbody Says Don't" this song sure fits me ha ha ha! I looked up some information on the internet about this play and the meaning that was given to the characther name of Hapgood was "questions traditonal assumptions and beliefs." Plus, I now feel happy and that I am a good person, something I wasn't feeling when I was a jw.

Hapgood