our exit from the watch tower society was fairly speedy.
within about 3 months, we'd ceased attending meetings and lost all of our friends (apart from hobo ken and his wife).. what was shocking - and only confirmed that we were right to leave - was how our decision was met by our so-called friends.. we were leaving behind people whom we'd enjoyed friendship for over 20 years.
we were leaving behind friends who were closer to us than our own families were.
What a great analogy! My family "wanted to know" why but what the were looking for was a confession that I'd committed a terrible sin that I couldn't face up to. Nothing was further from the truth
"My wife and jumped off the bridge 8 years ago, we landed O.K., the water was deep and we had a soft landing.
The water was running fast, so we soon lost sight of the bridge and its onlookers.
KT"
Me, too!
for those attending, a couple of possible comments for the service meeting.
there is a "2009 yearbook" part where the audience gets to gush over the statistics that they found interesting.
how bout "i was really impressed with the number of memorial partakers last year, with an increase of about 10% over last year and nearly 10,000 partakers, it looks like we will be privileged to have many anointed with us for some time" or.
Let us know how it goes!
hi.. i have been a witness since birth (will be 30 years in june 2009).
got baptised when i was 15 (pressured into it by my parents, plus, i was promised my first home pc if i did get baptised before turning 16).. both my parents serve in the uk bethel.
i have an older brother and younger sister, both of which are witnesses.. i am married to a witness and live in cyprus (i am english).
I want to add that you've given enough personal information to be identfied by people who know you; it's happened before. If you've given your personal info correctly, maybe you can still go back and edit it out a bit.
Congratulations on having your eyes open. It's not always easy to get out, but is worth what you go through.
nice to be part of the board at last.
been reading here for around eight months.
very warily at first, but now my mind is out of the org.. i was raised in it and never would have dreamed at looking at internet sites for fear of being misled.
I was in my mid-40s when I left and nearly 50 when I realized I was never going back. I was angry, too, that I'd given my youth to the lie (and stayed in a horrible marriage because of it). But I soon was grateful that I'd finally figured it out and began taking good care of myself so I could stay healthy and enjoy my life, hopefully into old age. I have no plans to slow down and am enjoying the freedom!
Welcome to the board and congratulations for figuring things out on your own!
i have been lurking around here for a few months and i'm really excited about participating in some of the discussions.
i have already enjoyed several late nights and early mornings catching up on some of the older posts.. .
when i first came across a link to this board my hand trembled as i held an outstretched finger just above the mouse button not quite sure whether i was prepared to go past what seemed to me to be the point of no return.
"When I first came across a link to this board my hand trembled as I held an outstretched finger just above the mouse button not quite sure whether I was prepared to go past what seemed to me to be the point of no return. "
Me, too, but I'm so glad I did! The next thing that took courage was reading "Crisis of Conscience" but it, too, was liberating.
Welcome!!!
yes, it is i - whyamihere aka brookie with a side of nookie.. it's been awhile and i thought to stop in and say "hi!".
been busy with remodling and *cross your fingers* selling my house!
also, pondering the idea of building my own house - going solar, geothermal heating and cooling and maybe throwing the idea of living off the grid, so to speak.
Good to hear from you Brooke; the kids are sure getting big! Sounds like they're doing wonderfully, too
I'm jealous of your plans for living off the grid and building a new home; keep us posted!
Emma
happy pancake day everyone.. i started my pancake day last night really, lol.
had some chocolate ones for pudding.. today i have the traditional one's, lemon and sugar.
delish!.
In our area folks eat Paczkis, super -rich jelly donuts. One of the managers in the building bought seven dozen and brought them in. Wonder what it cost her.
been awhile since i participated.
like what you've done to the place, simon.
seems a bit tamer than the old board though.. need the board's input on a sociology question and wonder if some of you might respond.. i can't tell you how many conversations i have had with witnesses and ex-witnesses where the subject doesn't inevitably come up about who is still 'in' and who has 'fallen away'.
I'm the first born and the only one out.
section 884d2 of this rule says that if a person did not want to assist another in any health service situation, they couldn't be made to violate their consciences!
it "bars health care institutions and employers from requiring any individual to perform or assist in the performance of any part of a health service program '' if it would offend his/her religious beliefs or moral convictions.
if a worker refused to perform or assist an employer could do nothing about.
I believe it also covers anyone who doesn't believe in birth control, no pills or even condoms.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/166570/1.ashx.
for everyone taking part in this years secret santa, here is the thread to post ideas about what you would like to receive.
this way when you get your name of who you are buying for you can come in here and look at what your person has posted.. .
I sent mine after Christmas; so sorry. I had a knee injury and had trouble gettingn out. Hope it arrived in CA by now! I haven't recieved mine but understand that things get difficult. Hope my SS is OK.
