i know of the local congregation's issues, per an elder i know quite well.
he has said that nearly everyone in the congregation is suffering emotionally and mentally.
he said he has never seen so many witnesses with so many problems.
Prov 13:12 Says something about hope when delayed, makes the heart sick.
Their hopes have been so high for so long and they expect so much out of themselves and others . Their idealized version of how the world should be, doesn't match the realities they are living, even within the congregation.....a sure recipe for disappointment and disillusionment .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=7mars2mtaui.
to funny nice job....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=7mars2mtaui.
to funny nice job....
....and now we know where the idea that people who leave the organization are "mentally diseased", came from.
It would have been one thing if the guy was coherent and articulate but from his flushed face,slurred speech, dopey grin and stumbling manner, I'd say he'd been sipping wine long before the emblems were ever passed around.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=7mars2mtaui.
to funny nice job....
happy easter!
my husband and i who are former jws are starting a new bible discussion group on sundays @1pm, south of boston.
we will begin the group on sunday may 3rd.
I live on the opposite coast anyway, but have to say I admire you for still being interested in the Bible and in God.
JW's ruined that whole topic for me. After growing up as a JW and all the resulting drama, I am sick to death of agonizing over what the Bible does or doesn't say....what God does or doesn't want and what religious minded people think. Maybe someday I'll come around to it because it would be nice to make some sense of it, it such a thing is possible.
What you're doing almost sounds like what JW's started out as.... people simply studying the Bible together. The problems started when they decided that they were "right" enough to start bossing people around with their beliefs.
church of neurotology - snl video skit tonight.. cute enough..
realised that after leaving many years ago i don't have much of a social circle!!
has anyone else realised that we were not taught to be good in social circles except those that were approved associates?.
i recently went to a birthday party of a 45 year old guy and thought wow - this is what it is like to have formed a healthy social circle.
i have a serious problem that i cannot solve on my own.
i was born-in but am only in by a thread at this point.
i quit the tms a few weeks ago and wrote a post on it.
I don't know you "MNIONC" and I can only draw conclusions based on what information you have provided. The fact that this situation has gotten this far out of control, coupled with the statements you made about your wife's authority over you and the "system being stacked against you", leads me to believe that your family dynamics has been askew for quite some time. I don't think this happened overnight. It seems like you see yourself as a victim rather than as one half of an equal marriage .
You have as much right as a Father to have a say in your Son's religious upbringing as your wife does. Jehovah's Witnesses think they call all the shots and are above the law of the land in these matters and are used to carrying on as such. You as a former Witness, are also used to allowing them to have control over you. Being freshly out, you probably have some residual brainwashing left over. You are behaving as if you've done something wrong or should be ashamed of yourself. This is often how former Witnesses behave at first.
I would find out PRONTO what my exact legal rights as a Father are in this situation and exercise them to the fullest. Once I had my ducks in a row and completely understood where I stood legally, I'd let this "brother" know in person, calmly and in no uncertain terms, that he'd better back off. Don't ask your wife for permission...in fact don't even tell her you're going to do it. Did she ask your permission when she hired this interloper into your family affairs?
Just Go ! If he refuses to talk, notify him via registered letter from yourself or from your Attorney, that he'd better stay clear of your Son or be prepared to face legal consequences if he doesn't. I can't imagine my wife ever granting me "permission" to do something or telling me that I'm "not allowed" to speak to someone unless she say's so. Doubly so when it comes to supervising my own child. Nor would I ever do that to her. I can't imagine how you could have written that sentence about her not permitting you to talk to that "brother", and not seen the entire basis of of this problem, but maybe I've got the wrong take on the whole thing.
In any event, I feel for you and I'm glad you presented your situation here. It's going to take some quiet strategy on your part, to turn this around to the point that you are on equal footing in this matter. Depending upon how all of this goes down, your wife may have a newfound respect for you in the end.
here is the link to a recent news article.
maybe it was commented before, but today was the first i had seen it.. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/jehovah-witnesses-video-slammed-threats-kids-article-1.2116873.
i guess caleb is getting around.
i've been looking on this site for some time but never posted.
i'll give a little about myself, but not too much.
i'm a ex-bethelite ( brooklyn )and currently serving as an elder (10 years) (thinking about stepping down) on the service committee.
Mr. Theo. I think you're your viewpoint about the mentality of most JW's is spot on. They view it more as "just something they do, or as a "good way of life". Many don't view the GB as having any sort of special communication with God or knowledge about the future and have no intention of making a life and death choice when it comes to JW conscience issues. Others are using the congregation or organization as a social network or as a refuge from the realities of life. As the song says. "every form of refuge has it's price" In this case the price is sitting year after year through mind numbing meetings and assemblies and pretending to go along, just so you can be part of a group.
My older, brother ( a regular door knocker, regular meeting attender and big time spewer of all the usual JW euphemisms ) admitted to me that he thinks most JW's, including himself, are pretty much playing the "just in case" game. They are hedging their bets by keeping a toe in the door and keeping their mouths shut about any doubts or disagreements they have. Each one thinking the other is genuine and none of them being honest about anything.
