I just joined the board a few days ago.
Just wondering if there are any ex-bethelites here from Brooklyn. Is so, when were you there?
Any ex-bethelites here?
by truth_about_the_truth 16 Replies latest jw friends
-
-
blondie
TATT
You might be interested in this website and this info on Freeminds.org
-
mamas
i am not an ex bethelite but would like to know what made you go from spiritual high to leaving the truth. i was recently df'd in december for being in a same sex relationship with another female. what made you turn? are you also df'd?
-
jschwehm
Hi:
I was at Brooklyn from 1987-1988. I worked on the Paint and Scaffold crew.
Jeff Schwehm
-
truth_about_the_truth
Thanks for the link blondie...i've checked that out before. It's really informative.
mamas,
you can get a description of my current state in my debut post here http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/24/83857/1.ashx
To summarize, not df'ed still "active" but fading. What caused the change from 'spiritual giant' to 'spiritually weak'?
It was a gradual thing but mainly, there are too many rules from the FDS that go against the spirit of true christianity. The more research I did the more inconsistencies I've found.
The one that struck a chord with me personally was the DF doctrine since it has affected a close family member. There is a clear misapplication of the scriptures that are used to support this. It is clearly there for self preservation purposes of the org. as a whole not because of love of neighbor.
Another one is the blood issue. How is a symbol of life (blood) supposed to outweigh life itself by allowing someone to die in order to uphold the sanctity of the symbol? Didnt make sense.
I didnt like the way that GB or other responsible members of bethel were glorified. Not what Jesus taught.
Didnt agree with the concept of a FDS coming in between us Jesus and Jehovah.
What really did me in was that I couldnt be outspoken about my concerns without fear of being stigmatized. We should all be free to voice our concerns and opinions. Isn't that a human right that was given to us by the Creator?
I read Crisis of Conscience and In Search of Christian Freedom. Nuff said.
There's a lot more but thats pretty much in a nutshell. I'll post more subjects in the future piece by piece on issues that caused me to become this way.
Sorry to hear about the fact that you've been shunned. It's not a "loving" thing to do. Jesus never shunned the sinners of his day but built them up. Keep that in mind.
-
jwsons
Welcome. Your post catch my eyes :-)
jwsons
-
outbutnotdown
truth........,
Speaking about ex-Bethelites...... does anyone here know/remember Chuck Strong?
He is my Uncle, by marriage. I know he was at Bethel, in NY, I believe, before and after his marriage in 1978. Shortly after that he became a missionary in Ivory Coast, Africa. In about 1988 or so he moved just outside of Quebec City, Canada.
I'm not sure where he is now. I last saw him at my father's funeral in 1997. Of course, being df'd, he never spoke to me. Lucky me, eh? LOL
Brad
-
Dogpatch
Randy Watters here, served at Brooklyn from 1974 to 1980 and left after the Franz Incident.
my story: http://www.freeminds.org/history/watters.htm
the Franz Incident: http://www.freeminds.org/bethel/incident.htm
My disassociation letter: http://www.freeminds.org/history/gbletter.htm
Welcome!
Net Soup
-
FreeWilly
Yep... Been there done that, 4 years hard labor at the Farm.
-
truth_about_the_truth
Yeah Randy, I've read your info. Thanks for putting up all that info for all to see. You've helped me see through a lot of the clutter especially with a bethel perspective