Last straw was taking receipt of the "God's Love" book at the 2008 district convention and seeing its unloving manipulative controlling approach (rather than any "reform") is what got me to finally research my years long doubts starting with ordering and reading "Crisis of Conscience".
Designer Stubble
JoinedPosts by Designer Stubble
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51
how long in truth,,,what was the final "straw"
by peaches ini was in for 30 years.....my ex was an elder...."holy spirit appointed" he tortured me....i was married 33+ years....you know,,,marriage is sacred...you can leave,,,i know,,,,if abuse is intolerable....but that starts a series of events...etc etc etc....i finally left everything...and moved far away.....people actually believe "holy spirit" appoints people,,,my ex would not pray unless there was an audience...you know,,,,people invited over for supper kind of thing,,,you get the point..... my best friend had a mental breakdown,,,,she basically became psychotic.....had to be hospitalized....she took up smoking,,,got disfellowshipped...and lost all emotional support....to this day,,,,as far as i know,,,she is still disfellowshipped...needs to be hospitialized every so often....she is on complete disability.....and still trying to get back into the org....her mother does support some what,,,,even though she is a witness herself,,,,,takes her to assemblies,,,,memorial,,,etc,,,,this has gone on for years.....she cannot mentally handle the organization,,,nor can she mentally handle not being a witness...lost everything....guilt....etc..... did not mean to ramble on so much......i have mental scars that will not go away....because i stayed in a "mess" for god,,,,i could write page after page of things like the above....as being my "last straw".......curious about you here on the board....any specific "breaking point" or a collection of many things..... thanks for your in put...peaches.
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The new song book
by bobld ini know it's has been mentioned before but my 2$ worth.iam sure if they (j.w.
) had listen to the music and song without knowing who published the new song book.they would say "this song book is awful with no end of criticism.
"also over 90% would agree and would not bat and eye.. knowing that the wbts published this (garbage) song book over 90% agree what a great song book.talk of brainwashed people.i can't stand the music, it sounds like some kindergarden kid is taking piano lessons.did they not rehearse.it is awful the the dough heads won't admit it.i say they will do a re-issue,revision 2 next year.. bob.
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Designer Stubble
The title of the New Songbook should be: Sing Praises to the Governing Body. Two examples:
Song 51/11: Making Jehovah’s Heart Glad
Old Book (Song 51):
2. May we from your side never move;
A liar the Tempter we would prove.
Your principles and laws so right
We would make daily our delight.
New Book (Song 11):
2. Your slave, your steward here on earth,
Proclaims your greatness and your worth,
Feeds us with nourishment when due,
Thus strengthens us your will to do.
Song 174/43: Stay Awake, Stand Firm, Grow Mighty
Old book (Song 174):
2. "In his place each one be heeding, what Christ Jesus has to say"
New Book (Song 43)
2. "Stay alert to Christ's direction, Through his faithful slave today, heed the counsel of the older men" -
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well, they finally caught up to the april wt
by booby inbut as anticipated not only is it not a problem but rather prompts expressions like this.
"it just highlights to .
mean just how awesome and loving jehovah is.
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Designer Stubble
The two responses I got from elders so far were:
1. We simply cannot understand in what ways the holy spirit works with the FDS/GB
2. Our worship of Jehovah should not depend on Chronology
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ANOTHER GILEAD STUDENT
by not sure yet ini've been reading this forum a for some time now.
since i find myself on a crossroad i decided to start participating.
i was at gilead in 1980 and remember standing in de elevator alone with ray franz, how just gave us a lecture.
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Designer Stubble
Not sure whether he posts here, but we have another ex-gilead at www.jehovahswitnessrecovery.com. His user name is "awakend @ gilead"
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anybody ever read "crisis of conscience" and then confessed to elder ?
by inbetween inif so, what happened ?.
does it constitue a reason for a jc ?.
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Designer Stubble
Depends on where you live and how liberal the Elders are. I literally read from it during a visit from two elders and openly discussed the content with another. No problem whatsoever. However, in other locations it is an immediate JC.
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Consolation September 1945: Refusing blood does not bear witness...
by Designer Stubble in"consolation" september 1945 contains the most contrary quote you can imagine: "when we lose our life because we refuse inoculations, that does not bear witness as a justification of jehovah's name.
god never issued regulations which prohibit the use of drugs, inoculations or blood transfusions.
it is an invention of people, who, like the pharisees, leave jehovah's mercy and love aside.
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Consolation September 1945: Refusing blood does not bear witness...
by Designer Stubble in"consolation" september 1945 contains the most contrary quote you can imagine: "when we lose our life because we refuse inoculations, that does not bear witness as a justification of jehovah's name.
god never issued regulations which prohibit the use of drugs, inoculations or blood transfusions.
it is an invention of people, who, like the pharisees, leave jehovah's mercy and love aside.
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Designer Stubble
"Consolation" September 1945 contains the most contrary quote you can imagine: " When we lose our life because we refuse inoculations, that does not bear witness as a justification of Jehovah's name. God never issued regulations which prohibit the use of drugs, inoculations or blood transfusions. It is an invention of people, who, like the Pharisees, leave Jehovah's mercy and love aside ."
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Designer Stubble
Designer Stubble said:
I left (and wife followed) in time for my young children to live a normal life and they are enjoying their many "pagan" holidays and don't have to waste time sitting still at the KH .
Hooray!!!! Hello and welcome!
Well, she still needs to formally decide (see my other posting) but is on sabatical leave we shall say.
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Designer Stubble
Most of you must know me as a regular poster on JWR www.jehovahswitnessrecovery.com
I read here from time-to-time, but am starting to see more and more posts I would like to comment on, hence registering here too.
In a nutshell my story for those not familiar is:
I was a baptized witness for over 30 years. Yes, I had my doubts for a while - for example the September 2007 Kingdom Ministry which stated that we should not do independent Bible Study. The main trigger to start investigating was taking receipt of the "God's Love" book at the 2008 District Convention. Skimming through the appendix, I noticed that any reform and mellowing down from the Governing Body was not going to come. The book showed more control and pharisee rules. I went home after the DC and immediately did some online research, ordering Crisis of Conscience, In Search of Christian Freedom and a few more books. As I was just going on vacation, I took the books with me, read CoC in two days ad ISoCF in another four. At that point I knew I had been mislead for most of my life and needed to find a way out. I was further completely in shock on 607, UN-NGO and the child molesting in the org.
But where else to go? Fortunately many websites helped me there and after extensive research and many more books, I now view myself if you want to label me as an atheist.
My last meeting at the Kingdom Hall was shortly after the memorial this year and I attended 1 day of the DC - a planned last visit, in which the many parts including the drama confirmed that I no longer wanted to be there. Well thought through, well researched - not leaving because I am "weak".
Funny enough, living in a liberal country, when speaking with the elders and reading from CoC to them, they all agreed with my research, but just said "Where else would you go". With one elder I just mentioned that 607 was not right and he said "you mean it is 20 years off". Another elder personally knew Barbara Anderson and her research.
Initially I told the elders that I was taking a sabatical (form of fade), but at a last visit I simply stated that I no longer believed in God or the Bible and had no intentions what so ever to "return to Jehovah".
Perhaps I have lost close to 40 years in this cult, but at least I left (and wife followed) in time for my young children to live a normal life and they are enjoying their many "pagan" holidays and don't have to waste time sitting still at the KH .
Still have most of the extended family "in", the respect my decision though. Enough work for me to do here.
A third generation witness, but the chain broke here.
Thanks for the warm welcome.
D.S.
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How can I explaine my wife SHE IS NOT a JW???
by Albert Einstein inmy wife was raised in an ultra hardcore jw family, and together with me served faithfully for many years to hojovah..... now, due to my apostate influence educational efforts she:.
went to a jw meeting only maybe 5 times in past year (just for the public talk)was not present at service meeting for almost 2 yearsmissed most conventionsdoesnt object our son going to birthday partiesdoesnt object christmass decorations in our housepacks christmass gifts in christmass wrapping paperread crisis of consciene and basicly agrees with the bookagrees, that most jw policies are unbiblical and falsewas not in house to house service for several yearsand so and so.... actually i do not find on her and her behaviour anything what makes normally a person a jw... but she still believes she is one!.
its kind a schizophrenia for her, she doesnt know what her position is.... .
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Designer Stubble
You could be describing my situation. I would not be too worried, it is more of a social thing. I too am leaving it as such for now, not wanting to push her back in. At least you can rest assured that your children will never enter the cult and that the chain breaks here.