A JW Biography of AlanF

by AlanF 88 Replies latest members private

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  AlanF

  I've been trying to put together a biography that shows, not just my personal battle with the JW cult, but something that a lot of ex-JWs can relate to. I think that a lot of people will find much in common with my own experience.

  So here, at this link, people with a good deal of time on their hands can find my JW-related biography: http://home.comcast.net/~alanf00/essays/Alan_bio_2005.htm

  I welcome any and all suggestions for further ideas, and comments about where I might have screwed up. This thing is incomplete, as anyone who reads it will find, but as I said, it's a work in progress.

  I have a very personal goal in mind for this, which eventually I will share with the great folks on this board, so please, if you have some comments, I want to hear them.

  AlanF
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  Pole

  AlanF,
  
  I'm one of your fans ;-).
  
  Lots of good stuff there. If I may suggest something, I'd recommend inserting some bookmarks into the running text of the biography. These could be just a few subtitles, or you could do some paging perhaps.
  
  This IMO would make the piece much more legible and easier to digest in more than one attempt. I would also narrow the page a little, but I understand you're focusing on the contents now, so my advice may sound a little too preemptive.
  
  Thanks,
  
  Pole
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  Englishman

  Fascinating story indeed, made all the more so by my having been fortunate enougfh to have met some of the people referred to.

  BTW, The Guardian is actually a daily newspaper, not a magazine.

  Englishman.
• 

  happyout

  AlanF,

  Ever since I discovered this site, I have been impressed with your logical, seemingly dispassionate research. Your intelligence seems almost frightening, but when combined with your kind heart, and willingness to assist total strangers through the hell of leaving a cult, you are a real asset to all of us our here who know things are wrong, but can't articulate as well as you do the exact points (how is that for a run on sentence?)

  I loved reading your post, and strongly suggest you consider writing your own book. It could help so many.

  With gratitude,

  Happyout
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  Narkissos

  Thanks AlanF,

  This is really interesting, as you have been "privileged" to maintain the discussion longer and with higher people in the hierarchy than most of us were able to do.

  As for the evolution vs. creation debate I remember what the brother in charge of the translation dept. in the French Bethel told me when he was translating the Creation book (he was more interested in the subject than I was). After checking a number of "sources" in extant French translations, he was shocked that so many quotations were misrepresenting the thought of their authors. Your discussion with Peloyan was fun to read with this memory in mind.
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  ithinkisee

  I never even put it into a solidly formed thought (likely because to do so would have forced me directly to confront the problem that the Society had lied to us), but I know that the disappointment had its effect. I kept having dark thoughts about what it was going to be like in 20 or 30 years, after lots more disappointment had set in. But I put them aside, and was able to put off the inevitable by burying myself in my college studies.

  Holy crap! That is EXACTLY my thoughts it is similar in word and thought to some of the stuff I have been writing up to give to my wife!

  Good work Alan. Thank you.

  -ithinkisee
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  confusedjw

  AlanF - Have you thought about your own domain? You could register AlanF.com it's under $10 to do that and under $10 per month to have it professionally hosted. This way you can organize all you material under a branded name for easy research by others.

  If interested PM me and I'll tell you who I use for my online business. It's very inexpensive and has been reliable for the number of years I've used them.
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  Crumpet

  Alan - I just spent the last couple of hours reading that. Very interesting stuff, you really have done bags of research with some truly dogged determination. I am impressed. I couldn't believe what you said about the transplants and the big illuminated heart and brain on the stage - that is so typical JW hogwash.

  And the reactions you got from certain GB members didnt surprise me but does disappoint me. Everytime I read about people's experiences with them - they never seem positive- these guys just seem full of their own self worth. Maybe the reason for this is that the self esteem of 6 million JWs is pumped directly through an invisible ventricle in the sky into their own pompous asses!

  Thanks for posting that - and I look forward to reading some of your essays that you've provided links to when i have some more time.
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  jgnat

  A riveting read. I hope I am not late to work this morning because of it. I read in to the human element to your story. The bare facts reveal a dramatic internal life. Your internal anguish, your genuine searching unrequited, has been played out in so many JW lives. A few of your comments resonated deeply with me.

  I internally resolved my problems with my father

  The story of your dad is the story of my mom. It is not possible to reconcile with a mentally ill person. Sometimes the best we can do is reconcile ourselves to who they are. It sounds like you worked that out with your dad, in your own mind. Sorry to hear he passed not too long ago. I am sure your emotions were mixed. I think I will feel loss and relief all intermixed when my mom goes.

  why would a self-respecting JW invest any emotional energy in a mate who would die "real soon now"

  This is a phenomenon that Concerned Mama and I have both noticed. Even mothers seem oddly distant to their own children. As if they "know" that their relationship may be only temporary. This phenomenon has only been touched on before.

  the inability on the part of my father, my religion and my wife to admit error

  An excellent coming-of-age statement.
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  gumby

  It was nice to read of your backround Alan. I wish I had your memory and could apply it on my exit as I've forgotten the many stages I went through. I ALWAYS regret I didn't keep a diary of my life during my exit/recovery.

  I'm with others who feel you should have your own site....even if it only consists of work you have already done.

  Hugs to you bro,

  Gumby