Thanks and Hi Robert!
Its interesting, I've studied mind control, but not from the Watchtower religious perspective. I'll hve to pick up Steve's book.
Thanks for your plan steps.
I'm not certain anyone will be free of emotional issues as long as they feel the absence of natural love. Otherwise, I'm golden.
I've been out and apart from the Watchtower for 8 years or more now. I'm free and clear. I just happen to be recently reinstated; my sisters started having children. I can now visit without them having to grow up with "df'ed Aunt .....".
My parents and family live far away. After 8+ years out, we have very little family relationship at all. When I went to visit over the holiday their focus was completing the Assembly Hall building project, but I was happy my mom spent the day with me, while dad went off to do his part. Strange to have been on the building site.
They have no doubts, and we haven't enough relationship to get through to their hearts. Their hearts are hardened to me. I guess they calicified after living without me for so long. There is an effect on disfellowshipping parents too, not just on the one who was df'ed.
Any suggestions welcome. Right now, after having opened myself up here I feel worn, exhausted, battered, abused. I came looking for love and fellowship, and I feel like I am some kind of target with the oh-so-tired "God isn't real woke up and believe nothing" type. So I probably won't be around. I had a satisfying life and somehow coming and joining this forum killed my happiness in just 12 days. I'd love other "nones" to talk to, but this isn't the forum for that. Too contentious. You live and learn.
I wonder where the awakening Watchtower folks go who still believe in love? I know that's why I haven't been here any of the prior years. Is there simply a gap?
Maybe you've forgotten the one track mind? They have no other interests. They have a singular focus on serving "Jehovah". I also am not around to be able to find people to meet and then introduce them to. We are nearly in different countries.
My parents don't vacation. They are slaves.
Going to the conventions??????? Sorry. I'm not going back into that!
I haven't donated a dime.
Robert, I am interested in supporting people who have a need like me. I may be years upon years clear, but I still desire to talk to 'like minded ones'. I want to be able to be a support for people who have questions and need someone to talk to. Who have no desire to suddenly end up among atheist xJWs, those who aren't sure if God exists and ask if this life is all there is to get absolutely hopeless deadpan "yes". Or when I post on my father who died when I was a child, to have returned the "he's dead" get over it kind of mentality. Harsh. Rude. Lacking in love and compassion, and respect. I spent 12 days here and now I am beginning to see what is missing and formulate a need. I would love to talk to you about that offline as you are obviously quite astute and discerning. I have no idea what you believe or don't; isn't that how it should be for someone with your intent? Kudos.
I reached out to Barbara Anderson about a year ago. I didn't hear anything. I know Paul. I interact in circles with Cedars, not sure what help he'd need besides promoting the surveys. I am interested in working with him, as I'm quite interested in social data (like Pew Research).
As for the other two, I'm interested in their content, but have you looked at these sites with the eye of a WT JW?
They're not accessible.
I want to work with people who have faith, but questions. Who can see that there is some difference between what they are taught, and logic based reasoning from the scriptures; between the Watchtower and the bible. I want to help people come to use their minds to think again, to strengthen their faith and help them find out who the Truth is, and where to go when they leave—to The Truth. We were created independent people each with a 1:1 relationship with our Father and his Son. That message got through to me, but it was given to me directly, and with the affordance of having been out for years upon years, so I could 'hear' myself think, at least.
I do desire to also share the experiences of people who hurt having been cut off from family. The scriptures do outline the principles for shunning, but that is not what the Watchtower does.
I guess to help characterize my intent— I'd love to be this generation's Ray Franz. I am a woman, and I didn't have the stature of the governing body, etc, but I hope that there will be someone like him out there for my family if and when that moment were to arrive. A voice they can hear, an approachableness, agreeable, reasonable, balanced, warm, loving, voice. Maybe his voice will live on, but right now. I am the one seeking that voice. Where are those like him who are still with us? Ray, though I never met him, helped me more than any other human on this planet.
I hope that this post isn't a grumpy sounding one, though I'm pretty sure it is. I have to leave for work, but wanted to respond. I have been embroiled in a conversation for days, and missed your post. I've been crazy busy with work and in my real life I support people as a community counselor, and am currently supporting a recovering heroin addict. It doesn't leave much time free to come be on JWN and open myself up for the love of vulnerability (http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html) and so folks can get their pot shots in.
With love and a sad heart ,
Feeling the love for the people of pain ,
A
