by charlene apaapa 38 Replies latest members private
Charlene, welcome!
I am at the age where i can choose my own life
Please make sure that you stick to that conviction. I was much younger than you when I and my parents made the mistake of letting the Watchtower Society make those life choices for me. The wisdom of age and bitter experience of reality show it up for what it was...a mistake. I lived with those mistakes for over 40 years. I sincerely hope that you don't have to pay the same price.
Craig
JOKER, please be careful not to say things that are slanderous.........i believe and respect what people express on this forum...........so should you. it's their pain, honour that.
I second this comment from Bliss.
Joker, you claim never to have been a Dub, yet you are posting on a discussion board devoted to "all things JW". You are welcome to do so, but we have to ask why you would want to make such comments.
Ozzie
Francois,
Thanks for your kind comments. They are much appreciated. We are sustained by this text: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him." - Romans 8:28 (NIV) Something good will come from it......eventually.
Cheers, Ozzie
Welcome Charlene,
As i have read your post I can tell you that don't let yourself be seduced by their technics to draw you into the organization. Look I'm on my way out right in just a few days if you get in your life will change for ever. If you like to be controled by everybody elders and members well get in if you don't stay away from them. I'll tell you a little story happened to me recently. After a meeting i went to a grocery store buying some foods as i was waiting in line at the cashier, a sister from my previous congregation was behind me waiting coming from a meeting also. She saw some of the grocery I had in my baskett and she focussed on my six pack of beer I had in my other hand she looked at me in horror as if I had done something at that moment I gave one of those look and ignored her, me and grown man I can't buy some beer for myself. She changed quickly the subject.
I can tell you so much about the people in the org. their is no privacy everybody knows your business. I had waisted my time. Think about it carefully.
Amen
Amen
I know that look. I periodically get it from my wife and other JW relatives whenever I do something they feel unbecoming of a christian or when I point out to them one of the WT's many fallacies. It may take awhile, but you do get over the apprehension you feel and you learn to ignore that disapproving glare they give you when you do or say something they feel you shouldn't. You soon learn that contrary to what they may think, that you don't necessarily need their approval to do anything you choose to do with your life.
(((Bliss and Ozzie - Jeez, so sorry for what you've been through, God bless!))) Charlene, Welcome! The advice you've been given so far is right on. You wouldn't just marry a stranger because he looked good would you? You'd get to know him for months, even years before making such a life long commitment. Now take that level of commitment and multiply it by a thousand - that's the level of obedience that will be expected of you as a JW. And from one woman to another, let me break it down for you. You may have a brain but men in the organization will do the thinking for you. You may have opinions - keep them to yourself or else. You may have dreams and goals - don't pursue them 'cause the end is near. You may fall in love but you better be submissive to him in everything. You may have kids - prepare to watch one die if they need a transfusion. You may question a belief or two and those same loving friends & JW family will cut you off so fast and cold you won't know what hit you. That is the pain we're trying to warn you about. I got baptized when I was 16 and It's one of my biggest regrets. There are JW's I love and respect and many I hope to never see again. It's your life and I wish you all the best. - Victorian Sky
(((((Charlene) Welcome to JWD:
Please look into what your wanting to invest your life in. My profile tells it all.
My parents raised me in the orgaization and I also was a publisher myself. I respect everybody's opinion here, but I'm letting my opinion known. If Charlene wishes to contact the WItnesses, I'm happy for her.
Welcome Charlene, You said "I will do my best to find the truth and understand it." The first place to look for truth is our own heart. Ask yourself "Can I truly (honestly and sincerely) love a god who will kill me if I don't?" (i.e.: Jehovah the God of Armies) Is it humanly possible to love that which threatens to destroy us? Find the truth which dwells in your heart. There is wisdom and guidance there. If you find you can not love such a god, then isn't it likely that it is mans ideas of God that are morally bankrupt rather than the Source of this wonderful universe? Forget about peoples beliefs about God, and seek within yourself for Truth, the Root of your existence. JamesT
hi charlene,
well i hope you can see and feel everyone's care, concern and good wishes for you. we all hope that the experiences of others will save you from the heartache of having to have this experience yourself.
jws use many scriptures but often jump around and take them out of context. so i would urge you to read the scriptures without the wt literature next to the bible as the wt views are so biased and designed to lead in just one direction.
one book that helped me greatly was, "jehovah's witnesses answered subject by subject" by david reed, a former jw elder. this will tell you all about the strange jw roots and history, many failed prophecies, flip-flops in doctrine, and also expose some very UNchristian behavior which takes place regularly in the organization.
don't make decisions until you are sure of what you are doing, and don't let family members pressure you because you love them. if you need moral support just keep coming here as often as you feel the need.
we're all plugging for you. we're here. don't forget!
nowisee
