Posts by Sail Away

I took my son's former MIL to the D.A., and shortly after I made lunch for the substitute C.O., because I was on the list and was still in "Let your yes mean yes mode". Surreal watching the Stepford bobble heads. I was incredulous that a man younger than my son was the Sub. 30-year-old C.O. using training wheels.

I went to the next Memorial TM to appease my closest JW "friend". Never again. Seeing all the little kids dressed up as corporate drones sickened me. Several third/fourth gens in that congregation. Sad, wasted lives.

To be clear, I was in no way ever tempted to return to the organization once I walked away.

23

How many "leave the truth" because of the behaviour of harsh elders?

by stuckinarut2 in

just wondering how many are assisted to wake up after experiencing harsh treatment from "the loving shepherds of the congregation"?.

perhaps some were starting to wake up, and such behaviour or treatment gave them the push to leave?.

as jesus supposedly said "come to me all who are toiling and loaded down, and i will refresh you.

Sail Away

The elders harsh behavior was just the icing on the cake. I had long-standing doctrinal issues and severe cognitive dissonance to the point of an emergency hospitalization for being over medicated for PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder and severe, recurrent clinical depression.

They DF'd my son. Rightly so-- he told them, 'I have a girlfriend' (separated, but still married) as he blew cigarette smoke in their faces and said, "Just Fuc*ing disfellowship me." They obliged. I chose not to shun him, instead I walked away.

27

What Type of Elder Body Did You Have?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i was an elder in two different congregations and both were conservative and strict, especially congregation number one.

it was headed by a former branch servant as they were called back then.

all elders were by the book.

Sail Away

For the last 20 years before I left JWdom, I attended two congregations that met at the same hall. One had the rural side of the large territory and was conservative, cold, reserved and strict. Social gatherings were heavily monitored, and everybody knew everyone else's business. Most were related and gossipped a lot. The other came from the more populous beach area-- most elders were successful smalll business men or in management for the local nuclear power plant and the submarine base (save the one villiage idiot-- no offence to our own VI!) They were much more relaxed, even joking on stage. It was a much more loving congregation and fun group. The elders were approachable.

I was baptized in the conservative one and later moved back there. After 9 years we moved into the socially chill congregation's territory, but not knowing any better, I stayed in the same rural congregation, even though I wasn't "assigned" there, mainly because I had known them most of my life.

Because of a family situation, the elders in the conservative congregation asked me to change to my assigned congregation, since my son lived at home still, and they didn't want to involve two BOEs in "The Situation."

When everything eventually settled down, and my son was disfellowshipped, they tried to get me to return to 'help support weekday field service.' I said, 'No way in hell.' with a big smile and in perfect JW speak.

22

Need help with a reference dealing with the Generations and SPLAINE

by ttdtt in

when originally explaining the "new generations" splaine used the example of joseph and his brothers.. he backed up the time difference between the original anointed, and the new ones by using what he said was a big age difference between the youngest "joseph" and his oldest brothers.. then more recently in a jw broadcast - he said that there was not a big age difference between joseph and his oldest brother.. can any one help me find both those, please?.

Sail Away

One does not need to explain fantasy (overlapping generations) just enjoy it for what it is (stupidity). I truly believe that this "overlapping generation" bull sh*t is the final nail in the coffin for many jw's-- eyeused2badub

Yup. First thought upon hearing this at the then District Convention was, "That's crap." Out less than a year later.

13

"Secret Sins"... a catalyst for change both negative and positive

by silentbuddha in

i have been completely out for close to 5 years and i have spent alot of time with individuals who either left or are in the process of leaving.

whenever we get to talking about what made you leave or what was it that made the flip switch, the initial answer is some doctrinal teaching.

in other instances it was just sorrow or a variety of other things.. however, as you get closer to many of these individuals it was generally a secret sin they committed at the root of it all.

Sail Away

Buddhism is an intriguing faith... so much so that even in my distaste for religion have a profound respect for the belief system. --silentbuddha

I do respect many of the teachings, but bottom line, it's still a patriarchal belief system.

My reasons for leaving were an unwillinglneed to shun my DF'd son and doctrinal issues that spanned decades.

8

Ex-JWs In The Dating Scene - It's A Whole New Game

by pale.emperor in

since leaving watchtower it still strikes me as odd how little i knew the real world and how it works.

i thought i knew how it worked but it turns out i didnt.

as jws we were always "courting with a view to marriage".you go on one date with a girl and everyone's expecting you're gonna marry her?

Sail Away

As JWs we were always "courting with a view to marriage".You go on one date with a girl and everyone's expecting you're gonna marry her? You know the drill. You meet at a JW get-together or convention. You get the number. You arrange to meet up at a party or something (lots of chaperones of course). You maybe kiss. You date for a few years then get engaged. Looking back is the most ridiculous thing i've ever heard.

Date for a few years? Ummm, try date and get married in three months. I know for a fact I'm not the only one.

9

Child Custody/Visitation questions? JW Parent and me as the non JW parent

by Gokumonkey in

hello everyone, this is my fellow up from my first post, feel free to check that out if your unsure of the whole situation.

i have two twin babies that are now two months old.

i already to my ex to court, yes i took her to court and now im established as the father and ill be paying child support next week.

Sail Away

I agree with lostgeneration . No baptism before age 18 . My father, who was not a JW, allowed me to get baptized at age 16 . That was a mistake.

I'm so sorry you're going through this . It seems that you have a good plan.

5

Spiritual headship question

by charity7 in

non jw here married to a jw.

i was told by two witnesses that if a woman jw were to marry a non jw that she would have no say whatsoever in what their children would believe or go to church if he was of a different religious belief and he enforced it.

from what i've read in different threads this is actually not the case.

Sail Away

I knew a family in this situation very well. The husband was Catholic and insisted in raising their children in his religion. He didn't allow them to go to the Kingdom Hall ever. The JW mother "studied" with the kids every day after school while the father worked. The elders sanctioned this, and she was such a self-righteous, "long-suffering" role model for the congregation. By the time the kids were in their teens they were indoctrinated witnesses and both got baptized.

The mother got a "scriptural" separation on the grounds of "absolute spiritual endangerment", because he lost it and went over the deep end. The couple eventually divorced. Both kids married JWs and are still in and have nothing to do with the non-JW father.

22

Watchtower Victims Memorial Day!!!

by Christian Gutierrez in

jw
friends

hey guys i just wanted to share with you all a video we made this week for watchtower victims memorial day.

cheers!

😊.

Sail Away

Well done! The draw of the promise of a happy family life is so powerful. It is what drew my father and lead to my entrapment as a pre-teen until my early fifties. It wasn't until I nearly lost my own family due to shunning that I gathered the strength to walk away. The organization destroys individuals and families every day. Keep up your good work of saving lives.