The one thing that stood out to me was the drawing of Jesus holding the lamb. Maybe I am not remembering correctly, but I don't believe I have ever been in a KH where there was a rendering of Jesus. Usually the artwork was of paradise. They are really making a move to try to appease to "church" goers by changing their look. As far as the JW.org being on the building with a spotlight on it, that honestly turns my stomach. They are now branding...which to me, takes God out of it and inserts JW group think into it. SO glad I am no longer a part of this cult. WHEW!!
confuzzlediam
JoinedPosts by confuzzlediam
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31
The WBATS has officially become a Fortune 500 company they are going public Monday buy your shares soon while they LAST!!!
by ADJUSTMENTS inwith the recent leak and viewing of the elders video on the new standard construction kingdumb halls the rank & file brobots have officially become employees of a billion dollar publishing and now real estate company, equipped with 7 ceo's and many businessmen as shrewd and as money hungry as any rival fortune 500 company.. the new kingdumb halls look like (i have to give it to them) expertly designed commercial properties that any major office, restuarant or commercial leasing company would package as a ultra versatile space!!!
the old kingdumb halls where a tough resale to the general public because of the custom designing aspects of the old kingdumb halls.
they have completely done away with that issue with these new versatile properties which can be converted to an office/restaurant/repair garage/clinic.
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talk me off the cliff please
by sowhatnow inmy son, at age 25 finally, was able to get accepted into a community college.
but i dont have words of joy to share with him.
im instead dizzy with fear of possible financial failure.
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confuzzlediam
Community college is a GREAT place to start! My daughter started there and will be transferring to a university in the fall to complete her Bachelor's degree. I started at the same community college in September at the age of 43. It is never too late to start!!
Has he thought to look into financial aid? I know quite a few students, young and old, who have applied for assistance and have all of their schooling paid for by the state with NO loans to pay back!! All he has to do is talk to someone in financial aid at the community college to see if he would qualify for any grants...not loans. At least the financial burden would not be as great. Worth checking in to it. FAFSA is a federal aid program. Maybe he could talk to someone at the school about it.
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Is The Borg going back to “Old School” thinking & getting more hardcore?
by thedepressedsoul inim still in and i cant help but feel nervous as more and more changes are coming forward.
i cant help but feel that they are starting to get more hardcore again.
let me explain.
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confuzzlediam
I noticed a big change when the watchtower started the separate study versions for only the witness, not the general public. It felt as if it focused more on conduct by using scriptural accounts to tell us how we should live. It moved away from teaching us the scriptures, bible history. This change was also noticed by my parents who have been witnesses for over 50 years. -
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New to the forum
by Gone and forgotten infirst i want to say that i really appreciate this forum.
most other places i've seen are nothing but filled with spite and hate.
this site is reasonable and supportive...thank you for that!.
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confuzzlediam
Welcome to the group!! Thank you for sharing your story. It about brought me to tears. It's amazing what we put up with for SO long until one day it becomes clear what we need to do. The light bulb went on for me after I read a quote from Albert Einstein saying "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results". So, after a tumultuous weekend with my husband (one of MANY over the years), I left my marriage of 25 years. 22 out of the 25 were toxic. Not sure where we find the strength to keep going at times, must come from being stored in our big toe! lol SO thrilled that you have found someone that you are happy with!! It is refreshing after what you went through for so long.
Peace to you...
Jen
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First Time Post - Long time reader
by Samaritan At the Well intoday is my first post on jwd, i was one of jehovahs witness for almost 50 years of my life, i was born into the religion.
i was baptized at a young age and once i got married i was a very spiritual woman as they would call me.
my husband and i served as full time pioneers, we traveled abroad and went to international conventions, did some special pioneer service in other states in the us.
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confuzzlediam
Welcome to the group Samaratin At the Well!! Freedom from the organization is a wonderful thing! I was wrongfully disfellowshipped 5 years ago, so leaving was already chosen for me. But it has taken time over the past 5 years to slowly realize that I can't/won't ever go back. I know too much to believe anymore.
For me, not only was the ill treatment from the brothers I received when I was disfellowshipped an eye opener, but it was changing the remaining number of 144,000, thus allowing more to say that they were part of it, that those of the remaining 144,000 who were still alive would be taken up into heaven before Armageddon (essentially the rapture), and learning that the Great Tribulation that we were told had already begun, had not yet begun. I was floored!! I was attempting to get reinstated when most of this information came to light and I remember leaving the hall with a pounding headache, immediately calling my husband who had stayed home that day, telling him of what I had just learned.
I filed for divorce last year after a 25 year marriage, started smoking the day I moved out and went back to school last fall at the ripe old age of 43!! My kids who are 20 and 17 are not witnesses and are full time students at the local community college now, but will apply to go to the University after they get their Associate's Degrees. Life is good...my heart is full!
Look forward to hearing more from you and your husband!!
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Separated from a loveless Marriage
by PLAYGROUND ini don't know where to start.
i got married a year and half ago.
some months into the marriage things where discovered.
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confuzzlediam
I recently left a marriage of 25 years and filed for divorce. My final breaking point was seeing a quote from Albert Einstein that said "The definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results". For me this was HUGE as I had been doing the same thing over and over in my marriage to try to resolve a past indiscretion that had happened 22 years prior on my part, with the same results. Something had to change. I had to change.
I asked myself...do I want to live the next 25 years as I have lived the last? The answer was absolutely NOT! I was emotionally and mentally abused by someone who was loving, giving, charismatic, very successful and manipulative. Was there good times? Yes! Which is why I stayed for so long. But the toxicity of the bad, started outweighing any good. I was constantly being threatened to be divorced or left or being told that I was not meeting needs. But on the other hand, I was told that I was an amazing mom, wife and best friend. It was an extremely difficult decision to make when I walked out the door, especially because I knew it would devastate our 2 children who were almost 17 and 20.
I was already disfellowshipped for 4 years, so I did not worry about any consequences with regards to that. I believe that even if I wasn't, it would have been worth being disfellowshipped over. I needed to do what was best for ME.
You need to do what's best for YOU. No one can make that decision for you. If divorce is not an option, then I agree with the above comments to stay separated, maybe even file for a legal separation. Contact an attorney to make sure you have your rights protected. Seek counsel from a certified therapist. I started seeing one about 5-6 months before I left and have seen him once a week since I left 9 months ago. He has helped me work through the emotions of leaving and helps me focus on my future.
As said earlier, look to see how you envision your life. If you are unhappy now, think of how much worse it will get later. It sounds like you already know what needs to be done in your heart, but you are afraid of displeasing Jehovah and possibly having repercussions in the congregation. Do you think that Jehovah wants to see you in an abusive relationship just for the sake of displeasing him? From what I was taught in the 39 years that I was a witness, I believe that Jehovah wants what is best for you and what hurts you, hurts him. Why would such a loving and forgiving God want you to continue to be abused?
As far as those in the congregation and the elders who you have talked to... They are not in your shoes. They are not the ones being abused. They are not living your life. They have no room to judge. Do what is best for YOU and only YOU.
Feel free to PM me, if you would like to talk.
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Escape from Paradise: a new book by Brock Talon
by Brock Talon inafter a one year gestation period, as well as an extended labor, i am finally happy to announce the birth of my latest book: escape from paradise.. cigars all around!
like any new parent, i need to get some much needed sleep now.
zzzzzzzz.
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confuzzlediam
Congratulations!! I'm ordering the Kindle version!! Looking forward to reading your experiences! -
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i know this has been talked about. but isn't wearing JW.org stuff idol worship
by goingthruthemotions inso i am getting really frustrated...i see jdub's wearing jw.org items and .
isn't this idol worship.
respond if you like...i just want some .
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confuzzlediam
I agree that it is a form of advertising or propaganda (spread of information or ideas with the purpose of influencing feelings or actions). No different from wearing the JW name tags not just to the convention, but as encouraged from the stage, out to dinner and what not while they are in the host city.
Next, they will be making them into patches that they sew into their clothing! lol Better yet, tattooing them on their bodies as the mark of a true christian! lmao
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Is Watchtower's position on smoking consistent with its position on masturbation?
by Island Man inwatchtower considers masturbation to be a form of uncleanness but not a disfellowshipping offence because the bible says nothing about masturbation.
a jw who masturbates is likely to face no more than losing privileges in the congregation.. like masturbation, smoking is considered by jws to be a form of uncleannes and like masturbation, the bible says nothing about it.
but a jw who smokes faces disfellowshipping.. yes, smoking is known to be deleterious to a person's health whereas the jury is still out on the adverse health effects of masturbation.
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confuzzlediam
mynameislame I did appeal it. We met a week later with 3 additional elders from the surrounding circuit/district. A total of 6 elders were present for my appeal. The only thing they did at the appeal meeting was drop my "charges" from being a drunkard to being an excessive drinker.
My parents wrote into the society on my behalf, saying that this was unjust and that the way the elders treated the congregation members was unloving and not Christ-like. The society responded saying it was out of their hands and basically they supported the local elders decision to disfellowship and reprove the group. My parents were devastated!
My situation was unique in that there was only 1 elder from my congregation that was on my committee. The other 2 were from different congregations, one being a substitute CO from 2 hours away. This was because they were conducting "interviews" with the 20ish people who attended an annual tradition of bowling the night before thanksgiving. Someone went to the elders to say that there was too much drinking and unchristian like conduct that went on that night. The CO and DO at the time formed a committee to "interview" each participant as to their conduct that night AND the conduct of their fellow christian brothers and sisters. If they admitted to being drunk that night or any other night prior to the occasion AND were repentant, they were only publicly reproved. If they admitted to being drunk that night or any other night prior and were NOT repentant, they were disfellowshipped. OR if they admitted to any other wrongdoing and were not repentant, they were disfellowshipped.
My "interview" started with 2 elders. They talked to my husband while I was in another room. Then brought me back into the room and talked with me. After they dismissed us, so they could talk, they asked us back into the same room where a 3rd elder had magically appeared. Thus, my impromptu judicial committee. It was a grueling 3 hours where I was left feeling like someone had punched me repeatedly in the stomach.
All in all there were 6 who were publicly reproved and 4 who were disfellowshipped. All but mine was announced on the same night, at the end of the meeting. Mine was announced at a later date because I was the only one who appealed it. This was a witch hunt to make sure that we were made examples of what not to do, due to the "gossip" that had extended throughout the circuit.
I was told the exact same thing!! Why didn't I just go along with the council given and say that I was sorry and would correct my behavior. Well, my behavior didn't need to be corrected, I was not what they were accusing me of being. I also heard SO many people tell me that the elders were not perfect, that they too can make mistakes and that I just needed to wait on Jehovah to correct the situation, in his time. Well, their mistake was devastating to my children, husband, and all of our friends and family.
BUT yes, in the long run, it was a blessing in disguise!!
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WTS leader rants against higher education
by hoser inon jw tv.
anthony morris is ranting against higher education.
he is blaming parents for enrolling their kids in college.
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confuzzlediam
One of the comments that stood out for me was saying that if someone wanted to go into the health field, instead of spending the amount of time/money it takes to become a doctor both in college and time spent working full time after, one could become a nurse where there is less time/money in school and you could work it part time to allow for more time spent in the field service as a pioneer. (WOW that was a run on sentence!) The same thing was said for becoming a paralegal vs. an attorney, if one was interested in the field of law.
Basically if you are going to school to support yourself in the pioneer work, it is ok to get a higher education. BUT if you are going to school to support a family and work full time, then it is not ok. What a crock of crap!
I found this SO difficult to watch. It literally made me sick to my stomach. My parents took me out of school when I was not quite 16 because of the "bad association" I was getting into. No further education was pursued. I married at 18, worked telemarketing till my daughter was born at 23 and was a stay at home mom for 20 years, till I left and filed for divorce this past year.
Now I am 44 and am a full time student at the local community college and will transfer to the university once I get my associate's degree. My 20 year old daughter will be receiving her associate's degree at the end of this quarter and will be moving on to earn her bachelor's at the university. My son, who is 17 1/2 just started attending the local community college with me in December. It is SO cool to experience college life with my kiddos!! I LOVE learning and cannot wait to see where it takes me!
Thankful to no longer be part of the brainwashing that takes place in the org.