several enemies of the watchtower have ebulliently expressed the sentiment: let the games begin.
indeed, i too share that desire to let the games begin, so-to-speak.
but, what exactly are we to expect when once the games commence?
You Know,
If you can't even be pals with seven006, then how could you possibly love him enough to die for him--as the religion you subscribe to says you should? I thought that's what Jesus meant...hmmm...maybe he didn't really die for everyone?
Becky
hi everyone,.
i am a new poster who is putting off their own personal story of finding this site for a while..... i find alot of people here utterly fascinating, and would like to know..... exactly what is everyones professional field of work?.
i would like to be a full time poster on this forum, but alas, the $$$$ are quite light in that field of work.. apologies if this has been asked before.. just curious.
I am a former full time nanny, now just a part time mother's helper until I decide what to do when I grow up! I also model part time at the local university for their art classes. I hope to go to school sometime soon, after I move again in a few weeks. It was great to see so many people going to college--quite a change from being told not to further your education unless it's for a jw benefit. Now we can go because WE want to--I just have to decide WHAT to do.
Becky
i am looking for df's or da'd jw's in ct. i have lost most of my friends due to this and am looking to make new ones.
please e-mail me at [email protected]
Redhorsewoman, I checked but I only got something from Chuck. I don't know what happened, but can you please resend it? Thanks! Becky
when i finished my exit series, i stated that i would post my real name, the names of the various players, like the elders in the various series, and the names of the molesters.
- my real name, yes, but i will limit the names of others identified, except where there is public documentation regarding a couple of pedophiles out of the 5 i personally knew.
one of those is my son-in-law's dad ... the other grandfather of my grandchildren.. i am creating my own personal web site: i still own a domain, and have access to some free web space ... so i will get my picture and name and bio up.
Thanks for clearing that up for me Amazing. I have yet to read your experiences, but I look forward to doing so. I guess I'm just eager for anybody to speak up loud and clear against them! I hope I'm not the only one who secretly wishes that one of the GB will come out and say they think it's all a bunch of hooey! Becky
i am looking for df's or da'd jw's in ct. i have lost most of my friends due to this and am looking to make new ones.
please e-mail me at [email protected]
Hello Chuck! It's nice to hear from someone in RI! What is your story, are you df'd or da'd or just curious? My profile says a little about me, but please feel free to ask me anything. I'm looking forward to hearing from you--Becky
when i finished my exit series, i stated that i would post my real name, the names of the various players, like the elders in the various series, and the names of the molesters.
- my real name, yes, but i will limit the names of others identified, except where there is public documentation regarding a couple of pedophiles out of the 5 i personally knew.
one of those is my son-in-law's dad ... the other grandfather of my grandchildren.. i am creating my own personal web site: i still own a domain, and have access to some free web space ... so i will get my picture and name and bio up.
Amazing, I don't know who you are or how high you are/were in the borg, but I hope that when you reveal your name and others that it makes some kind of difference! I also hope so very much that you're right about the implosion of the borg. It does seem like the Catholic Church's woes are going to pave the way for the crumbling of the WT. I also agree that the time has arrived for people to start fighting back. I think we are in a very important time frame in the WT history--we will be the ones to really see a "GREAT CROWD" of people running out the front and back doors!!! I feel privileged to be here finally to read experience after experience of people FED UP WITH THE LIES!!! Thank you all for sharing!
specifically i am talking about the "apostates" or antis who plaster cars or send people things in the mail with the truth about "the truth".
to me, this seems exactly like the jw's banging on doors on a saturday morning.
exactly the same thing, just from the other end.
Well all, this is my first "debate". I really enjoyed this topic because I wanted VERY BADLY to "do" something in the beginning myself--wear a t-shirt emblazoned with some bold saying against the WT to a convention, picket an assembly or meeting, go to a meeting and be disruptive in some clever way, print up misleading tracts using "their" covers but with revealing information inside--ANYTHING I could to make me feel empowered!
I think it's quite normal to have the feelings of wanting to fight back for all the hurts caused by the lies and deliberate misconceptions. And if some need to do that literally--more power to them. Online forums and hotline numbers were maybe created out of a feeling like that, and look at how many people that has helped! But I do think that acts like picketing or mailing people unwanted literature are not positive and are unwanted. And maybe at times do more harm than good; because as was said earlier, who of us as witnesses ever gave them the time of day.
But there is always the tiniest, remotest chance that SOMEONE will get curious--I'm just now realizing that I DID. I think a lot about other people (sometimes too much:)), and I can remember seeing picketers at some point (when I was in my early teens--I'm just starting to recover memories:O) and wondering "Why are they that upset to DO that?" We were always told they were "angry and bitter". Well, hell yes they were angry and bitter--they finally realized they'd been lied to! But seeing them started my THINKING process I guess all I'm trying to say is that while maybe some of the more blatant things like picketing can be more harmful; we still never know exactly to whom--even if it's only 1 person--something like that would appeal and maybe cause them to start THINKING FOR THEMSELVES!.
Now I'll just kindly step down off the soap box and turn the mike over to....
Thanks (esp. to Simon) for allowing us this grand opportunity to vent!
Becky
i am looking for df's or da'd jw's in ct. i have lost most of my friends due to this and am looking to make new ones.
please e-mail me at [email protected]
Hello Shaleen and Red Horse Woman (and anyone else)! I am living in Providence RI, and would love to meet anyone who lives close by. I have only lived here for 4 months. I'm originally from the Cincinnati, OH area. I was in the borg for about 30 years, out for about 3+. My email is listed, and would love to get together! Hope to hear from you!
Becky
this is mostly directed to others that were born/raised in the cult.
more specifically those raised in the cult who also suffered from severe depression and/or social anxiety disorder or any other mental illness (other than the normal probs that come with being in the borg).
sometimes i wonder if its just me that doesnt feel like a person now.
Thanks for the welcome Mouthy (and everybody else)! It's a big step for me to be on here, and it's making a huge difference for me just reading all the experiences of everyone. By no means are we alone--and that thought is the most comforting of all.
Becky
this is mostly directed to others that were born/raised in the cult.
more specifically those raised in the cult who also suffered from severe depression and/or social anxiety disorder or any other mental illness (other than the normal probs that come with being in the borg).
sometimes i wonder if its just me that doesnt feel like a person now.
Dear Flower,
My heart goes out to you! I've only been posting for 2 days, and I already feel like I'm getting to know the people on here--especially when I read their responses to experiences like yours. It is such a shock to read your words--because I too have felt the same way. I totally understand about not feeling like a real person, the crazy thoughts that run thru my mind every day. I've been out for about 3 years, but the aftermath of picking up a life that I never knew I could have is VERY, VERY difficult--as well as very scary!
I think the words that have helped me the most came from Steve Hassan's book, "Releasing the Bonds". He very emphatically states that you have to find your pre-cult self. That seems impossible if you are born into it--but I was too--my mother was baptized when she was pregnant with me. So I was even dunked twice, and it still didn't take!
All humor aside though, each small step you take, even if it puts you backwards for awhile, is a step forward (just like others have mentioned). The reason we say that is because even if you make a mistake, you can own up to it and say, "ok, I did that wrong this time, next time I'll try again a different way". That is how we separate from the borg in the best way--owning up to our mistakes.
I hope you can figure out even the little things you may have had interests in as a small child, and go from there. There are so many things you can do with your life, if you just try. There are so many different varieties of food, music, sports, exercises, movies, dances, people, animals, bugs--whatever floats your boat. There is no one to say you can't do anything except for you. But there is one caveat--you have to start somewhere--do something, try things, meet people, read stuff, go to a new restaurant/bar/club. Whatever you decide you like, do it! And if you try something and don't like it, move to the next thing!
I guess all I'm trying to say is what I think everyone is saying--YOU ARE NOT ALONE! We have all had similar fears, thoughts, and attitudes to hold us back, but we've kept plodding forward one step at a time--and here we are still. My life is by no means where I'd like it to be yet, but I keep moving forward. And I've found that by reading and talking with others with a similar background helps me the most (but I'm pretty people oriented by nature). I am very willing to email you more if you'd like, and feel free to email me if you need someone to vent to. Getting those thoughts out of your head will help you to understand them better anyway! My thoughts are definitely with you my friend!
Becky
