Very interesting question. The way I felt was that God did love me and he understood me and everything I was going through. I prayed constantly and he gave me peace. I did not feel that peace and love in the congregation though. I always felt on the outside and not fitting in. Thank goodness man is not the judge. And that is one of the reasons I left. I could feel the conditional love in the congregation. And it was not just me. I found alot of the seniors when they got older and could not do as much as they wanted, felt so bad and guilty. I just cannot take that kind of negitive engery anymore.
Ohio Cowboy, that is the saddest thing I have ever read. I am so sorry you have gone through all that. Really and truly, why would anyone want to join a religion if they knew things like that could happen in their family. What a "Wittness" that is....I am speechless.
i've been a faded jw for 10 years i left because of my failed first marriage, i'm no hypocrite and realised i had left completely so i embraced the world and dived in, only christmas and birthdays i could not get into, they were too foreign to me having never celebrated them, like if i suddenly tried to do ramadan or something like that.. 1/ all the criticisms of the people in the truth you say on here, i've found in the world, warts and all only in the world nothing holds them back from being utterly horrible to you.. 2/ i got stabbed by a worldly boyfriend, i got married 2 times of my own choosing to men outside the truth, the first smoked and was an alcoholic, the second gambled every penny we had and defrauded me out of money after we separated, 2 divorces later i am currently pregnant and a single mum since current boyfriend decided kids was to much of a responsibility and he needed his freedom and i was 'too selfish to expect him to give up his life'.. 3/ parents-in-law!
i have been shunned by them as equal to anything you accuse witness families of and for the silliest of reasons, i had a disabled son and his grandparents said they wanted nothing to do with him because they didn't want to become attached in case he died.. 4/ i miss the honest friendships of the truth, i had friends of all ages from 14 to 80 years old and they genuinely cared for me, many trying to keep me in the faith a long time after i left but i was determined to fade so moved away completely, but i find friendships in the world so shallow in comparison and very hard to sustain :( i've never been a drinker and sometimes thats what friendship means you being a companion for them to goto pub with.. 5/ my recent boyfriend was in a christian religion, i thought why not find out about it, harvest churches if you ever heard of them, unfortunately it still hasn't stop him leaving me pregnant and alone and when i said to him how does he clear that with god, he replies "as long as i repent it doesn't matter" it's like he has a "get out of jail free card" for any wrong-doing in the bible, this is so alien to me and my witness trained conscience.. 6/ i recently out of frustration tried looking into atheism and joined their forums, it wasn't fun, they are as bombastic and arrogant as their religious counterparts can be from any religion, they make a religion out of not believing in god, it's very weird they talk of saving people from believing in god and offer nothing to replace it.
they said to me "be happy you are in reality now and enjoy it" and i thought "well if this is reality i've had enough of it".
"Reniaa, you're an interesting gal to know. I hope you stick around a while and keep questioning, questioning"
Yes I will say that you are really thinking serously with all this and that is good. Do what is right for you and with all the questions and concerns it will take time. Won't happen overnight, but that is good. Being at peace with ourselves takes alot of time. Because we have to be certain in our heart of what is right for 'us'. I wish you well, and keep us posted on your journey. :)
i've been a faded jw for 10 years i left because of my failed first marriage, i'm no hypocrite and realised i had left completely so i embraced the world and dived in, only christmas and birthdays i could not get into, they were too foreign to me having never celebrated them, like if i suddenly tried to do ramadan or something like that.. 1/ all the criticisms of the people in the truth you say on here, i've found in the world, warts and all only in the world nothing holds them back from being utterly horrible to you.. 2/ i got stabbed by a worldly boyfriend, i got married 2 times of my own choosing to men outside the truth, the first smoked and was an alcoholic, the second gambled every penny we had and defrauded me out of money after we separated, 2 divorces later i am currently pregnant and a single mum since current boyfriend decided kids was to much of a responsibility and he needed his freedom and i was 'too selfish to expect him to give up his life'.. 3/ parents-in-law!
i have been shunned by them as equal to anything you accuse witness families of and for the silliest of reasons, i had a disabled son and his grandparents said they wanted nothing to do with him because they didn't want to become attached in case he died.. 4/ i miss the honest friendships of the truth, i had friends of all ages from 14 to 80 years old and they genuinely cared for me, many trying to keep me in the faith a long time after i left but i was determined to fade so moved away completely, but i find friendships in the world so shallow in comparison and very hard to sustain :( i've never been a drinker and sometimes thats what friendship means you being a companion for them to goto pub with.. 5/ my recent boyfriend was in a christian religion, i thought why not find out about it, harvest churches if you ever heard of them, unfortunately it still hasn't stop him leaving me pregnant and alone and when i said to him how does he clear that with god, he replies "as long as i repent it doesn't matter" it's like he has a "get out of jail free card" for any wrong-doing in the bible, this is so alien to me and my witness trained conscience.. 6/ i recently out of frustration tried looking into atheism and joined their forums, it wasn't fun, they are as bombastic and arrogant as their religious counterparts can be from any religion, they make a religion out of not believing in god, it's very weird they talk of saving people from believing in god and offer nothing to replace it.
they said to me "be happy you are in reality now and enjoy it" and i thought "well if this is reality i've had enough of it".
Hi there, I dont know you, but I understand your lonliness. Here is my 2 cents. Go slow. Get to know yourself. Dont rush into any religion, just because people want you to, or not want you to. Weigh the pros and cons. Do not hurry. Pray and be still. You have been through alot by the sounds of it. Find a support group where you can talk things out. I recently joined a christian single group in town here. It has been great. That is what works for me. You have to find what is right for you. Be kind and gentle with yourself and you will find the answers to give you peace. If you go back to the organization, at least you know what you are getting into. I wish you luck and answers for all your questions.
Hi Zamora, wow this must be hard for you. I would suggest, be gracious and give them the invitation. The ball is in their court. How they react is something you cannot control. Your conscience will be clear. Enjoy your day. Stay close to the positive, loving people in your life and stay away from the negative....I wish you all the best!!!!
i was eating lunch with 3/4 of my active jw family earlier today and they were bemoaning the idea that they were going to have to leave the central oklahoma area very early tomorrow morning to find a room so they could attend an assembly on the otherside of the state.
they had tried calling the 'approved' hotels and motels in the town where the assembly is being held and they were all booked.
so that left them looking at the rest of the approved list and having to travel as much as 50 miles away to get a room.
Sort of off the topic, but...when I was new to the organization I chose a hotel room in advance and paid by cheques to pay up front. I only had to pay for one more night. Well the time came to pay the final bill and it was much higher than the agreed price months ago. I was shocked, I had to pay extra money out of my pocket that I really did not have. But the real shocker was when I talked to Brothers about this they did not do anything. They brushed me off. They basically said there was nothing they could do. I was really upset about this. I thought they were there to back us up if there was problems with the hotel arrangements....I will never forget that....
