hello to my fellow refugees,.
my name is ryan and im 38 years old.
i was raised in the darkness (wts) and have never-ever-ever taken a single sip of their cool-aid.
Wow.
Yes.
Welcome. We're very glad you're here. This place is good for exorcising old demons of thought and emotion, too... but counseling is a great idea. A lot of therapists don't know how to deal with we ex-cult members... but we really do have a lot in common with survivors of any over-bearing, high-control, abusive relationship.
Trust me on this... it gets better and easier.
Love,
Baba.
faith: if we adopt it as a way of accepting what we are told.... would investigating what we are told be a lack of faith?.
when i was 20 years old i was instructed to refuse induction into the armed forces.
privately, i was instructed to not accept the legal alternative: alternate service (work in a hospital as a non-combatant conscientious objector.).
Terry, what you have written about your experience absolutely chills me. It is almost as if you were writing about being disfellowshipped, when in actuality, you were making one of the boldest moves possible for the faith! I am so sorry you had that experience. How completely awful.
On the subject of the word and concept of faith, I am reminded of what a dear friend told me just a couple of months ago. She said that we should have trust, not faith. With faith, we are giving too much away and not taking responsibility for our actions (we can hide behind the excuse of "our faith".) When we trust in something or someone, we always maintain a bit of control. We still have a choice. I have given this a great deal of thought, and I think she's onto something.
just got back from memorial.
only went so that i could say to my parents that i had gone and to remind myself why i left.. oh my word!!!
it was sooooo painful.. got there a bit late - it was a couple of minutes into the talk.
Found Sheep said:
I will drink a glass of wine and look at the full moon and for the first time on the memorial feel loved by Jesus!!
Nice!
an elder in my hall gave an experience of why it is so vital that we do not speak to disfellowshipped ones.
a sister who was disfellowshiped was of course not able to speak with her daughter or see her grandchildren.
it was difficult for the family to 'adhere to bible principles' but in time the mother/grandmother missed her family so much she returned to the truth.
Open Mind said:
Giving a talk like that about 4 years ago was my own personal light bulb moment.
I got TONS of compliments afterwards about what a great job I did. Only then did I realize that I had just clubbed my last baby seal.
Wow, Om! Just wow.
i did...... by the time you were done, they looked at you like you were from another planet.. it was the "you actually believe all of this?
" look.. .
No, believe it or not, he is not a Christian. I believe he would consider himself to be a mystic.
In any case, he realized how damaging a "refusal ritual" could be.
i did...... by the time you were done, they looked at you like you were from another planet.. it was the "you actually believe all of this?
" look.. .
Ha! Gromit!
No, he really was grieved that people act out a ritual which, in essence, proclaim they have no ties to Christ.
i did...... by the time you were done, they looked at you like you were from another planet.. it was the "you actually believe all of this?
" look.. .
I wasn't particularly embarrassed about explaining the (M)emorial (but I was embarrassed trying to explain the ban on birthdays, because there was no scripture or reason for it, but that's another thread.)
A couple of months ago, however, I had the most astounding reaction when I was describing "the JW eucharist" to a friend of mine. When I told him everyone just passes the bread and the wine and no one partakes (except one or two in a rare few congregations) he was overwhelmed. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath... and began to cry.
I think his reaction gave me a whole new perspective on my experiences and upbringing. Things we just don't think about.
i'm brand new to the board.
long time, "big shot" elder, ....taught at km school, conventions, etc.
yeah, i know it means nothing....but it gives you an idea of how deep i've been a jw.. i don't even really know what to write at this point.
Welcome!
You'll just have to trust me on this... it gets better and easier. We're very glad you're here.
Love,
Baba.
anyone fancy joining us for some?.
the sun's on its way down and we are celebrating life, family, happiness and the fact that we are free!!!!!!!!!!.
sam, paul, archie & bertie (of the 'skipped the memorial for three years now' class).
I think that is a beautiful thing!!! Partaking is beautiful... when you have reason to celebrate.
Cheers!
Love,
Baba.
if i took her to the memorial this year.im df'd for years,but out of love and respect for my parents i always gave them this one night.my mum dosent drive.i was going to drive her and sit by her.i promised my dad that i would always do this for him.he was pretty cool,even tho he was an elder.my "devout" sister {who has never lifted a finger to help my parents}told her yesterday that it "wouldnt look good" for me to show up w/my mum,altho everyone knows that i have done everything for my parents,both before my dad died in december and since.
is my sister just jealous that i have a fabulous life,am beautiful,rich,a guitar god,have excellent cool hair, xray vision,can communicate with aliens and have supernatural abilities?
or is she just mean?lol..btw,i am going.and im taking my mum and we are going to sit in the front row,and yes,im gonna wear velvet.....
You rock, AquaGirl. Yes, she's jealous. Yes, you're doing the right thing.
Love,
Baba.
