OnTheWayOut

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Posts by OnTheWayOut

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  37

  My Cognitive Dissonance is Eating Me Alive (Intro Post)

  by pometerre21 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've been lurking here for a couple of weeks now.

  i'm starting to "awaken" and it is all that has been occupying my mind.

  i've always, always had doubts, some of which i expressed to family members who always had the same replies:.

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  OnTheWayOut

  Welcome. There's nothing wrong with questioning.
  
  I did not leave concerning child abuse and I assumed it was overblown when I first heard it. Looking further into it helped me see what a real issue that was.
  
  Do your research and much of that cognitive dissonance will clear up.
  An organization that tells you not to read outside information should be questioned with outside information.
  You will get plenty of good advice. I will just say, "Start at jwfacts . com and see where that takes you.

  Edited to add: I hung on for years from within the congregation when I had doubts. So when I finally cleared them up, I did leave quickly. The point- it is a way of life, it is embedded in your head, so it is tough to let go.
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  78

  Work Christmas functions: Being a Bible Student (unbaptized)

  by rulehayl in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi all,i have been studying with the witnesses for more than 6 months and regularly attend both midweek & weekend meetings, and i am nearly at the end of the "bible teach" book.

  my boss is adamant i attend team christmas functions.

  she knows about my studying and potential baptism next year, and has suggested that i attend and just not participate in activities like kris kringle.

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  OnTheWayOut

  We can talk about learning much more before you get baptized later.
  Right now, you need to think about a few things.
  
  1. You are not a baptized JW, you are not subject to some heavy rules. You are slowly being manipulated with subtle mind control.

  2. It is not interfaith to attend team functions, despite the fact that people at work use a religious holiday as their reason to gather. Ask yourself if they are actually involved in worship and some kind of inaccurate dispensing of false religious beliefs, or if they are blowing off steam at a time of year that people have chosen to do so.
  
  "...because I may make excuses for participation in Worldly events."
  Those are buzz words that go back to Number 1 above. Instead of you making decisions for yourself, JW's and the Watchtower will say you should decide, but then give reasons why you should do what they want you to do.
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  6

  good article on how the Bible could have easily proven it's from God

  by defender of truth in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/02/13/six-and-a-half-reasons-why-the-bible-is-not-divinely-inspired/.

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  OnTheWayOut

  EverApostate

  I know that was sarcastic. Anyway, Let me play the prosecution for OnTheWayOut

  So, the Bible is only for those ancient people. And why couldn't God create a Bible for sinful humans to understand

  I had a nice answer typed out and something with the quotes makes me drop my response outside of them. So here I go again:
  
  To answer from THEIR POINT OF VIEW, The Bible did need to be understood by those ancient people, but God knows that if we ask for help today, we can understand it also.
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  32

  not a new topic - really a pet peave

  by Moster in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  makes me crazy:.

  there: go over there!.

  their: they own it; belonging to etc.. for the love of pete - use them correctly!.

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  OnTheWayOut

  I have too say, "You guys are to funny." I have some pet peaves two.
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  23

  Poisonous chicken

  by zeb in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  last night my wife prepared dinner.

  chicken and veg.

  as she was cooking the chicken it gave off the most vile smell.

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  OnTheWayOut

  Okay Zeb, people are dancing around this question- If the chicken "gave off the most vile smell" while she was cooking it, WHY EAT A PIECE? WHY GIVE SOME TO THE CAT?
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  6

  good article on how the Bible could have easily proven it's from God

  by defender of truth in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/02/13/six-and-a-half-reasons-why-the-bible-is-not-divinely-inspired/.

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  OnTheWayOut

  Ha, let me play the Devil's Advocate-

  God did not make His Word unclear. The Bible is perfectly clear. The reason that the Bible can sometimes be hard to understand is that we are all fallen beings - sin clouds and distorts our understanding and leads us to twist the Bible to our own liking.
  It was written for the people of the time and we are supposed to look at it through their vision. The culture in which the Bible was written was very different from the cultures that exist today. The actions of nomadic shepherds in 1800 B.C. in the Middle East often do not make much sense to Westerners or Europeans of the 21st-century. When trying to understand the clear messages of the Bible, we must remove the 21st-century “lenses” we have and try to recognize the culture in which the Bible was written.
  The Bible is straightforward on the issues of morality and conduct. [Whichever "MY" belief is] is the correct understanding of such. Misinterpretations are due to our sinfulness, our pride, our own prejudices or our own desire to show our morality as better than that of those who don't know "the truth." When we study the Bible, we must ask God to remove the biases from our minds and help us interpret His Word apart from our own shortcomings. This is often a difficult step to take, as it requires humility and a willingness to admit mistakes.
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  75

  Rock band titles from JW history / culture

  by sir82 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  on another thread, undercover suggested "adam and the dinosaurs".. i came up with these:.

  green bible dinosaurs.

  jezebel and the fornicators.

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  OnTheWayOut

  You guys are hilarious. Some serious names:

  Christian Rock Groups:
  Only In The Lord
  Ministerial Servants
  Waiting On Jehovah
  Spirit Direction
  Happified
  Scripturally Free
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  27

  People Asking Me To Help Them Leave

  by pale.emperor in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i dont know if it's due to the last convention, the recent broadcasts, the internet or just plain fatigue - but since the convention i've had a few people contact me via facebook messenger asking how i am then cutting to the chase asking me what it's like "on the outside" or "how did you adjust after leaving?

  " and asking me how they can leave the wt but keep their families.. my reply is always the same, i show real genuine interest and concern and listen to their situation.

  then i suggest a fade, how to fade, to ignore or reject elders visits, to not talk about their doubts to active jws under any circumstances and finally point them to this site.

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  OnTheWayOut

  All have to weigh their decisions. I think it's wonderful that so many want to find a way to leave, and I hope you find it a compliment that they come to you.

  My decision was that, no matter what, I hadda get outta there. If a fade didn't work, I was still going.
  
  Maybe some of the big questions need to be listed for people. Stuff like:
  
  Could you continue going to the KH for the rest of your life for the sake of others?
  
  Can you think of anyone inactive or barely active that your loved ones do not shun? Why?
  
  Are you suppressing a lifestyle and feel that you are betraying yourself if you don't say something, do something, leave the witnesses?
  
  Will it hurt your health/stability/emotional well being more to stay or to leave and lose all that?
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  34

  I am grateful for leaving the watchtower corporation. Innit!

  by punkofnice in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i dislike long topics......so here it is.. i suffered for my religion, now it's your turn.. when i first left the corporation my life exploded into a suicidal chaos.. my family broke up.

  i lost my so called friends.. luckily, i had worldly friends from all walks of life that supported me, even though they had no idea why i was so suicidal.

  in as much as they hadn't left cults.. i went from the corporation to a baptist church.

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  OnTheWayOut

  I am grateful to be out also, and happy for you too.

  If you mean you are an unsuccessful author because it isn't financially supporting you, okay. But I found so much reward in writing my story. Money isn't everything. I had hoped to write more but I got it out of me. Maybe one day.

  My stint of "maybe Christendom is right" was short lived. Its been wonderful to be free to learn and examine, and I agree with tlyour God thoughts. The greatest thing I take away from gaining my freedom is that I don't judge people. I will argue where appropriate, but not so much face-to-face over God issues.
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  33

  How To Fade Away Cleanly?

  by SplaneThisToMe in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this is my first post and hopefully i can get some advice and input.

  i have been actively involved with the organization for a little over 10 years now.

  i began studying in high school, got baptized and my family fortunately did not.

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  OnTheWayOut

  I faded out for family. Family can put up with leaving the religion if they really want to. Mine wants to.

  Friends, on the other hand- if they remain believers, they usually distance themselves from the totally inactive friend. Your only real hope among them is that someone is mentally out.

  But you will find new friends and figure out a path.

  Sorry if that's not positive enough.