it's only my third day here so, go easy on me.
lol.. seriously, my new doubts have made it harder and harder to go in service.
a few months ago, when a new month rolled around, i realized that i hadn't actually gone in service at all the previous month.
I remember way back when I was missing most meetings and doing no field service I would get a call asking if I had any time to report. I was embarrassed to say no so I fibbed and said 1 or 2 hours informal. They finally quit calling at some point.
I did a successful fade before 'fading' had a name.
i just wondered if anyone has been to a church since fading, or getting out?
and how did you feel when you went?
I was so fed up with organized religion after the WTS it was about 30 years before I got up the nerve to enter a church.
This last summer I went to a Baptist church. I found passing the collection plate offensive. The first half hour was pretty much just a concert. Nice music but nothing like I had ever seen before. During prayers (I didn't close my eyes) I noticed they used that time to change people/choir/settings on stage. It seemed a bit disrespectful. The main sermon lasted about 20 minutes and he talked about a popular song Martina McBride had out about God. Being my first experience I was left a bit empty. They did serve coffee and donut holes in the lobby afterwards.
My second visit was a church just attended by elderly people. I went with my daughter & she noticed there was no one her age. They had a lot of music also but a more bible based sermon. Again the collection plate (my JW past just cannot tolerate that plate). Oh, and several of the ladies wore slacks or pants suits.
My third was to a smaller community Bible church. They had a shorter music prelude which was excellent. Rather informal dress - I saw everything from dresses, jeans to even a guy with shorts. The minister wore a print shirt w/ slacks. He gave an excellent bible based sermon on the man's responsibility in a marriage (it was father's day). They served coffee in the lobby and several people brought it into the meeting which made it smell very good in there. There were children at this service (I did not notice any at the other two) but no one was taken out and beat as far as I could tell.
This third church did not pass a collection plate and did not ask for donations. On their program I noticed they had listed their finances - income / expenses - for the last few weeks & year to date. There were donation boxes by the exit doors. They did pass communion for everyone - my first experience - tiny little containers of wine & bread. I did not partake (back to my JW past).
They are very involved in helping individual people in the community which was nice and very unlike JWs.
i believe that in the past i've started threads about ghosts and such but i haven't started one about me asking others if they have had a personal experience with a demon.. a couple of days ago i was talking to my dub son-in-law about how i wish i could believe in the unseen....such as ghosts, the paranormal, or anything out of the ordinary.. he said to me......"well what about demon stories"?
he related some stories that were given at an assembly from some who were greatly bothered by demons, mostly from africa.. so, what are we to make of those with such stories?
are they lying?
The whole time growing up as a JW I was terrified of demons. The only time I saw something I was about 10 and woke up in the middle of the night. When I opened my eyes there at the end of my bed stood a tall man dressed in black that had a large globe like head. I lay there frozen w/ fear and must have finally gone back to sleep (I guess cuz I didn’t see him leave). Never saw him again. Didn’t think he was a demon though even then.
I’ve told this one before but for newbies - I have read every book Lilian Jackson Braun wrote in “The Cat Who …” series. The main character cat has physic powers. He predicts and helps his master solve murder mysteries. They are just light entertaining reading – never thought anything about demons. I gave my JW sister one of the books since she likes cats. She left it in her car. Within a few days her car was demonized and the radio would come on full blast until she threw the book out the window. She said I should be careful what I read!
My parents moved into a very old farm house they renovated after I moved away from home. My younger sisters grew up in the house and claim they have seen "things". Although I don't think I believe in demons anymore I have gotten uneasy feelings in their house and don't enjoy sleeping upstairs by myself. It may just be some left over JW fears since their house is full of JW literature.
I do not believe hell is hot or that there is an eternal torment
I think they are correct about not requiring tithing or passing collection plates.
(Though their begging for money is bad and taking advantage of elderly mind controlled people to get their money is criminal.)
he is the perfect replacement!
absolutely no compassion - and manhood less than 1 inch!
jk
I think he has forgotten how much support he got when he first posted about his wife running off with an elder and her wanting a divorce.
i just finished another of my famous letters i send to many of my family members... i've been told that i shouldn't come to the family reunion becasue i'm an apostate.
in my letter i stated that i in fact am going to be there stupid watchtower quotes in hand.
the first family member that shuns me will hear me read off every stupid statement that they've ever made... i said that i'm also bringing my bible and that i want someone in the family to show me in it where it states that i don't have the right to question the dictates of men and by my so doing i should be shunned!.
I so admire you young man. Keep up the good work.
while i've never been a prolific contributor here at jwd, some may have noticed my dramatically curtailed participation.
that's because on the evening of saturday, may 19th, i shared a kiss with the woman in the below picture, and that kiss turned into a dramatic and passionate adventure.
one that we're still both enjoying, and that we've decided to continue.... she is the most exciting, loving, fun, smart, sexy and beautiful woman i have ever met.
Congratulations! I missed your post yesterday -
Liz is beautiful. I could tell the way you talked about her in Tucson that she is a very special lady. Hope you have a wonderful life together.
i am not sure how it is in other states but in california you have to raise your right hand and take the oath of office, in that oath you swear or affirm to the best of your ability, preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the united states and the laws of the united states so help me god.
is there a conflict for jw's on this?
jw do not serve in public offices, a notary by law is a public office, due to the fact that you swear to protect and defend the constitution you are saying that you are allies with the united states.
Why don't you call Brooklyn and ask them. Let us know what they say.
i am an inactive jw who has 3 sons left in the religon.
my oldest son has been baptized for4 years and has recently married again.
he gets his son every other weekend.
Thanks for the update. I was thinking about you and your grandson the other day.
My son has gotten his son (my grandson) back from the mother with bruises and stories of being hit by her and her boyfriend. My son took pictures of the bruises and took the child directly to the Sheriff's Dept in the country where the mother lived. The case was turned over to CPS and we thought for a moment some good would come of it. Turns out the case worker it was assigned to protected the abusive mother.
At least it is being documented each time with the Sheriff's Dept. One day he will be able to get custody. It is so sad the little children have to endure this while law enforcement and Child Protective Services do nothing to protect the children. Please keep the local law enforcement involved & request they write a report each time you and the mother are aware of a beating like this.
Please keep us informed.
i was thinking earlier of how the recent mega-million dollar catholic settlement in la is an ideal opportunity, in letters to the editor in local newspapers, to highlight the hypocrisy of the witnesses in how they have handled similar abuse cases.
a couple of points that might be useful to make this applicable anywhere: .
1. in the kingdom news #37 tract distributed around the country last fall.
The other evening the local Fox News TV station was covering the latest Catholic settlement and the $$ amount. I sent them an email suggesting they do another story comparing how the Catholics are releasing the information about their settlement including the $$$ while the WTBTS settled cases and gagged their victims so no details on the cases or $$ amounts are available.
I referenced both AP writers articles (CC & JW) and referred them to Silent Lambs website. Also sent basically the same email to the Associated Press in NY suggesting they do a comparative story.
Seeker4, you are a writer aren't you - do you ever do stories for AP?
