i just tried to go to the site and there is a goodbye message.
i was a member there since 2010. i was really surprised.
i had just started posting there again after being away for a while.
Welcome to all from JWR. Sorry you lost your site.
On July 8th and 9th there is an "apostafest" at Camp Richardson, South Lake Tahoe, and all are welcome.
Flipper and I have made so many wonderful friends here. These are people who will always be our friends. I hope you can also find friendship and support here.
Mrs. Flipper
i realize now my father i believe had " aspergers" " ( although not diagnosed) .
our parents are who they are, and i do not hate my patents for being who they are, on the contary i appreciate how they love me in their own way.
but growing up with strict witness parents and a father who i now believe has " asperges"" wasn't easy, .
REBEL- Good job. You are a great dad. I've always felt like you do that it's important to tell our wives and children that we love them before going to bed each night and to never take it for granted. I had a strict JW father who is now almost 91 years old who NEVER , and I mean NEVER told me that he loved me. Not once. My mom is total opposite, always told me she loved me so she made up for it.
But my dad came from a broken home he experienced with his own dad leaving when he was 13 years old - so who knows what issues he was dealing with ? so you are right- we as adults try to take that stuff into consideration when moving on in life. But I promised myself that my relationship with my own son would be much tighter and closer than me and my dad's. And it is ! My son is one of my best friends and we are very close. And we tell each other we love each other too. A big difference in what I experienced with my own dad. I think many of us try to make up for what we didn't have in relationships as we grow older. Keep on keeping on buddy- you are doing great ! I'm happy for you and your little family
there doing this right under my nose but i just found out.
not sure what to do but would like your help on getting me wt information on my headship role and how they shouldn't be doing this with out my permission.
also would like some help on showing my son the ramifications on what happens to someone when they get baptized and how they'll expect him to treat me.
CRAZYGUY- VERY great news ! I'm glad your son decided against getting baptized, right freaking on
the nicest and kindest jw's seem to be the ones who are the least connected and active in the congregation.. i've been trying to fade and been missing quite a few meetings.. of course my wife still loyal as ever if not more so since i've awoken to ttatt.. every mid-week and sunday meeting i miss she gives me the silent treatment.. she's become more and more friendly with a regular pioneer younger than she is and wife of an elder, this to the letting go of regular contact with best friends in the 0rganization, whom she was closest to but were and aren't as active and regular at meetings and field service.. it's a crying shame, i'm closer and kinder to her old friends, keeping in touch through facebook posts now and then, encouraging them through the hardships, rejoicing with them during happy moments, graduations, welcoming a new child to the world, marriages, new jobs and what-not.. she has become a serious shunner, staying away from a lot of folks we were close to because they're not good association.. she's drunk the whole cup of kool-aid and anything i say that's remotely negative towards the 0rganization is met with stern retorts and accusations i'm apostate sounding.. and yet, she's still the kind hearted, loving person she used to be.
it's like she has a wt hat she dons and it changes her mind, her outlook, her behavior.
when dealing with neighbors, with people outside the kh, she's as nice as could be and i know this kind-heartedness is genuine--but it's been hi-jacked by this f'ing cult.
OPPOSTATE- I'm sorry to hear that your wife is being manipulated and mind controlled like this. Sorry to hear you are treated this way. Several here are correct- please read Steve Hassan's several books on mind control- and you'll understand more fully HOW the WT Society and elders & pioneers are manipulating her mind. It's a very insidious process.
I also agree with the recommendation of the poster Diogenesister to keep your wife busy doing other activities away from the cult. What are her interests or hobbies ? Does she like shopping at the mall, going to movies, riding a bike , taking a walk , going to the beach ? ANYTHING to get her involved in REAL life instead of the thought and mind control of the WT Society that's dominating her views and brain neurotransmitters. Go with her and share these interests and hobbies with her and see if her sweet, kind , authentic personality starts coming out more- instead of the harsh cult personality. You may be in for a pleasant surprise. Good luck to you
i don't really engage in doctrinal discussions about jw's anymore.
they seem to say some pretty crazy stuff.
but i have read some threads discussing doctrinal changes and how watchtower is really out of ideas and money at the same time.
BLACK SWAN- I agree with you. I've been out of this JW organization for 13 years now- and the older part of my extended family i.e., older siblings and my older dad - are just as much fanatic in this JW cult as they always were- yet even more so in a desperate type of way. Like they REALLY want Armageddon to happen soon- or they'll die of old age - like the normal human race does.
The inhumane treatment I see my older dad and brother giving my mom is very similar to the way I see the GB laying off Bethel workers, sending them out to pasture, shutting kingdom halls down selling them and taking the money- consolidating all the WT finances in a way to prepare for something big going down, either tons of child abuse lawsuits, or having to liquidate eventually due to risky financial investments and stopping all construction worldwide of all kingdom halls.
It IS a scary scenario going on within the JW organization right now. And I agree with you- I don't put ANYTHING past what the WT leaders would try to do to our families that are still inside. I could easily see some kind of manipulation like a Jim Jones scene where they order everybody to do something stupid to show their alleged " loyalty " to WT leaders and the organization. One reason I hope my 29 year old daughter gets out of it soon. And for my grandson's sake
the title is a bit of click bait.
but here's the alternative title: what stupid beliefs/ideas did you have while an active jw.. i think the majority of jws that don't have obvious mental health issues are not stupid, just un/under-educated.
for example, i now accept evolution as a thing, not a controversy or conjecture.
Good point Sir 82 in your quote - " but they have this tendency to " turn off " that one little section of the brain that houses " critical thinking " . " Which is called dissociative disorder - a psychological condition and disorder once again caused by cult mind control indoctrinated into JW's neurotransmitters in their brains by the WT Society and it's leaders. Which blocks critical thinking ability
the title is a bit of click bait.
but here's the alternative title: what stupid beliefs/ideas did you have while an active jw.. i think the majority of jws that don't have obvious mental health issues are not stupid, just un/under-educated.
for example, i now accept evolution as a thing, not a controversy or conjecture.
JW's aren't stupid- just mind controlled. There's a huge difference
the generation that will be no means pass away have passed away.. the 144,000 were sealed up in 1935, oh, no wait, we got that wrong, we still have some.. russel is the faithful and wise servant... oh, no he wasn't it was me, rutherford... no, actually, we got that wrong it's knorr... erm, no we mean the governing body.. shunning is pagan, true christians would never do that (1946)... oh, actually, we should do that too.. the revelation book has been re-written.. the un is the satan's visible organisation.. wtbs signs up for fellowship with the un in 1991.. exposed in the guardian newspaper so ends it's fellowship in 2001.. the greatest man book is now obsolete and replaced with another jesus book.. the mags are reduced in pages.. encouraged to use tablets instead of actual books to save paper (money).
halls being sold off.. congregations sharing halls.. society owned buildings being sold off.. video pertitioning for money only last year to fund a new building.. bethelites reduced.. missionaries sent back home.. young members leaving.. long time members discovering the history and leaving.. how long do you think this religion has left?
i cant see it being here in another 100 years.
Very good comments here- of which I mostly agree with. From the JW's being victims of the Stockholm Syndrome whereby they identify with their captors - WT leaders and the GB. I feel like most here that the exiting rate of JW's leaving HAS increased at a faster pace than it used to be- but as long as WT leaders keep bringing in millions $$$$ to keep the good ship WT Titanic floating - it will be a gradual slow death.
The only thing in my opinion that would REALLY speed up or hasten the process of the WT Society going way for good or being dissolved would be massive, mainstream media criminal indictments against the GB or WT financial leaders behind the scenes for extortion, fraud, Ponzi schemes, GB or upper level WT reps indicted for criminal child abuse or the federal government indicting them on charges of murder and criminal negligence due to the no blood transfusion policies resulting in thousands of JW deaths through the years. If one or more of these things take place- it may indeed quicken the pace of the WT Society being FULLY exposed and JW members would leave in droves.
That being said- you'd still have some mentally ill- mind controlled drones under mind control and under the Stockholm Syndrome influence who would still claim, " This is just " persecution " of Jah's appointed servants like happened in J.F. Rutherford's day when WT leaders were thrown into prison " unjustly " ! " They'd ramble on about it being " honorable " to be " persecuted " for the " sake of the good news " . You know- stupid stuff like that. However- If it all came crashing down with criminal indictments- I believe you'd see a bigger exodus from the JW organization at a much faster pace. The organization might even then - still exist but it would be seriously gutted in numbers.
Otherwise I think we are looking at a long, slower demise for the long haul. I believe we need criminal indictments for the pace to quicken. Kind of my take on it`
i don't really engage in doctrinal discussions about jw's anymore.
they seem to say some pretty crazy stuff.
but i have read some threads discussing doctrinal changes and how watchtower is really out of ideas and money at the same time.
OTWO- Interesting thread. Hope you're having a good weekend. I feel the leaders of the WT Society are SO manipulative that anything is possible for them to use- if they feel it will lead to more control over rank & file JW's - more control over their lives and money.
If and when the time comes when governments start REALLY putting the heat on WT leaders , i.e. - bringing possible criminal prosecutions against the WT Society for allowing child abuse, or even higher ups being brought up on charges of child abuse, or brought up on charges of extortion of JW's finances through illegal or deceptive fraud - and if such charges hit mainstream media - THEN at that point- I could see WT leaders claiming they are being " persecuted " in fulfillment of " Bible prophecy " just like Jesus was - and they'd most probably print this in their WT publications that the persecution they are experiencing is a start of the great tribulation so as to calm down any suspicions JW's may have about criminal rumors against WT leaders in the media.
So, yes- I could see WT leaders misapplying " Bible prophecies " in order to save their own butts AND to keep the " flock " from getting antsy and scared. WT leaders will go to any lies or expense to keep control of the rank & file. They've misapplied scriptures throughout their 137 year history- they'd do it in a heartbeat if going to prison and saving face to JW members is on the line. Most definitely. Everything is a con game to them anyway . Kind of my take on it
P.S. I don't think they would play the " great tribulation " card unless things get really dicy though. Like the government or authorities actually prosecuting them- then the timing would be right for them to use this decoy.
my initial pangs of unease and doubt led me to research some things.
well, a lot of things really.
i've never felt comfortable using the bible to try to calculate dates (1914).
PALE EMPEROR- As many have said here- you are experiencing normal emotions and going through the normal grieving process as many do when leaving this high control organization. It's NOT our fault that the WT Society lied to us and millions of other people. WE are NOT unethical for leaving the Witnesses - WT leaders ARE unethical for lying to us and for covering up child abuse in the organization and letting thousands of people die within their organization due to insisting they follow orders of " no blood transfusions " to save lives. WE don't have blood on our hands - WT Society leaders DO.
That being said it's a really good idea that you downloaded a copy of the latest elders manual. Many people here have done that as well in order to be informed of the twisted and ever changing " rules " that the WT leaders insist the elders play by. It's a good thing to stay informed and one step ahead of them.
You are doing well. Hang in there and just show human love and compassion to your wife - she's under the influence of mind control so she's not as awake as you are to the subversive undercurrent within the WT Society- YET. Don't get in any debates or arguments with her as it just might put up a brick wall even more. There are some great books on how to deal with our cult mind controlled relatives written by Steve Hassan that I highly recommend you read if at all possible. His website is : www.freedomofmind.com. Titles of his books are : Combatting Cult Mind Control. 2. Releasing the Bonds- Empowering People to Think for Themselves. and 3. Freedom of Mind- Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults and beliefs. These books were an incredible help to me after exiting the Witnesses in understanding the tactics that high control organization leaders use to manipulate members inside the organizations. If you get a chance to read them- please do. It will help you understand what happened to you- and it will assist you to understand how your wife is still being manipulated. And how you can carefully assist her in possibly waking up !
I wish you the best man. Just realize and know that we are all here for you buddy. Lots of us have been through this and are here to offer our support. Lots of good people here on this board. Feel free to PM me if you ever need to talk. I offer my friendship to you as others have. Hang in there- Peace out, Mr. Flipper
