for me it had to be that i was trained to be judgmental.
i'm naturally a person who doesn't believe everything someone says---just because they say it's true.
still, a "good elder" is supposed to be watchful of what might "contaminate" the congregation.. so, it's time to bare your soul.
I was too liberal and open minded.
I didn't get offended by things that 'should have' offended me. Even though I believed in the core values of the JW faith, I didn't see the world as a horrible place. I finished college and progressed with my carerr. I didn't see 'worldly people' as bad. I drank, had worldly friends, and overall still had fun.
apparently the latest circuit overseer service talks are entitled:.
(1) "how much do you appreciate jehovah's provision of the faithful slave".
(2) "directed by god's spirit in our ministry".
The worship and idolatry of the FDS was a huge factor to my breaking from the mind control of the WTS. EVERY prayer, most talks would mention the FDS, to the point where it felt just wrong, giving as much attention to the FDS as God. Dissonance was building and building until I broke free.
I hope this is causing others in the faith to have dissonance and break free too.
I have usually avoided doing business with JWs. Their quality of work was never anything special, and usually (in my experience) they many times were sub-par, which created some awkward situations since there is a personal relationship at some level.
does anyone have a report on the content of this talk please?
any "new light"?.
This damage control just makes me angry, and confirms that I made the right decision to leave. This is brainwashing at its greatest. Erase history, and replace it with a scrubbed clean version as defined by the WTS. What a cult!
when examining a complex situation, i often find it useful to consider what isn't being said and what isn't being done - and why.. there are some major things that the watchtower hasn't bothered to do.
1) many congregations are full of ex-elders and ms's - almost to a point i would find embarrassing, if i were them but they don't seem to have any approach to getting these brothers back in the saddle.
neither do they seem interested in why these brothers quit and what could be done to prevent it.. 2) since the emergence of the internet and its challenges, they haven't made any deep or concerted effort at a witchhunt to clean disloyal brothers out of the organization.
3) They have made no attempt at a broader strategy to hold on to youth
I agree just as much for the kids, since meetings are SO kid-unfriendly. Meetings were always a huge amount of work for us parents with young kids, since there are virtually no provisions to help out. All we had was the back school to get away, or just don't go to the meetings.
If they could make the meetings more fun for kids, therefore easier for parents, I swear many kids maybe would stay. Otherwise all the kids grow up with is memories of the torture of meetings.
service group overseer called thursday before the meeting looking for my may time.
he tells me to email it to him and gives me his email address.
i email once from my cell, and from my pc when i get home; and i leave a voicemail for him.
I used to have a Book Study conductor like this. Total numbers guy. He would count infants to make the BS attendance look good. So many people hated that because it was all about numbers and perception and not about the individuals.
today's watchtower was nice.
under the heading:.
satan - a defiant adversary and apostate.
What mind control! They are attacking the intent of individuals, not the message.
even with my jw wife.....i have told her for awhile she is prob better off without me....i was party central in jwland....nobody has had me over for two years now....i guess cause i could not shut up about some real truths about the so-called truth....now i have agreed to shut up....these guys really do have a right to their own beliefs...i am very non-judgemental and always have been......i should have shut up two years ago or so...but damm......trying to fit in with your own marriage in order to save being shunned from your blood family and a very few what is left dub friends just sucks.....starting over at midlife is such a bitch.....such a bitch..........oompa.
and ya...the fear of the unknown is really present......if all i have known is jw...i will prob not fit into real world either.
Oompa, everything I've seen from you shows me you will fit in fine in the real world. Hey, leading your double life has given you experience :) I think it's more the fear of the unknown more than anything, but it's really not as unknown as you think it is.
thank simon not god...started to say thank god....trying to avoid that like saying "in the truth"...."worldy"....those two are hard to break........but still.....giving up on what was a good marriage is a bitch....and i am not done yet....some of my now close jwd friends had mates that came out pretty fast.......some not.......i am of the not variety.
the one in thing one out is such a tightrope to walk and it takes a toll on both partners.
i think she would be so much happier without me...but she really loves me deeply.....unfortunately she also has the false hope her prayers will be answered and i will serve jah again........damm this is tough......thanks all...esp st. ann...i called you today, but no answer...did not leave message.
Oompa, I am glad you were able to hang out at my place. After what you been through being alone would have not been a good thing. We had some good times!
there's been a lot of talk on here about the crazy symposium at this spring's circuit assemblies, "stand firm against the devil's crafty acts.
" so, my wife and i decided to attend the assembly, or at least just this symposium anyway.
i recorded the whole symposium.. you can listen to the whole symposium (4 talks, >1 hour) here: http://www.watchtowerletters.com/media/devils_crafty_acts.mp3.
That video was EXCELLENT. I love all of Satan's "crafty" acts... aparently he's a great basketweaver and knitter...who knew? It is scarey to think we did sit and listen to it all, and as much as i would have rolled my eyes during lots of parts of this talk... i realize that the indoctrinization is all over it.
