Posts by TastingFreedom

Congratulations, glad to hear that things are going well. But don't sing victory yet, they may still come after you. prepare and be strong for what may come your way, but it shouldn't matter if you're adapting and evolving into a normal person without the cult.

29

Could it possibly be true that YOU.......wish.....to be......FOOLED?!

by Terry in

there is an implicit pact between the magician and the audience.. .

an audience attending a magic act is in attendance for two main reasons.. 1.entertainment.

2.the desire to match wits with a puzzle and its solution and the determined effort to be amazed when this fails.. yet, above all else, the audience does not really wish to discover the secret.

TastingFreedom

Very interesting psychology. I think you're right! PEOPLE LIKE ILLUSIONS EVEN WHEN THEY KNOW THEY ARE NOT REAL!!

It's like a drug that gets them high, it's like daydreaming!!!

PEOPLE IN GENERAL ALWAYS WANT TO ESCAPE REALITY, RESPONSIBILITIES.

PEOPLE HATE TO BE BORED, ANYHING WILL DO!!!

Look at us here, any gossip, any bullshit will entertain us, right????

31

Did You Aspire To Be An Elder Or Did You Want A Relative or Friend To Be One?

by minimus in

jw
friends

if you were a male growing up in the congregation, it was expected that you would "reach out" for a position in the hall.

some of us did just that and others didn't want any "privileges"!.

i knew some people, especially "sisters", that really wanted their relative or good friend to be appointed so they might "change things".

TastingFreedom

When I became an elder I started opening my eyes! Now I could see all the bullshit!

Everything starting going down hill from there on. Seeing the politics, nepotism and corruption from within was an eye-opener.

I knew they didn;t have any holy spirit, it was just like any other earthly organization run by men!

29

Documented transition from being an elder to becoming a free man

by TastingFreedom in

it has been a year since i stopped attending meetings with the jehovah's witnesses.

as one year anniversary has passed, i thought it would be helpful to highlight some of the main events during this transition.

it may help others that are going through the same experience.

TastingFreedom

@Mythreesons: I'm surprised how many of us have been through this. At first leaving seems like an impossible task, and even though it may present some challenges, with time things get much better, as your family and my family have demonstrated!

I think the transition out of the Witnesses brings a lot of instability initially on different levels such as the routine, emotions, adjusment with family (shunning), etc. It requires adjustment in the way you socialize, it brings insecurities because you feel uncertain about how to use the new acquired freedoms.

You suddenly feel like a teenager with curiosities, willing to explore, and that may be a threat to the partner. You guys need to talk, and define limits, set rules, and support each other along the way. Be very careful with potential addictions, alcohol, drugs, etc.

For us it was important to define a structure, to start attending community, school events, getting to know other parents my our kid's school, making new friends. You need to get involved with other activities, change your routine, take a break from the house, take turns. Go to the gym, etc. We started attending Unitarian Universalists meetings on Sunday as a family to find some sort of spiritual inspiration without doctrines, without commitment, just in an open and flexible basis.

As a couple this is the time to get to know each other ,and to be completely honest, to unite and support each other and build real trust. You need to share the responsibilities and need to give each other some space. It's not easy with the stress and the strain with family, losing your religion, and losing many friends. You may even start questioning if you made the right decision, and second guessing yourself. The void is huge ,and you need to start filling in with new meaning. But it definitely gets better. It takes time, patience and commitment.

My wife and I, along with our two kids have finally found the stability, and have settled down after the first few months of turmoil after leaving the cult. Best wishes and best of luck in your journey. You can make it!

25

loosing it!

by bez in

jw
friends

anyone else have any experience of a couple of months after leaving the org...feelings etc??.

my husband has left too and feels the same as i do.. but we just seem to be arguing constantly at the moment, though i do feel this may be my own fault!

i feel soooo angry, bitter and annoyed at how things have turned out.

TastingFreedom

I think the transition out of the Witnesses brings a lot of instability initially on different levels such as the routine, emotions, adjusment with family (shunning), etc. It requires adjustment in the way you socialize, it brings insecurities because you feel uncertain about how to use the new acquired freedoms.

You suddenly feel like a teenager with curiosities, willing to explore, and that may be a threat to the partner. You guys need to talk, and define limits, set rules, and support each other along the way. Be very careful with potential addictions, alcohol, drugs, etc.

For us it was important to define a structure, to start attending community, school events, getting to know other parents my our kid's school, making new friends. You need to get involved with other activities, change your routine, take a break from the house, take turns. Go to the gym, etc. We started attending Unitarian Universalists meetings on Sunday as a family to find some sort of spiritual inspiration without doctrines, without commitment, just in an open and flexible basis.

As a couple this is the time to get to know each other ,and to be completely honest, to unite and support each other and build real trust. You need to share the responsibilities and need to give each other some space. It's not easy with the stress and the strain with family, losing your religion, and losing many friends. You may even start questioning if you made the right decision, and second guessing yourself. The void is huge ,and you need to start filling in with new meaning. But it definitely gets better. It takes time, patience and commitment.

My wife and I, along with our two kids have finally found the stability, and have settled down after the first few months of turmoil after leaving the cult. Best wishes and best of luck in your journey. You can make it!

I suggest your read a recent post I made about the transition to becoming a free man, I hope it helps.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/experiences/199632/1/Documented-transition-from-being-an-elder-to-becoming-a-free-man

22

I broke my collar bone

by poppers in

jw
friends

it turns out that my biking accident on july 6th resulted in a broken collar bone.

i didn't know this until the va took x-rays yesterday - it took until then to get an appointment; my request for x-rays was submitted on july 16. fortunately, i've been mending nicely despite my 300 mile bike ride the last week of july and a 120 mile ride two weeks later.

i still haven't had a decent night's sleep since it happened - i'm exhausted..

TastingFreedom

Sorry to hear about it. I know what is like not sleeping all night and it's not pretty. Best wishes in your recovery!

18

'All Along the Watchtower' - Its True Meaning Revealed!

by sd-7 in

jw
friends

for many years, the significance of bob dylan's song, all along the watchtower, has been unclear.

what meaning does it have for us today?

how do we understand it in light of what the bible says?

TastingFreedom

You are the true channel rather than the Watchtower, or you are simply delusional and need your meds right now!

29

Documented transition from being an elder to becoming a free man

by TastingFreedom in

it has been a year since i stopped attending meetings with the jehovah's witnesses.

as one year anniversary has passed, i thought it would be helpful to highlight some of the main events during this transition.

it may help others that are going through the same experience.

TastingFreedom

@sherah,Lozhasleft,whereami,Soldier77: You are very welcome. I hope it helps in your journeys or those still struggling inside for the sake of family or for other reasons, to convince them that it is possible to live a life without the cult, it's not the end of the world!

I'm surprised how many are still trapped with no easy way out. But at the end of the day, the destiny is up to us, no one else will decide for us. For me it became unbearable once I took the red pill, there way no way to go back. But maybe for others, it's not such a big deal, they just focus on the positive and try to have a pragmatic life. I could no longer set aside my life, I had to be true to myself. They were taking away my integrity, since I did not for the same principles as the cult did. No explotation or manipulation of easy, vulnerable pray who need to believe in something in order to cope with life. Life is too painful for them, so the belief in paradise works like an opium that keeps them happy. The problem is they put off the current life and start planning a life that very likely does not exist! That's what I call fraud and explotation!

29

Documented transition from being an elder to becoming a free man

by TastingFreedom in

it has been a year since i stopped attending meetings with the jehovah's witnesses.

as one year anniversary has passed, i thought it would be helpful to highlight some of the main events during this transition.

it may help others that are going through the same experience.

TastingFreedom

@Onthewayout,leavingwt,Dagney,cyberjesus: It has been a true honor to have meet you and to know you guys! You guys have provided support during this difficult time. In the case of Dagney, you have been very nice to my wife (just like hopscotch), we appreciate your friendship and look forward to seeing you next week. OntheWayOut, I talked to you on the phone when I was still an elder over a year ago, leavingwt gave you my number. Leavingwt has been an inspiration from the beginning. And Cyberjesus, thank you for sticking around during the good and the bad times. You're all true friends! thank you:)