Posts by clarity

posted

16
Selective memories and disfellowshipping
by Really?! in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
i've been out around 20 years (da'd), but recently i've really started to struggle with certain aspects of relating to family members who are still in, as well as my own thoughts and feelings about my upbringing and my personal views about god/life the universe.

i have an older sibling and my mum who are still in.

we are a small family and my dear grandmother, who was not in, passed away around a year ago.
clarity

Welcome Really? ... Nice to have you here.

*

Time has a way of letting us see the obvious ...

25 yrs ago, as I chatted with a 'brother', asking about his

children, ..his daughter was praised, but the son had

left the organization and he said , "we don't talk about him"

Even then, I could feel that weird numb blocking-out of reality,

and just shrugged & stopped my thoughts!

*

Hopefully, your Mother will 'get it' soon.

Maybe make a small quiet comment ...and then just stretch it

out a bit more ...just to get her thinking on it.

all the best

clarity

....
21
I'm a bit confused actually.
by quellycatface in
1. jw
2. friends
i'm not i like the "happy clappy" bits and pieces in church (c of e).

it's just not me.

the local school choir came in today and did 2 songs and one was a rap song about easter.... that's so not me.. i like serious but not hellfire preaching.. any ideas where to next?
clarity

Quelly.....attending church or other religious group

......is this just a habit?

*

Ask yourself why you feel a need or want, to go into any

religious building. Is there void on Sunday morning?

*

How about brunch with a few friends instead?

Museums, the library, day trips, join the softball team,

tour your nearest city, join a choir, go for a walk in a park,

so many other choices ....think "why a church?"

When you have the answer...let us know. :-)

clarity
16
Didnt I tell you that there is something wrong with this organization?
by exWTslave in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
thats how my grand mother responded when all of our family members came out of jw organization, either by disassociation or by disfellowshipping.. when we all started studying with jws, my grandmother too was there, but she stopped the study when the discussion over the dead happened.

she told the study conductor: i am convinced that there is only life, but no death.

because when my husband died of heart attack, i was not shaken by the incident.
clarity

Really? ....QuestioningEverything..... this elderly Lady has her

own ideas. They are what she is choosing to hang on to.

She graciously & kindly wished us well on 'our' journey.

*

"We respect other's beliefs but we are done with organized religion."

*

Do you? Really?

clarity
4
Messed up bible stories cartoons! so funny, yet disturbingly we beleived this stuff
by stuckinarut2 in
1. watchtower
2. bible
thanks to darth frosty (in another thread on noah) for drawing our attention to this series of clips on youtube called "messed up bible stories".

the youtube name is 'ebolaworld'.

if you havent yet watched them, they are so well presented and so chillingly accurate.
clarity

Thanks
11
"Scriptural" Baptism
by NeverKnew in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
i was told that jws baptize in the name of the father, son and the holy spirit.

i asked if it was done exactly as stated in the bible to be sure i was hearing the answer correctly.

the response i got was "yes!
clarity

Any witnesses that I have discussed this with, has no idea

what their vows were!

Since 1985 the vows include ..............

"into gods theocratic ORGANIZATION!" (from memory!)

Seems that jesus isn't highlited much at all!

*

clarity
16
Didnt I tell you that there is something wrong with this organization?
by exWTslave in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
thats how my grand mother responded when all of our family members came out of jw organization, either by disassociation or by disfellowshipping.. when we all started studying with jws, my grandmother too was there, but she stopped the study when the discussion over the dead happened.

she told the study conductor: i am convinced that there is only life, but no death.

because when my husband died of heart attack, i was not shaken by the incident.
clarity

Just scrolling thru jwn before bedtime......so glad I did!

Isn't that what love ideally is all about ... listening &.

hearing the really important things that others say, being

open to another human's ideas & hopes.

We are all on this journey of life together like it or not.

Reaching out our hands ......... or not.

*

"What a fond memory (too precious) you all gave for me to cherish for the rest of my life, even though very few days are left before I die. I feel so light now, and feel proud of you, children of my heart. My love to you all. May God bless you all"

Granma ...you reached out your heart to us tonight,

thank you dear lady.

clarity
27
I have made my decision
by Brother Mike in
1. jw
2. experiences
i'm sure most of you have read bits and pieces of my story throughout the last year being on this site.

i've decided as a human being, and as an adult, i'm going to make the decision on whether to stay with the jw religion or leave it.

i of course have many doubts about the organization which has lead me to do research.
clarity

Congratulations Mike........take your time for sure.......you have many

years ahead. Sounds like a solid plan.

*

"In the next 2 years I will make sure I get settleed down on my own

and then get up and leave the organization."

*

Glad you are smart ... and not going to waste your whole life!

clarity
24
What is definition of a true friend, once outside the cult?
by suavojr in
1. jw
2. friends
after leaving the cult of jw's or waking up to ttatt, it is a struggle to trust people again.

i am personally starting from scratch although i am still in.

each moment i spend with my current jw friends, i know they are all smiles and loving towards me because of my good status with the wt.. outside a cult you still find fake people and it is also a struggle to find true friends and it is even worst when we've been hit hard from people we used to trust and care for.. .
clarity

It is hard to make "old Friends" !

*

When we are young, making friends is relatively easy.

You naturally sort out the good from the bad (as it were).

So that, when you reach adulthood....you mostly have

those who 'match' you, in your life.

*

Starting out to find 'new' friends after the fact, is not the

same at all. Right from square one.....you are trying to decide

who you can trust, who matches your personality..... who who who!

It is a little like being dropped down in the middle of a cocktail party,

where you don't know a soul!

*

More blunders will be made, more bad judgements, more starting over.

But when you find your mates & you click ...it will be worth all the effort!

clarity
43
Is it all about the money?
by Laika in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
often on this forum there are posts about how the gb are obsessed with money and some people here often suggest this impacts every decision the gb makes i.e.

on my holiday thread it was suggested jws aren't allowed to celebrate holidays as it means spending money on presents that they want for themselves.. i however, do not think this is at all true.

the society rarely talks about money and as a percentage of income i think the vast majority of jws contribute a very small amount simply because the society rarely talk about it.. obviously money is important to the society in the sense that they couldn't run a major organisation without it, so they have to ask for it at times and factor it in to some of their decision making, but actually the gb live quite frugally and seem to worry much more about clinging to their authority and power than getting rich.. my controversial suggestion of the day is that saying the gb are obsessed with money must make us look silly to lurkers.. what does the jwn intellegentsia think then?.
clarity

HHmmm...... imagine if you owned massive Real Estate in almost

every part of the world. Imagine someone else purchasing it for you.

Imagine that thousands of people came to build, repair & maintain

your investments......so that the value went up ...at no cost to you!

Imagine if you could sell your profitable properties when you decided

to ....without an explanation or revealling any details .....especially where

all the money went!

Imagine not paying taxes on these billions of dollars ...

'cause you run a business religion and ....and a very big perk,

..............your followers think you speak for god!

*

hahahaha........omg I wish I could have thought of doing that!

Wouldn't have worked my fingers to the bone all these years!

clarity
14
W. C. Fields
by glenster in
1. social
2. entertainment
includes some less often seen silents.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/w._c._fields.

sally of the sawdust 1920. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-jbifbojjq.
clarity

Oh ...the review of the Bank Dick .........

has Rutherford written all over it, ha ha haha.

"The Bank Dick" Fields plays an alcoholic misanthrope who lies, cheats and steals and is rewarded with wealth and fame

c