Posts by headisspinning

30

Did I handle this okay?

by headisspinning in

jw
friends

i finished 'crisis of conscience'... i am just reeling.

if any one book has changed my life, then this one is definitely it.

it's incredible really - two weeks ago i was so confused and disturbed and felt like my whole life had been turned on it's end but that book made such a difference for me.

headisspinning

Thanks Ding... I'm trying to be strategic here and not 'alarm' them anymore than is possible.

My sister texted me details for the Memorial and said 'IF you wanted to go'. That's just hilarious to me - I haven't given her any indication that I would skip the Memorial but whatever... at least she bothered to tell us unlike the elders. They even skipped up over in the invitation distribution.

She also sent info about the 'special' talk on May 8: 'Bible Principles - Can They Help Us To Cope with Today's Problems'... Okay... she should have said 'IF you wanted to go' on that one... LOL! (I am interested to see how many Bible principles are discussed vs. WT/GB interpretations.).

Anyway my point is, that although I don't feel inclined to go to the Memorial, I am not going to make a statement by not attending at this point. That tends to send red flags, if you know what I mean and like I said I'm trying to be somewhat strategic and ease into what lies ahead without upsetting anyone unnecessarily.

Oh and just to sort of stay off the radar as far as my family goes, I bought my daughter two new dresses for the summer convention and a suit for my son... it's a little hard for anyone to point a finger when I am being OH SO SUPPORTIVE! LOL!

30

Did I handle this okay?

by headisspinning in

jw
friends

i finished 'crisis of conscience'... i am just reeling.

if any one book has changed my life, then this one is definitely it.

it's incredible really - two weeks ago i was so confused and disturbed and felt like my whole life had been turned on it's end but that book made such a difference for me.

headisspinning

Ahhh, good point. I will really have to check myself and make sure I am not validating the unnatural control the WT has imposed on our family.

It's so horrible - my mom has Parkinson's and is going downhill rapidly. These are probably her last good years and two of them have already been wasted.

And from the bits I've heard my dad has early-onset signs of Alzheimer's. This is so stupid. I was always the 'go-to' daughter. I would call them every day and shoot 10 - 20 emails back and forth with my mom.

I wish they could see how wrong and unloving all of this really is. And my little boy has lost his grandparents and his aunties over all of this. It's terrible... although I guess the big win for him is he won't have to raised in a cult.

Plus, we did find my husband's real dad and he is just thrilled to have a little grandson... hmmmm... maybe the ones who will suffer most are my JW family?

30

Did I handle this okay?

by headisspinning in

jw
friends

i finished 'crisis of conscience'... i am just reeling.

if any one book has changed my life, then this one is definitely it.

it's incredible really - two weeks ago i was so confused and disturbed and felt like my whole life had been turned on it's end but that book made such a difference for me.

headisspinning

Well, I did it. I finished 'Crisis of Conscience'... I am just reeling. If any one book has changed my life, then this one is definitely it. It's incredible really - two weeks ago I was so confused and disturbed and felt like my whole life had been turned on it's end but that book made such a difference for me. I feel so much more at peace and comforted.

I am going to order Ray's next book now. I hope that upon reading it I will find even greater clarity.

I'm still not sure what to do in regard to my family and our children. I'm still torn and just trying to weigh out all the pros and cons.

My mother has been having a slight bit of contact with me lately. It has mostly revolved around her finally spending time with our 8 month old son.

Here is a recent email from her and then my reply (please let me know what you think about how I handled this):

"I have forgiven you both and understand things better now. Some make horrible mistakes before the truth and some after but all of it is from trauma. Im not going to start talking to you until you get back but please dont wait. Time is very short now. Get yourselves back where you belong. Please hurry. Need all of you there with us. love Mum"

This is what I wrote back: "Hi Mom: Thank you. It's a great relief to me that you have some understanding. I don't expect you to talk to us - don't worry. We have written the brothers three letters and begged them to take all the factors into consideration. For them, it has become apparent that we better serve as examples, rather than ones they want to help. This is not your problem so please don't stress over it. Part of the reason we are moving is because of how things are being handled. We are just trying not to lose hope. In the end, all that matters is that Jehovah can read our hearts and we know he forgave us a long time ago. Sometimes we just have wait on Him to resolve things... sometimes things are out of our hands. You KNOW me and you know what kind of person I am - I fully trust that Jehovah knows me too. I'm fine with that. He can judge us and figure out this whole mess. Love you." Please let me know what you think. My goal is to ease her into realizing that as much as she wants it, we may very well never be reinstated, but that doesn't mean God is finished with us. What I really want to do is send her "Crisis of Conscience" but somehow I don't think she's ready for that just yet. Thanks, HIS

4

Who Most Closely Resembles Ray Franz in Terms of Beliefs, Conclusions and Personality?

by headisspinning in

jw
friends

okay, so i am a born-in and as many of you know almost finished reading 'crisis of conscience'... .

it disturbs me greatly that ray has passed on because i would love to talk to him.. i guess, i am so used to following someone or something that i feel like i'm floundering... i don't know... i guess i really want someone to tell me 'the way'.. from ray's writing i would be more than happy to seriously examine the conclusions he came to and his own beliefs.. i just don't know which way to turn now.

from reading his book i greatly respect him and damnit... why did he have to leave?.

headisspinning

Thank you. I really appreciate your comments.

It's interesting that you mention Barbara because it was actually her life story that we found online that brought me back to JWN (some of you know I left for a while).

The other person I found really helpful is Frank Kavelin.

I am also going to see if there's a way to contact Ray's wife and the other individual mentioned in the first reply (I'm sorry - I have to check back for the name).

Many thanks!

Julia

4

Who Most Closely Resembles Ray Franz in Terms of Beliefs, Conclusions and Personality?

by headisspinning in

jw
friends

okay, so i am a born-in and as many of you know almost finished reading 'crisis of conscience'... .

it disturbs me greatly that ray has passed on because i would love to talk to him.. i guess, i am so used to following someone or something that i feel like i'm floundering... i don't know... i guess i really want someone to tell me 'the way'.. from ray's writing i would be more than happy to seriously examine the conclusions he came to and his own beliefs.. i just don't know which way to turn now.

from reading his book i greatly respect him and damnit... why did he have to leave?.

headisspinning

Okay, so I am a born-in and as many of you know almost finished reading 'Crisis of Conscience'...

It disturbs me greatly that Ray has passed on because I would love to talk to him.

I guess, I am so used to following someone or something that I feel like I'm floundering... I don't know... I guess I really want someone to tell me 'The Way'.

From Ray's writing I would be more than happy to seriously examine the conclusions he came to and his own beliefs.

I just don't know which way to turn now.

From reading his book I greatly respect him and damnit... why did he have to leave?

Do any of you know of anyone else who was closely aligned with Ray's way of thinking and the conclusions he drew from the scriptures?

Please let me know!!!

7

Ray ROCKS!

by headisspinning in

jw
friends

well, i am almost finished reading crisis of conscience... i have a few pages left and i have to say that my eyes have been opened.

i am going to order ray's second book from freeminds.

maybe not right away.... might try to let it all sink in and process.... does anyone have a concise comment on what ray's final beliefs were before he died?

headisspinning

Well keep reading... I know what you mean... but the real MEAT is in the final half. Totally worth it.

Ray ROCKS!

by headisspinning in

jw
friends

well, i am almost finished reading crisis of conscience... i have a few pages left and i have to say that my eyes have been opened.

i am going to order ray's second book from freeminds.

maybe not right away.... might try to let it all sink in and process.... does anyone have a concise comment on what ray's final beliefs were before he died?

headisspinning

Well, I am almost finished reading Crisis of Conscience... I have a few pages left and I have to say that my eyes have been opened.

I'm not sure where to go from here.

I am going to order Ray's second book from Freeminds. Maybe not right away.... might try to let it all sink in and process...

Does anyone have a concise comment on what Ray's final beliefs were before he died?

Also, is there any way to contact or provide emotional or financial support to his wife? I would consider sending a donation if you can tell me where to send it.

Steve is going to read the book next. Then I have a 'worldly' friend who seriously considered converting and she wants to read it.

Then I have a plan for sending a PDF version to my mom.

WOW! Is all I can say.

7

Ray ROCKS!

by headisspinning in

jw
friends

well, i am almost finished reading crisis of conscience... i have a few pages left and i have to say that my eyes have been opened.

i am going to order ray's second book from freeminds.

maybe not right away.... might try to let it all sink in and process.... does anyone have a concise comment on what ray's final beliefs were before he died?

headisspinning

Well, I am almost finished reading Crisis of Conscience... I have a few pages left and I have to say that my eyes have been opened.

I'm not sure where to go from here.

I am going to order Ray's second book from Freeminds. Maybe not right away.... might try to let it all sink in and process...

Does anyone have a concise comment on what Ray's final beliefs were before he died?

Also, is there any way to contact or provide emotional or financial support to his wife? I would consider sending a donation if you can tell me where to send it.

Steve is going to read the book next. Then I have a 'worldly' friend who seriously considered converting and she wants to read it.

Then I have a plan for sending a PDF version to my mom.

WOW! Is all I can say.

13

WOW...Watching 20/20 about Independent Baptist Cult...

by jamiebowers in

jw
friends

referred to on this thread:.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/208507/1/a-religious-sub-culture-that-many-americans-have-never-heard-of-yet-which-has-thousands-of-churches-across-the-country-churches-that-critics-claim-can-foster-physical-and-sexual-abuse-on-abc-news-20-20.

i wonder how many jws are watching this show and see the many similarities to the watchtower..

headisspinning

I kept telling Steve to ssshhhh while I was watching... it's very, very similar if you can take a step back from the JW mentality.

3

I'm Now A Member Of JwTalk.net.

by Philadelphia Ponos in

jw
friends

to my surprise my membership was approved for jwtalk.net, which is to my knowledge the only forum with "real" jws.

after reading through a few threads it appears that these jws believe in the watchtower 100% and i don't see any signs of doubt or borderline apostate comments like some other past pro-jw forums.

are any of you guys members of jwtalk.net and actively posting.

headisspinning

I have access but I am not posting. I found it incredibly boring and uneventful.... yawn.