Posts by ShadesofGrey

25

So why did the organisation cause you anxiety or depression?

by TimothyT in

in regards to my other post regarding attending counselling as a jw, i was wondering what it was about being a jw that caused you to be anxious, stressed or depressed?.

for me, i knew that the person i wanted to be was constantly being supressed by the wt.

there was a battle going on in my head between who i wanted to be and who they wanted me to be.

ShadesofGrey

Honesty said it well!

I am much happier allowing myself and my children to have friends (imagine that).

I am much happier without the threat of the Great Tribulation hanging over my head.

43

Which arguments for or against God are convincing to you?

by mankkeli in

jw
friends

1) kalam argument -- what begins to exist has a cause, the universe began to exist, therefore the universe has a cause2) the design or fine tuning argument -- the regularity of the universe suggests the existence of an intelligent creator3) the ontological argument 4) its impossible for "something" to come from "nothing"5) the argument from morality.

a moral law giver must exist6) the argument from experience.

the proof is in the pudding.

ShadesofGrey

I did some serious research into Evolution and Young Earth Creationism. It helped build my faith that God exists. Then I noticed that Jesus was not my mediator. I accepted Him as my mediator and He is with me helping me ever since.

The idea that we have a life-force (Chi) within us that affects our mental and physical health is real. The idea that there are various ways to manipulate this life-force is real. Siddharta was doing the best he could to heal himself and others, and Buddhism was formed from his teachings.

This does not change the reality of Jesus Christ. In fact, it reinforces the fact that we are spiritual creatures. The Bible tells us of God's Spirit and of our spirit and that we are all connected. That is also why Buddhism and Star Wars type beliefs in the force persist. That is why the Bible says that we are all members of the body of Christ. It is true.

I understand unconditional love for the first time in my life. I am filled with joy and peace even in the face of my best friend walking out on me and the possibilities due to two family members being elders. I am truly happy and more patient with my kids, etc. Jesus has shown me that God exists and my life has improved. My God actually washed people's feet! I am happier, more loving to everyone, and much more humble. Why would anyone want to convince me otherwise?

Wishing health and happiness to all,

SOG

26

Would you hire a JW?

by MrFreeze in

jw
friends

tasked with hiring a new employee, iff you were looking through potential employee candidates and you were asked to pick one to hire, would knowing one is a jw put that candidate in a negative light?.

ShadesofGrey

In the past I have hired many JW's. I can count around 20 or so and have only ever kept 1. The others were always eager to leave early, call in so that they could go out with the C.O. that day in service, always thought that they should be given favors/raises over other non-JW employees that I hired, and never wanted to work weekends when we were overloaded.

So, yes, in the past I have hired JW's. I haven't hired any in a long time after getting burned time and again.

13

I believe this -- don't you?

by therevealer in

the watchtower ?

december 1, 2011 7. when severe calamities occur today, god's.

servants respond similarly.

ShadesofGrey

So, what paper was this printed in again? Yea, thought so.

59

I Called the Headquarters About the "Slaughter of Apostates" Quote

by DT in

jw
friends

in case you haven't heard, the november 15, 2011 watchtower, page 5 made this comment.

"today, no servant of jehovah uses physical force against opponents of pureworship.

"vengeance is mine," god says.

ShadesofGrey

Wow! Wonderful research. Thank you so much! I feel I must get my hands on this book as well!

Love,

SOG

11

JW Hostages: Ray Franz

by compound complex in

to this day, in all countries, any persons among jehovah's witnesses who find they cannot conscientiously support fully the organization's teachings or practices live in a climate of fear, feeling they must constantly be on guard as to what they say, what they do, what they read, with whom they associate, from whom they receive letters, not feeling any sense of freedom even when among personal friends or close relatives if these are also witnesses.

as stated, in my personal experience i have had people phone who were afraid to give their name or who felt it necessary to use a fictitious name, some who even felt it necessary to take out a special post office box to be able to correspond without danger of their correspondence with me or other former witnesses being discovered.

they face a form of "hostage" situation, produced by the organization's authority.

ShadesofGrey

some feel his answers were, and continue to be, inadequate as he tends to distance himself from organized religion and their authority.

No NO NO!!!!! NO where but Christ is the answer that got me OUT! NO denomination is the "right" one. Only a relationship with Christ is.

Today, I am so glad that I took those first steps that eventually released me from those who held me hostage!

I read 1 John.

I only started reading "apostate" materials after I was born again, and I have found then and now that I need to limit them or I get depressed. The Bible on the other hand always builds me up.

Love to all of you,

SOG

31

Soooo... "Brother" Daniel and "Sister" Pat, Just Left...

by AGuest in

jw
friends

(may you all have peace!)...

after a 25 minute "discussion"... that simply blew their minds.

so much stammering and stuttering.

ShadesofGrey

I am very careful now not to take the JW mentality with me. I don't have to witness to anyone and everyone every chance I think I might have. Whew! I can trust God to take care of it! Not only that but witnessing at EVERY opportunity really turns people off.

I love you SA! So glad to have a fellow sister in Christ on these forums and really enjoy your posts.

SOG

82

I just can't do this anymore

by Awen in

dear friends:.

for years now after my exit from the wtbts i have searched for god.

as i have previously mentioned in other threads i looked into many other religions, including druidry, zen and tibetan buddhism (not really a religion), asatru, native american shamanism, kemetic orthodoxy, gnosticism and pandeism.

ShadesofGrey

That is okay, because I worship Jesus Christ and He is everything that He claims to be.

I also did not understand before I had His Spirit.

When my friends turned on me because I left the cult I was in, where was god to comfort me?

Sorry I don't know how to quote. I don't understand why things work out the way they do. He is here to comfort me, and I am so thankful.

31

Soooo... "Brother" Daniel and "Sister" Pat, Just Left...

by AGuest in

jw
friends

(may you all have peace!)...

after a 25 minute "discussion"... that simply blew their minds.

so much stammering and stuttering.

ShadesofGrey

I planted, Apollos watered, God kept making it grow.

You aren't going to get them to admit conversion while talking to you, but you planted seeds my dear. Keep witnessing for Jesus!

There is a member of the evolutionfairytale forum who didn't see the truth for quite some time, kept arguing with them over there... but that eventually changed.

33

Do you tell people?

by MrFreeze in

as an ex-jw do you tell people about your jw past?

how much detail do you go into when you tell non-jw's about the organization.

i usually only ever say anything if somebody asks about my religious affiliation or mentions jw's.

ShadesofGrey

I am not officially DFd but I tell everyone. (All of the women at my kid's dental office are asking me how things are going, lol!) The more people I tell the more free I feel!

I also agree that it is a good idea to warn people. You could be saving them all of the fear, guilt, loneliness, grief, bondage that we have been through.