Posts by FayeDunaway

36

Hello to everybody!

by John Free in

jw
friends

i wanted to introduce myself.

like many of you i was born-in, am married with one child.

after 36 years of this cycle: doubts-thought stopping- suppression- indoctrination-cult mode i realised enough was enough.

What’s the deal with all the Smart-Educated JWs?

by John Aquila in

we talk a lot about most jws being uneducated, uninformed, and that they lack critical thinking skills, but in my area there is a lot of jws that went to the university, medical school, law school, and came back to the organization.

in my circuit, that i know of, we had two electrical engineers, one computer engineer with a ph.d. eight teachers with a bachelors degree and three of those with a masters in education.

we had two medical doctors, one was a pediatrician who closed his business about 3 years ago and went to bethel.

FayeDunaway

Not just education levels, but personalities matter too. If you are the type of person that likes to believe you are better than others in 'the world', because you are more righteous, and you like to look down on others, you are likely to stay a witness no matter your education level. You are probably not likely to be attracted to the humanities classes either, which might change your worldview.

As regards attracting new converts to the JW's who are well educated: the more they dumb down their literature, the less likely it is to happen.

65

Introducing...ME

by Heartsafire in

jw
friends

long time lurker here.

i'm a fifth gen born-in baptized jw.

to say i've been struggling with doubts is an understatement.

FayeDunaway

Heartsafire, the first half of your posts sounds so much like me!! I doubted but went along for a long time until there was a particular issue I was going through, which led me to start reading the bible, just reading, especially the New Testament and the book of John with a completely blank slate. I said to myself 'without any former indoctrination, what would I believe after simply reading this?' Well it was obvious that everyone who believed in Jesus was supposed to partake of the bread and wine. Duh!!! Actually so many events converged in my life that told me I had to get out SOON. My oldest was reaching 'unbaptized publisher' age. I stayed for one more memorial after waking up about partaking, and felt like crap for passing the emblems, promised myself I never would pass them again. And I didnt! We faded and I joined a liberal Protestant church (after researching every doctrine and different churches!) Also, you don't need to agree on everything, people are free to their own interpretations, it's only the big stuff that matters (Christ died for us). Anyway, I woke up my husband enough to the point he was happy not being active and going to meetings any more. I just stayed in scripture and showed him things I was learning. Now he comes with me to church sometimes but it's really not his thing, which is ok. He's actually a lot happier not being a witness. He loves the free time! I wish you a smooth transition, and even if you aren't successful getting your husband to have an open mind, make sure you assure him you're not going anywhere. Many husbands think their wife is going to leave them or go wild or something and it makes them feel very insecure and that is a source of a lot of their anger when they see you having conflicts with the religion.

225

Cult or Religion

by Richard C B in

what is a cult and what is a religion?

its open to debate.

who has the authority to say for certain what is a cult and what is a religion?

FayeDunaway

Godspeed, Richard. I wish you only the best things in life...including freedom, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But especially, freedom.

225

Cult or Religion

by Richard C B in

what is a cult and what is a religion?

its open to debate.

who has the authority to say for certain what is a cult and what is a religion?

FayeDunaway

You know what, let him knock himself out with this religion. Go ahead Richard, get baptized. But here's a warning: you will need to learn some self control. Because if you can't curb your language even when upset, you probably aren't going to have much self control in general life, and you too could lose everyone you know who is in the cult, who will be happy to judge you at the drop of a pin, because it makes themselves feel better about themselves, when everyone feels they have to MERIT their salvation based on their particular interpretation of the scriptures and the fluctuating whims of a group of men, and puritanical pointing of fingers is what they thrive on. Knock yourself out.

225

Cult or Religion

by Richard C B in

what is a cult and what is a religion?

its open to debate.

who has the authority to say for certain what is a cult and what is a religion?

FayeDunaway

I have always thought of a cult as an organization that started with the often extreme beliefs of one person, followers had to agree with everything with no freedom of expression, they have control over your life, and it is very hard to leave.

The witness argument that it wasn't a cult was always 'Because Russell simply used the bible to seek out truths!' All you have to do is read his old books to see he didn't simply use the Bible. He used the pyramids of Egypt. He used his own many, many strange thoughts. The religion splintered and Rutherford took over one faction and made the religion a police state which became the JW's we know today. You leave, you lose your family. That's only an extremist Muslim thing, and a cult thing (scientologists, JW's). Really. That is NOT normal.

102

Finished Mystery (1917)... The book that Jesus approved...

by Alfred in

so a few months ago, a friend sent me an actual copy of finished mystery which was published in 1917 (not a pdf download... the actual book).

i must say, this was the most disturbing book i have ever had the displeasure of reading.

but i only read it because this was the main publication that was being distributed worldwide when jesus supposedly chose the watchtower in 1918 and i basically wanted to see for myself what jesus saw in the wt that would compel him to choose this religious corporation over all other religious denominations.. anyway, if anyone is interested in knowing the actual contents of this book, here are some bullet points i put together from some of the notes i took as i read the book:.

FayeDunaway

This is why there is a 'witch hunt' for these books. So embarrassing they're scandalous. Shoot, before the congregation library was all cleaned out, elders used to approach me if I was even standing too close to the old books!

102

Finished Mystery (1917)... The book that Jesus approved...

by Alfred in

so a few months ago, a friend sent me an actual copy of finished mystery which was published in 1917 (not a pdf download... the actual book).

i must say, this was the most disturbing book i have ever had the displeasure of reading.

but i only read it because this was the main publication that was being distributed worldwide when jesus supposedly chose the watchtower in 1918 and i basically wanted to see for myself what jesus saw in the wt that would compel him to choose this religious corporation over all other religious denominations.. anyway, if anyone is interested in knowing the actual contents of this book, here are some bullet points i put together from some of the notes i took as i read the book:.

FayeDunaway

Number 43 is hilarious!!!!!!

36

What is your purpose or what do you wish to accomplish while a member of this board?

by Tenacious in

jw
friends

when i joined this forum i was seeking more people who felt the same way i did in terms of seeing the jehovah's witness organization for what it truly was; a false prophet.. once i found like-minded members i slowly started to open up and participate more in trying to help others that were also exiting mentally and physically.

today, i offer support to anyone who desires it regardless of what they believe or not believe.. so what is your purpose on this board?.

support?

FayeDunaway

I came here a few years after my fade out of curiosity...a relative of an exJW friend said they had stopped disfellowshipping and I wanted to see if that was true, also I was curious how they were handling 2015, a hundred years plus one since their big false prophecy, were they going to change their stance? Well, disfellowshipping is going on strong, and they're STILL sticking to 1914.

But, i found that reminiscing here among people who have had very similar childhoods to mine is quite comforting, and also I stay to offer support to people going through dark and lonely times as they are trying to leave.

8

Bartender - Update 3

by Garrett in

sorry for long delay for update.. short story shorter - walked in way too late, she walked by, didn't say hi, i didn't say hi, she left to work, i left the bar.

4 friends got into a huge fight and were kicked out.

now i'll be going there alone.. to be honest, though, i think i'm just gonna pass on relationships all together.

FayeDunaway

Why did you walk in way too late? It's like you're a defeatist trying to make this not turn out right. :/