Posts by FayeDunaway

24

Why Jehovah's Witnesses are WRONG about Christmas

by David_Jay in

as you know (and are probably tired of hearing me repeat), i’m jewish.

yes, i was a jehovah’s witness when i was a teenager and into my 20s, but returned to my roots and now celebrate chanukah when the holiday season comes around each year.. so why am i writing about christmas?

well, that’s because i thought i would share something about how jehovah’s witnesses teach against christmas.

FayeDunaway

Nice OP, David, and Carol, I agree. The pagans knew what they were doing, having a celebration of lights during the darkest days of the year. And that Christianity has incorporated these things, the evergreens and holly, I actually mark that as one of the better times in Christianity. It was good of the church of that time to be inclusive, and it's interesting to me how well the themes of life and light and rebirth tie in so well with Christmas and Easter. Brilliant, really, and beautiful.

53

Did anyone vote yet?

by NewYork44M in

jw
friends

i voted today in nyc.

a well organized process.

very busy and most of the people voting were african american.

FayeDunaway

Wasanelderonce, "witnoid", I love that!!

i was a strong Bernie supporter. Started liking Hillary more at the convention. She's not perfect, but pretty good, and very qualified. I already voted, and I was very proud to vote for the first viable female candidate. If she wins, it will be a big moment for me and all American women.

American politics though has made an exceptionally ugly turn of late. The country is divided 50/50.

I just can't believe half of them would vote for a fascist, but some don't learn from history. Short memories. Not only a fascist but a Russian stooge of a fascist. A Russian stooge sexist racist bigoted narcissist white supremacist-backed greedy monster fascist. Not to mention his other character traits. But, whatever. Maybe witnesses are right and it IS the end of the world.

38

Were Conventions, Asemblies and the Memorials boring to you?

by HereIgo in

conventions always just seemed like more of a vacation to me than anything else, especially if you had to travel out of town for it, but definitely were exhausting especially toward the end of each day.

for some reason i didn't mind the special and circuit assemblies too much, probably because they seemed like more of a social event than anything else and only 1-2 days.

the memorial always was kind of boring to me.

FayeDunaway

An event that was our only Christmas, where the most exciting part was seeing what disfellowshipped people with maybe even a beard showed up, and YAY we got to pass a glass of wine and plate of crackers down a row. Memorials were dreadful.

Conventions, where you got new clothes, were fun, only for the socializing and making and serving lunch, until they took that away too..but when we had kids, and tried to contain them in the same hard seat for all freaking day while a voice droned on...and on....and on.....pure hell.

22

Feeling very lonely

by BlackWolf in

jw
friends

the past few months i've been feeling really depressed and kind of hopeless.

the few people that actually were a little bit friendly to me at the hall recently moved away, and i'm feeling like more of an outcast than i already was.

every meeting i just stand by myself by the wall and nobody cares, i feel really lonely and unloved.

FayeDunaway

Hoping that you can be patient with this lonely time in your life, BW. It's so difficult. Please don't let it spoil your schooling...that is so important for you so that you can escape this stuff. You sound really depressed. So sorry you are going through an especially rough patch.

13

Community Outside of a Religious Setting

by What Now? in

jw
friends

this is the one thing that i have struggled with since leaving the organization.

i recognize the need and value of belonging somewhere, being a part of something, showing up weekly to a community where me and my husband and children are loved and utilized and incorporated and cared for.

a place where are my kids qualities are nurtured and encouraged , and then reigned in and developed when needed.

FayeDunaway

I found a traditional church family home and from it have everything that was good about JW's and none of the bad. But it sounds like you want very non traditional! Lisarose recommended the UCC and that is a good one, but if you don't want to do the Jesus thing, I recommend the UU's....Unitarian Universalists. They are really liberal and family oriented and teach values. What is "right" is multidirectional...There are some amongst them who are Christians, Jews, spiritualists...you name it....they don't consider any way the only way. They are the opposite of judgmental and sort of hippie and fun. We go to some UU stuff and always end up hearing or being involved in deep philosophical or political or scientific discussions. These aren't shallow people, they love to think and think openly. I think you may enjoy them.

50

Elder asking for help

by untruth in

this is my first time posting on here so i’m not sure where to start.

i’m trying to keep it as short as possible since i could expand much more.

i’ve been in the process of waking up in the last year and a half.

FayeDunaway

I am not sure if someone else has said it, but I would stick as closely as possible to the Bible if I was pointing something out to her that is contrary to witnesses. You will need to do a lot of research. You may need to get out the kingdom interlinnear somewhere down the line. But use the Bible. Eventually you may be able to show outside research from random websites (not apostate anything, ever..until she's well out mentally.) Be slow (I know it's hard! You want to start living your own life finally!!!!) but be slow, or your family will be more jeopardized.

It seems like there is much more glorification of the GB since I've left, their word seems to be considered on par with the Bible now, so this is going to be tricky.

Maybe more than specific doctrine, tho, is a change of outlook. Opening your eyes lets you see people in a different light. You see the genuineness and goodness in people who are not witnesses. Maybe make comments to your wife about people who you know who are good people who are not witnesses, and share a more positive vibe with her regarding living in the here and now. And most importantly, shower her with attention and affection, so she never needs to doubt that you love her.

58

What's The First "Worldly" Thing You Did When You Exited The Cult?

by pale.emperor in

when you finally and officially exited the cult, whether it be by disfellowshipping, disassociating or fading - what was the first things you did that are considered "worldly"?.

for me, it was like crash landing on another planet that looked like earth but was completely different to the earth i knew.

i wanted to learn everything that i thought i already knew.. first things i did:.

FayeDunaway

James, I was constantly looking over my shoulder. When we celebrated Christmas the first time, I put the tree in an odd corner of an odd room that no one could see from outside the house. When I went to church, I parked where no one could see and recognize the car. Halloween, I figured we were safe since any witnesses were hiding in their basements :).

Now, instead of being scared that someone will see us, I'm like 'look, you see this Christmas wrap in my cart? See these ornaments? Aren't they pretty? I can do this, and you can't!'

58

What's The First "Worldly" Thing You Did When You Exited The Cult?

by pale.emperor in

when you finally and officially exited the cult, whether it be by disfellowshipping, disassociating or fading - what was the first things you did that are considered "worldly"?.

for me, it was like crash landing on another planet that looked like earth but was completely different to the earth i knew.

i wanted to learn everything that i thought i already knew.. first things i did:.

FayeDunaway

Read Harry Potter. Voted. Celebrated my daughter's birthday at Disneyworld.

29

dealing with religion after leaving the witnesses

by joker in

i’ve noticed many people posting on this site seem to have completely given up on religion/spirituality.. but some have attended services at another religion, or just follow their own heart regarding what to believe.. my question is how does anyone deal after leaving with all of the witness crap that we believed about babylon the great, the great harlot, spiritual prostitute, etc., etc.

i’m finding out that i seem to have built myself a pretty solid wall regarding religion.. some people can just chuck all beliefs into one basket saying that they are all basically garbage,,, and that is ok, no problem i respect that.. but for myself there is a certain part of my personality that needs a spiritual belief not like the witnesses in any way, but something to meditate on, and contemplate.. being a witness taught me how bad it is to actually think of god in any other way besides what the jw’s believe.

and now when i attend any other service, the dark jw side seems to pop out and seriously makes me believe that everything i see/do/say is wrong.

FayeDunaway

Research, buddy. Look into the trinity and the cross etc through sources NOT witness and see what they say. There's all sorts of info out there. I did the research and am happy at a liberal Protestant mainline church. Most of us believe in evolution and all of us believe in freedom. You have to do the research tho before you can make peace with it.

35

My Favouite Inappropriate Watchtower Pictures

by pale.emperor in

i'd love to see you're favorite wt illustrations/photo's that they think are fine to print - but are actually kind of creepy/wierd.. .

here's my three fave from my book of bible stories (yes, a book for children!)..

man gets his head nailed into the floor with a tent pin by a good jehovah worshipper:.

FayeDunaway

I think the message is 'if you care about your dog, you better be faithful to Jehovah or else your dog will die a horrible death!'

Manipulative bastards. I looked at that picture a million times when I was little too.