Despite whether or not it does any good, I can understand why many feel desperate to help their family escape the Borg. I would love to get my little sister out....
starfish422
JoinedPosts by starfish422
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11
Anti-Witnessing -does it work?
by Phantom Stranger ini keep reading posts from people who "need" to get their family members out of the wts.
look, a few background points: .
1) i'm out and have been for 17 years.
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24
Most Memorable WT Cover
by Nosferatu inwhich watchtower or awake cover do you remember the most?
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starfish422
Yup, the ones about kids who put god first. It should read:
"Lambs We've Slaughtered to Meet Our Agenda"
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30
What JW belief/idea do you disagree with the most ???
by run dont walk inis there a particular belief/doctrine that really burns you up and makes you wonder how people could believe this, and did you as a loyal jw at one time believe in it (your most hated belief), what made you change your mind ???.
for me, i always enjoy reading the history of the watchtower (1879-1974), and how things constantly change from year to year.
the sodom and gomorrah question is hilarious .
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starfish422
Oh, gosh, where to begin??
I guess the biggest one, that has affected almost ALL aspects of JW beliefs over the years, is new light. The fact that people accept this crap over and over again, wild pendulum swings explained by the standard "new light" garbage, is beyond me. I can believe it of dopey people; but not some of the more intelligent ones I knew.
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My poor non-JW grandmother!! (long)
by starfish422 ini am so annoyed right now i could just spit.
first, some background info: my brother's mother-in-law (a jw) seems to feel as though she has some special connection to my gramma because they have both lost their husbands.
she's a good 10 - 15 years younger than gramma; and, truth be told, gramma doesn't especially like her.
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starfish422
I am so annoyed right now I could just spit.
First, some background info: My brother's mother-in-law (a JW) seems to feel as though she has some special connection to my gramma because they have both lost their husbands. She's a good 10 - 15 years younger than Gramma; and, truth be told, Gramma doesn't especially like her. My gramma is NOT a JW. She is a strong member of the United Church. A couple of years ago, this woman (I'll call her Betty) was talking to my gramma, just shortly after the death of my grandfather. Gramma expressed her beliefs that she would see my grandfather in heaven; and Betty immediately exclaimed, "Oh, but you won't!" My grandmother was so upset; but would never be so tactless as Betty had been, and so did not tell Betty, as she should have, to go straight to hell and not pass go. Since then, Betty takes every opportunity that she sees my gramma (which, I admit, isn't that often) to share the "good news of the kingdom" with Gramma...much to my gramma's tremendous discomfort. My parents & grandparents came to an agreement many years ago that they would not bother each other with their religious beliefs, an arrangement that both parties honoured and it has worked well. Apparently the arrangement doesn't extend to Betty.
My siblings had an anniversary party for my parents recently; and my gramma was naturally invited. (Wondering whether I was invited? LOL I wasn't.) Betty was there, and latched on to my grandmother & didn't let go. My gramma finally had to say, "Well, my beliefs are different. I'm going to get some food." And had to physically walk away from her to get rid of her!! ARRGGHH!!!
When Betty first made the comment a couple of years ago about Gramma not seeing her husband in heaven, I was tempted to write her a letter. As I had never known her to be a thoughtless person, though, I decided to bite my tongue. Now, I've had enough. Here's the letter I'm sending her:
I am writing to you today concerning your behaviour toward my grandmother, Xxxxx Xxxxxxx. I know you have seen her several times in the past couple of years, and I am told that you have taken these opportunities to "witness" to her and share "the good news of the kingdom".
I realize that you believe you are offering comfort or hope to her when you witness to her. In reality, you are deeply offending her and making her tremendously uncomfortable. It is terribly disrespectful to her that you keep barraging her with your JW beliefs, although she has made it clear that she does not share those beliefs. I am thinking, in particular, about an incident several years ago when you bluntly told her that she would not see her husband again in heaven. How dare you presume to foist your beliefs on her and hurt her feelings in such a manner!
My parents and grandparents long ago came to an understanding to agree to disagree, and not discuss doctrinal differences. Imagine what your reaction would be if my grandmother tactlessly blasted you with United Church doctrine each time you met! You would quickly end the conversation, and not be drawn into doctrinal discussions with someone of different beliefs. Please extend the same courtesy to her that you expect for yourself.
My grandmother has expressed her deep discomfort (and, frankly, utter exasperation) at the way you continue to pester her with JW doctrine. I have never known you to be a thoughtless person, and so I hope that you will accept this in the spirit in which it is intended, as a plea on my grandmother?s behalf that she would never make herself. Please respect that she does not share your beliefs, and leave her alone.
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Do You Live For Today or Do You Focus On The Future???
by minimus inme-----i live to enjoy my life today.
tomorrow, i could be dead....and you??
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starfish422
A bit of both; I am planning for the future, of course, being a wife and parent. But I also believe in life *before* death.
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42
Are you getting grey?
by JH inalthough i'm in my early 40's, i still didn't get grey hair yet.
i may find one or two gray hairs once in a while, but not more.
same thing with the beard.
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starfish422
Ugh, yes, I started when I was in my teens. 10+ years ago. It got worse after my son was born though; now that I'm pregnant again goodness knows what'll happen! LOL And I'm not even 30 yet.
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If your still-JW parent died...
by starfish422 inwould you attend the funeral/memorial service?
assuming that it would be held in a kh; or even if it wasn't.. this is something that's been on my mind lately; honestly, i'm not sure why.
my parents are both still relatively young; 60 and 61. my dad has been diagnosed with skin cancer but both are otherwise healthy.. i really don't know whether i would; particularly for my father.
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starfish422
What kind of question is this? How could you not attend the funeral of your parents??!!!!
It's a valid question that has troubled me for sometime. Obviously your parents have *not* disowned you, little one, or else you would understand how I (and, apparently, many others) could struggle with this decision.
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Have you tried to explain?
by anglise inhave you ever tried to explain to someone who has no religious leaning how you once truly believed that you could live forever and that now you are no longer a jw that certainty is gone, and how hard that is to deal with at times?.
the look of disbelief and pity that you get in return.. maybe thats partly why we need to talk so often to other xjw's.
whats been your experiences.. anglise
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starfish422
My never-JW hubby understands it because I was still JW when I met him, and he has seen how brainwashed my family is over the years we've been together.
I find the most difficult part is making others understand that JWs are a cult; they don't believe me. They think I'm being too dramatic or that I'm overstating. That, I think, is the most difficult for folks to understand.
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If Your Child or Friend Told You They Were Gay, Would You Be Disturbed?
by minimus inas a jehovah's witness, you know that you cannot practice homosexuality.
it's considered a sin.
if your friend or relative revealed that they were gay, you would be obligated to "report" them to the elders.
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starfish422
If it was one of my children, I would defend their decision and the validity of their relationship to my dying breath. I would be proud that hubby and I had raised a strong child who wasn't afraid of a little adversity (from outside sources, of course) and who had strength of character to be honest with themselves and others. I would hope that they would never be concerned about our reaction or that we would disapprove; but as my son is only 3.5 and the other isn't born yet (due in March!! ) it's obviously far too early for conversations on the topic of sex. Never too soon, though, to lay the groundwork and discuss other things openly.
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What Was Your Reputation In The Congregation?
by minimus inwere you considered a "troublemaker", a "complainer", a "fine" brother or sister?
were you always being called before the elders for one thing or another?
is your reputation the same here as it was in the congregation??
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starfish422
Hmmmm...up until I was 17 years + 11 months, my reputation was stellar. Third child in a family of four strong Witness kids, PO's daughter, out in service every weekend (of course, the arrangement was held at OUR house ), auxiliary pioneered the summer before grade 12, answered at every meeting (if I didn't, my father glowered at me), Theocratic Ministry School star LOL, and fine association for any young Witness adult.
What happened after that? Well, at 17 years + 10.5 months, I met my future (worldly) husband. Didn't take long for the other Witness kids at school to discover and report my "transgressions". At 18 years + 1 month, I left home and left The Truth (TM), shocking everyone in the congregation including my own parents.