Posts by GoneAwol

11

On shunning

by paranoia agent in

here is something interesting that pertains to the action of shunning.

the book called extreme was written by psychologists.. 1.

GoneAwol

" A person who is shunned while remaining physically part of the group may find it more emotionally painful than someone who has been banished".

Elder to disfellowshipped person: " You sit there at the back while the rest of us chat and greet each other, hug each other, laugh and make plans for the weekend. And you can think about how serious that little tiny slip - up was. And watch us. And feel ashamed about being you! And when a year, maybe 2, goes by, we might let you be part of our little gang again. Only if you grovel and lick our ego's. "

This cult needs destroying!!

39

Gettin' my garden on - looking for inspiration! !

by Mary J Blige in

gardening is my physical activity thing.

i like to have a productive garden but dot it with a bit of pretty.

the front lawn is around 40m2 and i am converting it to potager this year.

GoneAwol

We're in Britain, so coming to end of season, lots of squashes and pumpkins, last of the tommies. The best tip we learnt a few years ago, is to get onion seed planted around September or October. Our onions the past few years have been stonkers!

This is an older pic of our allotment, we have hens and bees. Its all good fun!

23

Facing up to the reality of the world

by purrpurr in

jw
friends

since becoming atheist i have been paying more attention to world events and issues.

this is giving me some worry's when i see what's going on.

as a jw i could just dismiss stuff saying "armageddon is coming, jehovah will look after us" etc etc now of course i can't do that.

GoneAwol

It matters not how, where, when we are going to die. Only, that we will. It could be an illness, a random gunshot, anything. Who cares? Not you, because you'll be dead.

Can you remember what it was like before you were born? No. Thats what I think death is like. All I want to do now with life is to leave it having been loved and having lived it.

I dont want to be lying there on my death bed thinking "I wish i'd gone scuba diving................" beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!!

30

If you could do anything publicly to get JWs out

by cognac in

jw
friends

and money wasn't an issue, what would it be?

GoneAwol

Just legally park a big white van outside the convention with a vinyl sign on the side, and put something simple on it like.... "how many people have YOU shunned in order to show just how loving and christian you are?"

Or, the May '94 Awake front cover reproduced on the side of the van, and next to it a picture of a cow, with the words "No you cant have blood transfusions! You must accept an early death like these brave children did! (Unless you take it one fraction at a time. Or it belongs to this cow.)"

76

OMG, I’m gonna get Old and Die.

by John Aquila in

when it finally clicked,.

and you realized there was no 1914, there was no generation that would see the end of a wicked system, there was no paradise around the corner, .

what went through you mind?.

GoneAwol

When I found out the botchtower had spun a big pile of sweaty bollocks, it was a relief that I realised I was going to die like everyone else. Me and my wife didnt do any research about the org until 8 months after we left. So we went from day to day feeling guilty and stressed because we thought we were bird food at the big A.

You come to realise that life is not only what you make it, its also what you leave behind. I'm not a believer in any deity or god, and I personally think it a waste of time to spend life proving ones self to a god, when life can be spent helping, loving, and making a legacy with those around you. This is more real than remembering somebody 'in heaven', or 'with the angels' etc

fwiw, GA

31

and Moses came down the mountain on his....DUCATI

by snare&racket in

jw
friends

worst day in the last ten years, was the day i hit 0.00 with one and a half years of university to go.

nobody to turn to, nobody to ask for help.

i was 32 and as an ex jw had two family members in contact with me.

GoneAwol

An ex-dub bike club? It almost rhymes! I've had a 996 mono posta for a while now, set up as a hill climb and track bike with no batt and starter. Still cant get over the clutch rattle though. Other bikes a Bmw r1200rt. That ones for me and Mrs Awol!

Love the Duke. Lovely lovely noise. Have loads of fun Snare.

Shiney side up!

!

30

Some common words that are applicable in practical use with the Jehovah's Witnesses Organization

by Finkelstein in

i'll start the ball rolling .... .

coercive.

pretentious.

GoneAwol

Fraudulent

Criminal

146

Why I remain one of Jehovah's Witnesses

by Brother Jeramy in

allow me to begin with a clarification: when i say i am one of jehovah's witnesses, i don't mean that i am an advocate of the watchtower society or a devotee of some of its more controversial false teachings.

i mean that i am a christian, a disciple of jesus christ dedicated to jehovah god, and who remains in union with my brothers and sisters who make up the family of faith that globally refers to itself as jehovah's witnesses.

some totally understand the distinction between the family of brothers and sisters and the corporate organization known as the watchtower society (wts).

GoneAwol

'Why I remain one of Jehovahs Witnesses'.....

.........'for now'

bro Jeremy. Fixed it for ya!

You WILL thank us. You will thank ALL of us....

160

"The organisation is imperfect, but it doesn't affect my relationship with Jehovah"

by Alive! in

i've noted active, devoted jw's state the above.. and, it's not a problem for me to remain trusting of god, i just don't trust religions or men.. recently, a member of this forum stated that he remains an active jw, in the family of god's people, wanting to encourage and do good - whilst recognising that the pastoral leaders (the gb) have shipwrecked the faith of many, being unsound scripturally etc, etc.. stop and think about this - the bible says to not follow after those who lie and hurt the faith of "little ones".. the pharisees were accused of traversing over lands and expending much energy to make a single convert - only for that convert to end up worse of than he started off with.. it's one thing to not believe this is the 'truth' and feeling the awful pressure of managing ones life, trying not to lose ones family.. it's quite another thing to declare oneself to be a christian believer of god's jw household, and somehow believe the god of love would use corrupt liars to parade as jesus' brothers in the urgency of last days.

really?

and, to then visibly promote faith in corrupt men, and try to bring converts into a place where the rulership is wrong.. some of us are dying from hurt here.......give me a break..

GoneAwol

Interesting response! Is unity with the org an issue in your congregation or just certain people? Can you please elaborate as much as is safe on HOW this state came to exist with these ones?

What is the aim or goals within this group?

Cheers

160

"The organisation is imperfect, but it doesn't affect my relationship with Jehovah"

by Alive! in

i've noted active, devoted jw's state the above.. and, it's not a problem for me to remain trusting of god, i just don't trust religions or men.. recently, a member of this forum stated that he remains an active jw, in the family of god's people, wanting to encourage and do good - whilst recognising that the pastoral leaders (the gb) have shipwrecked the faith of many, being unsound scripturally etc, etc.. stop and think about this - the bible says to not follow after those who lie and hurt the faith of "little ones".. the pharisees were accused of traversing over lands and expending much energy to make a single convert - only for that convert to end up worse of than he started off with.. it's one thing to not believe this is the 'truth' and feeling the awful pressure of managing ones life, trying not to lose ones family.. it's quite another thing to declare oneself to be a christian believer of god's jw household, and somehow believe the god of love would use corrupt liars to parade as jesus' brothers in the urgency of last days.

really?

and, to then visibly promote faith in corrupt men, and try to bring converts into a place where the rulership is wrong.. some of us are dying from hurt here.......give me a break..

GoneAwol

Fantastic response Bro Jeremy!

Can I ask?

How did the new bro. get on with his questions prior to baptism with the elders? Did he feel the need to be untruthful? (A form of spiritual warfare against the org perhaps?)

Knowing what he knows about the org, why didnt he run a mile from the false teachings? Did he only get baptized because of his association with yourself? (perhaps a bit personal I realize)

Why get baptized in spirit and truth to only then follow direction from an org that is no better than, say, the Catholics? Hasnt he, in effect, back peddled on spirit and truth?

Great discussion, thank you !