Our first time speaking out and experience!

Nomex said:
Not being discreet...it kind of seems to me that there might be a scripture or two, about this very thing...I wonder what it could be...Oh, wait I think I have it..."Many will say to me in that day: ‘Lord, Lord,z did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works* in your name?’a 23 And then I will declare to them: ‘I never knew* you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!’"
Kind of gives new meaning to "that is where the weeping and the gnashing of their teeth will be." I can especially imagine , Splane pointing to heaven when he makes this declaration.
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That slimy lizard 🦎 makes my skin crawl! They can never walk back what he did!
 
NikD said:
Literally Same story for us too 😢
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So sorry to hear that! We were physically ill over some things said and done to us. Looking back, we are glad to know the truth and believe Jehovah answered our prayers. Sadly, it doesn’t change what has happened to those injured and we still deal with that daily. We are sure the new 20 yr old elders will probably boot us out soon, but we will very carefully try to get our family to wake up first. That said we do not want to wreck anyones faith, so it has to be their decision and in their own time. They do not know where we stand outside of the VAXX and even that has to be a conversation we tread lightly on except one, and that is what gives us hope.
 
The pandemic caused more people to be aware (at least some of us) that this earthly organization is not perfect. Just like Israel was not perfect even though they had a big part in keeping God's word alive. There was nothing biblical about taking a genetically modified substance in your bloodstream. It's supposed to be sacred, your body is like a temple.
There was no problem with directions on staying clean. I washed my hands often. And masks don't work. That's surface level thinking to believe they do. When you actually study about masks, you find out that masks collect bacteria and dirt and many people would reuse those same masks and keep them on, they would collect bacteria on them and that could make them sick. It also handicaps your breathing in fresh air, which actually makes your immune system worse, the less fresh air you take in. Especially for hours at a time. I remember being forced to wear a mask during certain events for a few hours and I would feel worse and irritable because my body was reacting to the poor breathing I had when wearing that mask for hours.
Anyone can try this themselves in an accelerated way. Try doing intense exercises while wearing a mask and you'll later realize you feel like you might be getting sick or you feel bad internally. Well congratulations, you just made your immune system weaker. That's why I was against masks, it was obvious!
 
Wide Awake said:
So sorry to hear that! We were physically ill over some things said and done to us. Looking back, we are glad to know the truth and believe Jehovah answered our prayers. Sadly, it doesn’t change what has happened to those injured and we still deal with that daily. We are sure the new 20 yr old elders will probably boot us out soon, but we will very carefully try to get our family to wake up first. That said we do not want to wreck anyones faith, so it has to be their decision and in their own time. They do not know where we stand outside of the VAXX and even that has to be a conversation we tread lightly on except one, and that is what gives us hope.
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Just confide in a couple of people you’re reading Bro King and in no time the young uns ( and the old ones) will be after your ass. It’s worse than dissing the clot shot mantra😅. I’m the shunned proof.
 
Seadog said:
Just confide in a couple of people you’re reading Bro King and in no time the young uns ( and the old ones) will be after your ass. It’s worse than dissing the clot shot mantra😅. I’m the shunned proof.
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Maybe if we offer the 20yr olds alcohol they will let us off the hook??
As for shunning we are sorry for being ones who did that to others including family in the past. Thank you for being so kind!
 
Wide Awake said:
So sorry to hear that! We were physically ill over some things said and done to us. Looking back, we are glad to know the truth and believe Jehovah answered our prayers. Sadly, it doesn’t change what has happened to those injured and we still deal with that daily. We are sure the new 20 yr old elders will probably boot us out soon, but we will very carefully try to get our family to wake up first. That said we do not want to wreck anyones faith, so it has to be their decision and in their own time. They do not know where we stand outside of the VAXX and even that has to be a conversation we tread lightly on except one, and that is what gives us hope.
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For you and anyone else who needs to hear this: Jehovah is going to heal ALL of the injured, bind up the broken hearted, and resurrect all those who died.

The only "good" that can come from this is that at least they died and won't have to go through the "fun" that awaits the rest of us. :rolleyes:

We are the "300 men" that are left with Gideon. Jehovah has seen something in all of us that he knows he can work with: be it faith, discernment, whatever.

But, as painful as this all has been, it WILL be made right again and we WILL be smiling and light-hearted again. We MUST believe that. If nothing else, don't ever let these scoundrels take your faith. Jehovah didn't do this; wicked and decietful men did this and as always, Jehovah warned us that about them and Christ told us that there would be wolves in sheeps clothing and that people would be stumbled and that people would betray us but we didn't fully understand because WT didn't explain it to us because WT WAS GOING TO BE THE ONE TO DO IT TO US so why would they warn us????

The apostles didn't fully understand everything about how and why Christ was going to die, and they were stumbled, but after his resurrection, they understood all things and were BOLD for Jehovah.

So here we all are.
 
StopTheInsanity said:
For you and anyone else who needs to hear this: Jehovah is going to heal ALL of the injured, bind up the broken hearted, and resurrect all those who died.

The only "good" that can come from this is that at least they died and won't have to go through the "fun" that awaits the rest of us. :rolleyes:

We are the "300 men" that are left with Gideon. Jehovah has seen something in all of us that he knows he can work with: be it faith, discernment, whatever.

But, as painful as this all has been, it WILL be made right again and we WILL be smiling and light-hearted again. We MUST believe that. If nothing else, don't ever let these scoundrels take your faith. Jehovah didn't do this; wicked and decietful men did this and as always, Jehovah warned us that about them and Christ told us that there would be wolves in sheeps clothing and that people would be stumbled and that people would betray us but we didn't fully understand because WT didn't explain it to us because WT WAS GOING TO BE THE ONE TO DO IT TO US so why would they warn us????

The apostles didn't fully understand everything about how and why Christ was going to die, and they were stumbled, but after his resurrection, they understood all things and were BOLD for Jehovah.

So here we all are.
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Yes, thank you so much for those words and reminders! We actually feel closer to Jehovah now more than ever! You all have been so wonderful and it is helping!
 
StopTheInsanity said:
For you and anyone else who needs to hear this: Jehovah is going to heal ALL of the injured, bind up the broken hearted, and resurrect all those who died.

The only "good" that can come from this is that at least they died and won't have to go through the "fun" that awaits the rest of us. :rolleyes:

We are the "300 men" that are left with Gideon. Jehovah has seen something in all of us that he knows he can work with: be it faith, discernment, whatever.

But, as painful as this all has been, it WILL be made right again and we WILL be smiling and light-hearted again. We MUST believe that. If nothing else, don't ever let these scoundrels take your faith. Jehovah didn't do this; wicked and decietful men did this and as always, Jehovah warned us that about them and Christ told us that there would be wolves in sheeps clothing and that people would be stumbled and that people would betray us but we didn't fully understand because WT didn't explain it to us because WT WAS GOING TO BE THE ONE TO DO IT TO US so why would they warn us????

The apostles didn't fully understand everything about how and why Christ was going to die, and they were stumbled, but after his resurrection, they understood all things and were BOLD for Jehovah.

So here we all are.
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Yes, great bible application. The 300 men were chosen because even if they were part of the army of Gideon as their leader, they were still very cautious about their surroundings. They didn't let their guard down when drinking water just cause Gideon was anointed over them. Same can be said about the GB. I don't let my guard down just because the GB may say so. I still stay cautious.
 
Citrine said:
Oh my goodness I think Nomex and I should team up and just burn 🔥 WT to the ground and be done with it already!
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HAHA...Thanks for that. We'd be a team to be feared, and they'd run for the hills the minute they caught sight of us...LOL. I do try to maintain my sense of humor in all of this, because it's "laugh or cry" and I prefer to laugh. It is "gallows humor" but still better than no humor. I was thinking about the comment you made about them

Citrine said:
The GB had the audacity to publish WT study articles praising themselves and their god given insight!
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The thing is, they have always done this, it just wasn't so much "in our face" as it has been ever since launching JW.org. We of course took them at their word, and believed we had good evidence they were who they said they were. But now that you think back on it, they have ALWAYS done this with every single comment, article etc, where they claim they are the F&S! They quote their own articles as their "sources" for so very much of what they claim is "proof" they have God's blessing.

And they love to compare themselves to Moses anytime anyone questions them. The question however, is, is comparing themselves to Moses a fair comparison? Well, if they went to compare themselves to Moses them they need to be held up to "the Moses standard." What was the first thing the "meekest man on the earth" did, when Jehovah wanted to send him to free the Israelite's? He asked Jehovah for proof to give to the Israelite's that Jehovah had actually sent him, proof in the form of tangible miraculous evidence, not a printing empire. WT's claim to fame is no different than any successful corporation.

But to put a fine point on it, the GB will say things like, "we know, or we have proof, that God appointed the F&S in 1918, 1919" etc...and what proof do we have? Them saying so, that's the proof. What has happened is we have all just become acutely aware of it. But it has always been this way, but prior to JW Broadcasting, it was way more subtle.

For example, anytime such comments were made for example, in a WT article or in any other published format, there was always that element of anonymity to it, they didn't "want credit." Which actually lent, to some degree, to their credibility.

But with the formation of JW Broadcasting, the veil has been lifted on the true nature and severity of their hubris and arrogance and for those of us here, it is and has been quite the shocker.

I'll say this too, in our defense, it does not make us naive or stupid for wanting to believe the best in the Org and even allowing ourselves to be fooled. That is a reflection of our nature and our faith, because it is in our nature to want to believe the best about "Jehovah's Organization." And that is possibly one of the most serious indictments of WT and the GB, and that is where the "wolves in sheep's clothing" illustration really takes root, IMO.
 
Bienvenidos!!! Estos hilos cada vez me emocionan más. Se llega después de un gran fiasco y todos aquí podemos entender lo que se siente después de la gran decepción. Es como un gran duelo, me alegra que hoy en día exista este foro para los que ven lo que hay detrás del velo que Jehová ha permitido. Es algo que aún me pregunto, porque yo tengo el privilegio de ver más allá de ese velo? Que bendición tenemos aquí!! Un fuerte abrazo desde España y si, os voy a hacer trabajar y sacar el traductor!! Pero el amor es grande!!!💙
 
Mucho gusto¡Gracias por sus pensamientos! ¡España es un país precioso! ¡Las decisiones importantes de la vida se tomaron en las playas de España para uno de nosotros! ¡Hemos visto mucho de lo que está pasando en España en particular! ¡Nosotros también nos sentimos bendecidos! ¡Ha sido una montaña rusa emocional, por decir lo menos! ¡Nos alegra que se haya puesto en contacto con nosotros y esperamos más comentarios! Agradecemos su amabilidad! 🥰
 
Wide Awake said:
Mucho gusto¡Gracias por sus pensamientos! ¡España es un país precioso! ¡Las decisiones importantes de la vida se tomaron en las playas de España para uno de nosotros! ¡Hemos visto mucho de lo que está pasando en España en particular! ¡Nosotros también nos sentimos bendecidos! ¡Ha sido una montaña rusa emocional, por decir lo menos! ¡Nos alegra que se haya puesto en contacto con nosotros y esperamos más comentarios! Agradecemos su amabilidad! 🥰
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No dudéis en avisar si volvéis a sus playas, vivimos en ellas. Por desgracia ya nada de lo que podamos ver nos sorprende, en el declive hay montañas rusas para unos, pasajes del terror para otros, algunos terminan muy golpeados de los autos de choque...y aún queda la gran explosión cuando bajen todos desde el cielo a la fiesta maligna. Vamos a coger fuerzas aunque sea un poco de tiempo antes de eso. No falta mucho y nos vendrá a todos bien saber que compartimos una fe renovada, de la que más adelante seremos testigos con más plenitud Aguante queridos!!
 
Wide Awake said:
Thank you for such a warm welcome!
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Welcome to the forum. It was a wonderful comment to read and full of awakening wonder to the truth. I recall the zealousness for the “truth” that you wrote about and frequently look back upon my attitude to the “non-believers” at that time. I often feel ashamed of my attitude to others back them and ask myself often, which was the greater lie - myself and my attitude or the watchtower. Probably both. It makes us that way does it not? Yet in fact, we have all fallen for Satan’s lie - the GB too, yet there comes a time when at least for some of us, our reasoning upon faith becomes strong enough to be realised in our heart. As you so rightly mentioned in your letter, it is love of the foundations of the truth. They cannot easily be described, but are a part of us. And love describes truth in a far more eloquent manner than does learning. It moves the Spirit, something that came across in your letter also. How refreshing it was to read that acknowledgement to the spirit.

The vaccination appears to have been a catalyst for many in awakening. One would have thought that the outrage of the UN Library affiliation would have done the job, but rather it seems to have been a matter of personal direction or interference against the person that has moved the central bloc of witnesses in America and that as a natural course of events, filtered down world wide. No one in their right mind would challenge an American citizen on their “rights”; be it having a fully primed and loaded battle tank in their garden (yard), or what to wear - even if it IS one of those Aloha shirts!! - yet it seems that the GB are so insulated in their ivory tower that they saw fit to issue their own “cool aide” in exchange for money. A very fitting emulation of Judas it has come to be in retrospect.

Certainly the Australian Royal Commission exposed the truth about the lie, and Geoffrey Jackson‘s abdication of the position of the watchtower could not have been a greater betrayal of themselves. Their love of money and power being laid bare before all with the eyes to see. The prosecution had them in the palm of their hand but their ignorance of the watchtower let them down. So much more could have been made of it - but the time was not then. Maybe it soon is to be. Still - you and yours are awake and there is no better place to be than in the palm of Jehovah Himself. So welcome to the the love of the Truth. By the way, please do not keep you comments short - everything spoken here, related, spiritual, helpful and encouraging is worth its weight in gold. The bible comprises well over three quarters of a million words, and Jehovah demands that not a word be lost or added. 👍
 
My friend confided that she had been having seizures after her second Pfizer genetic therapy product (GTP). I was speaking to her on a Friday night in October of 2022. We hadn't seen each other for a while and were looking forward to meeting up at a retirement party. She was found dead in her bed the following Wednesday. Another friend of mine is very angry. She developed deep vein thrombosis (clots) and has had to have surgeries. She knows exactly what caused her issues. Even her vein doctor (whatever you call them) indicated that it was highly likely it was the jab. A retired co-worker of mine went suddenly and almost completely deaf a day after the second jab. Whatever the doc's are doing is working though. Much of his hearing is restored. My old manager complained of brain fog. Another co-worker still has pain in his legs after second jab from over a year ago. I know of others having issues, but it is all second hand, so I won't relate them here. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE for me who has a very small circle of friends and associates know so many affected by this? I am glad I waited to see how the jab might affect others before making my decision. Never got it.
 
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I have mentioned it elsewhere, but it bears repeating. Having gone over all the Hebrew prophecies and directed what seemed applicable to the leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses, before the vax mandate I had understood that the blood guilt which Jehovah indicts the shepherds for had been metaphoric. I had assumed that God considered stumbling his sheep was why he stated in numerous places that they are murderers. Now, unfortunately, I realize it is quite literal.

Welcome to the forum Wide-Awake

e-watchman.com

Your hands are filled with blood

Monday, September 13 Everyone proud in heart is detestable to Jehovah. —Prov. 16:5. Elders work hard for the benefit of their brothers and sisters. And they do not let their authority make them unduly proud.
e-watchman.com e-watchman.com
 
I believe so many
Wide Awake said:
We are a married couple who have been lurking on here for a couple of years. We are fortunate enough to both have woken up together. It has been a process and are still somewhat in due to caretaking for elderly parents. One seems to be PIMQ giving us hope. We have a lot to say but for now will keep it to an overview. This is the first online platform or outside online forum we discovered and really helped open our eyes.

We are thankful to Robert for having created this space for us to have a place to finally speak.

This is the first time we are speaking out. We have wanted to for a while and finally allowing ourselves to do so. Everyone has their reasons and pace and we will not encourage anyone to go any particular route. Everyone has to go at their own pace for their own reasons and if there is anything we have learned now it is not to judge others and to show more love. We were die hard pimi’s. We both have had “special privileges/titles” for many decades.

There are things we have read on some posts and we can answer some questions.

What woke us up? VAXX pressure. The absolute insanity and pressure to encourage people to take the VAXX which is a personal medical decision was beyond distressing. We do not say that lightly. The ENORMOUS pressure and HORRIBLE statements it allowed the “brothers and sisters” to say were beyond hurtful and unloving. In time, hopefully we can explain more, but for now know we are still seeing double talk. This weekend’s current one-day program with the branch representative literally said “…with health issues , how sad it was to see that even simple matters of public health such as wearing masks or hand washing or physical distancing or vaxxs, those things became controversial , even political, but those are all things Jehovah has given us direction on.” Yet a few days ago they just put out a letter saying they no longer require VAXX for theocratic schools. The requirements for those in special service were extremely strong. We could write a novel on this subject, but not now. We knew something was seriously wrong and this allowed us to give ourselves permission to research other things. We believe that if it is truth, it should be able to withstand scrutiny. The ARC was especially powerful. One of us has had this experience personally and believed it was a rare or not a common occurrence. Well, one of us sat and watched the whole thing straight with tears, hurt and anger and the other saw enough to know this is not Jehovah’s direction and knew what their spouse had been through. The husband stepped away from his position and would love to have unloaded but couldn’t. We also downloaded the court documents from the ARC. We are forever grateful to the ARC and even Geoffrey Jackson for showing who he really is as well as where the GB and WT stands.

The ARC led to the rabbit hole and while trying to fade finally during a zoom one of us stood up (after a ridiculous comment by an elder who has to talk about the VAXX still), and said I can’t do this anymore! So, in our own way though already we had started slowly fading for a year (at a snails pace), we stepped it up and though still connected we are hanging in barely for our parents and cannot fully detach at this time. You will understand later and it KILLS us to feel like we are living a double life. We still love God and believe Jesus is our mediator! Yes, we didn’t even realize the GB had taken that upon themselves. We need an outlet to speak more freely and with those who still have faith, though we do not judge anyone who has lost theirs. Its amazing anyone still has any faith after all we have seen. So, we believe each person can choose their own path as we want to walk on our own path. It has been a difficult, painful process, but we are in a better place now. We need friends with whom we can communicate freely. There are things we appreciate as JWs brought us to each other and helped us with other things, but this org is not directed by Jehovah in our opinion. As Jesus said: “You will recognize them by their fruits.” We have been reading the bible without the WT lens and are enjoying it.

Additional comments:
  • Regarding cart witnessing- actually, yes it has been effective in some areas and that is why they are doing it. We personally started studies, Rv’s and know of many who returned to the org from it.
  • Cart Crashing- you can do what you want but know it just re-reinforces in their minds persecution for the sake of Jah and they shut down their minds. Maybe ask a simple question and do not act like you know more than them as you know they think they know everything and honestly, we use to be those people.
  • Hawaii dress code: yes, last fall they allowed for Brothers to wear Aloha shirts even during conventions due to the “culture”. Instructed not to post on social media.
  • We are constantly reminding ourselves we were those people and to have grace as we know ones who are questioning, but don’t know if they will ever do anything about it. We are trying to be compassionate to the R&F as so many just don’t know. We have both been baptized between 30—40 yrs
  • They are reaching out to see where people stand and following up on inactive ones. We are preparing ourselves.
Thank you for bearing with this introduction and in the future will try to keep comments shorter. We have a lot bottled up inside and are keeping our identities and location private for now. Again, thank you for letting us be here. Side note…we have spent time on this site plenty of times while in service and meetings to keep sane! You all are so brave and courageous! We are fully aware we are blessed to at least have each other to talk about these matters. We love you all!
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i believe so many brothers and sisters share your story. It has been an eye opener for me and at the same time sad to watch how the brothers and sisters treated each other over this vaccine. It has been horrible. My parents who have been in the truth for 50 years were treated horrible on there stand not to take the vaccine. there are so many other reasons but like you had mentioned, Jehovahs holy spirit is not guiding his people. One final thought because like yourselves i could write a book. The ARC report is just the beginning. My family has first hand experience esp. myself and my brother as to how the society allowed pedophiles to lurk in Jehovahs house. This sick disease has eaten away at the organization and it will all come out. The dam will burst. Dont lose your love for our creator.
 
Wide Awake said:
We are a married couple who have been lurking on here for a couple of years. We are fortunate enough to both have woken up together. It has been a process and are still somewhat in due to caretaking for elderly parents. One seems to be PIMQ giving us hope. We have a lot to say but for now will keep it to an overview. This is the first online platform or outside online forum we discovered and really helped open our eyes.

We are thankful to Robert for having created this space for us to have a place to finally speak.

This is the first time we are speaking out. We have wanted to for a while and finally allowing ourselves to do so. Everyone has their reasons and pace and we will not encourage anyone to go any particular route. Everyone has to go at their own pace for their own reasons and if there is anything we have learned now it is not to judge others and to show more love. We were die hard pimi’s. We both have had “special privileges/titles” for many decades.

There are things we have read on some posts and we can answer some questions.

What woke us up? VAXX pressure. The absolute insanity and pressure to encourage people to take the VAXX which is a personal medical decision was beyond distressing. We do not say that lightly. The ENORMOUS pressure and HORRIBLE statements it allowed the “brothers and sisters” to say were beyond hurtful and unloving. In time, hopefully we can explain more, but for now know we are still seeing double talk. This weekend’s current one-day program with the branch representative literally said “…with health issues , how sad it was to see that even simple matters of public health such as wearing masks or hand washing or physical distancing or vaxxs, those things became controversial , even political, but those are all things Jehovah has given us direction on.” Yet a few days ago they just put out a letter saying they no longer require VAXX for theocratic schools. The requirements for those in special service were extremely strong. We could write a novel on this subject, but not now. We knew something was seriously wrong and this allowed us to give ourselves permission to research other things. We believe that if it is truth, it should be able to withstand scrutiny. The ARC was especially powerful. One of us has had this experience personally and believed it was a rare or not a common occurrence. Well, one of us sat and watched the whole thing straight with tears, hurt and anger and the other saw enough to know this is not Jehovah’s direction and knew what their spouse had been through. The husband stepped away from his position and would love to have unloaded but couldn’t. We also downloaded the court documents from the ARC. We are forever grateful to the ARC and even Geoffrey Jackson for showing who he really is as well as where the GB and WT stands.

The ARC led to the rabbit hole and while trying to fade finally during a zoom one of us stood up (after a ridiculous comment by an elder who has to talk about the VAXX still), and said I can’t do this anymore! So, in our own way though already we had started slowly fading for a year (at a snails pace), we stepped it up and though still connected we are hanging in barely for our parents and cannot fully detach at this time. You will understand later and it KILLS us to feel like we are living a double life. We still love God and believe Jesus is our mediator! Yes, we didn’t even realize the GB had taken that upon themselves. We need an outlet to speak more freely and with those who still have faith, though we do not judge anyone who has lost theirs. Its amazing anyone still has any faith after all we have seen. So, we believe each person can choose their own path as we want to walk on our own path. It has been a difficult, painful process, but we are in a better place now. We need friends with whom we can communicate freely. There are things we appreciate as JWs brought us to each other and helped us with other things, but this org is not directed by Jehovah in our opinion. As Jesus said: “You will recognize them by their fruits.” We have been reading the bible without the WT lens and are enjoying it.

Additional comments:
  • Regarding cart witnessing- actually, yes it has been effective in some areas and that is why they are doing it. We personally started studies, Rv’s and know of many who returned to the org from it.
  • Cart Crashing- you can do what you want but know it just re-reinforces in their minds persecution for the sake of Jah and they shut down their minds. Maybe ask a simple question and do not act like you know more than them as you know they think they know everything and honestly, we use to be those people.
  • Hawaii dress code: yes, last fall they allowed for Brothers to wear Aloha shirts even during conventions due to the “culture”. Instructed not to post on social media.
  • We are constantly reminding ourselves we were those people and to have grace as we know ones who are questioning, but don’t know if they will ever do anything about it. We are trying to be compassionate to the R&F as so many just don’t know. We have both been baptized between 30—40 yrs
  • They are reaching out to see where people stand and following up on inactive ones. We are preparing ourselves.
Thank you for bearing with this introduction and in the future will try to keep comments shorter. We have a lot bottled up inside and are keeping our identities and location private for now. Again, thank you for letting us be here. Side note…we have spent time on this site plenty of times while in service and meetings to keep sane! You all are so brave and courageous! We are fully aware we are blessed to at least have each other to talk about these matters. We love you all!
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Welcome to the forum Wide Awake. I very much enjoyed reading your comment and please don't feel you have to make future comments shorter... you don't! Great to have you here..
 
Wide Awake said:
We are a married couple who have been lurking on here for a couple of years. We are fortunate enough to both have woken up together. It has been a process and are still somewhat in due to caretaking for elderly parents. One seems to be PIMQ giving us hope. We have a lot to say but for now will keep it to an overview. This is the first online platform or outside online forum we discovered and really helped open our eyes.

We are thankful to Robert for having created this space for us to have a place to finally speak.

This is the first time we are speaking out. We have wanted to for a while and finally allowing ourselves to do so. Everyone has their reasons and pace and we will not encourage anyone to go any particular route. Everyone has to go at their own pace for their own reasons and if there is anything we have learned now it is not to judge others and to show more love. We were die hard pimi’s. We both have had “special privileges/titles” for many decades.

There are things we have read on some posts and we can answer some questions.

What woke us up? VAXX pressure. The absolute insanity and pressure to encourage people to take the VAXX which is a personal medical decision was beyond distressing. We do not say that lightly. The ENORMOUS pressure and HORRIBLE statements it allowed the “brothers and sisters” to say were beyond hurtful and unloving. In time, hopefully we can explain more, but for now know we are still seeing double talk. This weekend’s current one-day program with the branch representative literally said “…with health issues , how sad it was to see that even simple matters of public health such as wearing masks or hand washing or physical distancing or vaxxs, those things became controversial , even political, but those are all things Jehovah has given us direction on.” Yet a few days ago they just put out a letter saying they no longer require VAXX for theocratic schools. The requirements for those in special service were extremely strong. We could write a novel on this subject, but not now. We knew something was seriously wrong and this allowed us to give ourselves permission to research other things. We believe that if it is truth, it should be able to withstand scrutiny. The ARC was especially powerful. One of us has had this experience personally and believed it was a rare or not a common occurrence. Well, one of us sat and watched the whole thing straight with tears, hurt and anger and the other saw enough to know this is not Jehovah’s direction and knew what their spouse had been through. The husband stepped away from his position and would love to have unloaded but couldn’t. We also downloaded the court documents from the ARC. We are forever grateful to the ARC and even Geoffrey Jackson for showing who he really is as well as where the GB and WT stands.

The ARC led to the rabbit hole and while trying to fade finally during a zoom one of us stood up (after a ridiculous comment by an elder who has to talk about the VAXX still), and said I can’t do this anymore! So, in our own way though already we had started slowly fading for a year (at a snails pace), we stepped it up and though still connected we are hanging in barely for our parents and cannot fully detach at this time. You will understand later and it KILLS us to feel like we are living a double life. We still love God and believe Jesus is our mediator! Yes, we didn’t even realize the GB had taken that upon themselves. We need an outlet to speak more freely and with those who still have faith, though we do not judge anyone who has lost theirs. Its amazing anyone still has any faith after all we have seen. So, we believe each person can choose their own path as we want to walk on our own path. It has been a difficult, painful process, but we are in a better place now. We need friends with whom we can communicate freely. There are things we appreciate as JWs brought us to each other and helped us with other things, but this org is not directed by Jehovah in our opinion. As Jesus said: “You will recognize them by their fruits.” We have been reading the bible without the WT lens and are enjoying it.

Additional comments:
  • Regarding cart witnessing- actually, yes it has been effective in some areas and that is why they are doing it. We personally started studies, Rv’s and know of many who returned to the org from it.
  • Cart Crashing- you can do what you want but know it just re-reinforces in their minds persecution for the sake of Jah and they shut down their minds. Maybe ask a simple question and do not act like you know more than them as you know they think they know everything and honestly, we use to be those people.
  • Hawaii dress code: yes, last fall they allowed for Brothers to wear Aloha shirts even during conventions due to the “culture”. Instructed not to post on social media.
  • We are constantly reminding ourselves we were those people and to have grace as we know ones who are questioning, but don’t know if they will ever do anything about it. We are trying to be compassionate to the R&F as so many just don’t know. We have both been baptized between 30—40 yrs
  • They are reaching out to see where people stand and following up on inactive ones. We are preparing ourselves.
Thank you for bearing with this introduction and in the future will try to keep comments shorter. We have a lot bottled up inside and are keeping our identities and location private for now. Again, thank you for letting us be here. Side note…we have spent time on this site plenty of times while in service and meetings to keep sane! You all are so brave and courageous! We are fully aware we are blessed to at least have each other to talk about these matters. We love you all!
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Welcome @Wide Awake to the forum. I wanted to cry after reading your story. You could never have too much to say about yourselves here. Most of us can relate. The vax is what did it for us too. But shortly thereafter I lost my husband of 38 years and have had to go through this alone. Now, for two years my daughter, still a witness has nothing to do with me because I questioned the GB.
So I can imagine the pain and heartache of your experience. However, we still keep our faith in Jah and Jesus intact. That’s what matters most. The Bible says that mere men cannot save us. Many of the friends are doing what Jesus warned us about…”Blind guides is what they are. If, then, a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
Sad to say but this is what they’ll have to be faced with if they don’t wake up.
 
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