Our first time speaking out and experience!

[Shiloh]

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!

So very glad you are here and can speak freely with fellow worshippers of Jehovah and not feel so alone. Waking up and stepping away from the religion is so terribly hard to do I'm so glad you had each other along the way, that makes it a bit easier. I was not associated with a congregation during the pandemic as its been over 10 years since my last meeting. I still have one daughter and son in law who is a MS still very active with their congregation. They haven't cut me off yet and I have to be very cautious with what I say to them, if they knew the whole truth of what I believe now they'd shun me as an apostate. I have mentioned to them how recent studies shown how dangerous the vaxx is and that people who were vaxxed that were young and healthy are suddenly dying. They get really quiet then. I'm hoping that some of my subtle remarks lead them to waking up. I just wanted to hop on here to tell you how much I enjoyed your first post and welcome you here. I've only been here since December 23 myself and have found it to be spiritually refreshing. I hope you find it that way as well.

 

[Wide Awake]

So very glad you are here and can speak freely with fellow worshippers of Jehovah and not feel so alone. Waking up and stepping away from the religion is so terribly hard to do I'm so glad you had each other along the way, that makes it a bit easier. I was not associated with a congregation during the pandemic as its been over 10 years since my last meeting. I still have one daughter and son in law who is a MS still very active with their congregation. They haven't cut me off yet and I have to be very cautious with what I say to them, if they knew the whole truth of what I believe now they'd shun me as an apostate. I have mentioned to them how recent studies shown how dangerous the vaxx is and that people who were vaxxed that were young and healthy are suddenly dying. They get really quiet then. I'm hoping that some of my subtle remarks lead them to waking up. I just wanted to hop on here to tell you how much I enjoyed your first post and welcome you here. I've only been here since December 23 myself and have found it to be spiritually refreshing. I hope you find it that way as well.

Thank you Shiloh, you are very kind to say that. It’s hard as we are not saying everything either because of family that we have to care for who are elderly and it’s brutal and a tightrope walk is a good way to describe it.

Yes, we are encouraged to have so many on here who are likeminded and awake. We certainly never thought we would ever be on an “apostate” site like this, but here we are!! It’s crazy for us to understand how we didn’t see the truth before, because it is so clear to us now!

If we told our family what we believe now, we would be labeled as apostates and shunned too!

Glad to have you on the site and look forward to your comments as well!

 

[Ana]

Thank you Shiloh, you are very kind to say that. It’s hard as we are not saying everything either because of family that we have to care for who are elderly and it’s brutal and a tightrope walk is a good way to describe it.

Yes, we are encouraged to have so many on here who are likeminded and awake. We certainly never thought we would ever be on an “apostate” site like this, but here we are!! It’s crazy for us to understand how we didn’t see the truth before, because it is so clear to us now!

If we told our family what we believe now, we would be labeled as apostates and shunned too!

Glad to have you on the site and look forward to your comments as well!

Mateo 12 es muy aplicable al comportamiento del órgano rector de la WT. Las respuestas de Jesús fueron las realmente condenatorias y en las que podemos fijarnos realmente para identificar las posiciones. Me quedo con el versiculo 7- Si ustedes supieran qué significa esto: “Lo que pido de ustedes es misericordia y no sacrificios”, no condenarían a los que no son culpables. El versículo 25- Y Jesús, sabiendo los pensamientos de ellos, les dijo: Todo reino dividido contra sí mismo es asolado; y toda ciudad o casa dividida contra sí misma no permanecerá. Respuestas claras y directas que podemos hacer nuestras cuando estamos en el lugar correcto y decimos la verdad. Si ellos amasen la verdad... Que gran capitulo donde Jesús asimila el estado de los fariseos a ese hombre con un espiritu inmundo y sus consecuencias. Así será con la apostasía que proviene de la casa de Jehová.

 

[Watchman]

Yes, we are encouraged to have so many on here who are likeminded and awake. We certainly never thought we would ever be on an “apostate” site like this, but here we are!! It’s crazy for us to understand how we didn’t see the truth before, because it is so clear to us now!

I never thought I'd become an "apostate" but I have to say, it is quite enlightening.

 

[goldie]

I never thought I'd become an "apostate" but I have to say, it is quite enlightening.

Br king you crack me up. You really have a great sense of humor.

 

[BARNABY THE DOG.]

It is interesting, I mean, come on, I learned about handwashing in kindergarten. In fact, as I put my hand to the keyboard a distant memory surfaced from 65 years ago: "Wash your hands every day. After toilet, after play." That's what we recited in kindergarten. No wonder my favorite activity in Mrs. Doleman's kindergarten was nap time. And here is the Watchtower, 100 years after they announced Jehovah's fiery judgments against all of Christendom and the world, calling down the bowls of God's wrath, hailstones, fire, and blood; now they are leading the refrain of a similar nursery rhyme. "Command after command, command after command, line by line, line by line, a little here, a little there...” Interestingly too, the Pharisees were sticklers for ritual handwashing. It all adds up.

I remember my kindergarten…..the toilet was a lean-to outside and rather resembled a Great War latrine in a trench with a wooden bar stretched across it. The stench was probably on a par with it too. I have no recollection of any hand washing facilities and certainly there were no hygienic jingles to sing about hygiene. Primary school toilets were situated right next to the bomb shelter - for obvious reasons - and though they escaped a direct hit, it was difficult to imagine that such was the case. The Pharisees would not have stood a chance.

 

[BARNABY THE DOG.]

I never thought I'd become an "apostate" but I have to say, it is quite enlightening.

It’s divine anomaly of the scriptures that the perceived apostasy is the truth - apart from the real apostasy that is not but pretends to be.….I think….

 

[Proverbs 14 v 15]

Excellent. I may add that as well as Jehovah and Jesus being there when we wake up, they also actively come looking for us - at least it feels that way to me.

Very encouraging point brother, thankyou for saying that

 

[robins]

His GB update #7 in 2021 comparing Naaman's leprosy "cure" in the Jordan to the Vaxx as if from God was the one that helped us see the blasphemous direction being given. BTW he is not a fan of football at ALL, so maybe he had something to do with all of the carts at superbowl? Just sayin'
And having only met him once at the hall where he gave a talk, he was less than personable.

Thank you for sharing your story! I had already noticed the cracks in the org in terms of logic, but the VAXX was a huge severing for me too. My least favorite GB update was the one where the sister got the job in replacement of those unjabbed who were fired! Had I not retired prior to covid, my gov job would have been on the chopping block too, so i was especially sensitive to this logic and persuasion pressure. And to be then gas-lit by being told it was always 'a personal decision'!
I am grateful my immediate family is on the same page. Hoping you can navigate these waters calmly. Knowing others are in the same boat has been so helpful for me mentally, too

 

[Wide Awake]

Thank you for sharing your story! I had already noticed the cracks in the org in terms of logic, but the VAXX was a huge severing for me too. My least favorite GB update was the one where the sister got the job in replacement of those unjabbed who were fired! Had I not retired prior to covid, my gov job would have been on the chopping block too, so i was especially sensitive to this logic and persuasion pressure. And to be then gas-lit by being told it was always 'a personal decision'!
I am grateful my immediate family is on the same page. Hoping you can navigate these waters calmly. Knowing others are in the same boat has been so helpful for me mentally, too

We are so glad your immediate family is on the same page as it has been so divisive! We have friends who have mates that aren't on the same page and it has strained their marriages when it shouldn't even be a consideration.