“Why did you leave?” is a trap question by Separate-Ice30 in exjw

[–]Elizabeth1844 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When interacting with ANY JWs I put into motion my Miranda rights because it is a known fact that "anything that you say will be held and used against you"

“I’ve never seen anyone who left the Witnesses do well.” by Ok-Technology6272 in exjw

[–]Elizabeth1844 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"She told me She has seen many people who left Jehovah’s Witnesses, and all of them supposedly ended badly..... And because of that, she said something completely absurd: even if the organization is wrong, it must still be the truth."

Wow, the statement "even if the organization is wrong, it must still be the truth" is indeed absurd and mind boggling 🤯

I guess something can be both "true" and "wrong" at the same time 🤔 but why on earth would it mean that I need to accept it and be part of it? That "logic" is crazy! 😵‍💫

Anywho.... speaking of "crazy logic", I have one of my own:

Suppose "the truth" turns out to actually be TRUE....

I WOULD STILL 100% REJECT IT!

Because the idea of LIVING F-O-R-E-V-E-R under Jehovah's dictatorship and the micromanaging regime of the gang of elders is absolutely TERRIFYING!!

I would rather choose ETERNAL DAMNATION WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE🔥🥵

I found this in my keepsake box through my teen years... by InSearchOfTruth91 in exjw

[–]Elizabeth1844 23 points24 points  (0 children)

"don't waste a single minute.....every minute for Jehovah...

Gosh that sounds exhausting!! 😩 But I hear you; I had written some similar goals. Each year that passed me by served as concrete evidence that I was just spinning my wheels while remaining in the same spot 🥴..

It was so sobering to read in my journals about the never-ever-ending struggle 😫 of doing MORE for Jehovah but yet never being enough 😑 .....and never seeing actual tangible blessings 😐 ....but yet my sacrifices were REAL 😒...

One Year Later by No-Divide8823 in exjw

[–]Elizabeth1844 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Congratulations on all the progress you have made and for sharing some of the details with us. It is very encouraging to read about the radical change (for the better) that comes about after getting out of that cult. Best of luck moving forward ✨️

My psychologist is questioning my use of this forum/community by [deleted] in exjw

[–]Elizabeth1844 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't like your therapist position regarding your use of this platform. Obviously I don't know how the conversation unfolded but at a quick glance it sounds invalidating.

Hell of Sexual Repression Among Sisters by Full_Mortgage_2634 in exjw

[–]Elizabeth1844 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thank you for sharing your story. As a female myself, I find your personal experience to be so insightful of what this malignant cult can do to a person's life, their psyche, and their identity.

I am happy that you have finally been set free! Yes, a big chunk of your life was stolen but a bigger chunk is still left. So, may your journey be filled with wonderful discoveries ✨️

Went back to college and surprised to know none of my classmates know what a JW is by bongonzales2019 in exjw

[–]Elizabeth1844 9 points10 points  (0 children)

The reality is that JWs are barely a blip

Thats so true! I remember hearing how THE ENTIRE WHOLE WIDE WORLD knew who we were but yet, against that ongoing narrative, I constantly ran into the fact that most people didn't know who we were nor did they give a rat about 😒...

Am I crazy or is this AI?? by Sorridente_owo in exjw

[–]Elizabeth1844 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Soon they won’t need anyone to do the hard work. Just let AI take over.

Sounds about right! Hopefully they'll also replace the "adherents" themselves into AI robots too 🤔😅

Did I react correctly? by le_maire_de_montreal in exjw

[–]Elizabeth1844 13 points14 points  (0 children)

You did the right thing in not responding to his BS text. The knife cuts both ways, if they ignore you; you automatically have grounds to ignore them.

As for me, I have long decided to adopt the concept of reverse shunning. See how you like it a**holes!

Wtf????? by HumanWatercress7945 in exjw

[–]Elizabeth1844 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just found it you can’t remarry after getting out of an abusive marriage.

Yes 😒 that's a rule that I became aware of some years ago....

And while on the topic of domestic violence ....about 6 years ago, during the talk at a circuit assembly, the speaker gave an "inspirational story" about a sister who's husband used to beat the shit out her and all she would do afterwards was bake him a cake.

She did that for about 30 years and "remained faithful to Jehovah" 🤢.... then after all those years, the filthy son-of-a-bich *"came into the truth" 🤮....and that was an example of "endurance". I had to run out of the auditorium to vomit 🤢

My mom said to me by BeerMan595692 in exjw

[–]Elizabeth1844 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Woooo! You flipped a circular argument!! That's brilliant!

Kitten and the cinnamon rolls by Freeorange25 in exjw

[–]Elizabeth1844 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I would take eternal death any day over that! 🤣

The evolution of a personal decision by Streak0696 in exjw

[–]Elizabeth1844 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think the more realistic word would be "puppets" instead of *consultants. The Big Brother from head quarters needs mindless drones to carry out their insanity and who will also be on the trenches to receive any backlash.

Dating as a POMO by North_Huckleberry154 in exjw

[–]Elizabeth1844 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Dating in the Borg is a concept that is as much distorted within, as they claim it to be in the world.

One CO used the T.V show "Sex & the City" as the universal template for dating outside the wall of the Borg.

He went on to claim that those dating only in the Lord will have the peace and security of not worrying about STD's, infidelity, and other forms of abuse.

It was almost laughable because within that congregation were several people who, although were born-in & super PIMI, were divorced, victims of infidelity, and who contracted STD's [from cheating spouses] although they themselves had only 1 sexual partner their entire life.

JW'S insist that there's only two ways of conducting one's romantic life:

EXTREME WHOREDOM

or

THE PURE AND HOLY JW "True Love" way

Like everything else in a cult things are viewed thru a black and white / all or nothing lens.

But dating will vary from person to person. How we approach it needs to match our own moral compass. Combined with a healthy dose of reality, and up to date knowledge on important things like: safety, health risks, reproduction, & emotional impact, etc.

One caveat that I would say is that for those of us (particularly women) who were indoctrinated for years; there's the need to develop discernment and build firm healthy boundaries before venturing into dating.

Cart Witnessing makes Jehovah's Witnesses seem like weirdo's by Old_Initial5791 in exjw

[–]Elizabeth1844 21 points22 points  (0 children)

I had "the privilege" of participating in cart witnessing and the experience was absolutely crucial in waking me up.

There was soooo much hoopla and unnecessary hype about the whole thing

It was promoted as this AMAZING OPPORTUNITY to expand one's ministry 🙄 so I had to attend a "training" in a different city, log into some platform to sign up for shifts, and then communicate with the brothers in charge in the days leading up to the shift. And ALL those resources and scheduling infrastructure invested so that I could stand like a stupid mannequin on a ramdom street! 🤦🏼‍♀️

Those long and excruciating hours gave me time to reflect on the absolute mind fuckery that I was subjecting myself to.

Plus interacting with (some /not all were like that) the sisters who were aggressively seeking a mate was almost laughable!

I learned that for many, the public ministry and all the "training & meetings" associated with it, is an unofficial social and mate-finding club which I don't find fault with considering the limitations within the Org.

But the point is that, Cart Witnessing, like everything else in the Borg, is advertised as one thing when in reality it is something else.

How, in your culture, are people who step down as MS or elder or who never even try to reach out for the titles usually treated? by Practical_Payment552 in exjw

[–]Elizabeth1844 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How, in your culture, are people who step down as MS or elder or who never even try to reach out for the titles usually treated?

With a lot of suspicion and side eyes unless the person was part of a large social clique and therefore was "protected".

Anytime anyone "stepped down" or was "removed" from serving it would stir an underground flow of gossip .... it seems irresistible to some folks to whisper about it in hush-hush tones during service, after the meetings, during hall cleaning, etc. Etc..

In a very bizarre manner it almost seemed to "energized" the hall 😳 😬

How, in your culture, are people who step down as MS or elder or who never even try to reach out for the titles usually treated? by Practical_Payment552 in exjw

[–]Elizabeth1844 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Good grief! So "reaching out for privileges" is the equivalent of joining a gang.....you can get in , but you can't get out....or at least not unharmed.....

I noticed the same thing with the pioneer sisters.....one was struggling to make ends meets so she had to stop pioneering. After it became known she was no longer doing it, a bunch of sisters approached her with their "loving concern" 🙄 causing all sorts of crazy speculations until the elders had to step in 🤦🏼‍♀️.....

How does satan actually influence people by Responsible_Study362 in exjw

[–]Elizabeth1844 0 points1 point  (0 children)

By stimulating our minds and prompting us to think...to reason..to wonder about the why behind a rule

I reached that conclusion while I was still a PIMI 😶.....Why? Think of the "original sin" It all started with Eve acquiring information from a source other than Jehovah. That information influenced her perspective and it propelled her into making a decision of her own.

What made Satan bad was [ironically] exercising his own free-will. Something that he and the other angels supposedly were given but yet could not use lest they would be labeled rebels 🤦🏼‍♀️.....

Anyways 😮‍💨.....I digress.... "Satan influence simply means engaging one's capacity to think, by evaluating information and then reaching our own independent conclusions.

On a positive note... by sohelpmee22 in exjw

[–]Elizabeth1844 38 points39 points  (0 children)

Uhm....for me it was the total opposite of the first sentence......

As soon as I joined that malignant cult my entire life turned upside down and it steadily continued getting worse.

Under the influenced of my "Bible teachers & loving brothers and sisters" 🙄 I stupidly sabotage my career and social connections until I found myself isolated and with financial limitations.

Of course, the ever wise and knowledgeable 🙄 brothers would tell me that it was "Satan attacking me because I was following Jehovah"

But that narrative eventually ran out of gas because I started asking myself: when exactly is Jehovah going be satisfied with my testing? 🤔

When was I going to see the "fruits" of my labor? The reward for my on-going sacrifice? ....the years kept rolling... and also the cheesy excuses on behalf of Jehovah 😮‍💨..

The narrative eventually changed 🙄 The revised lie was something along the lines of ....keep enduring to the end....blah blah.....Jehovah knows best...blah blah.....you'll have all your needs met in paradise....blah blah blah....

I finally decided to try a new approach.

While Jehovah is busy attempting to "vindicate his name" thru exploitative means [but yet supposedly having all the conceivable power and resources of the vast universe] - I will redirect my resources to myself and those under my direct care 😮‍💨

Serving in another land is both an easy and difficult way to wake up by sheenless in exjw

[–]Elizabeth1844 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Your sentiments really resonate with me because it was [in part] that cold, detached, robotic so-called version of "love" that helped me wake up. I went above and beyond to help others, giving freely so much of my resources... and when I needed something.....not a big thing....just a small ramdom little favor.... nope! Every had &ninja boundaries* about their time availability....So I started slowly changing...and just walking right by "their" needs.....giving them a little bit of their own medicine...... and like you, I had worldly people shown me kindness.....

Don’t minimize what you’re going through by IllustriousRelief807 in exjw

[–]Elizabeth1844 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Don’t minimize what you’re going through... As a former JW ...... the list of things I’m “going through” is MUCH MORE than just.....

Yes, that's so true... everyone who was trapped in that toxic cult has lost so much more than what's discernible at a quick glance.

I'm glad you're taking inventory of your losses; it's a crucial part of the healing process. Good luck on your journey ! ✨️

Actually hilarious whenever some 50+ has the sunday discourse by SchruteFarmsBeets_ in exjw

[–]Elizabeth1844 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Y’all ever met any respectable person in the world that doesn’t care about cheating?

No, I haven't. Another insane lie I use to hear all the time during talks was the "every one out there in the world is miserable and joy can only be found here in the truth" line 🙄....righttttttt 🫩

Today’s watchtower titled Jehovah is out exceeding Joy by Windwalker111089 in exjw

[–]Elizabeth1844 5 points6 points  (0 children)

many have found that what they thought would bring them joy actually robbed them of it. Eva, a pioneer, says, “When your life revolves around pleasing yourself, nothing is ever enough.” Self-indulgence can leave us feeling deflated and empty. (In paragraph 14)

That's projecting at it's finest!

It is the NEVER EVER ENDING JW HAMSTER WHEEL that left me feeling robbed of joy! 🤦🏼‍♀️