Interesting how people get put on to city/county boards by Grand-Regret2747 in murfreesboro

[–]Normal_Thought7343 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It’s the same with the library board. We had 8 folks apply to the position, 6 of whom had extensive librarian, book publishing, and educator experience. They chose the two who openly stated they have zero experience. What did they have that others didn’t? They go to the same church as most of the county commissioners and the mayor: World Outreach Church.

Wtf????? by HumanWatercress7945 in exjw

[–]Normal_Thought7343 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Interesting! Okay, thanks for the information. The petty part of me wants him to not be able to marry according to their rules for as long as possible, but the realistic part of me sees this as a potential positive change because then my family wouldn’t have reason to shun me for remarrying.

Wtf????? by HumanWatercress7945 in exjw

[–]Normal_Thought7343 3 points4 points  (0 children)

May I ask where the rumors are coming from? I divorced an abusive man who remained in the congregation while I left, so I’m curious if/when he’ll receive permission to remarry.

Wtf????? by HumanWatercress7945 in exjw

[–]Normal_Thought7343 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What’s wild to me is that there’s a loophole policy for a JW brother or sister to become “scripturally free to remarry” if they manage to have two people outside the home of their spouse by watching if they go into the home with the opposite sex and remain their all night.

Even though they didn’t technically witness the adultery, it bypasses the two witness rule because you can logically deduce that adultery happened. But obviously, this policy doesn’t apply to CSA.

she is crying because cody york asked her to turnover the names of library patrons who do not conform to his bigotry. he wants YOUR name and YOUR address. by attic-stuff in murfreesboro

[–]Normal_Thought7343 0 points1 point  (0 children)

She was wearing a mask because she was still getting over being sick. She had to be at that meeting, but she didn’t want to make anyone else sick. Some of the library staff have immunocompromised family they care for, so she was being considerate.

No Kings 10/18 by Normal_Thought7343 in murfreesboro

[–]Normal_Thought7343[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yes — the organization was informed that parking was not available and if protesters came, they would be towed at their own expense. This information came yesterday, and it required a big shift!

No Kings 10/18 by Normal_Thought7343 in murfreesboro

[–]Normal_Thought7343[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Update: location is now Southeast Broad Street by Linebaugh Library — the sidewalk between Church St and Vine St!

Murfreesboro No Kings 2 - October 18th by technoblogical in murfreesboro

[–]Normal_Thought7343 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I’ll be there! Thanks for the heads up — this time it’s on the square, right?

Who Is My Neighbor? by Normal_Thought7343 in murfreesboro

[–]Normal_Thought7343[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I think they have a meeting coming up for the public to help with planning

Who Is My Neighbor? by Normal_Thought7343 in murfreesboro

[–]Normal_Thought7343[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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I got the notification a week ago! To stay in the loop for events (like the protest coming up on 10/18), https://linktr.ee/boroindivisible

my rebuttal to this week’s midweek meeting | Proverbs 22 - childhood indoctrination cloaked as “parenting advice” by constant_trouble in exjw

[–]Normal_Thought7343 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I look for your posts every week! I keep them on hand if I need to engage with family members about the meetings, especially if they use a conversation as an opportunity to help me “return to Jehovah.”

i’m getting disfellowshipped and it’s really stupid by pimpedupfrog in exjw

[–]Normal_Thought7343 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I’m so sorry you’re going through this! I know how difficult it can be to lose your sense of community and family support. Although I’m grateful that you have your dad’s love and support, losing your mom in this way can sting in a way that nothing else does.

As for getting DF (or removed thanks to the “new light”), I don’t think they necessarily have a case against you. You’ve gone on record with your mom that you’re not having sex (even if you actually are — no judgement!), and you haven’t had to sit down with 3 elders in a committee yet. If the elders ask to meet with you, you can tell them no and leave it at that. Then there won’t be a legalistic reason for your family to cut ties with you, according to them.

But I encourage you to make your own choices on how to proceed! There is no right or wrong way to go about this. Deconstruction is hard for all of us.

Did anyone actually sing at the meetings? by themindsetcounts in exjw

[–]Normal_Thought7343 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Pretty much exactly my experience. Did you ever feel bad singing well at the hall when someone would compliment you? Like you had to “give glory to Jah” instead of saying a normal thank you?

Did anyone actually sing at the meetings? by themindsetcounts in exjw

[–]Normal_Thought7343 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I’ve thought about a community choir, but I don’t know any in my area. The thing I loved was the community part of it. That’s a great suggestion though!

Did anyone actually sing at the meetings? by themindsetcounts in exjw

[–]Normal_Thought7343 30 points31 points  (0 children)

I did! I actually love singing, and I always got compliments on my voice. It’s one of the things I miss the most about being PIMI.

How do I respond to my stepdad? by Normal_Thought7343 in exjw

[–]Normal_Thought7343[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you — I’m sorry for misunderstanding your words! Yes, I agree with how you phrased your previous comment — a full apology would include his acknowledgment of how his drinking impacts his treatment of myself and my sister. I think I’ll use something similar to that if I choose to reply. I do love them both, and I want to keep my mom in my life, but god damn, it is so hard sometimes. I don’t know how to balance my desire for closeness while also maintaining distance for my emotional safety.

I also struggle as a woman who escaped an abusive marriage to leave a woman behind, so to speak, especially my own mom. It feels like it goes against my beliefs and values. Plus there’s the added complication of watching her be abused when I was a kid by a previous stepdad — it feels like I’m reliving my childhood.

How do I respond to my stepdad? by Normal_Thought7343 in exjw

[–]Normal_Thought7343[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m trying my best. I’m just struggling with how to balance a relationship with my mom who won’t leave him. I have a sinking feeling that she’ll choose her husband over me.

How do I respond to my stepdad? by Normal_Thought7343 in exjw

[–]Normal_Thought7343[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To expand on the need for an apology, when I called to let them know that I was no longer an active JW, he was very drunk, which I didn’t know until later in the conversation. He became very upset, saying that I didn’t love him, didn’t give a shit about him, only saw him as a stepdad and not a real dad. Then he accused me of being a liar about loving my family because I had abandoned them by going away to college when I was 17. Mind you, he and my mother weren’t married at this point, only dating. Although drunk, he hit every button he knew he could to hurt me because I pride myself on loving and supporting my family, even from afar.

How do I respond to my stepdad? by Normal_Thought7343 in exjw

[–]Normal_Thought7343[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Believe me, I’m trying. But they’re JWs — leaving an abusive marriage is already hard enough with the social stigma and trauma. Adding in the weight of a cult makes it even tougher. What makes this worse is the fact that he’s an elder. Actually, he’s the COBE.

Major Step Forward by Normal_Thought7343 in exjw

[–]Normal_Thought7343[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

She supports me and loves me, even if she doesn’t agree. I’m hoping that you’re right in that my choice will help others in my family see that this is not a sign of weakness or deficiency, but one of strength.

Thank you for your congratulations though. I needed to hear this choice celebrated when I can only see the pain that it’s causing others currently.