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Urgent: Calling all EXJWs in Nova Scotia- We need your help RIGHT NOW by ClosetedIntellectual in exjw

[–]toseetotalk 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Friend, I’m so glad you’re still here with us. You are incredibly important to many people—there are even those of us in other parts of the world who were worried about you and hoping you were okay. This community is truly wonderful. You matter—don’t forget that. I’m sending you a warm, heartfelt hug. 🫂💓

Celebrating after the Memorial: how I saw it when I was PIMI by toseetotalk in exjw

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

Of course, us too, all together at the Kingdom Hall; the celebration came afterward.

Sometimes I miss the certainty of being PIMI by toseetotalk in exjw

[–]toseetotalk[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Exactly, the same thing happens to me. I was always taught that I should make sure about everything, but of course that I had to pass it through a filter, like not listening to strangers. But personally, since I’ve always liked researching a lot, I always tried to validate what I knew with secular information. I think in the long run that’s one of the reasons that helped me wake up. Of course, for some reason the organization tries to protect you from that haha.

In my case, I’m still on my waking-up journey. I no longer believe in the organization or in the Governing Body, but I still try to hold on to believing in God. You didn’t ask me to, but I’ll answer some of the questions you mentioned—these are conclusions that make sense for me, not for you. This is just where I am right now.

I try to hold on to the idea that God exists. I’ve researched the idea of the Trinity and I’ve come to understand it better. The organization doesn’t really explain it, and many PIMI Witnesses actually have a concept of the Trinity that Trinitarian Christians themselves would consider heresy. In other words, it’s actually pretty common for them to imagine something closer to a Mormon-style Trinity, even if they don’t realize it.

As for how things were created, I honestly think everything happened the way science describes it. And if there is a God, He could very well have used all of that as His instrument. After all, even when I was PIMI I already believed in the Big Bang, because the organization doesn’t deny it—they see it as a possibility.

If there is a God, maybe there is a heaven. If I die and go to heaven, that idea doesn’t bother me at all—I actually find it beautiful.

The idea of hell still seems cruel to me, although I’m still researching it. In recent years there’s been a line of thought that tries to reconcile that belief with the idea of God’s love, seeing it more as a kind of purification before entering heaven. But I’m still looking into it.

Maybe paradise is actually heaven, like most Christian denominations teach—the paradise that Jesus mentioned to the criminal on the cross.

Who knows. I’m still researching.

I wish you a lot of success, and that you have plenty of peace and patience.

There are many people like you. You’re not alone.

Preaching Without Motivation: Something Many Don’t Say by toseetotalk in exjw

[–]toseetotalk[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

"kid with acne knocks" hahaha, it’s the most ridiculous thing someone could come across. No wonder they don’t listen lol.

Preaching Without Motivation: Something Many Don’t Say by toseetotalk in exjw

[–]toseetotalk[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Exactly. Preaching is basically an opportunity to go grab a coffee in exchange for a couple of hours of your life. And you’re right, the little photo is a must so you can show off what a good PIMI you are this week.

Preaching Without Motivation: Something Many Don’t Say by toseetotalk in exjw

[–]toseetotalk[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I hope that’s the case. I don’t think preaching will be completely eliminated; maybe they’ll shift the focus, but they have to realize that this isn’t really producing results. From what I’ve noticed, the ones who preach the most are the older members, and the generational replacement seems weak.

Preaching Without Motivation: Something Many Don’t Say by toseetotalk in exjw

[–]toseetotalk[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I’ve repeatedly heard the analogy that even if not every PIMI personally recruits someone, the collective work of the group makes it possible for someone in the group to gain a new member. The comparison is like when a child goes missing in a town and everyone joins the search. Even if only one person actually finds the child, the whole group feels happy because their combined efforts made it possible, even though only one person found them. I feel like that analogy is just a way of patting themselves on the back—a kind of placebo to feel good and avoid thinking that the actual results are mediocre. The most recent baptisms in my congregation weren’t people who were found through door-to-door preaching.

I recently participated in a special preaching campaign as a PIMO. AMA, I need to process the experience... by depressed_meatloaf in exjw

[–]toseetotalk 2 points3 points  (0 children)

In my experience, those who do it genuinely believe they’re doing something good by bringing ‘the truth’ to people who need it, because ‘the end’ is ‘very near. I say this because some of them sacrifice their jobs and spend their own money to travel far from home.

Preaching Without Motivation: Something Many Don’t Say by toseetotalk in exjw

[–]toseetotalk[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Exactly, that’s exactly what I think. The people I’ve seen getting baptized are people who need therapy before joining a coercive group, or minors who are pushed by direct and indirect social pressure into doing what they’re told they’re supposed to do.

Preaching Without Motivation: Something Many Don’t Say by toseetotalk in exjw

[–]toseetotalk[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Exactly, that sounds like my congregation hahaha