A JW Story

[STIOFAN]

Thanks for sharing, your very brave, I’ve had a few JW over here, and sometime’s those Watchtower books through my letter box.
They tried to convert me, but theyr’e wasting their time, and the books ended up in the garbage (sorry) but thats the truth.
I feel for you cramped in one room, but you know Misty I’ve had a hard life too, but God sometimes uses pain to shape us.
Doesn’t it say in the Bible, “My children shall be tested like gold in a fire, refined in the furnace of affliction”.
Anyway your a better person for it, if it makes you feel any better, I had to share one room with 9 people, now theres poverty.
Ever think of taking up writing, or write a novel, you sure put words together nicely.
Ok youv’e survived and come out the other end,and your on the home stretch.
Cheers and God Bless.

 

[MistyF]

STIOFÁN:

I feel for you cramped in one room, but you know Misty I’ve had a hard life too, but God sometimes uses pain to shape us.
Doesn’t it say in the Bible, “My children shall be tested like gold in a fire, refined in the furnace of affliction”.
Anyway your a better person for it, if it makes you feel any better, I had to share one room with 9 people, now theres poverty.

I guess the part about my room came out wrong. We did live in near poverty when I was younger, but that definitely wasn’t. I was talking more about lack of privacy. There was more to that story that I had thought about sharing - J. was a pervert and I figured out later that was why I had the room with curtains put up across it - it wasn’t a room with a doorway, it was completely open to the kitchen, and the curtains didn’t really close all the way, but it didn’t really relate to the JW aspect and so I took it out, and didn’t think about changing that part.

 

[netmender]

Misty -
Thank you. netmender

 

[elizacog]

Misty,

This is exactly what I am talking about, an up bringing as you are discribing. From what you wrote, here, you parents are the ones that are responsible the up upbringing you recieved. I am sure your Mom was doing the very best that she could, as you said she will even say that she went overboard. This is exactly what I was talking about. The children raised in these kinds of situations blame the Watchtower, or Jw’s for their awful up bringing. It is the parents that did not know how to raise the children in a loving way, you can not blame an organization, for the abuse you encountered in your family life. And no matter what religion a person is raised in, there are going to be people who just do not live up to the standards, “God is not one to be Mocked, what ever a man is sowing, is what he will reap”. You can blame the “Watchtower Society”, but mabe you should consider that it quite possibly be imperfect people who raised you that you rightly should place the blame on.

MistyF:

I was 8 when I began going to the Kingdom Hall. I truly loved God, and I did everything to please Him. I didn’t do it because Mom made me, I did it because it was what I believed I should do, and I wanted to share my faith with everyone else, to save them. I struggled for Him, I stayed away from “worldly influences” and began Pioneering (I was home-schooled).

…

(cont’d)

 

[elizacog]

MIstyF,

I am sorry that you have had a rough up bringing, and the mental illness you mention, As you must know that these days, mental illness is more of a rule than the exception, and it dosent diferentiate between religions, people are people and illness of one kind or another affects everyone. Mental professionals are more inclined to blame ones religion for mental problems, when really it has very little to do with religion, but rather human weakness, and physical fraility.

I didn’t know of any other JWs that self-mutilate, until my sister. The reason she did was guilt - which is what they use to control people. It has been a long, hard road for my sister to stop. Mental illness is something that runs in our family, on my mom’s side. And her and I both suffer from it. However, both of us have types of mental illness that are usually only brought out by traumatic events -

 

[Catholic_Dude]

elizacog:

Misty,

This is exactly what I am talking about, an up bringing as you are discribing. From what you wrote, here, you parents are the ones that are responsible the up upbringing you recieved. I am sure your Mom was doing the very best that she could, as you said she will even say that she went overboard. This is exactly what I was talking about. The children raised in these kinds of situations blame the Watchtower, or Jw’s for their awful up bringing. It is the parents that did not know how to raise the children in a loving way, you can not blame an organization, for the abuse you encountered in your family life. And no matter what religion a person is raised in, there are going to be people who just do not live up to the standards, “God is not one to be Mocked, what ever a man is sowing, is what he will reap”. You can blame the “Watchtower Society”, but mabe you should consider that it quite possibly be imperfect people who raised you that you rightly should place the blame on.

I dont mean to speak for anyone here, but all the stories I hear about that “organization” tell me that that “organization” doesnt know the definition of the basics of the Gospel and that is love you God and your neighbor. And I highly doubt that any person is not influenced by their church leaders in any way concerning how to treat others. In fact the little reading I have done on those guys looks like they have everyone on a very short chain and look to limit their followers every move. From all of the mags I have read one page shows a smiling family and the other page say unbelivers burn in a lake of fire.

That was a low blow eliza.

 

[MistyF]

elizacog:

Misty,

This is exactly what I am talking about, an up bringing as you are discribing. From what you wrote, here, you parents are the ones that are responsible the up upbringing you recieved. I am sure your Mom was doing the very best that she could, as you said she will even say that she went overboard. This is exactly what I was talking about. The children raised in these kinds of situations blame the Watchtower, or Jw’s for their awful up bringing. It is the parents that did not know how to raise the children in a loving way, you can not blame an organization, for the abuse you encountered in your family life. And no matter what religion a person is raised in, there are going to be people who just do not live up to the standards, “God is not one to be Mocked, what ever a man is sowing, is what he will reap”. You can blame the “Watchtower Society”, but mabe you should consider that it quite possibly be imperfect people who raised you that you rightly should place the blame on.

Eliza,
I recognize that the actions of men are not the fault of the Watchtower Society. I recognized it then, too. But, they knew what was going on, and they allowed it. They didn’t even just turn a blind eye, in all of the cases, but actually supported what was going on. I saw this going on around me, and in multiple congregations. My sister was not reinstated because then her story would have been known. She was taken away from everything she knew from infancy, for reasons that were not right, and given nothing to catch her when she fell.

No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it.
1 Corinthians 10:13

That is not loving. That was not God’s will. And that can’t be covered up by the “men are imperfect excuse” because it’s not an isolated incident. But, the thing is - I did leave because of men’s imperfections. You are right about that. But, the JWs are not God’s Chosen People. That is why I am here today.

But, I will also say that as far as the way my Mom raised me - it was how the JWs say she was supposed to. There were things that she did wrong that weren’t necessarily directly from the Society, but they were alluded to. And, the way she was towards us changed the moment she became a JW. They scared her into being something/someone she was not. And still do. Oh, how I wish I could relate everything here, but there is not room. And really, doesn’t matter at this point.

As far as placing blame on the people who deserve it - well, it was a long, hard struggle to make that happen. The things I’ve related here were related mostly to show the JW reactions to such things. But there were far more abuses in my life. I placed the blame on the people who hurt me, mostly. I placed as much blame on J as I could, instead of on my Mom. But, the thing is - blame doesn’t matter. How empty and bitter I would be if that was the end.

And I was empty and bitter - a year ago, I was bitter towards my Mom, I was bitter for a lot of things. But I met my boyfriend then, he was just a friend at the time, and he showed me how to forgive. He listened to me, he let me get the pain out, and then he gave me a nudge or two in the direction of honestly being able to forgive those that hurt me. It didn’t happen overnight. But it did happen. And the basis for that happening was the love that he has known from the Catholic Church - he has passed that love on to me, and eventually even showed me where it came from - I laughed at him at first because I “knew” that the Catholic Church wasn’t loving, for that matter I had decided that the God of the bible was not loving, either. The individual JWs are often great people, but the organization of JWs is a very hateful, mean and unloving organization. And I’m glad that I found out that the organization was wrong and that the Catholic faith is about forgiveness and love, and has God’s guidance.

 

[elizacog]

MistyF,

Were you disfellowshipped?

Karen

 

[MistyF]

elizacog:

MIstyF,

I am sorry that you have had a rough up bringing, and the mental illness you mention, As you must know that these days, mental illness is more of a rule than the exception, and it dosent diferentiate between religions, people are people and illness of one kind or another affects everyone. Mental professionals are more inclined to blame ones religion for mental problems, when really it has very little to do with religion, but rather human weakness, and physical fraility.

I have typed a reply 3 times now, but when I read it, I realize that you’ve gone for the jugular and I am reacting with anger, and there is no love in what I wanted to say.

So, I will just say that the human failures of the people inside of the Watchtower Society would be forgiveable. The fact that the truths of God are not in the Watchtower Society is not a forgiveable thing. I pray that you will open your eyes and allow yourself to question the things they teach. May God’s love be with you.

 

[MistyF]

elizacog:

MistyF,

Were you disfellshipped?

Karen

No, thankfully that is not something I will have to deal with.

 

[mylo]

Misty-

Thanks for sharing your story. I’m praying for you and yours.

 

[elizacog]

 

[MistyF]

elizacog:

I dont understand why what I said would make you angry.

I am truly sorry you have had a bad time.

karen

Eliza,
You may not have meant to, but your view on mental illness is skewed. And now that I’ve taken a deep breath, I recognize that same attitude throughout the JWs, so it’s not something you did on purpose. As you well know, the phrase “human weakness” is used often by the JWs to refer to sin. MI is not a sin. MI is not Satanic. And the term frailty is defined “A fault, especially a moral weakness.” MI is not a fault, or a moral weakness.

There are treatments for MI, but MI is not something that you have to “just be strong” to cure. It’s not a lack of faith. It isn’t something you can just “put in Jehovah’s hands” and trust that everything will be better. I tried that route as a teenager, when I had depression and panic attacks. And I didn’t get treatment because psychological treatment is highly discouraged by the JWs. If I had gotten treatment then, my disease would not likely have progressed to the point it did. I have it all under control today via 3 things. The first is medication, which I now know I will be on for the rest of my life. And I recognize that this need for medication is NOT a weakness - that belief almost killed me. The second is psychological counselling. My therapist recently said that I was stable and I won’t be seeing him unless I have a relapse, but that doesn’t appear likely at this point. The third is my boyfriend. He is my rock, and is someone I can trust to help me when I need it. And he has opened my eyes when I hid behind my MI.

Mental illness does not make me morally weak or sinful, any more than having cancer would.

 

[elizacog]

This eariler post, is an attempt to delete the post. I was not mocking you.

Karen

 

[elizacog]

Mental illness does not make me morally weak or sinful, any more than having cancer would.

This is where I think you have misunderstood me. I was not trying to say that you are morally weak, only that our bodies are going down hill and our (all humans) brains are not working as they were designed to. From my experience people who are bipolar are extremely intelligent. And highly articulate. The defect or sin shows up in all humans to some degree or another. Be it physical or mental.

Bipolar illness is very common these days.

My father is bipolar, his sisters children are bipolar, each have varing levels of the illness. My father is not on medication and has been stable for the past 3 years, he does well when he stays away from street drugs and alcohol and eats and sleeps regularly. One male cousins bipolar illness is so very bad and the drugs he gets keeps him from doing normal things, he is married and has several children, but he only has energy to sit in a chair all day… The wife and children have put him in a private care facility.

Another male cousin, is only slightly affected, dosen’t need medication, the other male brother, was diagnosed with depression, and their sister I suspect is very much affected, she stays home and will not see her mother. My Cousin on my fathers brothers side, only son was diagnosed bipolar. I am sure my sister and myself are affected too. I had have depression since I was 14.

Depression and Mental Illness were not routinely diagnosed when my Father was young. But is being diagnosed more readily now.

karen

 

[Catholic_Dude]

eliza,
would you be open to a debate on any issue on a new thread?

 

[elizacog]

MistyF:

There are treatments for MI, but MI is not something that you have to “just be strong” to cure. It’s not a lack of faith. It isn’t something you can just “put in Jehovah’s hands” and trust that everything will be better. I tried that route as a teenager, when I had depression and panic attacks. And I didn’t get treatment because psychological treatment is highly discouraged by the JWs.

It seems that mabe you are reading between the lines, as to what you believe I am saying. ie: Witnesses say this, or believe that.

Also I realize I will probably never be able to convince you, of anything good about the WTSociety, but there has been articles written about mental illness, and also chemical sensitivities. Trying to educate people about these kinds of illnesses.

I was an adult when I became a witness, and never felt as if Mental illness, or any illness was something to ignore, the biggest problem with mental illness is recognition, and a person with bipolar illness until recently last 10 or so years has been a difficult thing to diagnose. Many families go into denial, dont see it, dont have to do anything about it. It usually takes a problem to bring it out.

I am chemically sick, do you know anything about MCS? About four years ago, and after 5 years of prozac usage, I started getting very sick. Panic attacks, vertigo, I was a mess, and in pain, I was in so much physical pain, mostly in my abdomin, from my throat, to the other end of my intestine. It even hurt to be touched. Later I learned that that prozac breaks a detox pathway in the liver, it does so to keep the serotonin from leaving the body, in the same way it prevents the body from removing other toxins that would normally leave via this pathway. I also learned that I probably had prozac posioning. I quite the prozac, and 4 years later I am doing much better, but I still have a sensitivity to fragrances, and these fragrances can cause panic attacks, vertigo and other problems, mostly I taste them, I feel as if I am drinking fragrance… I am not incapacitated, I am just not able to associate with people who use offending products. I need to use all unscented products…

For the past few months my sensitivities have been worse, I am not able to go into the KH some days, because of fragrance usage… I am able to do most everything so long as there is not a large amount of fragrance in the air.

I know what it is like to be treated as if there is nothing wrong. Most medical professionals do not recognize Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, including most non medical people… I would call it the plague of the 22 century. Enviromental Illness.

I would never down grade mental illness as something that you should just Buck up and get over it. Just as you said, it is a treatable illness, something that the person usually has no control over, but can be treated.

 

[MistyF]

Eliza,

I started this thread to tell my story, as others asked. I understand why my story bothers you, and why you feel compelled to defend your beliefs, and the WTS. I don’t believe this thread is the place to do that, though. The forum rules require that if you want to change topics, that you start a new thread - and the topic of this thread was my story. But, if you want - let’s discuss doctinal beliefs in another thread, one at a time. And I don’t want to have anything become so personal - the truth is not to be found in that type of discussion - the truth is in God’s word, and other places too, but I know you’ll want to stick to what the bible says, and that’s fine.

Either way, I would rather discontinue discussing my personal story with you at this time. My boyfriend has pointed out to me that God’s love is not within this type of discussion, and it will do neither of us any good.

So, how about it? Would you like to pick a topic?

 

[hlgomez]

MistyF,

My wife was a former JW who just came home to the fullness of the faith in the Catholic Church some two years ago. She has her own story to tell about her experiences as a JW. But to make the story short, she was not too “impressed” with the way JW is suppose to “witness” to Christ. She remembered that during their “meetings” every week when she was still a member of JW, all the things they would do was to study on how to convert people, but most of it was to attack other religions calling them every sort of evil, especially the Catholic Church. There was no liturgy and no special attention to worship. It seems to her that the JW stuff was very much lacking, if not empty, of worship which is the primary commandments in Sacred Scriptures.

Her mom and sister are still in that religion. It’s very unfortunate that I can’t speak Spanish because my mother-in-law can only speaks and understands Spanish, even though she had stayed here in the US for almost half of her life. My father-in-law was a former member of JW (but him and my mom-in-law are now separated). He still struggles with the Trinity, thought this was one of the reasons why he left the JW religion. He also can’t speak well in English, which is very hard for me to explain when we sometimes talk about religion. We gave him the Catechism of the Catholic Church in Spanish, but I’m not sure yet if he ever read it.

Your story is very encouraging. And I know a lot of people out there, especially JW’s, still struggles with the doctrines of the Catholic faith. When I was living in our former apartment, there were a couple of visitors (JW"s) who came who were former Catholics. We had a great deal of discussion about the faith, but interestingly they never came back. It’s probably because their arguments about their faith didn’t convince me at all. I find them to be very much strictly in line with the interpretations of the JW religion. It seems that the way they start conversation is like seeing a “robot” that everything has been “programmed” that when we start to dig in more information about the Catholic faith, they start to stop and talk about something else. And not to mention their own version of the Bible to prove that Jesus is just a created being.

I read church history. And I can just conclude that the JW religion is an old heresy of Arianism that has been recycled in our times, though with a different face. It’s like the devil has put some “make up” on it and some modern finishing touches to mislead so many innocent souls. I suggest though that you also read the origins of Arianism. In it you will find interesting similarities about the JW religion.

God bless you in your journey,

Pio

 

[Catholic_Tom]

How does a JW reconcile that Jesus was not God, in light of the following scripture:

Scripture

I. Old and New Testament Parallels of God the Father and God the Son

Exodus 3:14 - God says “I AM who I AM” - John 8:58 - Jesus says “Before Abraham was, I AM” in reference to Himself.

Deut. 4:2; 12:32 - the Lord God commands that we not add or take away from His word - Rev. 22:18-19 - Jesus so commands us not to add or take away from His word.

Deut. 32:39; 1 Sam. 2:6 - the Lord kills and makes alive again and raises up - John 5:21 - the Son raises and gives life.

Deut. 32:39 - neither is there any that can deliver out of God’s hand - John 10:28 - nor shall any pluck out of Jesus’ hand.

Deut. 32:43 - rejoice, ye heavens, with Him, and let all the angels of God worship Him - Heb. 1:6 - the “Him” is Jesus the Son.

2 Sam. 22:3 - God is the horn of salvation - Luke 1:68-69 - Jesus is the horn of salvation.

Psalm 19:7 - the law of the Lord is perfect - Gal. 6:2 - fulfill the law of Christ.

Psalm 24:10 - the Lord is the King of glory - 1 Cor. 2:8 - Jesus is the Lord of glory.

Psalm 45:7 - Therefore God, your God, has anointed you. God calls someone else God. This someone else is His eternally begotten Son - Heb. 1:9 - Therefore God, your God, has anointed you. cf. Heb. 1:8, 10.

Psalm 62:12 - the Lord God renders to each according to his work - Matt. 16:27; Rev. 22:12 - Jesus so renders to each according to his work.

Psalm 71:5 - the Lord God is our hope - 1 Tim. 1:1 - the Lord Jesus Christ who is our hope.

Psalm 89:27 – I will make him the first-born, the highest (“elyon” which refers to God) of the kings of the earth - John 18:36-27 – Jesus is this first-born king.

Psalm 97:9 - the Lord God is above all - John 3:31 - Jesus is above all.

Psalms 110:1 - the Lord (Yahweh) said to my Lord - Jesus = Yhwh - Acts 2:34-36 - God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ.

Psalm 148:1-2 - the angels worship the Lord God - Heb. 1:6 - the angels worship Jesus. Only God is worshiped.

Prov. 3:12 - who the Lord loves He corrects - Rev. 3:19 - who Jesus loves He corrects.

Isaiah 7:14 - a virgin will bear a Son named Emmanuel which means “God is with us” - Matt. 1:23 - this Son is Jesus Christ, God in the flesh.

Isaiah 9:6 - the child to be born shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 25:8 - God swallows up death in victory - 2 Tim. 1:10 - Jesus abolishes death and brings life and immortality.

Isaiah 40:8 - the Word of God shall stand forever - Matt. 24:35 - the Words of Jesus shall not pass away.

Isaiah 42:8 - God gives His glory to no other - John 17:5; Heb. 1:3 - yet Jesus has the same glory as the Father.

Isaiah 43:14 - the Lord God is redeemer - Titus 2:14 - Jesus is the redeemer.

Isaiah 44:6 - the Lord God is the first and the last - Rev. 1:17; 2:8; 22:13 - Jesus is the first and the last.

Isaiah 45:19 - I, the Lord God, did not speak in secret - John 18:20 - Jesus said “I have said nothing secretly.”

Isaiah 45:23 - to God, every knee shall bow and every tongue swear. Phil. 2:10-11 - at Jesus’ name every knee should bow and tongue confess.

Isaiah 48:17 - God is the Holy One - Acts 3:14 - Jesus is the Holy One.

Isaiah 60:19 - God is everlasting light - Revelation 21:23 - Jesus the Lamb is eternal light.

Jer. 17:10 - the Lord searches the hearts and repays us according to our deeds - Rev. 2:23 - Jesus searches the hearts and repays us according to our deeds.

Ezek. 1:26-28; Daniel 7:9 - God’s glorious appearance - Rev. 1:13-16 - Jesus’ glorious appearance.

Ezek. 34:11-31 - God the Father is the shepherd of the flock - John 10:7-29 - Jesus is the shepherd of the flock.

Ezek. 34:16 - God seeks to save that which was lost - Luke 19:10 - Jesus seeks to save that which was lost.

Ezek. 34:17 - God judges between cattle, rams and goats - Matt. 25:32 - Jesus judges and separates the goats from the sheep.

Ezek. 43:2 - God’s voice was like a noise of many waters - Rev. 1:15 - Jesus’ voice was like the sound of many waters.

Dan. 2:47 - the Lord is the God of gods and the Lord of Lords - Rev. 17:14 - Jesus the Lamb is the Lord of Lords.

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