Hey Sam,
You are where most of us were at one time. I can tell you my answer to your questions.
Should I leave and loose all my good friends? - You'll likely see that this is not going to be enough to keep you "in" for the long term. It is hard to break from the only freinds you have, but it's even harder to fake it when you know the real deal. And to be honest, most people your age end up getting out. Don't be surprised if you not laughing it up with one of them a few years down the road thinking how silly you both were to be mixed up with the JW's.
Want some good advice? Your 18. You've just removed the blinders. Remember all the things you've daydreamed about doing when you were at those brain deadening all day assemblies? We'll guess what, you get do actually do them instead of telling yourself "maybe in the new system". Congratulations, you've just given yourself the most valuable gift you'll ever posses - your life back!
or should i continue, just ignoring all this? I don't think you'll have much of a choice. It just doesn't work. The most you can do is delay the inevitable. And by the way, if you're real good at ignoring it you could delay it beyond the best part of you're youth (right now) and then wish you could go back and do it all over but can't cause now you are older and have responsibilities.
i know the answer, but its hard to follow through with it. Be careful with this one. Many a decade has been pissed away dumping off magazines, letting others run your life and pretending to be spiritual. Suck it up. It will be a character building experience. Plus you're in the best position to walk away with little baggage from it all. You are so extremely lucky and you might not know it. The only drawback is that at 18 people tend to be more affected by what others say, think and tell them. This usually doesn't subside till later in life.
When I was 18 I got out too. I moved to California, learned to surf, climb, bike, ski, snowboard, and scuba. I traveled to many places in the world for no other reason than to do these things, meet new people and see another culture. I made tons of friends along the way. And yes, JW family and friends tried to get me to come back to their mind numbing stifling religion, and even guilted me for living my own life. It even worked and I gave JW's another try. But by this time I was in my mid-20's and had done alot of stuff. That relapse only lasted 3 years and I eventually removed my head from my ass and got out for good.
Guess which years I am most fond of ? It's your life. Live it or piss it away it's entirely up to you.
Want some advice? Here's a start: Move somewhere cool. Get a job anywhere. Go to college for a semester or two and Mix that up with the adventure of you're choosing.
