I'm still "in". My fade started 3 years ago. I started to attend fewer meetings and now, only go to about 2 or 3 meetings per month. I've missed CO visits entirely and even some assemblies and the last convention. I was reporting time, but not doing anything actually. I haven't reported time in a while but nobody has told me I'm officially "inactive".
I started by missing a few meetings here and there, then increased it to where I was only going sundays. At around that time, I switched congregations. I don't know many people at the new one and I sort of think that helps. Now I can miss most meetings and nobody really knows about it.
It's gotten easier in some ways (the guilt trips from family for missing meetings have gotten easier to deal with, although they are extremely frustrated and sometimes lash out about it) and harder in other ways (it's increasingly hard to keep my mouth shut about what I really think).
I'm not sure if doing it this way is going to be a good thing or not. I'm so ready to be finished with them, but certain things hold me back from it. I hope this doesn't drag out for years. Or if it ends badly anyway, I hope that I won't regret having done it this way.
I don't think I would have helped anyone by leaving earlier, though. I think most witnesses just need to figure this stuff out for themselves. They are too delusional to listen to someone like me.
I also think I set a positive example in the congregation for half-assedness and apathy. I don't care if certain people shun me for being "weak". My message is loud and clear -- you DON'T have to go to all of the meetings. I think the JWs need more half assed people like me around to help them understand they don't need to worship the trash that comes down from Brooklyn. I would like to see my attitude become the norm. Obviously I am not the only person missing lots of meetings, so maybe I have helped people already and I don't even know it.
