rowan, I was never afraid of armageddon it was always the thoughts of the great tribulation that would get me. Any time I would complain about an the brush getting caught in a tangle when I was a kid mom used to say how are you going to live through the great tribulation without betraying the brothers when all they have to do is brush your hair.
Worldly Andrew, pretty powerful when you realize the watchtower is wrong and humans can create positive change without god.
Satanus, a long process to be sure but at least one that can begin once one is free of the organization.
earthtone, I found hobbies helped me a lot and I went back to school. The sadness goes away. I'm not sure about the anger though.
Pioneer Spit, glad to hear you revel in the pleasures of the flesh. :)
unbeliever, omg good for your brother. I hate that my best friend who left always says he feels like in the end he might turn out just like his dad. His father left to party and then came crawling back when he started family. I'm trying to teach him that it is all a lie, that there is nothing to go back to. But he left because he felt too weak to obey their dictates of conduct, whereas I know I have proven their doctrines false to me.
Kaput, shoulda, woulda coulda, at least you're out now and that's what counts. I wasted my entire youth on Jehovah but that just means I have to live twice as hard now and as quoted in the Dead Poet's Society "to live deep and suck the marrow out of life"
Antipode, indeed that is being alive. It took me a long time to not think of the things JWs would object to when my boyfriend would show me movies he felt I missed out on. Now I have to actually force myself to think what they would find objectionable instead of feeling it instinctively, life is good. I like not having to create my work/class schedule around meetings. I've always been organized, but no longer to accomplish the ministry.
reneeisorynm, life is worth living though I live it for different reasons than you I suspect. I am glad you have found your peace and your place in the world.
blondie *throws up the horns and gives you the black metal salute* (hey that's a great honor coming from Mysterious whatever your musical predilections *giggles*)
KW13, you rebel you. *grin* If you knew me in real life you'd laugh, I of all people have no right to talk.
luna2, exactly. It was very unnatural to pretend to want to go to meetings, read all those mags and knock on doors on a saturday morning. Leaving the JWs allowed us to reveal our genuine character.
Dansk, The JWs talk about dying to your former course of life to be sure, but the "ressurection" to the christ like personality they offer is feeble and a poor match for true life.
