Letter from a dear friend and elder.

by AK - Jeff 47 Replies latest jw friends

  • AK - Jeff
    AK - Jeff
    Maybe I am different. But I see anger and fear In your dear friend.

    Could be, outoftheorg. He is near 70 now - the 'system' has not been good to him, as things generally are less fair as we age. The 'truth' might seem better than the hopelessness he sees in the 'world'. I would imagine that many witnesses in his age [he was brought up in the religion], have prob little chance of seeing it for what it is. 70 years is a lot of investment, and hard to let go of. Not to say that it doesn't happen. I knew nothing else, and lived the religion till I was 48. Many here, the same or longer.

    Still - I hope you are right. I hope someday he changes his mind and comes to my door and ask me a serious question about why I left - and listens to the answer. But I won't hold my breath.

    I am saddened that our old associates feel so compelled to 'compartmentalize' each and every person, thus adding to their blindness. On this board alone - there must be 1000 specific reasons for leaving the organization, or shades of them. Yet all persons who leave are classed as evil, apostate, 'turning the back on Jehovah', etc., then banished and ignored as already dead. One must admit; it is a good stategy the GB has used to keep these people in the dark, isn't it? Black/white. Jw/wicked. Blessed/cursed.

    Jeff

  • ozziepost
    ozziepost
    70 years is a lot of investment, and hard to let go of.

    Very true. From personal knowledge and from reading Ray Franz's account of what the GB (see COC and ISOCF) and ageing branch committee members might really think it seems clear that the 'benefits' of remaining a GB member outweigh a sea-change at that time of life.

  • Pistoff
    Pistoff

    The reference to the stream of time, and a deadly mistake, etc, is just whistling through the graveyard.
    Your friend needs to go to the extreme to feel good about his being where he is, and you are FREE.

  • outoftheorg
    outoftheorg

    Yeah Jeff, I know what you think, is true for many.

    This month I turn 71 years old, born into the jw mess.

    I always had questions and wasn't a very strong jw. Then the 1975 thing came along and I did become more active, to the point where I was asked to be an Elder. A short time after 1975 I resigned that position and slowly drifted away.

    most of my family stayed in. Since the elders don't like anyone that quits being an elder on his own.

    They were looking for a way to df me. When my daughter tells me that her uncle elder had molested her, I went first to the police and then the elders. The elders did nothing of course, so I thought they should know how I felt about them. I told them they needed the shit kicked out of them. So they df'd me for fits of rage. That is pretty unique. I have never heard of anyone getting df'd for rage.

    At that point I had been hurt and saw my daughter hurt so it made leaving easier and permanent and they had gained another enemy, me. Some times it takes some pain to really completely leave a cult you were born into and have lots of family still in it.

    Outoftheorg

  • ozziepost
    ozziepost

    "No gain without pain."

  • spiceant
    spiceant

    I would call on any amount of love for any friends or would be friends or outright enemys, and prayers. That they may actually be saved if possible. That you hold them forgiven and that whatever you may have done also forgiven. If they don't welcome you, quietly withdraw. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way. You can be sure that on Judgment Day they'll be mighty sorry—but it's no concern of yours now - Matthew 10:12

    en gard, spiceant

  • AK - Jeff
    AK - Jeff
    This month I turn 71 years old, born into the jw mess.

    Let me correct, please?

    This month I turn 71 years young, born into the jw mess.

    OOTO - how long have you been out - and I salute your courage to stand up to them.

    Jeff

  • outoftheorg
    outoftheorg

    Jeff ak I dumped the elder thing in 1978 and faded some but since I had lots of family still in the jw's mental prisons, I kinda floated along. Then in 1992 they solved the problem for me and df'd me.

    They charged me with fits of rage. Which I don't understand. I only wanted to hurt the po a little. Didn't want to kill him.

    Outoftheorg

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