So I wrote this poem, if that is what you can call it. Not saying it's good or anything, but it's how I feel. So there it is. It's about my experience as a Jehovah's Witness.
I ONLY HAD ONE CHOICE
they said do more service
they said give more comments
they said do better
they said do more
they said it's never enough
they said you shouldn't be comfortable
they said the end is near
they said Satan the Devil controls the world
they said anyone not on God's side is on Satan's side
they said we are on God's side
they said we are the only true religion
they said don't look at the internet, it's run by Satan trying to mislead you
they said no school dances
they said no soccer matches
they said no birthday cake
they said the wine and bread you must not take
they said Jesus didn't die for YOU
they said no college too
they said no independent thinking
they said study your watchtower harder
they said start more Bible studies
they said donate more money to the Watchtower Society
they said join the Theocratic Ministry School
they said don't make friends at school
they said don't talk to those who have left
they said tell the elders if you sin
they said shun your friends and family if they make mistakes
they said don't you dare eat birthday cupcakes
they said don't stand for the pledge of allegience
they said don't accept blood transfusions under ANY circumstances
they said don't read the Bible without gaining understanding from the Watchtower
they said if you see your friends doing wrong, tell the elders about it, it's for your friends' own good
they said go to five meetings every week or God will kill you in Armageddon
they said you are a good for nothing slave
they said what you do is what you ought to have done
they said don't think more of yourself than is necessary to think
they drill into your head that you are evil and terrible if you make human mistakes
until you go to them for help and healing
and they cut you off from your everyone you know
make an announcement about your evil unrepentant ways
and teach everyone around you to shun you and think bad thoughts about you
then make you jump through hoops for years in order to reinstate your good standing
all for going to them as shepherds for help
help for making mistakes
help for being human
they said don't question us we are Men of God
they said don't question the teachings printed in the Watchtower they are infallible
unless there is "new light" but that comes from us, not from you
they said guard against independent thinking
they said you must not go to a therapist for help
they said don't report anything to the law - it's a poor reflection on Jehovah
they said don't do this and don't do that but do this and do that
and then they said why are you bogged down
why are you depressed
perhaps you should read your Bible more
perhaps you should read the Watchtower more
pray more
go out in service more
it's your fault you are sad
it's Satan targeting you because of your bad attitude
Satan saw a weakness
you need to strengthen yourself
why are you feeling sorry for yourself
it's your fault that people will not invite you
it's because of your past
you created your own life for yourself
i jumped through all their hoops
i played by all their rules
i did what i was told
i didn't ask any questions
i minded my own business
it's not enough they say
it's not good they say
it's not right they say
you're lazy they say
i thought Jehovah forgave me when they deemed me worthy of being one of them again
they say don't vote - we are not of this world
they say don't do charity work unless it's to preach door to door
they say God will handle everything in due time and to wait on Jehovah
they say you have a bad attitude if you get tired of waiting on Him
they said they were God's people
they said they were good
they said all other people were bad
don't trust them
they said there are six things Jehovah hates, seven things detestable to Him
lying is one of them
and then they lied
and they lied
and they lied
until finally I said
i don't want to live this way
i don't think i want to stay
i just cannot do what you say
the only winning move is not to play
and then i walked away