by Gregor 27 Replies latest jw friends
The first few years after I got my head out of my JW ass I assumed that worldly associates would be fascinated to hear of my escape....WRONG. Most of them looked at me like "what the f--- are you talking about?"..."Who cares?"...etc etc
Anyone else notice that your liberation from the org is pretty ho-hum to non JW's?
I had a different experience. My "worldly" friends were always worried that one day I would no longer be able to be their friends. So my gradual fade was a high five moment for them. One of my oldest "worldly" friends tells anyone who will listen how she watched me morph into the person I am today. She watched the inner struggle and the ultimate change. Maybe it is a dude/chick thing. But my GFs were all really thrilled when I started doing non-jw stuff or openly disagreeing w/ the JWs and their ways.
yes, mostly people don't attach any importance to it, after all in their experience it's no big deal if they quit going to church, just cults get their knickers in a twist if someone manages to escape. that's one reason it's so nice to find other ex-jws - no one else really understands the background or what an achievement it is to get out of the org.
I guess the rest of the world is not revolving around the Watchtower Society.
I've had somewhat of a different experience. The friends that I have discussed it with are really blown away at the fact that people can be disfellowshipped and shunned by everyone simply for disagreement on doctrine. Even though I have not been DFd yet, they have shown a great deal of concern and empathy in this regard.
Every friend that has had contact with Witnesses (either at their door, or outside of stores) has commented that they felt that their was something strange about their beliefs and practices. A couple of people have told me that they could sense some cultish characteristics about them. I had to agree.
There's a reason I have only one good freind that is male :P .
All the girls are so sympathetic! Makes me feel so good about myself ;) .
There's a reason I have only one good freind that is male :P .
All the girls are so sympathetic! Makes me feel so good about myself ;) .
There's a reason I have only one good freind that is male :P .
All the girls are so sympathetic! Makes me feel so good about myself ;) .
The problem with most people I've been around my entire life; they are afraid to talk about any subject that is controversial. I announced that I was no longer active in the cong. at a business lunch and only one person commented, she said " JW's are too critical of other people and it is depressing." She was glad I quit. Our feelings and self worth have been eroded from the years of meeting attendance and study of WTBTS literature; therefore we would feel as though the hub of our life is gone and it is catastrophic. Others in the world have perhaps not felt that strong influence in their lives and don't realize the enormity of leaving a religion like JWs. I had to go to a psychiatrist after I quit. I went to three really. I was messed up for a very long time - I'm still not where I want to be psychologically. It is very hard to see my ex in-laws; they always try to bring up a topic that will lead to their speculating the end is in sight! I could just puke! Yours truthfully, SQ - California
It's a fine line... I was raised in the truth so there was nobody really concerned about what I was getting into as I was growing up, I was just the weird kid. I haven't ever caught up with anybody from school to let them know, and if I did make a big deal about it, I think they'd still think I'm weird. With new friends I mention it briefly, sometimes for drama I add that I escaped a cult, but I have rarely gotten a bite. I think that the whole concept of religious discussion makes people uncomfortable, and think about what you're trying to do when you talk about it:
When you were a witness, you were trying to get them to talk about god to recruit them. Now you're trying to get them to talk about something else to encourage them not to join. Either way you're trying to sell them a concept. People don't usually respond to that, they just prefer to let the subject float away. It's just boring.
