Oh man, you're right-yeah what's the deal with that? You're very right-I've noticed that, too. It's like no one knows what a big deal it is-it pretty much is the defining cornerstone of my personality and none of my worldly peeps know that!!!
Ever notice how interested worldly friends were to hear you'd left...zzzzzz
by Gregor 27 Replies latest jw friends
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themonster123
well said sass my frass, verrryyy well-said!
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kitten whiskers
I had a new friend extend sympathy and understanding. That really helped me. She knew of someone in her church (southern baptist) that was raised jewish and how his family deserted him just like jws. She was concerned and tried to relate.
I had some family members express joy to my grandma (non-jw) and she told me about it. Cousins contacted me to tell me merry xmas (after they got a christmas card unexpectedly!) and my mom's cousin told me in a christmas card how glad she was to put us on her xmas card list and that she'd been praying for us for years. That caused me to pause. I didn't see her too much, but she is nice and I've always liked her, and here she was praying for us. I can honestly say as a witness I never once specifically prayed for her. Made me think.
Other than that, I never had worldly friends. Just worldly family. I am struggling to make them though! I am slowly emerging from the witness cocoon. -
Undecided
It's kind of strange, my best friend since childhood was a worldly guy who had a religion and we didn't discuss it at all that I can remember. We stayed together during our teenage years except meeting nights. Recently I mentioned that I had quit going to the KH and he suggested I start again to keep my relationship with God. He didn't suggest I go to his church. Religion was always a personal thing with us.
Ken P.
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LeslieV
We have been taught as good JW's that if you have the "true religion" you will be hated by the "world." So we expected pure hatred, and that people would be glad we left.
What most of us found is that the "world" could give a rats behind about the JW religon. Again another lie we truly believed.
Leslie
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OnTheWayOut
I have some coworkers who are only thinking, "So you stopped going to church, big deal.
Will you go back for holidays?" -
carla
The problem you guys are experiencing is because nobody knows about jw's! I have a few friends that know of my situation and they are fascinated by the stories here and on other boards (as well as the whacky changes in my jw). The general public has no comprehension of what it really means to leave the org. One friend is in criminal justice and can relate because it is much the same when leaving a gang or back in the day, the Mafia. No way out really, except by death, be it literal or spiritual.
I once borrowed a minister a book called 'Out of the Cults and into the Church' (something like that) just to show him how very difficult it really is for ex cult members (any flavor not just jw's) to even walk into a church much less sit through the sermon. Imagine, these churches have crosses! and might even have a flag, gasp! Then there is all the doctrinal things. And what to wear?! Gladly I can report that this church is warning its young people about cults and jw's included!!! Yay! found that out the other day, long story I can't relate here. She knew all about the scripture twisting, high control, and works orientated, etc... of the wt and she isn't even in high school yet!
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Gordy
The problem you guys are experiencing is because nobody knows about jw's!
Exactly!
To non-JW's when you leave the JW's to them its about as different as a Catholic, or Baptist etc saying they have left their church.
Its the misapprehension by the JW that they think their "worldly friends" know about the JW's and the way they work.
I know since I left those that have said "You're a Jehovahs WItness aren't you?" "No, I've left them." "Oh right."
I still get it after 8 years after leaving the JW's and becoming a Christian.
On the rare occassion one may ask why I left.
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bigmouth
Yep. Same here. No one has the vaguest idea of what I'm talking about.
And I always thought the world was shaken by the 'seven trumpet blasts'! How arrogant! -
Numinous
Talking to a worldly person about having once being in the witnesses is a lot like telling them you spent time in prison. Just embarassing. Unnecessary also, as they perceive the witnesses to be just another religion.