by jaydoe 43 Replies latest jw friends
Welcome, jaydoe.
Follow your heart.
If you feel you can live a life of integrity within an atmosphere of lies and deception, who are we to judge. Give it a go. You can always fade out again if it does not work for you.....and you may actually help others to come out with you.
Glad you joined us.
j
Great reponses are already presented.
Fade-in? OK. If you really want to. Holiday's and birthdays will be a problem if you have any inclination to celebrate.
JW's do have a set of beliefs that I don't think god would find objectionable.
I think God would absolutely object to disfellowshipping children (and doing so for life).
WillyLoman detailed what you could expect upon a moderate return. I think it's pretty accurate for most congregations.
If you are missing you friends from long ago, could you maybe just attend once a month (or every other month?) Seems that this pattern would be more likely to keep you off the radar. Are they all in the same cong? If not, you can alternate between a few and just be non-committal when asked about increasing your level of service.
I truly hope that you will come back and post again whether you fade in or stay out.
Best of Luck Wishes for Happiness.
-Denise.
Welcome jaydoe,
I won't discuss your project or motivation, I think I understand it in part, no doubt not completely.
Imo, should JWs accept faded-out members coming back "on their own terms" they would have become a very different type of religion. I wouldn't say it's not going to happen, I just think this is not happening yet. Of course you'll never know for sure without trying. But you must assess what you are risking, which imo amounts to the personal benefits of your fading out. By "fading in," especially if you make clear that you have no intent of becoming an active Witness again, you can only be seen as a potential danger to the congregation. You'll probably have to accept some "shepherding calls," perhaps a "Bible study" with an elder. If you don't you'll be regarded as suspect. If you do the pressure will grow quickly.
That's your business of course and I wish you the best, but I don't think it's a very smart move, especially if you are currently not df'd or da'd, hence not forbidden to meet with JW friends privately -- that's a "privilege" you might easily lose in the process.
You'll be a lot happier if you stay away
Welcome .
Have your read some of the stories of people on this forum who were "dealt with" as JWs and the anguish it has caused them?
Have you researched their current beliefs? You may have been out long enough to be surprised at the changes. For instance, did you know that the teaching on the "generation that would by no means pass away until Armageddon" has been changed? Now a generation has a new meaning.
Did you know that the doctrine of all the annointed being chosen by 1935 and only a few replacements needed has now changed? This because the number of annointed strangely keeps going up instead of down.
Did you know that JWs can now accept many parts of blood? This may be upsetting to those who have had loved ones die while refusing any treatment with any blood components.
Did you know that the WTS applied to be, and was, an associate of the United Nations for ten years, but will disfellowship you if you ask too many questions about it?
Did you know that they have begun settling out of court with victims of pedophiles because they advised the victims not to go to authorities and then did nothing to the perpetrators in many instances, but disfellowshipped the victims or others who questioned why nothing was done?
Did you know that if you go back, and admit to visiting this site, you could be disfellowshipped?
Please do some research first. You need to be equipped to make a decision that may have long lasting consequences.
We wish you the best.
I recently got re-instated and I hate every meeting. I enjoy seeing and talking to old friends but that's it! I went back to have my daughter and grandkids in my life as I was falling apart without them in a big way.
How anyone can return to the vomit is beyond me , that is if they think there is some good to be had from the JW's. They destroy families, cause needless deaths, offer false hopes, and a host of other no good teachings. Why on earth would you go back after what you know? Unless it's for family I can't see any good reason to return.
Gumhypocrit
I'm about as far out of the organization as you can imagine, but at times, I think I could do more good if I were still in. I could see and talk to my family, even though they are under the spell of a cult. It would still be nice to have a relationship with them. Plus, I wouldn't be regular at meetings and I would NEVER go in field service. But I would discreetly help others to see the major problems with the cult.
gumby, I find it very touching that you love your family that much. I hope they appreciate you for that. Don't call yourself a hypocrite just because you can't buy into the hateful teaching of a cult; you are genuine to the bone.
Regards,
SandraC
yeah pretty much family is the only reason i could ever go back..
and I have only my mom.. Imiss her but it isnt enough for me.. but we each have to do what we have to do..
friends can be replaced with friends who are not based on if you follow the WTS or not...
but family is blood..
Follow your heart. Friends are important however, remenber why you left. Be prepared to accept disapointment.
