How long before you tell people you were once a Jehovah's Witness? (page 3)

Trevanian

summer, keep your JW mags packed away, there's a good girl!

Trust your instincts.

Why are you involved with JWs?

Trevanian

Grace...

It is my lifes work now to let the WORLD Know how evil it is to get into a cult.

You're amazing.

purplesofa

I wanted to come back to this thread.....I don't think these guys that are turned off when they hear about my being a JW that they are jerk jerks.

I don't do well when I talk to guys and they are very active religiously or involved their church, deep entrenched in traditions and rituals. I don't want to be a part of that either.

LIke Trevanian, I am embarrassed at the whole expericane. So by your stating that, I am assuming you were not born into JWism?

purps

triplestrength

I'm a pretty open person but I will wait till I know someone quite well untill I tell them I was a Jdub.

Most people don't care that much in reality except to say that their glad I made the decision to leave.

I always expected to be very alone in the world outside but the truth is that the friends I have now, are because of who I am, not what I belong to. They expect me to be me, not covered up by another's personality.

Over the years I've worked as a Drug and Alcohol Counsellor and found a disproportionate number of ex witnesses in recovery from drink and drugs and to share with them that there is a way forward and out of the mess is a real privelege.

Trevanian

dogisgod, I think you summed it up nicely here:

They have no frame of reference.

Being from a JW background needs a lot of explaining.

We know what we've been through, especially if we experienced it as kids. But how to explain to someone else? Someone who hasn't been there?

For me, it's pretty much a deal-breaker in a relationship now. If I can't bring myself to describe to a new partner how JWs affected my life, well then we don't really have the intimicy I need in that relationship.

BTW, dogisgod, I'm sure you've heard about the agnostic dyslexic insomniac...?

Trevanian

Hey purps

LIke Trevanian, I am embarrassed at the whole expericane. So by your stating that, I am assuming you were not born into JWism?

I was pretty much born into it, although I don't have the multi-generational history that makes it more complicated for some people.

Around the time I was two years old, a work colleague of my father started "studying the bible" (haha) with my parents. Soon after that my mother hauled her sister into "the truth" LOL! and as a result, with JW-marriages and much childbirth and so on, I now have a large family network of JWs.

I remain deeply embarrassed by my JW connections. Love my mother to pieces, adore my siblings, like some of my cousins, but find it difficult to talk to new friends about the Jehovah's Witness thing,

llbh

Hi Trevanian, What a stupid mistake!!! Sooooorrrryyy, I did not look at info. I think your thread is interesting, because as we leave; our friends inevitably change, as do we, and has been said how 2 explain to new friends who might not understand?

regards llbh

Trevanian

No worries llbh, not stupid at all.

Maybe my bad, for being so low profile for the last year. Was lurking, and posting the odd comment about Thomstuff that got instantly deleted.

I think your thread is interesting, because as we leave; our friends inevitably change, as do we, and has been said how 2 explain to new friends who might not understand?

Yes, exactly my point.

How do we explain to new friends? Or do we just not bother?

llbh

I think we have to trust ourselves here, as we make new friends, that implies mutual attraction and or interests, therefore as the relationship progresses so confidence and trust in increases. This is different for each relationship, but at some point our JW past is likely to have a bearing in some way. If the relationship is strong and worthwhile it should withstand it,

I also think that there is a sense of shame in admitting we once belonged to such a group , like how can we be so stupid, as patently we are not.

regards llbh

LoverOfTruth

I'm a talker and it seems to come up often.

Today at the store I was speaking with a complete stranger about my son Thomas getting married this afternoon but I wasn't invited to the wedding.

I want others to know how hurtful this religion this is. I thought about my boy all day!

How long before you tell people you were once a Jehovah's Witness?

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