As a kid I quite liked it.
I never did FS, my parents didn’t do everything to the book (used to take me and my brothers out on motorcycles and things like that). Gave us a lot of space…
I was not on the school for long, although the small time that I was I hated it. Talking of which, first talk I ever gave: Song of Solomon Chapter 2. I can recall it to this day. I was 8 or so when I gave it. Didn’t understand a word. Might be the reason why I hated it from then on.
It was a good congregation that did social functions all the time, great when you’re a kid.
And meetings were a joy because when the congregation split ( I was about 9 or 10 ), the most gorgeous girl moved into our hall. Spent most of the meeting ogling at her. She was stunning. I did end up going out with her. Really crap kisser and as dull as a grey sky. Lesson learned: looks mean fu*k all….What a let down…..Bikes were much more fun……..
I was also quite an endearing child and used to go around looking all innocent, trying to get as many sweets from the old folk as possible. It really worked well. Rotted away my first set of teeth. They loved me………
Then, when I went back after we had fallen away for many years, what a change had happened. Someone said about the 80’s. Such a difference between the end of the 70’s and the beginning of the 90’s. Never fitted in with the congregation and was so aware of all of the hypocrisy and hurt that people were suffering, and could see the no one really gave a shit…….
Hate the ministry, despite all of my efforts. Never was on the TMS. Learned a lesson from my youth. There was no real social function. Back biting. Lack of love. Don’t know how I lasted so long…..
So two different sides to being a JW. Never should have gone back but I missed the good times from when I was a kid, and the security of it all. Found out the hard way that there is no security there at all….and never really was….