Email from someone waiting to get onto JWN

purplesofa

We have been exchanging emails and I asked if I could post this one, maybe we can help him out.

This past 3 weeks of reading, digesting and forming some of my own opinions has been harrowing, to say the least. You could pretty much chalk me up to being emotionally fragile. All these years:decades of supression of

actually thinking is ridiculously sad. I have always been a thinker but i have never acted on ANY of my thoughts. I'm sorry if it seems as though I am feeling sorry for myself...it's true about the victim aspect of things.SO

many logical questions about life in general, and growing up as a JW you have no choice but to just slide over them and brace for "the end". Just trying to let go of that ALONE leaves one with so much hurt.There is

always the "what if" scenario that plays out time and time again. I truly do hope,at this stage of the game, that the WTBS peeps really just are trying to do the right thing(s) and not a few people up there rubbing their

hands together DELIBERATELY trying to decieve. As a limited human being with only being able to handle so much, I guess that sort of thing will sort itself out, but only when I'm ready to deal with it.

What makes it so much harder, and not to belittle anyone else on their way out, is that I have a family that is so deep rooted within the faith. I have a very old Grandmother that is one of the "annointed" who really has

served her time and lived her life 100 percent to serve God the best way she thought how. For me to bail 'officially', is essentially me telling everyone they are wrong in my family. So much heartache on top of where I am

now even. It's a huge,huge,HUGE wall. Question the organization,and inevitabley you question even more. All the little things we "learned" growing up, can come back to haunt you in a big way...you can take anything

into your psyche,but you can't take it out....

You leave the organization and the Devil won. How the heck are you supposed to live with that hanging over your head for the rest of your life? Even if you came to terms that Satan doesnt exist, he wins there too. One

quote that has stuck with me along the way. "The greatest trick that the Devil ever played was convincing the world that he doesn't exist". As much as I hate it all, as much as I can see it all as plain as day in front of me,I

can't let some things go.

decidedly_undecided

ex-nj-jw

I wish I new what to say to help your friend purps, but I have nothing. I can't even relate to his experience because for me it wasn't even an issue when I left. I just knew it wasn't for me and walked. I didn't care who it affected all I knew was that it wasn't going to affect me and my kids (it still did in a way, because of my meddling mother).

When I left I walked out and never played their game, never went to another elders meeting, meeting, memorial,assembly, nothing.

I'm glad I got away without it affecting me as it does so many others that post here. My heart really goes out to those who can't for whatever reason just walk away.

Tell your friend that he/she is in my thoughts, keep his/her head up and don't let them ruin another day of your life if you can help it. We have no way of knowing if there is anything after this life so enjoy what you have now and don't worry about what comes next because life is too short!

nj

hubert

Purps friend said.....always the "what if" scenario that plays out time and time again.

If this means he/she still isn't sure if the "truth" is still "The Truth" tm, then he or she should read "Crisis of Conscience" by Ray Franz.

Maybe you can suggest that.

Hubert

dinah

This person belongs here with us.

We will be open for new members when the bugs are worked out, right? There are people out there who need us like we needed the ones who came before us.

SixofNine

...you can take anything into your psyche,but you can't take it out....

Er... what exactly is your reasoning on this? I took "it" out, a lot of us have taken "it" out, and you can too. Attitude is everything.

I'd recommend you spend the next three weeks realizing that the entire world; the entire universe of knowledge, is suddenly available and open just for little old you, and get busy enjoying learning, REALLY learning, for the first time in your life.

You make it sound like you've encountered a bad thing, when in fact you've been given a whole new lease on life. If you aren't feeling liberated, then Debbie Downer could take lessons from you.

Oh, and they probably don't actually rub their hands together with glee, but yeah, the leadership of the Jehovah's Witnesses are manipulators and obfuscators. Once they take a position on something (like say, the blood issue, among many, many others) they will then twist the truth and obscure the truth to get their followers to follow uncritically.

Mrs. Fiorini

The initial disorientation of leaving the WT, or any cult, is difficult. But it will pass. You will have all the time you need to take in the facts and make your own decisions about what your beliefs are, and what makes sense to you. Your beliefs will then be your own. And that means you will be the one that wins, not Satan.

I grew up as a JW too. It has it's challenges. If you're like me, you will realize that leaving it is the best thing you ever did for yourself, and possibly your family too. You don't have to tell them anything until, or unless, you're ready. But some of them might want to get out eventually too, and you could be the one to help them.

Best wishes on the journey ahead. It will take courage, but it will be a wonderful adventure!