Hi,
I got up to the point where I spoke about my daughter.
So in 2007 I was stopped from seeing my daughter by my ex-wife with the help of her good standing JW family.
My Mother is still a JW and remains as one. We both suffered lies and slander perpretrated by this family which continues to this day. In late 2007 I was cleared of any wrong doing and I retained a relationship with my daughter. Against my wishes, my Mother contacted the Bethel with regard to the slander and lies that had been told. I had already reached the conclusion that the Bethel were corrupt and do not follow the teachings of the bible so I wasn't expecting much from them. They didn't disappoint. They wrote back with the idea that in order for my Mother to feel better then she needed to focus on improving her own spirituality.
If it hadn't already, I guess the above made my decision to completely leave the faith for good. I couldn't see how I could attend meetings and conventions crossing paths with my ex-wifes family in this so-called 'United Brotherhood'.
I still retain 2-3 JW friends but as my research grows and my distrust of anything 'Jehovahs Witness' then I can't see this continuing for much longer. Since 2008 I launched into a new relationship with my current partner and now we live together and have a 6 month old son and I am so much happier in myself and not having to live a lie.
Recently I met up with the Elder I spoke about in part one. He still seems disappointed that I have decided to turn my back on the faith. He doesn't seem to understand my reasonings, but it goes a lot deeper than the issues that I have outlined above.
I feel extremely uncomfortable about the constant policy changes with regard to the blood issue and generation and that doesn't include how difficult it is to comprehend the damage that has been done to victims of paedophilia in the religion. There is also the issue with the UN collaboration.
I also felt uncomfortable by the actions of many people. Many who I know still knock doors but are fornicators and drunkards. Elders children are protected by their Fathers position when it comes to wrongdoing or public reproof. What ever happened to keeping the congregation clean?
In summary, I am delighted that I am free of this evil cancer. Unfortunately, like many the JW thought process still plagues me and it will take me a long time to recover from this. I am 30 now and I live with the nightmare of my brainwashed past every day.
This is why I am so concerned for my daughter. My ex-wife has since moved away from her family and she has a new partner and has stayed away from the JW faith. However, on occasions my daughter has raised things that she could have only learnt in the KH. This petrifies me. I have told my ex-wife that I don't feel comfortable with her being involved whatsoever and I think she has taken this on board.
It is strange, but when I meet with any of my old JW friends, it seems a million miles away from where I am now. I actually pity them. Yet, they still try to convince me to give up my life and return to the faith. It will never happen. I have sacrificed far too much for a faith which believes in condoning wrongdoing, moving goalposts and treating the underprivileged like dirt.
I'm sorry if I've rambled on here but I really wanted to tell people that there is a way out if you want it. Its all about analysing the JWs for what they are actually about and you'll know if it is right or not.