What Actually Helped You Leave The Organization?

by minimus 43 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  ldrnomo

  What really did it for me was when I confided in another elder about my concerns about the blood issue. I asked him not to say anything while I worked it out in my own mind. My wife and I went on vacation and when we got back I was asked to meet at the KH to talk about memorial arrangements with the other two men on the service committee, I was the PO and the service overseer was the one I confided in. When I got to the KH I quickly found out the real reason they wanted to talk to me was about the blood issue. The SO told the rest of the body about my concerns and I was soon removed because of my doubts. That opened the gate to research the issue more throughly and I purchased CoC by Ray Franz. I first read it in secret then shared some things with my Wife.

  We stopped going to meetings 3 years ago and life has been great ever since

  LD
• 

  minimus

  Idr, good for you!
• 

  Twitch

  Thinking
• 

  JeffT

  1) got tired of waiting for Armageddon

  2) listening to a rabid CO talk about what waste education was for our children, they should be serving Jehovah the WTBS instead!

  3) A wife who supported reseaching the questions

  4) the Seattle Public Library, read: CofC, Jehovah of the Watchtower by Walter Martin, The Four Major Cults by Anthony Hoekema, Apostles of Denial by Edmund Gruss, probably some others. The internet didn't exist at the time.

  5) A Lutheran pastor who's name escapes me at the moment. He used to protest outside the Seattle area district conventions. Debbie wrote down his phone number at the last one we went to, we called it a month or so later. He ran a support group that was very helpful.

  6) the ongoing support of non witness family and friends at work
• 

  Heaven

  I would say it was the oppressiveness of the organization that helped me leave.

  I wanted something better than what the JWs were offering. I wanted a collaborative, soulmate partnership with my husband rather than a controlled, enslaved, second-class citizen role. I wanted a life that was mine to create... to live... and to enjoy.
• 

  wary

  Minimus

  For me I was going in to hostpital for a major opp, so being a lifetime member I decided it was time to brush up on my belieifs regarding blood transfusions so as to be able to answer the surgeons questionings.

  Whilst doing further research I stumbled accross AJWRB, I printed out the whole site and read it over and over. I started to realize all was not well.

  I asked the elders to help me get answers to my questions, they had no answers and said rely on Jehovah as thats what they do when they have doubts

  I started looking all over the internet and finding others had questions also then, I found this site. I havnt been to a meeting in a year and missed the memorial for the first time this year.
• 

  jookbeard

  long before the Internet I had the usual doubts that remained unanswered and had a feeling there was no where to turn to until strangely I heard a radio programme on LBC or Radio London the show was speaking about cults and although the WTS was not directly mentioned they left a helpline number for those who may be concerned about loved ones/friends etc who may be trapped in religious sects and cults , I think this coincided with the Waco disaster, so like any good man would do I rang the number and the rest is history. As it turned out the show was compiled with help form The London School of Economics who were in turn affiliated with Reachout Trust who in turn were very close to where I lived, an amazing turn of events.
• 

  Found Sheep

  I never liked how it controled every aspect of my life!!! married a controling JW - I think that goes hand and hand for the most part. I didn't like how woman were treat inferior and almost stupid! the brothers would give these bad talks and i knew there wives could do so much beter! What made me stop going was the lack of love and judgement you get the second you do something against the rules - divorced an elder!!! I read COC and that helped me know the religion was just plain wrong and Steve Hansen's book on cult mind control and now I can say I know they are a cult and would love to get my loved ones out. Started on facebook but that got complicated when people i knew figured out it was me so came to this site and it has been a life saver!!!
• 

  Robdar

  Because I left before Al Gore invented the internet, I had nobody and nothing to help me leave. I had to do it on my own and boy did I catch hell. I was glad to find Randy Water's site and, of course, JWD nearly 22 years later. The support offered on this site has been a blessing.
• 

  gubberningbody

  Persecution and betrayal.

  I'd like to say it was only about it not being true, but that wouldn't be true.

  Nothing like getting persecuted and betrayed to heighten your senses to the point that you realize that you are NOT in the "Truth".