Why do you visit this site? (page 3)

exwhyzee

Thanks everyone...great and varied comments (as usual) that reflect what I too feel but often can't formulate into words as well. I especially liked "Not A Captives" comments.

In the past former Witnesses had to resort to marching around with picket signs outside of assembliy grounds to have a voice or resolve the anger the felt for being mislead. Not knowing what they were going through...it was easy for most active JW to dismiss them as being unbalanced or it confirmed to how far off balance someone can get when they dare to leave the orginization. It was easy to call them names like Apostates.

poppers

I keep coming here despite the fact I've never been a dub and have no family who are either. I first came because I wanted to see what would compel a 4th grade student of mine to want to pass out religious literature at school. This site was like stumbling upon a train wreck, littered with people who were hurting but with many people who survived the train wreck intact and were helping others who were still hurting. I couldn't take my eyes off of this place as I saw what was happening here, and I grew to like and admire many of the people I found here. It's filled with interesting stories and people, humor, and a broad range of information outside the dub world.

palmtree67

I first came here for support after leaving.

Now I come here because I like and respect the people on here, I can ask a question about the Bible or a belief and get intelligent responses ( as opposed to, "Believe this because the WTS says so, even if it makes no sense." )

I also feel empathy for the newbies and the emotional rollercoaster they are on. I feel a responsibility to ( hopefully ) be helpful to them, as so many on here were helpful to me.

White Dove

I think birds of a feather really do flock together to discuss life issues over a pint.

Having similar background gives us a common bond.

OnTheWayOut

If being one of JW's is truly behind you, why do you visit this site years later to discuss the subject ?

Obviously, it ain't truly behind me.

It's a process that might take differing amounts of time per person and their situation.
If my wife left the JW's, we would all celibrate together here, but my return visits here would be extremely rare after awhile.
That might happen in the future anyway.

THE GLADIATOR

I visit this site to gather aggressive Christians for the arena to placicate my gods. I spare the nice ones.

The Finger

i wish i knew.

Incognito

As a practising Witness, you’re led to believe that something must be wrong with you if you don’t agree 100% with ‘The Society’ or if certain proclamations don’t make sense.

The religion is set-up so that you can’t openly question any of the teachings so if you have a differing opinion and are not 100% in acceptance of all the WT teachings, you’ll likely feel isolated, alone, wrong and possibly even defective. You can’t feel comfortable discussing your feelings with another witness and are led to believe that discussing your concerns with anyone outside the religion will bring reproach upon Jehovah and his Organization.

This site can provide a place of belonging since being a JW is so encompassing, many have no non-JW friends and have disposed of relationships with relatives who were not JWs.

This site offers the opportunity to openly but anonymously compare your concerns with many others who have experience and understanding of any issues you choose to present. Often, others have had similar concerns and views on the same issues. This can assist validating you and your feelings and thoughts, helping reduce the feelings of isolation and of something being wrong with you.

Over time, your need for this site may decrease as you let-go of the stranglehold many find the WT has over us. This stranglehold includes fear, guilt, feelings of inadequacy, indecisiveness, need of acceptance and many others. Although over time, you may be able to put many of these issues behind you or at least reduce their effects, you may realize that being a JW is a component of your life’s past which you cannot now change or eliminate. It is part of you! Although you might now regret being a member of the religion, it is a component of the person you have now become so you may as well embrace it instead of expending much energy fighting or denying it.

Use it as a learning experience to assist you to move forward to becoming the person you want to be instead of a person as dictated by an organization or group. Likewise, accept others for their differences and individuality instead of in-spite of them.

Many remain long term participants here, not to fulfill their own needs, but to help lurkers and new participants open their minds and realize their own potential, empathising and showing compassion for new members who were not shown kind qualities at the Kingdom Hall.

Often, active witnesses that do lurk or participate here will fight tooth & nail against anything ‘negative’ of their beloved organization, sometimes for years. Although they may openly rally for the organization, calling ex-jws apostates and liars in a mean spirited manner, they often know in the back of their minds that much of whatever is presented here is in fact true.

I believe that there is a certain percentage of ex-jws that although are now fully detached from the religion, come here to see what ‘New Light’ the WT is proclaiming. I think they shake their heads in wonder at reasonably intelligent people (JWs) continuing to unquestioning accept whatever is put forth, no matter how illogical and unfounded in the bible. I think they like to see what they would be required to believe today if they had remained JWs.

Why do you visit this site?

Gregor

BluesBrother