Stopping my bible study with the JW's (page 3)

skeeter1

Welcome! I am so glad you figured things out so quickly!

GLTirebiter

Welcome to the forum, salsa girl!

I have put two-and two together and realised that this is the practice that is known as 'marking'. It felt like everything about me was being watched.

They slipped up when they let you experience that before you committed. I heard my Ex talking about somebody at the hall being "marked", and saw how she suddenly refused to answer phone calls from another lady who just a few weeks before had been her best friend from the Kingdom Hall. Seeing this marking and shunning in action is one major reason why I wanted no part of the Watchtower organization. Another was when an elderly gentleman from the local congregation died from internal bleeding after surgery because he refused a transfusion.

So congratulations for getting out in time, before major damage could be done!

salsa girl

Hi everyone!

Once again, thank you for all your comments! One thing I would just like to make clear is that I'm not silly enough to expect that one post by me is going to lead to a mass exodus of Jehovah's Witnesses from the org just because I was able get out before I ever really got in! I was really thinking of others like me who are currently studying with JW's and who may well end up on this board because they are having doubts about it all for whatever reasons.

In relation to what I mentioned regarding 'materialism', I appreciate that there may well be people who are jealous of others who have more which is not nice. However, my personal circumstances did not allow for me to be able to work and what I found so offensive were Jehovahs Witnesses who thought that they had some sort of God given right to make mention of the fact that I did not have much and actually have the audacity to compare my circumstances with theirs with one smarmy git even suggesting that in his opinion, I must be envious of all his worldly goods!! (Yes, someone really did have the nerve to say this to me!) I certainly don't begrudge anyone who works really hard to get the things they want in life.

I stopped studying with Jehovah's Witnesses BEFORE I went up on the internet. I only started to research the org AFTER I left. This board has really helped me to understand that my instincts about the people and the teachings were spot on. It is only through reading about the experiences of others here that I realised that I wasn't crazy to feel the way that I ended up feeling about it all. I know one thing after reading all stories here, NOTHING could ever persuade me to go back because IT IS NOT THE TRUTH!

Wasanelder Once

You nailed it Salsa. Keep posting.

nugget

Welcome to the board you did well to side step the conditioning and break free. We came to this much later in life and the extraction process has been much more complicated. The witnesses think of themselves as loving and generous exhibiting christian qualities. Sadly many are judgemental and cruel and taint the congregations. Whilst there are genuinely lovely people trapped in this religion they form a small oasis in the congregations but do not reflect the predominant spirit. It is all smoke and mirrors if they say they are loving enough times then it must be true.

Murray Smith

It took a while . . . but one thing I have learned is that humans too have powerful instincts that we sometimes 'reason over the top of' . . . to our peril

I trust my instincts now with almost every decision . . . and for the most part . . . they serve me well.

your experience Salsa girl . . . has encouraged me further

Luvonyall

Millions

Good for you salsa girl, you have wised up and saved yourself many years of hardship in getting baptised into the organisation and then trying to get out again!

I also stopped going before I started looking online, it is such a relief to find places like this and to realise that you aren't some evil satanist but in fact thousands of other people have gone through a similar experience of waking up to the reality of the religion.

Some of my best friends in the JWs lived in South London, I used to visit them quite regularly. I really do miss them, but I fear they will never wise up themselves and leave. Then again, I did ;)

Enjoy having a clear mind again :)

Heaven

Salsa girl, welcome! You not only have excellent observations skills, you are also honest with yourself about them. This is something many JWs cannot do because of the manipulation tactics used by the WT$. JWs can sure put on a facade but it's tough to maintain it when it's phoney. I know because I've seen it firsthand in with my parents and other family who are JWs.

Underneath that smiling face is a seething interior. I have seen the anger burst forth in frightening quickness for really no reasons other than you aren't agreeing with or aren't doing what they want you to. It's creepy.

LongHairGal

SALSA GIRL:

You are a smart girl. Interesting that you say you stopped BEFORE you went on the internet because you saw too many things that were wrong, so nobody can say that the 'internet corrupted you'.

While the JW religion may not be the "Inquisition", don't forget that it has only been around a little over 100 years. They have scandals now. How corrupt might it be if it were around since the third century, like Christendom?

Some people don't think the religion is that bad and they cite how 'moral' the people are and getting bible knowledge, etc. They are entitled to their opinion. I know some happy JWs BUT I must stress they were OLDER married people when they came in. They were not financially ruined by following the religion's policies against college and careers like many younger or middle aged people today. These older people already MADE their living and are relatively comfortable financially. They also were not scathed by any horrific experiences like child molestation or being defrauded by one of the wonderful 'brothers'. Being in retirement, they have a lot of time on their hands and can get out to the meetings. A lot of people who have never seen the dark side of the religion will dismiss other people's bad experiences like they are waving away an insect.

Another thing cannot be forgotten: with the JW religion you cannot pick and choose what you believe and you cannot just have sporadic association with them. They hound people. It is an ALL-OR-NOTHING religion, no matter what anybody says. I was there for 21+ yrs so I know.

By all means, read the bible on your own. But, if you are young you must get your education and either get married or make your own way in the world. Unless you are a trust-fund baby, you cannot afford to waste time daydreaming in any fantasy world.

Best of luck in your journey.

keyser soze

I felt I needed to trust my gut instinct and put a stop to the studies which I eventually did.

Your instinct was dead on. Fortunately, you were able to notice the red flags before you became too invested. Many people here weren't so fortunate.

And welcome to the forum!

Stopping my bible study with the JW's

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