Hi, new to this forum. Figured I'd let everyone know about my story before I got involved.

by JonathanH 65 Replies latest jw experiences

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  Cadellin

  Jonathon: Wow, what a story. You are yet more evidence of the brain drain that the WT is experiencing.

  Love your observation: I will do my damnedest to be the exemplary of the virtues they value, but do not understand

  You are clearly a gifted writer and thinker. Like so many have already said, my heart goes out to both your wife for her emotional strain and your sister. It's really horrid how misogyny masquerades as "loving Biblical counsel."

  Also, congrats for your intentions to pursue higher education. That's the other common denominator among so many of us who leave the Borg--we make up our lack of formal education as quickly as we can. I'm just finishing a M.A. and don't regret one minute.

  Please, keep us posted!
• 

  besty
• 

  sweet pea

  Make mine a nice warm glass of Merlot . . .

  Jonathan, thanks for sharing your story. Powerful and moving. Interesting how with some individuals something doesn't feel right about this religion from such a young age - almost like a little person was inside you knocking for so long to be set free. You made it and have come out the other side. Hopefully in time your wife will join you completely. I can't imagine how tough the last few years must've been for her emotionally and mentally whilst still under mind control.

  You should think about submitting your story to Freeminds - contact Randy or Besty (aka My husband).
• 

  faundy

  Jesus, you can really write. You seem like the kind of guy I could sit down and chat with for hours. I love intelligent people.

  Your story, so eloquently told, seems turbulent but I am struck by one thing: it is full of love. For your sister, and especially your wife. Don't lose that. Real love took me 26 years to find, and it is so wonderful.

  Good luck with everything. You blew me away with your recounting.
• 

  noni1974

  I read your story. The only thing I will comment on is your saving for college. I believe that if you went you would do very well. I'm in college myself right now and I got my GED in January 2010 after almost 20 years out of school. I passed the test on my first try, even though I'm not great at Math and I was worried that I would fail that section. My college career has been sucessful so far with a 3.55 GPA and joining the Honors program and taking Honors classes. I made the Dean's list in both the Fall and Spring semesters. I am joining Phi Thetta Kappa the Honors Society at my school after earning the last credit I needed last semester. It has been an amazing experiance for me. I am taking classes at my local community college and you could too. They take everyone as long as you can pay for classes and have a high school diploma or a GED. Just look into it and see if you could afford to take a class or two a semester. Just going to college has opened my mind up to many talents that I didn't know I had. I know it can do the same for anyone. I encourage you to look into it.
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  Diest

  I know that is an odd wish, but as I have started to read this board and hear about many people’s experiences I realized how much sooner I would have left the untruth had I lived in a congregation where no one was a thinker.

  In my congregation well over 50% of the publishers were college educated, this included many of the elders. So whenever I doubted the truth I thought "Well he went to Harvard, and he went to a great school in Europe, so if they believe it, who am I to doubt it." So you just think I am 19 I think they would know....so give it time.

  It is funny when you realize that the people whom you thought were so smart, could not figure out the basic flaws in this religion. I wish I could smack some sense into the people who wasted the first 20 years of my life, with the religion, and the next 10 with self-doubt and guilt. But I realized, you have to let go. You can’t be angry at these people forever; it just makes you a bitter person. If you get so wrapped up in disproving this group then you lose your life, and the religious terrorists win.

  So I am happy that I have an outlet on here to complain a little, and grow a little. But it does make me wonder, what if I was in that congregation where no one had been to college. Would I have been on my way and down the road by 17? Fun game, but no one knows.
• 

  Dogpatch

  Hi Jonathan,

  As Sweet Pea said, freeminds.org would like to host your story if you don't mind. Could you email me at [email protected]?

  My story is at www.randallwatters.org.

  By the way, tomorrow is Sweet Peas' birthday!!

  Randy
• 

  hubert

  Well Jonathan, that must have been one hell of a huge cup of coffee you were drinking. 40 paragraphs !!

  If I knew it was that long, I probably wouldn't have read it. I would have been discouraged. So, I just kept reading and figured sooner or later, it would end. LOL !!

  I found that once I started reading this, I needed to keep on. You are a very good writer, and really intelligent, too. This is a very sad story, however, I am happy you still have your wife on your side, so to speak. I'm sorry you lost al your other family and friends. It's going to be hard to forgive them, but I commend you for having that as a goal some day. I myself couldn't do it.

  It saddens me to hear so many stories that are similar to yours. What a wicked cult.

  On a side note, have you heard about the book "Crisis of Conscience", by Ray Franz? I wonder if some day in the future you could get your wife to read it? Perhaps with you? Not trying to make waves here, I am thinking that some day, she needs to free herself from this destructive cult, before she has a nervous breakdown.

  Glad you are here, and look forward to more of your intelectual writing. (of which most is Greek to me). :)

  Hubert
• 

  Coffee House Girl

  thanks for sharing Jonathan, your story made me cry- is all too familiar- yes it is cathardic to share, & it helped me to share in your pain (I hoped it helped you write it)

  best of luck to you & please keep us posted with update to how you and your wife is doing (and your sister)

  CHG

  oh yea...I will take a caramel latte please, extra foam & caramel drizzel (chocolate sprinkles if you have em)
• 

  startingover

  I missed this first time around, but glad I found it. I have enjoyed your voice of reason and excellent way of expressing it in other threads. Thanks for sharing your story.