Hi Kool Jo. Welcome!
I was also born-in and was fortuante enough to go away to university. I wasn't supported by my family financially, emotionally or in any way whatsoever. It was a monumental struggle and I was literally alone in the world, with no family whatsoever. It was 1000000% worth it for my freedom from Watchtower slavery.
When I realized the truth about "The Truth" I knew I couldn't be a captive of a high control religion which has so many cult-like attributes. This was before the internet and I knew of no other JW that took that route. I am so very thankful that I took the route that I did. It had its costs, but really, when you think about, it it was worth paying for by "giving up" the fake and conditional love that JW family, friends and organization give. In the end, I didn't see any of that a sacrifice at all because it was never real. It was just an illusion.
I have, therefore, always been very much the black sheep in an ultra hard core uber JW family. Contact is virtually nonexistent. Since originally posting when I joined, some interesting developments have occurred. I have some family members, including a few cousins and both an aunt and uncle who have come to see the WTBTS for what it is. Except for the aunt and uncle, everyone came to their conclusions separately and they are not all from the same "nuclear" family either; my aunt and uncle came to their discoveries together.
Being from a multigeneration JW HARD CORE family, this is all just so completely shocking that this could have even possibly occurred. Previously, I was the only black sheep, outcast, untouchable. Recently, the JW family members have told the members of our family that have faded that they are dead to them and that they do not care if they ever speak to them again for the rest of their lives (this, in a previously super tight knit family). ALL the JW family members know is that these members have stopped going to meetings. They know nothing of how the "faders" actually feel toward the Organization. There has been much hurt, and crying, especially impacting my aunt. But these "Free" family members have pulled together, and we've formed our own non-JW "branch" of the family with much support and love. They all agree that the love we received from the JW family was conditional upon meeting attendance and see that "love" for what it is.
I never thought any other family member would come out of the Org. I have no idea what the actual numbers are but it SEEMS that more and more may be leaving and that this may, in fact, accelerate in the future. With the plentiful information about the real truth about the Watchtower now so easily accessible to virtually anyone. This, of course, is why the Org wants to keep a tight lid on information and control their members to the incredible extnet that they try to. Ultimately, I think this will be a losing battle. People born-in will increasingly leave, with fewer and fewer staying, fewer and fewer Bible studies per publisher will lead to Baptism. This will all lead to less money coming into the Org. The Org will contract while claiming it's a sign of the last day. Uber JWs will cling to everything the Org says, always expecting an Armageddon that is ever coming but never arriving. Those "faithful" JW numbers will shrink through natural mortality. This will all take some decades. And the Org will probably survive in a much leaner form for a very long time. Ultimately, if they adapt into a more mainstream religion their long-term survival will be more likely.
Just a few things I've pondered this morning...not sure what you think of any of of this. But...anyway... WELCOME.
LaVérité