A question I can't answer...

jayhawk1

My soon to be mother-in-law, asked me a question that I can't find an answer to. We were talking about my life as a Jehovah's Witness, and how I don't hate my late father for raising me as one. More importantly how I don't blame him but rather blame the religion for my aweful childhood.

Her question is, "Was there anything I enjoyed about being a Jehovah's Witness?"

Myself, I can't think of one thing I really enjoyed about being a Jehovah's Witness. Perhaps it is because I have chosen to forget any of the "good times" I had, or perhaps there truly wasn't any good times to be had.

Any thoughts?

Is this a light saber in my pocket or am I just happy to see you?

"Hand me that whiskey, I need to consult the spirit."-J.F. Rutherford

VioletAnai

My frequent trips to the toilet to chat to my friends...that's the only happy memory I have...how sad!

You've been a BAD boy, go to MY room

jayhawk1

VioletAnai,
I certainly remember seeing pleanty of "sisters" going to the bathroom in groups. So that is true of many women JWs.

But I keep thinking to myself, what motivated me to stay in that cult even though I hated every minute of it. Or did I at some point enjoy being in the cult, and now all memories I have are the bad memories.

Is this a light saber in my pocket or am I just happy to see you?

"Hand me that whiskey, I need to consult the spirit."-J.F. Rutherford

VioletAnai

I stayed cause it was all I knew, I was raised one. I had a fear of being left out in the cold. I just thought the reward for being teased at school, not getting involved in any extra-curicular activities, no celebrating my birthday - didn't care about xmas was too great to miss out on. Until the memories of abuse came back and I found them all to be hypocritical! Then I didn't care about living.

Now I do and I can still swallow what they tell me, I can't help it if I believe. After being in the world ten years, I think it's the best thing for me, the safest in my books.

jayhawk1

VioletAnai,
Everybody chooses their own path. My path was as far away from the Jehovah's Witness that I could get. When you say that you can't help it to believe the Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs, does that mean you believe in their version of Armageddon too?

Keep in mind, I have been away from the board for some time, and I have completely missed every post you have made, so you might have already answered this question.

Is this a light saber in my pocket or am I just happy to see you?

"Hand me that whiskey, I need to consult the spirit."-J.F. Rutherford

jayhawk1

VioletAnai,
The reason I asked about your belief in Armageddon, is that was my ultimate turnoff about Jehovah's Witnesses. So I hope you did not take my asking as an attack.

Back to my question, can anybody think of anything good that actually happened to you as a Jehovah's Witness that made you like being a Jehovah's Witness?

Is this a light saber in my pocket or am I just happy to see you?

"Hand me that whiskey, I need to consult the spirit."-J.F. Rutherford

VioletAnai

I have a struggle with armaggedon and resurrection of the unrighteous. OK, here's what I think...

I was abused by a jw, left and became a potsmoker. Now, he's dead apparantly - my grandmother (jw) conveniently told me after she knew he was dead what his name was.

Now he is gunna be resurrected right? Because death pays for sins and we're cleansed when we die right. So here I am, big pothead and I'm gunna die unless I change my terrible ways and give up. But, the pain and aftermath he left behind hasn't enabled me to do that...yet.

So if armaggedon comes tomorrow, I'm basically screwed and he's gunna get a second chance. I'm not sure about this, I'm still studying and still trying to fathom all the information they throw at you. Can be quite overwhelming.

jayhawk1

VioletAnai,
Hmmm, I wish I had the right words to say here, but you did sum up why I don't like their teaching of Armageddon. It seems you have some difficult choices to make in the near future. Just be sure to make informed decisions, because it is easy to become a Jehovah's Witness, but it is hard to leave them.

My dad, (died 1.5 years ago) although never baptized, made me go to the Kingdom Hall. He forced me to become a JW, he was an abusive man at times, but I still love him and miss him.

On a personal note, my opinion of religion and god changes seemingly every day. Some days I believe god has a hand in everything I do, and then there are other days I think god does not care what it is that I do.

So I do hope you find that inner peace you are no doubt looking for. Just for me it was not with the Jehovah's Witnesses, mainly because they don't know how to be true friends. As long as you are in "good standing" you can be thought of as a friend, but if you ever "stumble" and become a pot smoker again, they will cut you off. A true friend would never do that.

Just something to think about.

Is this a light saber in my pocket or am I just happy to see you?

"Hand me that whiskey, I need to consult the spirit."-J.F. Rutherford

Amazing

Good friends that enjoyed doing things together, like the beach all day, or a trip to DisneyLand, or out to dinner in San Francisco, and movies, cards, and other nice stuff. The rest, if there is anything has faded from memory.

LB

I enjoyed the association from the time I began to study until about a year or so after my baptism. Then of course it all went downhill fast. But I had thought I had made lifelong friends.

Funny isn't it, you start to miss a few meetings, and the gossip mill works overtime.

Never Squat With Yer Spurs On

A question I can't answer...

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