<<<<<<<<<<<My mind don't come any wider! Marilyn, like I said before, I've analysed things so much, it ain't funny anymore.
Dear Violet, I had a devout Mormon friend say exactly the same thing to me just the other day. She told me if she was any more opened minded her brains would fall out. Trouble is she is sucked in big time to the Latter Day Saints. Are people open minded just because they say they are? It's difficult to answer that honestly because some times it's impossible to know if we are open minded. I say that to include myself and everyone here.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>I came here because I was curious as to what ex-jw's had to say. I felt surely they couldn't be as bitter and twisted as the society makes them out to be...sadly, some are.
Violet I chose to leave the Witnesses because I didn't believe it any more. They disfellowshipped me for not believing it even though I didn't try to take anyone with me or convince anyone that my way was right. I wanted to leave quietly. That was over 20 years ago and I've been shunned by my family for 20 years. Now that tends to make a person just a tad bitter. But apart from that I mostly think Jehovah's Witnesses are a deeply flawed religion who talk a lot about love but show very very little of it.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>I first came here too because Silent Lambs was just up and running and there was all this controversy over molestation. Being a victim of jw abuse myself, I was extremely curious and I was led here.
I'm very sorry about your abuse. I have been spared such a terrible indignaty. I can't imagine what it must be like.
>>>>>>>>>I left the jw's as a teen and only recently decided to go back after seeing all the hypocricy in the world, the hatred, back-stabbing, cruelty, lack of natural affection, perversity...I could go on and on.
You see I experienced all of those things inside the congregation. In fact it was why I left. I know there are bad people everywhere but I have mostly met very good and caring people in the world. I believe there is the same ratio of good people in the JW community as there is in the world at large. At the moment you are probably recieving the royal treatment at the hall, but in time the JW love will wear thin and you will see them for just average people with average flaws.
>>>>>>>>>>>I just think the jw's as a whole are a hell of a lot better than the state of the world. At least they can get along with each other because they are all bonded under one purpose - serving Jehovah!
Yeah right!!! I have 3 siblins. Two brothers, both elders and one sister who is married to an elder. None of them like each other and don't associate with each other unless they really have to. So how does that work? I've seen a lot of worldly people get on way better than my family do. Prior to the WTS our family got on really well together. Go figure!
>>>>>>>>>>I like that, loyalty...doesn't exist very much these days! And they are a dedicated bunch, for the most part, and willing to help better anyone who wants to help themself
Well they're willing to help anyone become a JW that's for sure. They aren't much use for any thing else. My mother is a JW and she's currently receiving treatment for cancer which is her third outbreak of it. She hasn't had too many offers of help or cards of encouragement from people in her congregation. Yet my mother is a dear sweet lady of 77 yrs old. You know why the Witnesses don't bother with her? Because she's refused to shun me. Nice people eh?
Marilyn
