Is it common for Jehovah's Witnesses to turn to alcohol when they realize the Watchtower is a scam

by Watchtower-Free 31 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  jws

  I don't think so and I think it depends on why you left.

  I was born and raised a JW. I drank quite a bit in my 20's both as a JW and after leaving. I think it had more to do with the culture and my youth. It was a drinking town. My worldly friends loved to go out drinking and I hung out mostly with them.

  I don't think it changed when I left because I don't think I was traumatized. I never really liked being a JW and doing JW things, but believed it was the truth. When I read Franz's book and realized it wasn't the truth, one might argue that it was the excuse I was looking for to leave.

  Sure, I may have drank a little more after leaving. But that's probably because I didn't have to wake up Sunday morning and could go to after parties. Leaving also made me re-evaluate the morality of different things banned by JWs. So I did do more things that were banned. But it wasn't going wild, having to do everything I was denied and get it all out. Not even close. Only doing what felt morally right as things came up. Basically more casual dating and trying some drugs. Even cigarettes and cigars.

  Don't do drugs now, don't smoke, don't casually date. Don't even drink much except when out with friends and rarely hard liquor. I rarely get so much as a buzz. Parenthood and maturity also have a lot to do with that. I do enjoy beer though.

  I can see being a gung ho JW and having all your beliefs shattered and turning to alcohol and other vices. For me having my beliefs shattered was a good thing.
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  kneehighmiah

  I was using pain killers and alcohol to cope with the stress of being perfect. I stopped both after fully accepting TTATT. My mind was free And the guilt gone. I was no longer putting my life on hold. I still crave pain killers but I haven't used them in months. Who says leaving "the truth" doesn't help you clean up your life.
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  Lied2NoMore

  Now that I thought about it..I used to get buzzed or outright drunk more often before but never admitted it...NOW I get drunk but less frequently but I kid around like I'm a raging alcoholic and drug user because I don't need to cover up and put up a false front..
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  kaik

  Yes, alcoholism was problem as far I remember. It was not only men's problem but women too. Alcohol helps JW to escape from reality and harsh life as JW. Alcohol abstinence is a foreigner concept for JW as Noe to Jesus drank alcohol.
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  smiddy

  Elders and MS I got around with certainly knew how to down quite a few VB`s and scotch when we socialised , which was every weekend , and none of us knew the TATT .

  smiddy
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  designs

  Los Angeles area JWs I hung around were pretty heavy drinkers. Myself I was a very heavy drinker when in, haven't touched a drop in 14 years.
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  John_Mann

  JW's are very proud drunkards. Just look their profiles in facebook...
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  disposable hero of hypocrisy

  Warehouse - I've only just discovered stout, so of course Guinness is always good, but I'm loving a bit of "innis and gunn" at the moment, very very tasty...
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  James Brown

  I was born in and didnt escape until I was 30.

  My worldly grandpa told me I was an alcoholic when I was 17.

  When I realized the truth about the truth and acted on it by quiting going to meetings

  I ended up going to AA for 7 years.

  Many of the JW's I knew male and female were considered alcholics by worldly standards

  of sobriety.
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  Bugbear

  Remember the so called "judge" Rutherford

  Bugbear