What's the "need" of this gathe...

beroea

Even posting not so often, but with pleasure and feed-back as well, I do wonder why former-JW and I as well with my own subjects - have this "need" to gather and to discuss subjects related to WT. Some seams to use close to hours each days in front of the computer.

I don't see many other WEB pages of former-Catholics or former members of other religions (Not of my knowledge - I can be wrong). Why not to forget the world of WT and to continue living the life? Life isnt that bad at all, so why dont live the rest of it looking forward - not back.

So why are being a former-JW so special compare to be a former ex-other religion? I do know the need of bringing out all the bad and that has its own purpose for a time, but not for good.

Bereoa

LizardSnot

Because we can?

Lizard

NeonMadman

If you really root around the internet, you'll find discussion boards for former members of most high-control groups. Mormons, fundamentalists, old-line Worldwide Church of God, Seventh-day Adventists, they're all out there. Being in such groups causes mental and emotional damage, and it helps to have others to talk with who have been through the same thing.

revdrjohnson

Well ...

28 years ago, when I came out there was NOTHING -- and NO ONE I could talk to ... And there were many days that I needed to vent to someone who could understand my plight 'cause they'd been through it too.

So I am thankful that we have the Internet -- and more than FIFTY places created specifically for us who have escaped the clutches of the b'ORG

Furthermore, it's refreshing to hear that so many made it out and are still relatively sane!

Finally ...

There are other support groups for ex-Roman Catholics, for ex-Mormons, for ex-Fundamentalists, and on and on and on ...

beckyboop

Hi Beroea,

We have this "need" to discuss it because it's the only real way to heal. These types of forums are very beneficial because they provide the outlet needed to vent, discuss, argue, complain etc. We were never able to truly think for ourselves before, and finding a place with people who've been thru the same crap helps us to move forward. Being able to discuss real life issues without fear of disfellowshipping is a breath of fresh air--and some of us take it in huge gulps!

Sometimes I feel like I'm on here way too much, but for whatever reason I need that at this time in my life. I don't know that I will always be around, but I do know that I've grown in leaps and bounds since coming a couple of months ago. I just received an email the other day from someone who enjoyed a post of mine--and that made every minute I've spent on here worthwhile.

I am eternally grateful for the amount of research that has already been done by so many posters, and their generosity in sharing the findings with us here. While most of us probably won't be here "for good", boards like this will always need to be around as long as there are groups who manipulate people by their tactics--with the result that many die and are abused in many ways.

Becky

LeslieV

For some of us we were in this religion for many years. When you leave you feel like that fish out of water or that you feel out of sync with the rest of the world. People here talk the same language, know the lingo, know the emotional turmoil losing friends and family do to the the human psyche. Most religions do not go the the extent JW's do when someone decides they no longer want to play the game. Just my thoughts on it.

Leslie

bad_associashun

everything beckyboop said, and...

to recover from the grips of allowing yourself to become part of such a deceitful, micro-managed, manipulative self-righteous cult, and then to be judged & rendered unacceptable to God by them.

When you accidentally run into your former best friend (for years) in public and they look straight into your eyes with a meaningless stare, void of love or any recollection of fond memories together and carefully alter their path to avoid you-

yes, incidents such as this- and many others- contribute to a gnawing feeling of worthlessness & inadequacy- compliments of the wts. A healing process needs to happen- this board assists in helping to regain confidence that you are not a needless worldly disgusting piece of sludge not even worthy of a 'hello', that there IS life after the WT.

Valis

Thought this might help

Sincerely,

District Overbeer

Mary

I never "joined" this religion, I was born into it and therefore, I never knew a different way of life. When I was a teenager, I believed this was the 'one true religion' 110% and would have (literally) staked my life on it at that time, even though I was vaguely aware of some inconsistencies in alot of the doctrines (the whole 1914 invisibility thing never sat right with me, even when I was 13 years old).

I remember always being sort of fascinated with so-called "apostate literature" - I was just DYING to know what they were saying about us that was so bad and so evil that it could seduce even the strongest of Christians to "deviate from the faith". I wasn't rebellious, I just wanted to show that I could read "apostate literature" and tear apart everything they said, which wouldn't be a problem seeing as I had "the truth". So I went to the local library one day and read that book by that sister who had been at Bethel. I can't remember her full name - Barbara something, but it was called "Visions of Glory".

I was in a state of shock by the time I had finished, because from what I could ascertain, there was nothing "apostate" in the book at all.....in fact, it had the ring of truth to it so I eventually read James Penton's book "Apocalypse Delayed". I was even more shocked when I was finished and now I had to face the unpleasant fact that my religion had lied to me.

I cannot describe the emotional and psychological pain this discovery has caused me over the years, and I probably should have gotten professional counselling for it as I was in a terrible state. At times I thought I was losing my marbles and that Satan had in fact, "snared" me into believing "apostate literature" that I should tell the elders what I had done, and ask them for their help in 're-programming' me..........however, I knew for a fact I would be disfellowshipped for reading this "apostate" stuff and I would never be trusted again so I said nothing to nobody.

Finding these sites where other Witnesses and ex-Witnesses have also gone through hell when they realized that our great and fearless leaders have no special connection with God, that they've lied, deceived, and manipulated millions in order to keep control, has been a god-sent. Makes me realize that it's not ME that's nuts after all.

minimus

When you CAN'T openly discuss a doubt or a contrary view this is a perfect forum.A large group of people here post quite a bit only to slow down. Others feel the need to regularly get things off their chest. It is THERAPY.

What's the "need" of this gathe...

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