Hello, Panduro!
Welcome to the Board!
I remember the excitement I felt when I realized that the things Jehovah's Witnesses were teaching me seemed so holy and good. I felt like I had finally found an organization that lived up to the Bible's ideals, and I wanted to be a part of something so special!
It took me 5 years of studying to finally decide to get baptized (I was a smoker -- didn't want to give that up). But my baptism was bittersweet because nobody in my family agreed with my decision, my husband wouldn't attend, and even though my young children were present, they missed my actual "dunking" which was a great disappointment at the time.
Imagine my dismay several years later when I began to understand that the Governing Body can change its collective mind on certain doctrines at will. I was personally affected in that I had made a "no Rhogam" decision which made it dangerous (if not impossible) for me to have any more children. Then, about a year later, the Governing Body published that blood fractions such as Rhogam were "conscience matters." Well, it was too late for me to reverse the harm. And, I began to realize that, while I was only precluded from having more children (I already have 3), some people had actually DIED while obeying what they thought was a command from God voiced through the Governing Body. For example, hemophiliacs who did not take clotting factors (which are now a conscience matter but once would have been a disfellowshipping offense).
My advice to you, as gently as I can put it, is to RESEARCH this organization which seems especially wonderful but which is not any better than any other organized religion in the world. (<<-- That's a shocking statement to hear if you've been taken in by what the Witnesses believe about themselves, but, unfortunately, it's true.) Especially understand that once you belong, getting out can be a VERY painful experience. And understand, too, that this rift between your family and your ex-girlfriend will only grow wider, which is NOT what God wants to happen.
"God is love." Think how much your parents love you. Even when you do wrong things. Even if you fail repeatedly. And then ask yourself if they would cut you off completely and condemn you to a life without their love as a way of showing love??? If the answer is no, then I suspect that you would also agree that God, who loves more perfectly than any human parents, also would not condemn his earthly children to a life apart from those who love them best, even if they do wrong things. The Witnesses will try to convince you that THEY love you more than your family does. Don't ever believe that. While GOD may love you better, NOBODY in the Witness organization can or does. There is much heartache in the world (and on this Forum) because of the harsh practice of disfellowshipping. Make sure you completely understand that there is no honorable way to leave the religion if you later decide it's not for you. They will punish and ostracize you. Their "agape love" will evaporate. And then, they will try to convince you it's because you're a terrible person and God is using them to discipline you. Even if you still profess faith in God, the Bible and Jesus Christ.
I was completely disheartened to learn of so many false prophecies and doctrinal flip-flops in my 12 years as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Since I disassociated myself in March of 2001, I have learned of many hypocritical acts on the part of the organization as a whole. While I still have affection for many of the brothers and sisters that I left behind, I now understand that Jehovah God does NOT have a special relationship with the "slave" class in Jehovah's Witnesses, and thus they cannot be his mouthpiece.
Panduro, there is such sorrow in my heart because I know you have been happy to believe in the illusion that the Watchtower sells. Jehovah DID find you. He directed you here. So that you could learn that changing your life around and living righteously is something that, once decided upon, you can do with God's grace and without ANY organized religion. Trust that He knew what He was doing when He sent you to this board where the Personal Experiences of others will help you to understand the truth about "the Truth".
Sincerely,
outnfree
