Embarrassment

by JH 8 Replies latest jw friends

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  JH

  At first, when you starting studying with the witnesses, were you ashamed of being part of that religion? Were you afraid that your neighbors would see you leave all dressed up with a suitcase? How about at work, did you reveal to your colleagues that your were a witness?
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  shera

  I was very embarressed,I didn't want anyone I knew before my JW days to see me out in service.Makes me think,how I managed to be involved with them for 5 yrs.
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  freedom96

  I was raised a witness, so never had a choice. But I was ALWAYS embarressed. Hating wearing little suits as a young boy, and don't get me started on wearing those damn convention name cards.

  The very few years as an adult and witness, I never volunteered that I was a witness, and I never wore those name cards.
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  jurs

  I was embarrassed too. It felt awkward telling people I was a JW. But I was most embarrassed when I had gone door to door in my own neighborhood or if I met someone at the door whom I knew. In fact, every so often I WOULD NOT be embarrassed and even felt pride in telling others I was a JW but it was rare. I felt guilty that I was ashamed and I use to pray to Jah to help me overcome it.

  jurs
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  jack2

  One thing that embarrased me most was placing some of the issues of the wt and awake. I was often ashamed of the contents, or certain articles.
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  dsgal

  I always got embarrassed around the holidays because I had to be different.Like the time the hairdresser asked me if I was ready for Christmas and I didn't have the nerve to tell her I didn't celebrate.I said something like"Not quite yet".Then I felt guilty afterward.I always hated being in a situation like that.
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  NameWithheld

  Absolutely. I tried to whitewash it around all non-JWs. It was very embarrasing. Like the response to "Merry Christmas" - instead of 'defending our faith' 90% of JWs reply "You too" (course they cannot SAY the words "Merry Christmas", but most can 'justify' returning the thought)

  What's amazing is now I am running into more X-JWs in my day to day activities then I ever do JWs ... hmmmm.

  Oh, and I agree Jack, there were a bunch of WT/Awakes I hated using in FS. I'd either hide them behind the other mag, or work with the previous/next month's mags ...
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  garybuss

  Hi JH, All,

  I was not proud to be a Witness and a lot of others were not either. The lady who had the Tuesday night literature study in her home would not go out in the door to door literature distribution work in her own neighborhood and was scared to death to be recognized as one of us.
  
  One of my fantasies as a child was that my parents would announce no more Jehovah's Witness meetings and unpaid literature distribution. Another was my real parents, a nice couple, would come and get me an give me a better life away from the craziness and the religious rituals and the embarrassment of being required to be an outcast in school.
  
  Of course I announced to my parents I was no longer a believer in the Watch Tower Corporation as an adult with the predictable results. I'm glad it's all over. It was all terrible.
  
  gb
  
  
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  SPAZnik

  I wuz raised a witness. I never felt embarrassed. Not til I left. Now I feel sorta stupid. Ya know? That I ever wuz one.