by Brummie 46 Replies latest jw experiences
Geesh so much pain the Watchtower brings! Thanks for sharing your stories...very sad.
It gets right up my nose to hear of the commercial they are now showing in the USA that pictures happy people! That "Family Happiness" book is the biggest insult to any JW family that has suffered the severing of family bonds.
Brummie
So sorry to hear about so many tales of shunning. . .
Regretably, I have another one. . . my own. . .
My two kids Shawn (28) and Heather (27) shun me. I haven't been able to talk with them since 1999, before I was disfellowshipped. I sent them cards in the mail. The cards were returned to me, unopened.
Since that time, they have both moved . . .and now I follow them on the internet.
I have six brothers, two of which are jw. The two jw brothers shun me. . .Interestingly, jw brother (number six) asked my non-jw brother (number five) at Christmastime, "Ask Esther if I can have her kids' addresses." My answer to brother number five? "Tell Steve to find the addresses the same way that I do. . .search the internet!"
Elsewhere: Great sign!!!
(((((HUGS TO ALL!!!)))))
ESTEE
My mom, step-dad,two brothers,one sister, and uncle have all shunned me for the last 18 years. When I left my brothers were 4 and 2 . They were my little buddies back then but now they hardly know who I am. I have a void in my life but I've moved on because I had to. Although I will never understand their stance I've accepted it because it's reality.
My wife and i are not shunned by our's parent's,and friends in the troof,
we shun them first!!!
My mother is 89, my brother 65 and my sister 64, and none have spoken or have been allowed to speak with me since 8 years ago when I DA'd. My father died 4 years ago, and I found out about it 2 years later from a distant Catholic relative. Ah, how often I reminisce about "God's loving organization"!
I received my first official shunner last night, and Im wearing it as a badge of honour. I sent my letter removing myself from the toilet other wise known as the watchtower a few weeks back, and it looks as though they must have read my name off already. I say this as last night my brother walked passed me with his four year old boy, and shielded him from me like I was Jeffery Dalmer, and almost dislocated his neck turning the other way. I chuckled quietly to myself, and went on with my day. Yup, if she walks like a cult, and quacks like a cult, it is a cult.
It will be 9 years next month. I have had contact only with a few members of my family intermittently on "family business," such as when my niece died.
I once tried to manufacture some "family business" by trying to collect on some outstanding debts, but this ploy wasn't as successful as I hoped it would be. One couple paid monthly, but basically stuck to business. So I thought that was kind of a bust until my therapist brought it to my attention that they had to think about me every month while making out the check until the debt was paid.
Another couple made no attempt to pay or to even tell me why they couldn't pay. I had a big argument at a seafood restaurant on the coast with them over this. We happened to be there at the same time. I was angry at them for shunning me, that they were out splurging at a seafood place, and driving a new truck, yet they couldn't even write to me and tell me that they were still so financially irresponsible that they would never ever pay me back. A few years later they included me as a debtor in their bankruptcy, which is shocking and reprehensible to my so-called "worldly" friends.
Still, I keep trying. I send cards, flowers for funerals, letters, and whatever else I can think of. I won't say it's not having an effect, but I can't go into details on a public forum. I promised my family that any contact that they have with me would be held in the strictest confidence, and I have kept that promise. (If you happen to read this, you know who you are. Please don't be afraid of me. I won't tell anyone!)
Ravyn, that's a cool definition.
1-ISOLATION(break any 'worldly' ties, or avoid any 'worldly' information)
2-INSULATION(only social or informational link is to 'mothership')
3-DEMONIZATION(us/them, and they are evil...)
I think the same way. The JW's may not think they are a cult, but as the old saying goes, if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck; it's a duck.
Tammy
ESTEE & Yardog nordic, geddy fjtoth Swan, glad you shared, sorry to hear your situations, awful,
they only exist because the WT exists, the world would be a better place without it!
ESTEE it was a reference you made on another post that got me to start this thread.
fjtoth, glad to get to know you a little better (outside of disagreement threads) Hope you will share more,
Brummie
I am shunned by my dad's side of the family.
I haven't talked to most if any in 12yrs.
My father with tears in his eyes last yr told me he wanted me back in his life, even though I was Df'd (I brought that part up).
Since then, he has had very little contact with me, and the only reason I contacted him at all was because my son wanted to meet him.
So, the tears meant nothing and the religion prevails again. I am soooooooo tired of doing this, he talks to my sister (inactive not da or df) every other weekend and can't even call me once a month or every other month.
I am tired of this and 2 days before my apperence on TV for child abuse and the covering up of it, he asked my sister to tell me to call him. I didn't call him and haven't heard from him since.
I won't call him and will have it in my will for NONE of my JW family to come to my funeral. I don't want them looking over me shaking their heads. They wouldn't see my while I was alive, why should they see me when I am dead???? To hell with them and their way of treating me and many others in the same/similar situation. Is this LOVE????? NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
Jes
I to am shunned, it makes me so angry and so sad at the same time for all of you, and the pain you've all had to endure. This might sound cold, but that my family shuns me is actually a huge relief in that I don't have to deal with them anymore! My life is a lot happier, without that abuse all the time, however it does make me so sad that I've lost my mom and my sister to this viscious cult and I'll never have the same relationship with them, because even if they left tommorow and they suddenly thought it was okay to see me, it would take awhile for them to get back in MY good graces, they have hurt me deeply, its time for them to make the apologies and come begging back, not me.
