I like this guy's analysis
Why Jehovah's Witnesses leave the Organisation
by Vanderhoven7 3 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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TonusOH
Some of the restrictions can also seem petty or unnecessary. I can remember the gossip whenever someone left or was DF, about how their lives had changed. We would comment on how a young man now had his hair down to his shoulders, or had an earring, or grew out his beard, or was smoking cigarettes, or (gasp!) had a tattoo! He was wearing a t-shirt with the logo for some music band, possibly one of those demonic heavy metal acts! He celebrated his birthday! He bought Christman presents! He said "bless you" when someone sneezed! He had a mohawk hairdo! He came out as gay!
Then you leave the organization and you realize just how suffocating it was. Did we really feel shame or sadness for that young man, or were we gossiping because we were jealous that he could do so many simple things that we were denying to ourselves? It is so insane when you finally look at it from the outside.
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DesirousOfChange
I didn't mind most of those restrictions of being a JW. I still do not "celebrate" holidays although I acknowledge the birthdays or our kids, grandkids, and close friends. I still have conservative grooming and values.
I left because I came to realize there really was no divine direction at any level of the Organization. Yes, I had really believed that there was. I really thought there was some kinda voodoo "spirit direction" there. I was convinced I had experienced it -- had seen evidence of it. Now I call all that coincidence, because I am ever more convinced that there is NO supernatural force or being guiding anything or anyone at any level there. I was absolutely crushed upon coming to that realization. ALL that I had believed in came crashing down around me.
I now believe it is "mostly" good men/people who are trying to do their best at understanding the scriptures and applying it personally and conscientiously , but unfortunately some also going to the extreme in forcing their opinion or understanding of it on others conscience. There really is no such thing as a person's Bible trained conscience. There is the GB demanded conscience. If your conscience does not agree with their direction 100%, you're going to be in trouble there and likely forcibly removed from the group.
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peacefulpete
Nice video. It's always interesting to hear someone come to the same conclusions but from a slightly different angle.