Hi PimoJW,
Welcome...I'm a witness too. There are many who are nice but they are so empty. I go to the meetings and most look so sad....The org. only teaches do's and don'ts...not love...love is conditional...I'm ok with that...I have friends that are not witnesses, that's my balance.
It must be difficult to wake up and still have to fake it. You have said many don't know about the ARC...I disagree, to me when nothing is mentioned is when I'm sure they know...see the org. has been pointing fingers at other religions about child abuse and other things, that they themselves are now or have been guilty of just not caught...so I believe many know but too ashamed because they pointed at other religions, now it's them...and it's their pride that won't let them let on they know...most witnesses are all over the net, even though they say they aren't, they are....most of us are sneaky little kids...because once you tell folks not to do something, they do it...undercover....
I go to my meetings and something is up....there is a different atmosphere...I think most are just going through the motions...I wonder how many have been in the org. and have heard....this is really the end, see how all these hurricanes...etc...I'm wondering, if they are getting tired of hearing it...but can't chance being thrown out..
When they say well, you know it's the end....I say, sure is..why debate...only time will tell... if 20 yrs. go by and it's still not the end...I won't have to say a word....
If you love God & Jesus, don't let the org. take that away from you...believing in something helps us not to think to much of ourselves...it's a way to check yourself before you wreck yourself...the bible just shows us how to treat one another...God is not a golden calf...he is real, he listens and he hears and changes his mind...not like the org. portrays God...( of course this is if you still believe). I find many don't believe in God anymore because of the org...The God the org. describes is not the God of the Bible....The Bible is a book of love...God loved The Jews so much...even though they turned their back on him many times...like a spouse who still loves their partner no matter what...the entire OT is about God begging the Jews to come back...The NT is about the Love of his Son Jesus Christ...again, the bible just teaches us how to treat one another...God never asked us to say the Lord's prayer backwards on one foot...check this out PimoJW...first God made 600 commandments, then 10, then he brought it down to 2...Love God & Love your neighbor as yourself....& who is our neighbor...anybody...that's the message...not like the org. says...not just our brothers and sisters...but everyone...God is not partial, so we shouldn't be either...this is why it's difficult for me to be a witness...I don't have conditional love...I have empathy for all...
Don't let the org. take the love out of you...don't let them ruin your faith...Evolution, the big bang...whatever, if someone needs a helping hand...what does your conscience tell you to do ? Not the org...you...
Stay Awake...the life you save may be your own...
Tor