by somebodylovesme 69 Replies latest jw friends
I only know a handful of Witnesses, but I do know several ex-Witnesses. All of them left in their late teens, which (as I've read here) is pretty common. I know there are a lot of people here who left later in life. So out of curiosity - how old were you when you broke free (became inactive, DF'ed, DA'ed, etc.)?
Have a happy Wednesday.
SLM
Edited to add:
My hubby was baptised at 11, stopped believing by 16, and was inactive by 20.
Baptized at 9, started having doubts at 34, left at 46. (Okay, so I'm a slow learner! At least I finally wised up and got out!)
Nina
Baptized at 12. Started having more serious doubts at 24, left at 25. Honestly, certain things were unanswered in my mind for years before I was 24, but I always pushed them back.
Baptized at age 16 left at age 54. I envy those who saw the light at a young age. But any age is ok to escape. Life is good.
Loris
Baptised at 28, left at 46, but remained isolated after df'ing for another 7 yrs., still believing a lot of the junk, yet knowing they were totally WRONNNNNNNNNNG about the love aspect of worship, and during which time I frequently lambasted the Gov. Potty and their branches with letters describing their scriptural and doctrinal errors in detail, finally tapering off after I found lotsa xdubs online in 1999 and my eyes were opened to the "real mcdeal" about the WT-BATS. Then after a bit, I was able to "let go"....
Frannie B
Baptized at 16, left at 30. Better late than never.
In at 18, believed until about 23, left at 24. Never went back, never will. I truly made the lie my own until my depression abated and I saw the real "truth" behind "the lie". It only took me 2 months to figure it out, and I am so happy!
Baptized at 15, doubts at age 44. Actually stopped going before the doubts set in..
Let's see...baptized at 13 and totally engulfed in their belief system because I didn't want to die at Armageddon. Became disallusioned the older I got, but still thought it was "me". I kept trying to do what I thought was the right thing, but inside I was twisted in emotional knots.
I was 21 when I was df'd for revealing to the brothers on my own, that I had engaged in one act of fornication with a non-JW. I took it all on myself and felt totally unworthy and sinful. I couldn't pray. I hated myself.
I groveled back in by 23 due to emotional blackmail. I was basically considered "weak and inactive", for having married the fellow I had sex with the first time. I also had a baby. Mind you, I really did love my husband. But he was not a JW. There was so much frustration for the next ten years trying to balance living with a non-believer, along with my inner conflictions of the doctrines.
I finally walked away when I was 34. Best thing I ever did for myself.
/<
Baptized at 16, left at 34
