by minimus 24 Replies latest jw friends
Everything became much less important once the 'new light' on the 1914 generation was presented. It was all down hill from that point on. Then when I found out about the WTBTS involvement with the UN, that was for sure the last nail in that religion's coffin.
Now I just look at it as one more man-made religious organization on earth. Nothing really extraordinary, and definitely not the 'truth' or God's only organization as they'd like to believe.
DY
there was a lot of thigns that did it for me. and the sad part is that they all happened when i returned to meetings after my 2 year break. the first thing that did it for me was how the elders judged my girlfriend about what we did in our personal lifes and what they did to her (take away her priviledges, nothign big). but what pissed me off about it was the way they judged. the told her that we should have just have had sex and got it over with (we haven't). Then her mom and step-dad are hypocrites that drive me insane. anything i do good for my girlfriend they turn into bad and report it to the elders. (they report anythign to the elders). then everyone being rude and not showing or caring is ridiculous.
For me, it was little things, and i didn't add all those things together until I found out about the WTS association with the UN in september. That's when i started researching about the WTS, and adding things together.
Good question Minimus.
I wished like heck that I would have kept a diary during my exit time as it has been about 8 years and the events have faded too much. It would have been intresting to re-read exactly what events led up to it.
I remember looking up info. on the cross and found ONLY info. that suggested jesus died on a cross. This was just before or after I was Dfed for smoking. When the effects of shunning hit me.....I began to investigate the organisation and whether or not shunning such as this was scriptural or not. It was while I was in the christian book store I saw all the books about the witnesses and I began to read. It was about that time I ordered COC. When I read that..........I knew.
Gumby
A friend at the hall was removed as a ministerial servant for having less than 10 hours/month field service time. The circuit overseer claimed that this was being done all over the country.
I remember thinking how everyone has different gifts, and how the scriptural qualifications for ministerial servants say nothing whatsoever about how many hours are spent using any particular gift. I also thought about how the 'widows coin of small value' was counted as sufficient.
I realized that what was being taught were simply teaching of men, and not even reasonable men at that.
So I faded from the scene, and have been so much happier for having done so.
I think many of us WANTED to believe that we just weren't gifted enough to understand everything. That's why we had the "faithful & discreet slave". But after reading Ray's books, one can't help but feel a major dent in their faith!
Well I was about about sixteen years of age and I asked my dad don't you think this is all crap? He said "now son your talking about the truth" I sat and thought a second and said yeah but dad if you read the front page of the mag you will see its its a just company one that makes magazines! My dad looked at me stern for what seemed to be fifteen min in deep thought then walked away, I think it dawned on him too. Now it really bothers me how I let let a printing company take control of my life and the life of my kids, they have had a few good ideas but beyond that they have basicly put a crimp on peoples lifes an d their pursut of happiness and state of mind.
You see, SingingMan, it took from 16 to adulthood, marriage and kids to FINALLY "get it"!
For a very long time, I just didn't get it. I was always unhappy and even angry at times about all the garbage that goes on with this religion. I became tired of making excuses for all the lies and lack of love, from a group of people who exploit the scriptures and the gullibility of it's followers.
In thinking back, the most profound moment for me was when I reasoned on an old question witnesses ask of each other. "How long have you been in the truth?" It just sounded stupid to me. I would ask the question, "how long have you been associated with the organization?" Sometimes I would get funny looks, but I felt the question was more appropriate.
Things clicked later, but in looking back, the moment I started thinking for myself was the beginning of seeing truth.
2001 District Convention drama - "Warning Examples for Our Day"
