Another survey from Lee

by Lady Lee 54 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Black Sheep

  • What year did you leave?
  • 1969 and again in 1976 (never baptised)
  • How old were you when you left?
  • 17 then 24
  • Did the internet have anything to do with your decision to leave?
  • No
  • If you left before you got on the internet what reading did you do about the WTS or cults that helped you make your decision?
  • None
  • What was the one most important reason that helped you decide to leave (even if the decision was made for you through a DFing).
  • Freedom
  • If you left and still thought it was "the truth" what helped you change your mind?
  • Dad's raving about Armageddon being close led me to do some research on false prophets. Used Google

  Edited to add: The biggest threat to the WTS may be Google
• 

  aunthill

  • What year did you leave? 1994
  • How old were you when you left? 48
  • Did the internet have anything to do with your decision to leave? No
  • If you left before you got on the internet what reading did you do about the WTS or cults that helped you make your decision? The Bible
  • What was the one most important reason that helped you decide to leave (even if the decision was made for you through a DFing). Their views on sex, new clothing styles, new partakers at the memorial, the "Greatest Man" book.
  • If you left and still thought it was "the truth" what helped you change your mind? I had had questions about various things and would put them out of my mind. I finally got fed up with the lies and perversions, and their blame the victim attitude, and DA'd myself, even though I had no idea where to go from there (remember "we - the WTBS - have sayings of everlasting life). I since became a "born-again" Christian - Praise God!
• 

  run dont walk

  • • What year did you leave?
    • How old were you when you left?
    • Did the internet have anything to do with your decision to leave?
    • If you left before you got on the internet what reading did you do about the WTS or cults that helped you make your decision?
    • What was the one most important reason that helped you decide to leave (even if the decision was made for you through a DFing).
    • If you left and still thought it was "the truth" what helped you change your mind?

    1) i did not like the people, especially the ones my age at the time (16-20), lots of smoking, lots of drugs, lots of drinking, lots of sex, abortions, lying, etc. I was told "just dont hang around with them, they will have to answer to Jehovah.", well, you cant hang around worldly people, now cant hang around with ones in my own congregation, what do i have , a life of isolation, or hanging out with people over 40. Now it didnt bother me (REALLY) that people were doing this, what bothered me was, them up on stage, doing talks, and demonstration at the assembly on how bad these things are. Yes, there were some nice people i met, and respected, but not enough to keep me there.

  2) Mentally, probaly 15-16, i was always embarassed by the religion growing up, but in a strange way i believed it, i just wanted to live my life, and whatever happens so be it. Not spend my whole life in field service waiting for Armageddon. I spent many days at the kingdom hall, wondering "How am I going to get out of here?", Physically, i left at the age of 21 (i moved in with my worldly girlfriend)

  3) No, internet was not around then, i had heard of Ray Franz, but didnt know much, and had read very little.

  4)None

  5) I had met a wonderful girl (still with today), i had met so many great people, but never really pursued a long term relationship, because i was a JW, after turning down many many beautiful women, I decided enough is enough, I am either going to be a lonely old man, or enjoy my life, and i went for it, explained my situation to her, and we did it.

  6) Now, the answer is the Internet, just having so much info at your fingertips is incredible, okay not every thing we read will be 100% right, but when you read so much by so many different people, you can start to determine what is true and what is madeup.

  My 2 cents :

  when i left (1988-89), part of me still thought it was true, in a strange way, I WISH I had stayed a little longer, to receive the 1995 generation change, that would of sent me packing for sure. I didn't find out about the change til 1999, bought my first computer not long after and the rest is history.

  I always kid my family now when i talk to them, I say, "You know I do more studying now, then i did my entire life.", I wish you could see the look I get. Its a Kodak moment.

  Honestly, I NEVER NEVER NEVER thought, in fact it NEVER EVER entered my head, that one day, I could understand that the Watchtower is a complete lie.

  So, the information available is overwelming, which makes me ask ..............

  Why cant the other 6,000,000 figure it out ???
• 

  seattleniceguy

• What year did you leave?
  2003, September
• How old were you when you left?
  25
• Did the internet have anything to do with your decision to leave?
  Not directly. I did not read any information that would be directly outlawed by the organization. But the existence of the Internet, along with a general increased consciousness of the availability of information, probably produced the culture in which I was able to objectively consider evidence contrary to the Watchtower Society. (Hope that makes sense.)
• If you left before you got on the internet what reading did you do about the WTS or cults that helped you make your decision?
  None.
• What was the one most important reason that helped you decide to leave (even if the decision was made for you through a DFing).
  It was an intensely strong feeling that Witnesses were intellectually dishonest.
• If you left and still thought it was "the truth" what helped you change your mind?
  I knew it was not the truth after I left, but CoC helped me decide to formally withdraw.

SNG