I would like to thank JWD and those who posted. Even though I wasn't posting yet, I was reading everyone's posts and experiences. I realized how much our lives were similar and faded.
Thank those who helped you out of the Org
by Nosferatu 50 Replies latest jw friends
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seattleniceguy
I would like to thank my dad.
As I was growing up, my dad was a critical thinker who enjoyed abstract concepts, and I learned rational thinking from him. Lord knows I would never have got that from my mom. When he left the organization when I was 15, I studiously ignored the rational disagreements he had with absurdities such as the global deluge, but the fact that he had left because he didn't believe it stuck with me - haunted me - for ten years. I thought about him often during the time I obediently refused contact with him. And I finally realized he was right.
Thanks, dad!
SNG
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GentlyFeral
In chronological order:
The Writing Committee and the service committee, for occasionally showing the organization's true colors.
Everyone who contributed to the judgmental "marking" attitude in the congregations I attended over the years, for making sure I had nothing to lose - no social network, no deep friendships - when I finally woke up.
Cyrus Peters, ex-missionary, who once said, "I've never met a sister who was so unafraid to be herself!" - and meant it as a compliment.
Denise Carmody and John Tully Carmody, authors of Truth and Justice in the Scriptures of the World Religions, the first work of comparative religion I ever read.
The Unitarian Universalist Association, for providing a safe place to recover and explore.
GentlyFeral
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shotgun
I would like to thank C.T Russell, J.F Rutherford and the Isaiah study publication...if they had not referred non-stop through this book about your great and inspirational writings in Studies in the Scriptures and the Finished Mystery, which set us apart from false religion and impressed the heck out of Jesus... I would never have bothered checking out these books in the Cong library and later downloading them because I couldn't believe how nuts those two cuckoo's were.
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Odrade
Isaiah study publication
ROTFL!!!
worst study book ever. bleh
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darkuncle29
First, I need to thank the various elders' families who showed me how "True Christians" act. I especially loved how honest some of them ran their businesses and treated customers.
Second, I need to thank my former boss at Fred Meyers in Renton and then Covington Washington. Thank you Shannon for keeping me busy on Thirsday nights and making me work most Saturdays and Sundays.
Thirdly, I want to thank the Muzzy family, formerly of Covington Washington. Their daughter was the fiance of one of my close friends. I often went to their home after work to just relax and decompress. Later, they let me have a huge flower and vegetable garden. The next year, I got chickens to keep at their place. At one point, my flock of laying hens was over 300. At the time, I remember thinking to myself, "OMG, this 'hobby' is getting out of hand, too expensive and time consuming." I also had turkeys, ducks, guinea fowl, and pea fowl.
My hobbies broke me of the "habit" of being a praticing witness. So to my laying hens, "Thanks girls."
At this point I was depressed, but glad to be innactive, and content to die at the big A.
Last and most importanly, I have to thank my best friend for destroying my faith and freeing me of the beliefs: I was too stuck, and could not do this on my own. In one very painful, four-hour-long discusion, he cut down what had been grafted on by the JWs. Of all these people, he is the only one who was also JW. I feel a huge debt of gratitude for what he did, as it has allowed me to explore other avenues of my life that I never thought I'd EVER get to explore. He shall remain nameless for now, as he has family still in. I thank him and his wife for letting me be a part of their lives.
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unbeliever
I would like to thank my dad for swearing to my mom that if it took him to the day he died not one of his children or grandchildren would ever be JW's. Thanks Dad!!
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Atilla
The exbethel guy in my KH who was rife with jealousy because he had gotten married and couldn't get back into Bethel. Anywho, he suggested that I volunteer at Walkhill for 2 weeks so I could see what it was like, and then maybe get accepted. Well, after I saw the misery on everyone's face there and particualarly the young Bethel kid I hung out with, I came back home disallusioned.
Funny thing, I had my full time application ready, and I was going to hand it in, but after the first week, I knew I wasn't going to hand it in. I came home and pretended I had lots of fun but in reality I was ready to quit. I only pioneered for a few more months and then began to look at colleges while I told my parents I was out in service. It was all downhill from there.
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Preston
If there's anyone to thank its my counselor in school who helped me realize how being a JW was affecting my life in ways I never even thought of. I told him at one point that leaving was never an option to me, but I never thought I would say to him later on that it was my only option in order to be happy.
Second, I'd like to thank... the elders in my congregation. Now let me explain why. Most of you guys upon leaving were harrassed by their unwavering questions, and adamant need to hunt you down upon realizing something they considered wrong. Once I left, I realized not one of them really cared, since their lack of organization (yes, mine were), lack of love, and lack of compassion motivated even a ministerial servant in the congregation (which I was at the time) to leave and served a big wake up call to me of the lack of humanity in that atmosphere. Then again, I think it worked out both ways since I refused to let them turn me into an example becuase I came out to them as gay. I'm glad they left me alone.
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MegaDude
Who helped me? Sheesh, where do I begin.
Craig Carter, a staunch Southern Baptist and fellow workmate. We debated his faith and my faith for two years. Racked up a lot of service time with that guy. Then he started showing me the history of my religion. That started the ball rolling and generating questions I had to answer.
I would like to thank Don Douglas, the PO, at the old Castle Hills in San Antonio, Texas. I asked him for ideas in how to handle what Craig was throwing at me, using our own literature stretching back to the 1890's to show how we were a false prophet organization. This PO's response, "Don't look at it."
I would like to thank Colin Quackenbush, Awake editor, at Bethel. He had been there since the time of Rutherford. I'm sure you've studied a book he's authored. I asked him point blank if he believed in the chronology of the Watchtower and the blood issue. He refused to answer but told me the Governing Body wasn't going to change their ideas on those things and put them on a shelf and forget about them. I figured if that's the best answer I can get from a Bethel bigwig, then the Watchtower is a lying sack of ****. Perhaps that's why Colin developed Alzheimers later and is a vegetable last I heard. He'd been practicing amnesia for many years.
My JW family and any JW that has spoken to me since I left. They wilt under any reasonable questioning. They prove to me over and over they have no faith in Jehovah or the Bible, only in a corrupt organization. When you dismantle that with a few well-chosen questions, you see the fear and unease creep into their faces. If you can panic a JW who goes to church three and four times a week with two or three questions, it's got to be one crappy church
Randal Watters for the Free Minds magazine and his books, Marilyn on the 1-800-WHY-1914 helpline.
Ray Franz, Ron Frye, Jim Penton, Leonard and Marjorie Chretian for their book and video.
Jesus' Witnesses, the first internet ex JW group I found.
The swell gang of people here at Simon and Ang's house.