by xjw_b12 63 Replies latest jw friends
I was absolutley IN and very active Although depressed and stressed with my unwilling son and husband. They had been mentally out for a couple of years.
I did have doubts but though I was weak and critical
When I found this site everything made sense, now we are OUT
Now to get my married daughter out
Born in, drifted, never baptised, guilt ridden, waiting for Watchtower God to kill me.
I was a believing walkaway from 1974 till 1992 when the Witness people started to shun me and I started to do a rational investigation. I started by reading Crisis Of Conscience in 1992. I first contacted former Witnesses in 1995 and signed up on the Jesus Witness e-mail list in 1995. I posted some on H20 before coming here in 01.
I went public with my experiences with the Witness people in 1995. I realized the Witness people were already shunning me and I had nothing to lose to them. I thought I might be able to help others who were struggling like I had.
Without other people to share my experiences with, my exit kind of went into a stall before 1992. I was out physically and I knew I didn't want to be a Witness, but the world view and assumptions I had learned as a Witness were mostly all in place. I found it hard to run a successful life with a mind operating on superstitions and dead men's delusions. It's like my mind was a great computer with a virus and I didn't realize the virus was there. That's all changed.
So, I had been out for 27 years and in recovery for about 9 when I came here.
I was an elder with what I thought were easy to answer questions, if I just did a little research.
I came here about two years ago (and lurked what seems like forever) and certainly have had my questions answered. I can't express in words how helpful and healing this site has been. I struggle daily to keep myself happy and sane and to keep my family in one piece. I hope the knowledge I gain here will help me eventually pull my family out.
Now I am an elder with what I think are easy questions to answer, if THEY just did a little research.
Then: I was fresh out of Bethel and just came back from an International construction gig and somewhat disenchanted by the realities of dubdom. I lurked here a little just to see what it was all about. I knew about things from the inside so I was pretty sure everyone here was full of sh*t . That's still true for the most part (tee hee), but the Dub stuff was right on the money! I actually remember the exact moment when the light went "on", it was at an assembly when the announcer said "Listen to what Jeehobah has prepared for you this weekend" - Jehovah my ass!, I said to myself. Instead of daydreaming about hot chicks or perfect surf that weekend, I consolidated all of the what I knew first hand from Bethel, the false predictions, crazy teachings and asked myself "Is Jehovah's really behind all this?" Alot of doubts were swirling around then lurked here a little more and began to see things for what they were .. then BAM! - the Bill Bowman/Silent Lambs saga unfolded.... and BAM BAM!, I read C of C, then, POW!, the UN thing came to light. I was all done.
Now: I find it embarrassing that I was ever duped by those idiots. I think the God of the Bible is a fictional genocidal maniac. Life could only be better if my folks and sibling weren't hunkered down waiting for doomsday. Man am I greatful for this and other sites.
While we're on the topic, the top 5 most influential websites in my exudos were: JWD,WT Observer, Freeminds, Quotes, and Watchtower news.
I first read here at JWD in 2001 when I was living in Hawaii. I remember getting a big kick out of people's avatars.
I had been inactive for a decade or so and, having read just a little in 1999 about Ray Franz and others on the net, I was finally seriously investigating the possiblity that Ray might be right. I looked at a few exjw sites and started corresponding with an ex elder who was also an exBethelite.
Next I ordered Crisis of Conscience through Borders book store, read it and I was finally convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that the WTBTS was BUNK.
I read here at JWD off and on for the next years and joined up officially in autumn 2003. I had been a member of Women Awake an exJW site for ladies only. I guess you could say that I was not a JW when I joined here. As far as I know I am still considered an inactive JW though I think the elders in my last congo know I have been doing all kinds of "misbehaving".
I was a fade away.
When I first came on here it was like 2 weeks since I went to a meeting. Staying on here made me realize I wasn't crazy.
I have not gone since!
Brooke
Were an active/semi-active JW, and this site and others were enough to convince you that your doubts had substance.
I had left but had doubts like, what if they are right? I found this site by a search engine typing in Jehovah's Witnesses. It was during the time when the forum was going from a pro JW board to the other sidewhich was for me a good thing because I saw both sides of the arguments and was able to see I wasn't alone in my thinking that this religion was bogus and no more had God's spirit than any other religion.
I lurked for many months before registering and I remember when I registered my hands were literally shaking, lol! I lurked for a long time after registering too, then came the Memorial the last one I will ever attend and it was the worst day of my life, I literally wanted to kill myself......then came 911 the first board I checked out was this one then another board I belonged to. I found so much comfort here, I stayed and never looked back.
Funny it was all I could do to contain my excitement about finding JWD. I wanted to tell everyone including my JW family about this forum, but......I still have a hard time containing that desire some day I hope the opportunity will present itself for me to clue some of my JW family about this forum as it's been a real life saver for me.
Did I mention I met and married my sweetie on JWD, now that is by far the best thing that has come from being on JWD for me! It's been absolutely the best and most positive community of support for me and hubby.
Thanks JWD!
No. Proudly disassociated and vehemently opposed. The only thing that has changed since becoming aware of the likes of JWD and Freeminds is that I am more conscious of how really evil and disgusting jehovahs witnesses happen to be (and yes, I was once one of them). Without exception. To quote some words I once read on this site - "They are the nicest group of most evil people." Unquote.
cheeses. remember me on this day.
I found this site by a search engine typing in Jehovah's Witnesses. It was during the time when the forum was going from a pro JW board to the other sidewhich was for me a good thing because I saw both sides
you know its funny.. the pro boards I was on, from day one considered this a bad board....
I remember being shocked when npy and sixofnine were posting here.. thinking how could they be here?
I guess it was more pro than I realized.. but then again I was in that very very strict pro jw stage..
