deblaning

deblaning

Joined

My mother and father were baptized in 1938, so my older sister and I were raised as JW's. I stopped going to meetings late 1964, when I was 18, after marrying a boy from another congregation. That marriage didn't last but a few years. My father, mother & sister continued as JW's, even though my parents separated when I was ten (1957). My father was an abusive husband & father but also was an Assistant Congregation Servant and later became an Elder. My parents divorced in early 1970's on scriptural grounds as Mom copped out that she had had relations one time with another man. She was not disfellowshipped because she admitted to it, but it set them both free to remarry others which they did. During this time, they did not stop associating with me because I was not disfellowshipped or formally disassociated but, in 1986, my sister, who had always been a little jealous of me, brought up the 1983 Watchtower article which stated something to the affect that those who had left the Truth should be shunned. My sister, father & I did not talk again until my mother's death in 1995. Now my sister & I have grown close again, even though she is still a JW. Ironically, I took care of my father for 7 years until his death from cancer last year at age 92. He remained a JW and the JW's from the congregation came and visited him weekly in my home here as he was an invalid. It made for some interesting times. Even though I had left in 1964, I found myself still unable to throw off the brainwashing I had been subjected to until about 1986. I had always thought that I was was "bad" for not having the "right heart condition" to want to be part of this "Organization". I also was quite surprised to get to be 30 years old and beyond and not be dead from Armageddon. I, therefore, lived life as full as I possibly could figuring Armageddon is going to wipe me out soon or later anyway. Thank god, in 1983, after many years of alcoholism, I got sober thru AA and in 1986, went into therapy for a year & started truly learning to think for myself. I wish I could help my sister and niece, who are still JW's but that's a choice that they have to make. By the way, I was raised in Southern California, Temple City congragation. Anyone out there?