if you calulated the amount of time you spent preaching, the money you have given to them, plus time developing talks, with a commision for each watchtower, awake, and other books sold.
how much would the wbt$ owe you?.
Ooooh, I might take $10 million for the loss of my reputation, my friends, my in-laws, my childhood, lie-ins at the weekend, missed career opportunities, etc, etc.
On the other hand, just a PUBLIC apology and admission that they had made it all up, would suffice.
i still can't believe it.
she was here for the bbq, we had an awesome time, laughing, her telling stories from our childhoods.
i gave her a hug and told her i loved her before she left.
So very sorry BB. A tragic waste of a precious life. Big hugs.
Sam x
one aspect of the leaving jw process has long puzzled me why can a fading jw become mentally disinterested , miss loads of meetings , become irregular in the ministry , perhaps even become involved in minor worldly conduct without too much concern from relatives or the elders over a period of years , even decades.
yet as soon as they make it become known that they are not going to the meetings anymore, all hell breaks loose.
elders dust down their od books and come calling on shepherding visits , perhaps for the first time for many years.
When you announce you're not attending meetings anymore it crystallises in people's heads that you're blatantly deciding not to suffer with them.
Cognitive dissonance at it's best. A combination of subconscious "how dare you leave, when we HAVE to STAY!" together with "if they are right and we have been wrong all this time....WTF???????????? - HEEELLLLLLPPPPPPPP, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" means that they will do all they can to get rid of you as quickly as possible so you're not around to be a constant reminder of the the conflict in their heads.
Just one observation IMHO (we actually had one friend actually tell us that they expected us to stay and suffer with them , you couldn't make it up!).
hi, i'm new here and would just like to introduce myself to everyone.. i'm ellie, 29 years of age, from the uk.
was never actually baptised, but brought up in the truth, my mum and older brother are still in but my dad was disfellowshipped shortly beofre he died.. not quite sure where i stand on my beliefs, partly still a witness at heart, but loveing being able to celebrate life without restrictions.. will be good to hang out here and hopfully learn a lot and get to know some like minded people!.
Welcome Miss Ellie, great to have you here and well done for avoiding that ultimate ticket to captivity - Baptism!!
Look forward to hearing more of your story.
hey,.
this is my first post on this forum after months of reading and lurking on here.
i'm glad to be able to say that my husband and i finally sent our letter saying we want out and are wait to hear back for a potential jc meeting--that we won't be attending.. we had so many doubts it was impossible for us to continue living the lie.
Welcome guys - wonderful to have you here. Another brave couple about to hit a life of freedom. I hope the price you pay isn't too high.
We got out with half our family still intact, the rest....who knows what the future will bring. 2 years later and the pain isn't so bad.
Look forward to hearing more from you SOON!
Sam
those who leave jehovah's witnesses are often misunderstood for the choices that they make after their exit.
from the jehovah's witness (jw) point of view, those who leave are leaving a "spiritual paradise" where "the truth" exists.
those who leave thus put their everlasting life in jeopardy.
ATJ - you're welcome in our dining room anytime, just as long as you don't call me 'Sweaty'!
those who leave jehovah's witnesses are often misunderstood for the choices that they make after their exit.
from the jehovah's witness (jw) point of view, those who leave are leaving a "spiritual paradise" where "the truth" exists.
those who leave thus put their everlasting life in jeopardy.
Great post Jeff - I like the way you think.
When I left the JWs I was terrified of losing my faith and determined to prove to all the naysayers that I hadn't left Jehovah.
I went to a church and liked what I found there. I became a born again Christian.
After a while though, encouraged in part by good ol' Atheist hubby, Besty, I decided to put my faith to the test like I'd done with the JWs. Christianity, the Bible and God FAILED.
Now I am very happy and content. I strive to the most upright citizen and the best mother, wife, sister and daughter that is humanly possible.
All possible without religion.
I would love to be proved wrong and who knows, one day, maybe I will (but I somehow doubt it)
i was thinking about how life has improved since leaving 3 years ago.. what has changed for you?
what's the best thing about no longer being a jw?.
bts.
Unconditional friends.
Freedom to think, question and read/watch whatever you want.
No boring meetings/assemblies to sit through whilst restraining your children
Celebrating holidays with your loved ones.
Lie ins at the weekend.
Being able to talk to/socialise with whoever you want, regardless of their label.
Able to pursue your dreams.
The list is endless.
JOY
<< part iii.
part iv how to meet a wife in six weeks.
i mentioned a while back my dad had a pretty bad accident when he was a kid.
I've heard it all before many times, but I still love hearing it and you still make me laugh babe.
Great writing.
i just got a call from an old girlfriend who thinks she has been diagnosed with this.
first doctor sent her to a neurolgist to confirm..
I've known 3 people with the disease - 2 of them have it pretty bad and it seriously impacts on their life, the other one is in remission and lives a normal life - you'd never know he has it.
We were Noni distributors at one time and one of the above mentioned sufferers used to take it regularly and noticed a real difference in her symptoms. However, beyond the various elastoplasts for this condition, there is no cure.
