you definitely echoed the same reasons I am inactive...It must be very difficult when you are living with your witness family...I slowly drifted away..stopped going out in service, commenting...missing meetings every now and them...and then missing them alot...basically until I was completely inactive..haven't been to a meeting in months..I think the key is gradually do it...I didn't want to talk to elders about the reasons I was leaving..but I did speak with my family and close friends and basically told them I didn't really believe anymore and had lost my faith..I was actually surprised to see that many weren't as shocked or disappointed as I thought. Hence the gradual theory...I guess I wasn't a ball of fire for such a long time, people almost expected me to fall away....but sometimes too you have to put your foot down and recognize that you are an adult and the choice to be a witness or not is yours...free will...you can't be df'ed if you haven't committed wrongdoing...and they can't do anything to you for not going to the meetings...or out in service...after a while people accept the fact that you are no longer interested in being a witness....but get ready to explain your position...get strong...your post was completely logical...My real friends in the organization still call me and talk to me and we even talk about people we know etc..my family is saddened but all in all I think they are happy that I'm not df'ed and they can still talk to me..In fact they tease me about it asking me if I'm atheist this month or what?? Alot of it has to do with your own personal attitude..Don't allow them to impose something you don't want..You're not a kid...You're a 34 year old adult...but I wouldn't recommend disassociating yourself. That would be foolish and make things so much more difficult for you...And I'd stick to the I don't believe instead of giving details that would give you the category of apostate...unless you know who you are talking to very well and can trust them....but let them deal with the inactive thing first...And while it is difficult and cuts your network considerably it feels incredibly wonderful to live by your own beliefs and not feel like a hypocrite...like you are putting on a show...hope this helps..hang in there...
mentalclearness
JoinedPosts by mentalclearness
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53
I am stuck in a life I don't want and can't see the way out
by Orgull insome of you have encouraged me already in the week or so i've been here and i think you.. here's the situation.
i am single.
i am 34 years old.
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53
Do You Feel Good Telling Off The GB & Other Watchtower Officials Here?
by minimus indoes it make you feel good when you tell jaracz and company how much they suck, how they're gonna disintegrate and why you're so pissed?
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mentalclearness
I think it's more therapeutic for the those that write and vent...but honestly...I seriously doubt the intended party is paying attention...
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What you are listening to/What you listened to recently?
by KW13 ini am playing mr blue sky - electric light orchestra - love this song and matches the mood i am in right now.. you?.
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mentalclearness
strokes, white stripes, jack johnson....i'm so happy with my ipod!!!! i'm completely addicted!!!!
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New Family Crackdowns
by WTWizard init happens every summer.
the family will be in a nice routine, going out a reasonable amount in service and having normal life.
then there is an a$$embly, and then everything locks down.
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mentalclearness
I remember reading Alfred Hitchcocks short stories (which was completely allowed in my house) but I went to spend the night at a sisters house and she practically wanted to throw it out because she said it was demonized.....hahahaha!!!!
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another story
by mentalclearness inwell learning to fly's story inspired me to write this one...it happened to my extended family...well here goes...our family is very deep rooted in the organization....like in the proclaimers book...part of history...anyways, this one famous "brother" had several children and was an active witness throughout his life..enjoying the type of notoriety that comes from being part of jw history and having a recognizable last name...one day we find out he has died...and apparently it wasn't an accident because he left a note....of course other family members try to say he mixed his medicine...but why the note???
well soon after one of his daughters is super depressed and tries to commit suicide.
she is also a witness...slowly after much therapy seems she gets her memory back and remembers that good old dad sexually abused her until she got her period...turns out he did this to all his children....of course all of them had blocked out the memories but all had problems with their husbands in the sexual department...they all began remembering incidences as well...so in the end, this brother that everyone looked up and thought was so wonderful was just another sick pedophile who raped all his kids and committed suicide.
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mentalclearness
well learning to fly's story inspired me to write this one...it happened to my extended family...well here goes...our family is very deep rooted in the organization....like in the proclaimers book...part of history...anyways, this one famous "brother" had several children and was an active witness throughout his life..enjoying the type of notoriety that comes from being part of JW history and having a recognizable last name...one day we find out he has died...and apparently it wasn't an accident because he left a note....of course other family members try to say he mixed his medicine...but why the note??? well soon after one of his daughters is super depressed and tries to commit suicide. she is also a witness...slowly after much therapy seems she gets her memory back and remembers that good old dad sexually abused her until she got her period...turns out he did this to all his children....of course all of them had blocked out the memories but all had problems with their husbands in the sexual department...they all began remembering incidences as well...so in the end, this brother that everyone looked up and thought was so wonderful was just another sick pedophile who raped all his kids and committed suicide. Oh and yes, he was an alcoholic as well.....
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My Story
by LearningToFly inhello fellow forum members, i am very new here, and feel it is time to share a little about myself.
this site has gotten me quite riled up again, and even after many years my experience is not memorable and still upsets me when i think of it.
my beginning experience of joining the jw organization at age 6 was not unpleasant at all, and was not for many years.
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mentalclearness
I read your story and completely felt like the biggest fool for having written my message before about not understanding why people on this forum seemed bitter about the organization...I'm so sorry all these horrible things happened to you and the way it was dealt with is just awful...I can't even imagine going through what you went through...you truly have much inner strength...and for all those who have had similar experiences please disregard my previous posts...all those who have experienced these things have all the right to vent against the organization and more...I would probably want to burn the kingdom hall down or something...actually you've reminded me of something that happened to my cousins which maybe later on I will write about...thank you so much for sharing your story..you have truly opened my eyes...
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overcompensating when leaving JWs?
by B_Deserter inever notice this phenomenon?
seems like a lot of people that leave in their early 20s tend to become wild party animals as soon as they leave da troof, getting tattoos, piercings and the like and going almost overboard with it.
anyone ever experience this?
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mentalclearness
well my story is this...at 19 I became inactive and I did everything..drugs, lots of sex, drinking..I guess I went wild...but then again that was kind of normal for the people around me who were my age....I ended up getting pregnant at 22 and of course considered this to be a lesson learned from not obeying Jah's principles...so I went back.....And for 10 years really tried to believe and be like everyone else...Led a wholesome life, etc..basically with the idea I would be blessed more...self interested completely....and now I realized as I see the children around me that I don't want that for my kids and don't want my kids to feel so repressed they have to "pop" like I did...I notice that many people who have been raised in the organization go through the same thing...but what really surprises me is that I see people who have left who have absolutely no morals...They lie, break up families, steal...things that many "worldly" people wouldn't imagine...I think alot has to do with age as well...Obviously now at 31 I don't plan on going clubbing and doing drugs or having sex outside a serious relationship...but I think it's kind of normal if you've grown up so repressed that as soon as you leave you "experiment". but it's just a phase until you figure things out...I don't know if this has shed any light on the subject....
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Anyone seen the Secret?
by Satans little helper insomeone lent me the dvd of the secret over the weekend.
we watched it last night and i wondered what everyone thought of it?
i thought that it was very "evangelical" and alot like the jw's - large on promise and small on content.
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mentalclearness
I downloaded the book on my Ipod....I'm on chapter three...but so far sounds like positive thinking stuff....can't do any harm...but definately isn't at all like JW...more like empower yourself..don't wait around for other people to make circumstances correct for you to do something...I could do without the mystic crap, but I'm sure that's what sells more......
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Part II of my story
by B_Deserter inpart 1 is located here: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/7/138938/1.ashx.
i moved to a neighboring congregation and my whole life and view of the witnesses changed.
it was a huge step above lakeview.
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mentalclearness
I thought the part about the pioneers and the gas money was hilarious!!!! there are just some things only people who have been in the truth can relate to... You have a great sarcastic sense of humor...great delivery...anyways, sounds like you know what you want and you're very close to getting it. I'm also trying to build a new network of friends since becoming inactive. But try to be realistic. It will take time, and most people don't have a hundred people who know them and see on a weekly basis like we're used to..but baby steps......
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banks
by mentalclearness ini was talking to a friend of mine and he pointed out the fact that banks seem to use the same strategy the organization does to attract "customers".
they make it easy to open an account and so complicated to close it.
so in the end people just continue loyal out of inertia.
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mentalclearness
I was talking to a friend of mine and he pointed out the fact that banks seem to use the same strategy the organization does to attract "customers". They make it easy to open an account and so complicated to close it. So in the end people just continue loyal out of inertia. I thought it was an interesting analogy.