1. How long were you a Jehovah's Witness?
19 years total, 6 years TMS and 4 years baptized.
2. Were you raised in it or become a JW later on in life?
I was raised.
3. Were you contacted via the door-to-door ministry?
Nope, but a couple of Mormons had a go recently!
4. Initially, what intrigued or drew you to the Jehovah's Witnesses then?
It was more a case of being 'dragged' than 'drawn'.
5. When were you baptized? Or if you weren't, mention that if you wish.
1990 Age 15.
6. When did you start having doubts?
I could never get the whole 'Anointed' thing. And I couldn't work out how a 'loving' God would allow so much suffering just so he could say "I told you so" to Satan.
7. What else perhaps contributed to your leaving?
Loneliness. Number one reason. I also felt that I was never going to be good enough and I would rather die at Armaggedon and have a life first than be miserable as a JW and still probably die at Armaggedon anyway.
8. When were you disfellowshipped/disassociated?
Yep. I was DF'd in 1991
9. Have you ever been reinstated?
Yep. I was Renistated in 1992.
10. Did you attempt to contact or have spoken with other active-JWs when you were DF/DA'd?
I had one JW friend who lived a long way away and I was still in contact with him while I was DF'd.
11. Have you ever protested/picketted a JW assembly/convention?
No, I don't feel that they are particularly effective but I am quite good at the subtle aproach!
12. Do you miss being a Jehovah's Witness?
No chance. The only thing is miss is the ducking and diving that myself and my friends had to do to get out of any particular JW activity, like spending the conventions wandering around and hiding from attendants, that kind of thing was always good for a laugh. But being a JW, I certainly do not miss!
13. Do you still have family that are active JWs?
Yes, two family members.
14. Do you believe in god/God etc.?
I really don't know.
15. Are you politically active or have voted?
I did vote in the first General Election after I left for good but haven't bothered since as all the political parties are pretty much as bad as each other.
16. Would you say you have become more tolerant or open-minded generally speaking since you left?
Absolutely. But then again I think I was quite like that even when I was a dub. For examle, when I was a a JW I always believed that a persons sexuality is as much a part of that person as their hair colour or the colour of their skin and so I couldn't understand why JW's were so bigoted towards homosexuality. And for the record I am a straight female so there was no bias in my opinion, its just how I always felt. But kept quiet on that on for many years.
17. Do you think that the WTBTS will crumble?
I would like to think so but even if it did, the dubs couldnt live without some organisation dictating thier every move so other organisations would spring up anyway.
18. If you could say anything to the WTBTS and be listened to, what would you like to say?
I would ask them how they could sleep at night.
19. What has helped you to cope, post-JW?
My true friends outside the borg. My kids. This board, and Ray Franz' books.
20. Anything else you'd like to say/add?
It feels good to be free.
