Albert, I have been thinking about this question too! I have told my kids kindergarten teachers we are JW's, so they've been good about not letting my kids participate in that kind of thing. Now I'm worried how I'll backtrack to change it. I also worry about work, and how they know I'm a JW, and how, if at all, I should let them know I'm now not? Is it something you advertise, or do you keep it to yourself until the need arises? I'd like some help on this one too! Good thread!
wantstoleave
JoinedPosts by wantstoleave
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25
If you were well known as JW at your job and in the neighbourhood...
by Albert Einstein in... how did you handle to let others know you do not consider yourself as one of jws anymore?
did you tell them straigh?
did you explain details?.
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Learning the "Truth" Is not true is like...................
by foolsparadise inafter 33 years of being mind controlled at 5 meetings a week, field service meetings, special day assembly, curcuit assembly,district assembly, finding out "the truth" is just a big hoax is like getting punched in the stomach-uppercut in the jaw-being kicked in the balls from behind and then having the rug ripped out from under you and smashing your head on the ground.
what was it like for everyone else?.
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wantstoleave
In my late 20's I came to the realisation I had some doubts. But not til now, almost 30 did I seriously start asking questions.
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Blood in Vaccine ?
by Poztate inthe following is a part of a jw e-mail that is making the rounds.
my wife received it.. it seems quite far fetched to me but information or comments debunking it might prove helpful to me.. i tried snopes but nothing so far that was helpful.. .
the h1n1 vaccine is made up of a long list of contents.
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wantstoleave
Yeh my dad was worried that it had mercury, but he went ahead and had the shot anyway.
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wantstoleave
What is it? An energy drink?
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The claws are out!
by wantstoleave ini just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone on the board.
i haven't been here that long but from the time i've spent here, i feel very comfortable.
i've been on boards before (witness ones) where everyone is so opinionated, heartless and holier than thou....but this one is so different.
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wantstoleave
Thanks Wobble!! Love seeing your avatar :) It instantly makes me feel warm and fuzzy...hehe!
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So I did it - almost!
by wantstoleave intoday, i'm not quite sure how it started, but i voiced my concerns about the religion i've been brought up in since i was 3. my dad went straight on the offensive, though kept nice and polite.
i told them that someone can not be df for accepting a transfusion.
not sure why i started with that example, but nevertheless... dad said 'since when' and started pumping me for information, when, where, what...you get the picture and biggest one of all 'how do you know this'.
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wantstoleave
Hi BZ! Thanks so much for your thoughts :)
My parents would move hell and high water to see my kids...lol. So, no, I don't think me leaving would affect that. They love my kids like their own. They truly are wonderful parents and grandparents. My children love them to death, as do I. I do feel kind of like you and kittenwhiskers, the feeling of being tied to the parents. All my life I've felt an extra weight on my shoulders trying to please my them. I've brought this up with them in the past, and they deny it, saying it's all my own doing...but even my siblings agree with me, that I was always the one our parents expected to succeed and do things correctly etc. So, I know it's going to be a tough road for me, breaking free of that.
I haven't read any publications yet, have been a little hesitant to do so. It was a huge step for me just coming to this site. I think I'll be a 'baby steps' kind of fader. I don't want to upset the apple cart just yet with my family. I know I've ruffled their feathers, and for now they probably think I'm safe as far as not leaving. But, it's firm in my mind not to go back. I just have to break it gently I think.
There is another issue I have..and it's that of the ex. While claiming to still be a witness, yet having abandoned the children and I, and making numerous other mistakes that I can't prove (stupid 2 witness rule etc), I don't want him to 'win' if that makes sense? He wants nothing more than for me to stumble, mess up and leave 'the truth'. That way he can yell from the roof tops what a rotten person I am. He is a horrible low life, who is masquerading being a witness, yet I know otherwise. So part of me is being held back by wanting him to trip up before I leave the organisation. I don't know, I've just been so terribly stumbled by the so called 'justice' within the elder procedure of him abandoning us. He didn't even get a slap on the wrist, yet I'm left to raise two children alone. I know life isn't fair, and I accept that. I just don't accept that such a rotten individual can get away with so much within an organisation that claims to to be 'chosen'.
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How many XJWs went onto another faith....?
by 2pink ini'm just curious here.. as i am exiting currently and trying to find my new place (and belief system) in this world, i am wondering what the experience was like for other xjws.
did you go onto a new faith?
i'd love to read your responses.
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wantstoleave
I haven't quite ventured out to a proper fade yet, but close. I'm pretty set in my mind that I don't want to be a witness anymore. I have too many questions that cannot be answered and that isn't enough for me to participate and stay active within any religion. I have looked into Agnosticism, and would say that is what I most relate to. I do not think I'll ever attend any other church however.
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To Angel Eyes & Other WT Apologists
by snowbird init has come to my attention that a much-beloved poster on this forum has been hurt by the insensitivity shown toward her account of how badly she was treated by the wt.. i realize this is a place where are all welcome, and barring any posting guidelines violations, we are free to air our views without fear of any backlash.. however, please keep in mind that most posters here - yours truly being one of them - view the wt in a negative light.
with all the evidence out there pertaining to its deceitfulness, how can anyone view it otherwise?.
i reached out to you, angel eyes, because i sense that you need a friend.
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wantstoleave
I have just finished reading the 7 pages.....and all I have to say is that I love Angel Eyes and Mouthy. Both seem like lovely, dear people. Sure they have different beliefs, but I love them the same. I take on board what each one says in their posts. I may not agree with everything, but out of respect and tolerance, I believe in giving everyone a fair go. I must have missed the thread where AE upset Mouthy, but I doubt it was done intentionally. I don't know. I haven't been here long enough to get to know everyone properly. But from what I know of AE and Mouthy, they are gems, with big hearts, and I'd hate to see either one leave or be censored ((hugs))
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33
So I did it - almost!
by wantstoleave intoday, i'm not quite sure how it started, but i voiced my concerns about the religion i've been brought up in since i was 3. my dad went straight on the offensive, though kept nice and polite.
i told them that someone can not be df for accepting a transfusion.
not sure why i started with that example, but nevertheless... dad said 'since when' and started pumping me for information, when, where, what...you get the picture and biggest one of all 'how do you know this'.
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wantstoleave
Thankyou :) Kitten Whiskers, you sound alot like me, the hesitation to start celebrating something. I keep thinking that xmas is not far away now! I took the kids to the store today and my oldest piped up 'there's an xmas tree mommy'. I wondered to myself whether I'd buy one of the smaller $30 ones in a little while...lol. I do think that before I do anything regards celebrating, I need to make a firm stance with my family about my desires. I don't want to be wishy washy with them, I just want them to know one way or another, so they don't have false hope. They haven't mentioned anything to me since I told them my doubts, I think they believe if they don't mention it, it will go away.
OTWO, you are right...I know that my dad will indoctrinate them when I'm not around. Unfortunately being a single parent, I need my parents as babysitters, and they know this. When I work, I can't afford to use daycare. I can see my dad teaching them incidentally, and it's already working because my youngest comes out with things like 'Jehovah made that' and 'Jehovah doesn't like guns'. Last week, my mom came over unannounced on the Sunday morning and asked to take my oldest to the meeting! I was all foggy from just waking up, let her in and she dressed my oldest and told me I could pick him up after. I know that tomorrow, she may do the same.
I'm finding it hard figuring out if it's ok to let them take him to the meeting or not. Or if ultimately it will just confuse him. I know of many other grandparents who take their grandkids to the meetings often, even though the parents aren't witnesses.
For those of you who celebrate xmas, how hard is it to actually do it the first time? Given all we've been taught about Jesus not even being born that day? I think if I got a tree and celebrated, my parents would have heart attacks...lol. They would see how far a u-turn I've done and be very disappointed. On the same token, I am an adult and I know I should be allowed to make my own decisions. I can see this tearing my parents apart. My dad will want to dob me in to the elders, my mum will tell him not to and there will be strife between them. Gosh this is so hard!
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Are you searching?
by wantstoleave inwhen i expressed my doubts about my beliefs to my parents the other day, my mom said that 'no matter what people do, they are always searching for something.
if it's not this religion, which one will you go to?'.
she gave the example that practically since time began, people have been clinging to hope in some form or another, namely religion.
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wantstoleave
AGuest, are you a witness?