for reasons i am still trying to fully understand and explain i was not able to properly pinpoint, identify and name the phases of my cult exit journey as i was going through them.
now i feel the need to even more.. some phases that came to mind this morning for me:.
identity crisis (who am i, what do i believe).
Hey Dis-Member!
I'm still trying to gain a better understanding of the process and phases.
It has been 5 years since walking out for me.
Maybe it took longer in my case since I was 3rd generation, and in for more than 4 decades, and was quite devout.
this was posted in the men's room stall, i hear the instructions in the womens room was more detailed.. this was in addition to having a "bathroom attendant" handing out 1 paper towel per person.. i haven't felt so childish since i was in grade schooll, i had to wonder if all the tall people around me were really grown men and women.. .
Calebs Airplane has just outed himself as head honcho of the writing department.
at the international convention here i just got off the elevator with anthony morris.
he was heading to the basement and i was heading up to administration.
i rode one floor down with him before i went up to my destination.
A bit of a conundrum if you despise the ʽam-ha·ʼa′rets (dumb sheeple) but need their praise and worship.
for reasons i am still trying to fully understand and explain i was not able to properly pinpoint, identify and name the phases of my cult exit journey as i was going through them.
now i feel the need to even more.. some phases that came to mind this morning for me:.
identity crisis (who am i, what do i believe).
For reasons I am still trying to fully understand and explain I was not able to properly pinpoint, identify and name the phases of my cult exit journey as I was going through them. Now I feel the need to even more.
Some phases that came to mind this morning for me:
identity crisis (who am I, what do I believe)
consolidation (merging of my thoughts as they became clearer)
integration (joining of the dots)
wholeness (a cohesive and complete picture emerges)
What helped me most in getting through each phase was:
Psychologists with personal cult exit experience, psychotherapy, CBT, EMDRAA
workshops with ex-members of other cults
voracious and relentless reading/writing/speaking/meditating
Can you share and explain your perspectives, and list some of the phases you have experienced or read about, and maybe what helped you along the way?
at the international convention here i just got off the elevator with anthony morris.
he was heading to the basement and i was heading up to administration.
i rode one floor down with him before i went up to my destination.
What led us to idolise the Pharisees and Sanhedrin?
What were we thinking when we believed meeting one of these apostates was the closest any of us would ever get to God?
question: can any of you that have successfully faded out of the jw world without being df'd or da'd relate to me/us how you were able to maintain at least one or a few of your "still in" friends or family?
(and even if you were df'd or da'd and still maintained some relationships, how did that go?).
obviously, the truly demented, sick and twisted (and highly effective) policies and structure of the wtbt$ to set up a system by which anyone that chooses to no longer believe or participate must be treated as "mentally diseased" and a pariah by their own friends and family is the hands down, numero uno reason why many hundreds of thousands and possibly millions of jw's do not leave.
We avoid speaking against their idols (GB & Org & FDS & hierarchy).
We focus instead on "the truth" of "the good news" in their own publications.
i'll start by saying, i'm a ministerial servant who is trapped in the religion.
my wife is hardcore...but i've slowly been getting her to lighten up, so i'll take it!
all my friends and family are jw's, and i am employed by a jw (who is actually a great boss).
My journey started with a question I was asked: "what is the gospel in one word?"
This led me from a RBNS (Religious But Not Spiritual) orientation to a SBNR (Spiritual But Not Religious) orientation.
A radical transformation and awakening.
Yes, there is still a lot of mystery and wonder.
But for me, no other framework is as whole, comprehensive, unified, satisfying, validating and scientific.
so i am new to this site.. i have left the organization of my own accord.
and doing very well.. why do those of you who are still active, if you are on this site, still attend?.
it is no differance to me... i am just wondering why.... .
I've been unable to go anywhere near an apostate Watchtower Kingdom Hall since walking out mid-2009.
I would find the mindless deception and "pointless" busy-ness way too sickening.
my name was false prophet.
my address was october 1968 awake is it later than you think.
my town was this generation will by no means pass away may 15, 1984. to be honest i am going to request again but this time with my real name and address.
Hey truejw!
One of your posts made me curious as to whether you've posted your story, and what has happened to your wife.
No worries if you're not ready to share yet.
first off - for those lurkers who feel guilty just for being on this site and reading this (even if you don't read any further, as it is your right to choose that course) i want you to know that you're not alone in what you're going through or in what you are feeling.
if you read on, i hope my experience may be of some small help to you.. this may be long, but i'll try to organize it in a way that doesn't make it painful to read.
to start, i feel it is most beneficial if i'm upfront and honest with my goals from posting this, which are (in order of the degree to which they motivated me):.
I do feel for you OEJ in that it sounds as if ultimately your reasons for leaving the cult will be very different.
So helping her is a real challenge since she may feel very threatened by what you easily embrace.
Yet I do believe you can eventually have a great marriage and partnership post-cult, and find great peace in very different yet non-fundamentalist beliefs, perspectives and approaches.
