Posts by mythreesons

I was a total 'believer' myself. In my eyes the organization could do no wrong. If the information came to us from a Circuit Overseer, Assembly, meeting, watchtower....and on and on. I would view it at coming from Jehovah himself. I was scared to death of apostates, I'm pretty sure it amounted to a hatred. I believed every thing I was told, one spoon at a time.

The only thing now that seems odd, having had almost two years now to look back, is that so many times I was soooo close to seeing it for what it was. Yet, I would dismiss it. I remember telling my wife, "Can you imagine how hard it would be for us, if we were wrong, and had to leave this false religion. It would be the hardest thing we ever had to do! Thank goodness we are right." LOL Little did I know!

I am amazed that we both escaped in the way we have. It will probably be official soon. I am at peace with that now, being Df'd or DAing now seems like it would be a relief.

Thanks to many here who whether you know it or not, have been such a BIG help!!!!

42

Was there anything different about you that helped you escape the WT?

by Giordano in

for me i know it was because i was a reader.. i began reading books at the age of 13, this was in the 1950's.

because there were some serious family problems i had two escapes i could count on reading and associating with my friends at the kingdom hall.. as i devoured steinbeck, hemingway, wolf etc.

my world view expanded....it had to.

mythreesons

I've always been able to see things from different points of view...IMO it was only a matter of time, especially when I had to start explaining it to my kids and it didn't hold water.

55

I talked the first time in 20 years to a non-JW and need a divorce...

by Intel in

jw
friends

this is very difficult to write (forgive me for any spelling mistake, i am not a native english speaker).. i cannot tell my complete story on this board - i eventually will, once i have broken the last "link in the chain" that has kept me captive to the borg.

i can't tell my story, because.....basically i will be known.....as a more or less "famous" jw..... i have been lurking this site for many years, wrote here under another name - this eventually was found out and i had to do "damage containment".

i had to "go back" and tow the party line....all my family (extended and close) are witnesses, all my "friends" and even work & business relationships are jw.

mythreesons

Intel - sorry for what you are going through. The crazy thing is that your life as you know it now is your ENTIRE world. The good news is there is life out there that doesn't consist of all the JW craziness. Build your life one day at a time, one person at a time and before you know it....your former life as a JW will pale by comparison.

My wife and I left together with our kids. I always worried about how all my family that was "in" would feel. Now, it doesn't hurt so bad and we have a new life. It's great! When I dwell on it, I sometimes become saddened. Saddened because I had made up in my mind a world that was not reality. I thought my family that was "in" was my whole world, the reality though is quite different. Keep your chin up and you will land on your feet.

One day at a time....

51

Are more long standing JW's leaving?

by cantleave in

jw
friends

at one time, it seemed that the majority of those leaving, were young ones brought up in the cult.. from what i can see now (at least on here), there seems to be a high number of 20+ baptised members years leaving.. has this always been the case?

it might be i just didn't notice from my parochial view from the kingdom hall!.

or are there really more long standing jw's leaving now, than ever before?.

mythreesons

Back on topic, I just heard that a whole family have left, they are 2nd and 3rd generation Dubs, he was an Elder doing talks at the C.A etc. their leaving will make waves.

That fits me and my family to a T. Then I saw you were in the UK. Good for them and the waves that may just wake someone else up! :)

94

Another Elder

by burnedout in

mythreesons

Burnedout...I too have been where you are. As a former elder and father of 3 young boys, I can totally relate to what you said. I too, used to be stressed out because of the meetings, talks and everything that came with being an elder and a JW. I remember when my eyes were opened to my family as well. Let me tell you....IT WAS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE! I now enjoy simply being a dad and a husband. It is great!

We quit pretty much cold turkey and have never looked back. I can only imagine how my BS detector would be going off now that I'm tuned in to the lies. I'm not on here much, but I hope the best for you and your family!

13

Registered to Vote...

by PYRAMIDSCHEME in

jw
friends

i registered to vote today.

it all came from my political science class i am taking in college.

the more i heard the more i wanted to vote.

mythreesons

I signed up too! Congrats and it only took me 30+ years to come around on it. We do have a voice, why not use it?

39

Did you beleive you were A intellectual when you were a JW

by jam in

jw
friends

i am embarrass to say when i was a jw and a elder i. thought i could sit down and speak on any subject with.

anyone intelligently.

i felt the schooling of the wt had.

mythreesons

I'm in the same boat....the more I learn and take in. The more I realize I must have looked and sounded like an idiot! LOL Witness motto..."you may not have heard of me....but I'm kind of a big deal!" (Ron Burgundy's voice)

It's so sad that I actually used to think everyone else was misinformed and not using their brains.