hello, this is my first post, i would like to introduce myself and say thank you to every one on this forum, you have been a lifeline to me these last few years.. i had been a jw for 30 years when i walked away a few years ago disgusted by the treatment victims of child abuse, domestic abuse and rape receive from the wtbts.. at first i thought it was a local problem, elders personal opinions, the way they handled the situations, imperfect men etc., until i checked out jehovahs witnesses and child abuse/domestic abuse online.
that's when i realized they had the same modus operandi worldwide.
that led me here, tbuo this forum, and then to crisis of conscience, jw facts, watchtower documents, jw survey, old watchtower literature and cd s, reading a couple of steve hassans books, and more recently exiting the jw cult.. the feelings of shock, betrayal, anger at the wtbts, angry with myself for being so gullible, depression, reflection, loneliness, have taken their toll.
Welcome!
"I don't think I´ll ever really be able to forgive myself." If you can't by yourself, then get some counseling. You must forgive yourself to move on. We are all human and need to learn to love ourselves with all our imperfections. (one thing the WTBS didn't teach us)
Be glad you got your family out. Don't look back but embrace what may come in the future.
Joy
"Living well is the best revenge"
someone was asking me in the chatroom about the number of hits the site gets.
here is a brief summary (of what we currently get per week):.
21,000 visitors.
Damn!!!! I had to look at when this post was originated and realized you DIDN'T bring the chat room back!
whaaaaaaaaaa I miss the chat room.
i was in the cult for twenty years and da'd in sept. 2014. as time passes i feel that i am ready for more healing.
the fear has passed of being out and i'm never going back to the funny farm.. an excellent book i came across for current and former jw's in the healing process is "exiting the jw cult: a healing handbook" by bonnie zieman.
it's available on amazon kindle for $6.99.
Yes, both books are excellent.
I think there is such a long process to deprogramming from any mind control group. I feel sorry for the walk away believers, they feel something is not right but don't understand the full dynamics of leaving such a group. So they never really deprogram but just drift in life they try to make outside of the control group.
Happy reading!
Joy
jt further expounds on why we left the watchtower.
why we left the jehovah's witnesses part 2.
many years ago, my husband and i appeared on the board that was known as h20 aka simon's site.
it has been a while since we have posted anything, so i guess i can say that this is like coming out of retirement.
lol.
Great video!!! Very well done. Was wondering when we would see you two again. Can't wait for more.
Joy
i just saw a commercial for a new movie coming out.
spotlight - about a newspaper exposing the cover-ups of the catholic church about child sexual abuse.
michael keaton, mark ruffalo.
Saw Spotlight this afternoon. Excellent movie on child abuse among Catholics in Boston. Was stunned by the timing of the reporters investigating the article that came out in the Boston Globe. It was the same time period Bill Bowen and Barbar Anderson were interviewed by Dateline. Both stories were delayed in the press and public view due to 911 happening in 2001. Both stories were then reported on in 2002.
I highly recommend seeing this movie, knowing how guilty the WT organization is, similar to the Catholics as the world is finding out.
i've always maintained a huge sense of justice, when presented with facts and truth i don't tolerate hypocrisy and "fake" my path in life.
i relate to nancy grace from hln, seeking justice and truth.
many friends tell me i would be a great lawyer for my candor and directness, i don't think soo because i honestly do not like confrontation.
hello everyone, it have been quite a long time since my last visit here, and wow so many new people and it proves to me so many are still leaving the wts and its cohorts the gb.
or rather kings, gee give me a break, our lord jesus christ is the king of kings and lord of lords .
talk about disillusion they are off their rocker.ll .
...with dick and helen kelly.
got to meet joe and barbara anderson and their friend joy on their whirlwind u.s. tour.
wonderful conversation and opportunity to reminisce about our wts experiences and our plans for the future.
i just wanted to say that my dear 89 year old mom is terminally ill and will soon pass.
she is on morphine and hanging on.
she has been a devout witness for about 60 years and a wonderful mother.
