- Name/Pseudonym: Reopened Mind
- Gender: female
- Country: USA
- Were/are you a JW? Pick one.
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Yes I was a JW |
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No |
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Other (please state) |
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- How were/are you associated with JWs
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Born in |
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Interested |
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Studying |
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Unbaptised |
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Joined from personal choice |
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Via friend/s I began studying with two girls in school when I was 14/15 years old. That was in the 60s when the "Truth" book had come out. There was the pressure to get baptized after six months of study. But because I was a minor living at home with parents who didn't like JWs they agreed to keep me as a study. I left home and was baptized at 20. |
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Other (Please state) |
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- How long were you a JW? (If applicable) 38 years
- What drew you to the JWs? Believe it or not that they would change their doctrines. At the time I thought that was because as they realized something was wrong they would correct it. They also projected themselves as one big happy family. Living in a paradise earth with no death, disease, war, or other problems appealed to my idealistic teenage self.
- What do/did you enjoy about being a JW? I enjoyed meeting in small groups for the book study. Afterward we would celebrate couple's anniversaries. So as not to leave out singles and children we would have a special celebration for them too. I enjoyed visiting other congregations when my husband would give the Sunday talk.
- What is your best/fondest memory? For several summers we took our boys camping in the north Georgia mountains. We had time off from our JW routine and were able to bond more as a family. I know that was the only time my elder husband was able to truly relax. We never went to local meetings during our vacation as the WT suggested.
- What is your funniest memory? When a brother gave a tongue lashing to the congregation for not studying the lesson until someone informed him had done the wrong one.
- If alive in 1975 as a JW, do you remember it?
What are you memories as a JW? I married in 1974 so I would have someone to go through Armageddon with.
- Can you think of anything positive or good to say about the watchtower organisation? It gives people structure in their lives who cannot think for themselves.
- Do you believe the JWs have the ‘truth’? no
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Yes |
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No |
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Partially* |
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Other |
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* If ‘partially’, which ‘truth/s’ do the JWs have?
(This is your platform to spill the
beans. Go for it!),
- Would you recommend being a JW and why do you answer thus?
- Please tell us what you want us to know about being a JW
- If you want an organization to intrude into every aspect of your life, then being a JW is for you. But if you want to make your own decisions and be free create your own life, then stay as far away from this cult.