At the age of 16...... I was given a book called the True Believer by Eric Hoffer. After reading that I knew that being a JW was a sham because of the Society.
The people in the congregation were pretty good to me.......... of course this was in the late 50's and 60's. When the JW life style was more relaxed. A lot of parties and assembles where you could flirt with a pretty sister.
I by-passed Bethel and went off to pioneer where the need was great. I disdained the Society and my focus was on the Friends in our congregation. I did a damn good job of it. Ministry school servant , assn't presiding minister and all around go to guy.
I was awake to the mistakes of the WTBTS but back in the day this was only a feeling that they were getting stuff wrong. I had no other sources to consult and maybe I didn't want to know we were idiots believing in their garbage.
My bride was a casual JW........ She was 17 and I was 19 when we married. We courted for two years. We are still married some 57 years later. A very happy and productive marriage.
Since she never really believed.... she concentrated on our marriage....... while I was left to struggle with the porous beliefs that were promoted by the WTBTS. I finally gave up on this religion.
I realized it was a fool's errand as soon as I understood that this religion offered nothing.
What finished it for me was Armageddon....were we really taught that billions would die so we could build a paradise earth over their bones?
The Ban on Blood....in those days no serious surgery could be preformed without a supply of blood. JW family members..... ours..... were dying because they couldn't get the medical treatment they needed. It was an individuals choice.....but it wasn't sitting well for us.
The discouragement of higher education was a drawback. After we left we realized we needed to grow up and learn how to live in the real world.
We moved from the congregation we had been serving in..... for the past three years..... and never heard a word from anyone ever again. When you were out....you were out. Family that were in........ wanted little contact.
We grew up quickly and made our way forward. By our mid 20's we were both accomplished professionals making a good living.
We have lived our lives beyond anyone else's standards.We are both Humanists and have worked as unpaid community volunteers for the last 30 years.
We live in a city of 7,000 and have close to 200 friends. We actually counted them one morning and were surprised we had so many fine relationships. We even have a couple of JW friends who want out.
Always happy to lend a helping hand.
The Mormon's now dominate in our city......the JW's are never heard from.