Jehovahsheep you are so right. The pressure put on you is too much especially for those who sincerely want to be approved by God. The days & nights I spent in mental darkness flogging myself for not being good enough. It wasn't until I allowed myself to say what if did I feel better. The stark contrast in my disposition is unbelievable. My husband refuses to believe the JW lifestyle was killing me from the inside out. The way I feel is all the proof I need.
The elders are not qualified to handle the mental health issues in the cong. The WT use to say depression was a result of demon influence, lack of spirituality, or selfishness. They finally wised up but w/ cautions on medications and psychiatrists trying to subvert your faith. The friends are afraid & ashamed to ask for help so they suffer making them more unlikely to wake up from the WT nightmare. The nights my husband spent as an elder trying to comfort those with these problems. When he stepped down as an elder to care for me, a number of the friends said to us who is going to understand us. The other brothers being longtime JW's with the field service will heal you mentality were callous towards these. The attitude comes from the top down.
Watchtower leadership is fleecing, skinning, and throwing the sheep about. Some on purpose, others out of ignorance. It deserves to crumble, Jesus said one would be better off with a millstone around the neck than to stumble his sheep. There is no excuse left for their sins and all who stay knowing this and claiming belief in God are just as bloodguilty
I tried to talk myself into staying underground I could not do it. My faith in God & his Son would not allow me. You mentioned being to scared of what is out here that is a sorry excuse which shows lack of faith in God.(1 John 4:18-19) . . .. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love throws fear outside, because fear exercises a restraint. Indeed, he that is under fear has not been made perfect in love. 19 As for us, we love, because he first loved . . .
JW's claim to believe in the words "God as ruler rather than men" yet their actions claim otherwise. (Proverbs 8:13) 13 The fear of Jehovah means the hating of bad. Self-exaltation and pride and the bad way and the perverse mouth I have hated. How can one damn the Watchtower and say one loves God. I'm sorry I don't mean to be so harsh you are older but all the principles about loyalty to God & standing up for the truth I learned as a JW are all the reasons I had to leave. My love of God & his Son came first. I am at risk of losing the loves of my life (husband & kids)because of my stance for what is right.
If more of the "awaken" JW's would stand by all the principles we've learned and leave Watchtower it would help expose the Watchtower for the whore that it is.
Again I don't mean to attack you. I've just gotten tired of excuses.