John Free

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Posts by John Free

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  Do you have post-borg reunion stories?

  by John Free in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  six months ago i knocked on my sister's door.

  she was shocked to see me "god johnfree, who has died" she said smiling.

  she was disfellowshipped 20 years ago.. i had not seen her for years.

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  John Free

  Six months ago I knocked on my sister's door. She was shocked to see me "God JohnFree, who has died" she said smiling. She was disfellowshipped 20 years ago.

  I had not seen her for years. My first words to her were "I've left it", I went on to apologise for cutting her out of my life for the last 2 decades, I know, an apology doesn't quite make up for it. Nevertheless, she held absolutely no bitterness towards me, and a strong relationship is growing between us and our families, which is so good! Cousins playing together etc. I'm fortunate to have her! She was the first of 14 members of my extended family to leave the Borg, only 7 remain in (not including those born since). There have been many reunions over the years. Things were really tough for her when she was disfellowhipped at 18, the very age a person needs parental guidance and love. But now she has so many friends around her and much of her family. While things do not always work out this well, there is hope, people will wake up.

  Do you have similar reunion stories?
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  What I Hate About Halloween....

  by konceptual99 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ....is that it has totally wiped away the distinct celebration of november 5th and bonfire night.

  fireworks and bonfires are still ubiquitous this time of year but it's just merged in with halloween which, whilst always being celebrated, was not as promoted and so overwhelming as it is now.. bring back the guy!.

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  John Free

  I have been out for just over 6 months. I never thought I would ever do Halloween, but the family got invited to a party, we had a great time! My daughter went trick or treating with her school friends...she loved it! She's really excited about firework night now! I was worried about her when we first left, she was crying when I told her that we would not be attending meetings anymore, and that hurt. Now she's deprogrammed, much more confident and so much more happy. Boy its gonna be a short winter! Bring on the fireworks...
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  My experience with religion

  by Cota Samuel in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  hello, i am sam(samuel).

  i am 18 and i live in romania.

  my english is not that good and i find it hard to express myself even in my language xd.. i'm not an open person and i would've probaly never talked so open of my life but this "event" had so much impact on my life and it damaged me so deeply that i do now write this.. i came to this site to help myself fight the problem that destroyed my life for the past 2 years.

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  John Free

  Hello Sam.

  Thanks for sharing your story. You sound like a sincere person and that sincerity has been abused by this group. I was reading a watchtower study article last night for the first time in 6months, the control and manipulation within them is unbelievable. It amazes me that I couldn't see that before while in, but you're so conditioned to accept mental abuse.

  Its a very tough life lesson you've had and we all relate to the trauma you have been through.

  Best wishes with the rest of your life friend!
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  Hello everyone! I am new here and want to tell you about myself - my bio

  by Hollywood20 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  grew up in east la in a bad neighborhood to a black mother and white father.

  i never knew my father because he died in a car accident when i was a few weeks old.

  my mother converted as a jw soon after when two sisters came to her door and offered her comfort, which was something she needed.

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  John Free

  Well hello to you! And thanks for telling your story!

  Its so sad that pressure and guilt were used to stop you doing what you wanted to do with your life. There are many on this site that are bearing the consequences of being raised in this group, intelligent people with such potential washing windows etc. The fact is that the sooner you can find the courage to get out the better! It is a matter of courage for you now that you know it is not the truth. I also had to cause my indoctrinated mother heartbreak and that is not something any man wants to do, nevertheless it is unavoidable.

  Best wishes to you!
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  35

  Hello from an exmormon

  by Cold-Dodger in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  someone named john free popped in on one of my posts at exmormon[dot]com and mentioned this website.

  i have a lot of questions.

  i never knew much about about the jw church.

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  John Free

  Hello cold dodger!

  Really enjoyed your post, both this one and the exmormon forum! its amazing how the two religions\cults are poles apart theologically, yet the key elements of cult mind control are almost identical!

  I can relate to what you've said in so many ways for example the 3 categories of people strong, weak and apostates. That's identical among the jw community, ex members who have re-discovered their critical thinking abilities are demonized\stigmatised by the group. I viewed my own family members in this way for years and have only begun building relationships with them in the last 6 months.

  Reading the comments on your Mormon post was part of a healing process for me. To hear from others who also once thought their religion was the truth, helps me to see that the jw's are not as special and unique as I once thought. That others too fell victim to a convincing, seemingly flawless body of teachings-only really held together by control mechanisms.

  So thank you for your great posts

  Warm regards!
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  32

  How many of you left the Org since 2015?

  by Paul Bonanno in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have noticed that many lately have left the org or are in the process of leaving.

  how many of you have left since 2015?.

  this month will be my 21 years out of the org into the road of freedom.

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  John Free

  I walked away with my family at the end of March 2015. Great to be free!
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  101

  My mom passed away yesterday....

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  thank you all for your sincere encouragement during these last few weeks.

  finally, she is at peace.

  i was with her , holding her hand when she died.

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  John Free

  So sorry to hear about the loss of your Mother and for the pain you're going through.

  Deepest sympathy
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  27

  My experience with a Judicial Committee, when in my early 20's

  by Dunedain in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i joined this wonderful site, only a few weeks ago, although i have been away from the borg, for almost 20 years.

  i didnt introduce myself, on a personal level, but i jumped right in, commenting, making threads, and just immersing myself in this community.

  what a time, indeed, to be here, its almost as if i was "called" here, because the week i lurked, and joined, was when all this recent stuff came out.

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  John Free

  Thank you for telling your story. It's a pleasure to meet you and I look forward to hearing more. It is sick the way these men treat people, they damage so many young lives.

  Regards
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  29

  me and my new girlfriend

  by justthenorm in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  you see ive started dating this girl and her family is of strong jehova belief.

  now i am not i do see certain things in there studie that is true in my opinion but ive never really been a religion type of person.

  i think i want to marry her but i am not a jehovas witness and am not looking to be anytime at all she says that is ok and we can still get married but i dont know how its possible or where we would even do it please i need advice

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  John Free

  My sister married a man from outside the group years ago, she ran away from home in order to do it as she was still just 19, but in love. Unfortunately the love blinded them both to practicalities. He was a really clever man so perhaps he thought he could guide her out of the cult, it should be easy right? It isn't just difficult its near impossible for an outsider to deprogram a cult member. Then there were the practicalities, she would't go to a Christmas dinner with him to his parents house, she wouldn't celebrate his birthday, valentines day, Easter, independents day, guy Fawkes, new years eve celebrations...the list goes on! Then they had a baby together. Can you imagine his frustrations as his child was being groomed by a cult? As he was becoming isolated in his classroom as he was so different to the other kids. Eventually after years of a troubled marriage they divorced. Years later he had to see his son decline a university education so that he could spend most of his time knocking on doors.

  Update: what village says is true too! My sister left the religion for a short period when she got married, but this was due to the guilt of breaking a rule and marrying a 'worldly' person, she was not deprogrammed so in time she returned.

  Good suggestion above though, what will her reaction to JWfacts website be like? Can she be deprogrammed or will her cult barriers go up, will she demonstrate that she is under information control by saying such things as 'I don't want to read this site! People lie about our religion!' You have to base your decision on her reactions.
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  36

  Hello to everybody!

  by John Free in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i wanted to introduce myself.

  like many of you i was born-in, am married with one child.

  after 36 years of this cycle: doubts-thought stopping- suppression- indoctrination-cult mode i realised enough was enough.

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  John Free

  Thanks all for your messages of kindness/support. Its a great environment to be! I will open up a bit more as to how my exit happened in the next few days. John.