new letter today (please visit avoidjw.org for a copy of the official letter and yes, i also noticed they got the date wrong!).
february 28, 2017. to all bodies of elders.
re: visiting disfellowshipped or disassociated individuals.
In recent years, many disfellowshipped or disassociated individuals have returned to Jehovah after having seen Jehovah’s Witnesses carrying out their ministry in public places. Others have approached the elders after reading a copy of the Return to Jehovah brochure or watching JW Broadcasting.
One thing I've learned to always ask is ---"Is this true?" So WBTS - how many individuals have returned to Jehovah after reading the brochure or watching JW Broadcasting? One? Two?
i have made a poll to try to determine the impact of the wt's no blood policy on ex members.. if you are an exjw, please participate.. vote here:.
*oops...hang on here...i have to make a new poll...this one lets you vote more than once.
i will post the new one .
Ten years ago I had three surgeries in a four month period. The first two with no blood transfusions. (it wasn't needed) The last one with multiple blood transfusions. I am alive today because of it and have no regrets or guilt.
background:.
my parents got the “truth” while i was in primary school.
i was baptised at 14. i loved school and was extremely studious.
Welcome doubtfull1799!
Thank you for sharing your story. I agree with many of the other posters that you shouldn't disassociate as you have family still in. Better to fade. There are experiences of other people on this site who has helped their spouse get out by being very patient over time.
I can relate to alot of what you wrote and for a long time was angry at all the 'wasted years' I spent as a JW. I was in for 23 years. Still that is better than 23 years and one day. The time I have left is my own.
You are a good writer and I hope you share your manifesto here.
There are alot of resources now (like the books mentioned by other posters and youtube sites) which are very helpful.
happy brithday my dear wife.
what a lucky man i am to have you as my life mate.
i am so happy we are free from this damm cult.
Happy Birthday Reopenedmind! How could being happy to have been born ever been bad!
Have a wonderful day. Celebrate Celebrate Celebrate.
many of you don't know me or won't remember me.
i left the jw's and my husband and my home last september - forging a new life in a new town.
i haven't posted here for many months, but have been reading most days.
Happy 71st! Have a great day and many more wonderful birthdays!
hi everyone i don't even know where to begin.
i recently saw leah remini's series on scientology thanks to my husband (semi-active jw) and i felt like my eyes were being opened for the 1st time in my adult life.
i felt shaken almost sick to my stomach with each episode i watched.
Welcome Confused and Angry. I remember when I first realized the Jehovah's Witnesses did not have "the truth". It was very shocking. I was angry too. There was no one that I could talk to at that time. That was before the internet. Now there is so much information available. (pace yourself as it can be overwhelming at first) Also this forum is a wonderful place to meet others that have or are in the process of leaving this organization. I no longer feel alone as an ex-jw. Each person's journey out is different. Decide for yourself what is best for you.
a bit of an update, last weekend was my great grandmothers funeral, now, she was never a jw, and never was going to be, no matter how hard my mother, and grandmother tried to preach to her, she was the type of person that would kindly accept a wt or a book, but she wouldn't bother reading them.. anyways, she was a great wonderful and inspiring woman, the funeral was extremely sad, she had been a school teacher for over 35 years and a member of various clubs, so there were a lot of folks besides family that attended.. well, anyways i was there and so was my jw mother, stepfather, and grandmother, we were cordial, didn't talk about anything jw related because, it was great grandmothers funeral, not really a time to discuss how i am an evil sinner, or how i've escaped the org by avoiding df'ing, right?
wrong, as i'm sitting waiting for the service to begin, a lady shows up, now- i have known this woman for a long time, apparently she baby sat me as a small child, (like i remember?
) so she isn't someone i was ever close with, but knew of her or when she was around would say hi to and make small talk.. to give you a tid-bit on her personality though, she is one of those crazy jw's.. she claims to have been possessed by a demon, very very wacky on the prophesies, or gb talks, etc.
This encounter would have been difficult on an ordinary day but even more so at the funeral of your much-loved great grandmother. I'm sorry you had this bad experience.
I'm very sorry for the loss of your great grandmother.
jehovah's witnesses cannot do a lot of things.
i remember pioneers having to quit their jobs because they could not work in a convenience store and sell cigarettes.
i know of a young man who was offered a scholarship to any college or university if he wanted to go to because of his football abilities.
The high school counselor called me into her office to talk about college and applying for scholarships. Like a good JW, I told her I wasn't going to college. I regret not going to college right after high school. I started college 11 years after high school and then it took twice as long to get my degree since I could only go part-time while working full-time.
I also missed out on extra-curriculum activities and non-JW friends.
so, you left because of a bad example(s).. why all the whining?
nothing better to do with your time?.
you at least know far more about the bible than any church-goer?.
thank you Simon
i had no doubts at all about the 'truth' untill a friend of mine in the cong' began falling away.
in trying to help him i had to ask questions and do research and that of course cracked the doors of my mind open for the first time in over thirty years.. years ago, when jwd allowed members to have signatures, i used the following quote from voltaire as mine.
i still love it.. doubt is uncomfortable, certainty is ridiculous..
It had been a few years since I'd done my fade, still believing I left the "truth" and Armageddon was coming any day now. Late one night I turned the TV on and there was a 30-minute show put on by another religion. The person was discussing topics and scriptures with a JW. Think of it as a Theocratic Ministry Show in reverse. The person was making such a logical argument that for the first time I questioned whether "the truth" was really the truth. Fast forward a few years to the internet and I was fully awake.
