apologies if this has been discussed before, but i am really very interested in finding out why members here left their congregations for lives away from jw?.
was there a "lightbulb" moment where you just woke up one day and realised that you had been brainwashed?
or a slow realisation over time?
Thanks for those replies - Chariklo, I'll keep an eye on my PMs! (Now I know how they work!)
I hope I am not annoying anyone with my probably silly questions - please let me know if I cross any lines, as I am genuinely not here to offend or annoy - just hopefully to learn and understand more. I have learned so much so far!
xx
apologies if this has been discussed before, but i am really very interested in finding out why members here left their congregations for lives away from jw?.
was there a "lightbulb" moment where you just woke up one day and realised that you had been brainwashed?
or a slow realisation over time?
Hi all,
Apologies if this has been discussed before, but I am really very interested in finding out why members here left their congregations for lives away from JW?
Was there a "lightbulb" moment where you just woke up one day and realised that you had been brainwashed? Or a slow realisation over time? And what issues/topics were the ones to be the catalyst for that?
As some of you probably know from my other comments and my main thread in Dating & Relationships, I am not, and never have been JW, but I am very close to someone who is, and am very much trying to understand his world and what it is he actually believes and abides by... Hopefully with a view in the long term to getting him to realise how destructive a force the WT is on a young man's life and for him to choose to leave...
Regards
xx
born into jw family.
5 years old - you are told celebrations and gifts on those days are from satan.
therefore, in school, your an weird outcast.
Chariklo - I get email too! I think he somehow thinks it isn't breaking the rules if he doesn't actually see me in person....
Been watching the other thread with the troll, and I am just really genuinely thankful to have found this forum. I have learned so much, and hopefully am gaining the tools required to gently extract the person I care about from being a JW (without him resenting me forever). Everyone here has been great; full of advice and the personal stories have influenced me greatly :)
born into jw family.
5 years old - you are told celebrations and gifts on those days are from satan.
therefore, in school, your an weird outcast.
I'm trying to learn as much as I can about life as a JW in the UK (for obvious reasons if you read my thread!) Just trying to get my head around what all the rules are...
apologies if this has been discussed before, or is in the wrong forum, but i could really do with some advice.
two years ago i met the love of my life; someone i regard as my soulmate.
he is an active jw and i am a practising church of england person.
Thanks for explaining further Nugget... It just seems very very sad that it must be for young JWs who know no different... I suppose I have a hope that some sort of miracle will occur and he will find his way out for me.... Sadly this is real life and not a romantic film with a happy ending...
I have sent him a very long email tonight, not directly talking about this issue, but just explaining from the heart about how I actually feel about the confusion (without blaming him). I just hope part of the message will get past all the conditioning and brainwashing and actually through to the real man that I know...
born into jw family.
5 years old - you are told celebrations and gifts on those days are from satan.
therefore, in school, your an weird outcast.
Wow. Just wow...
born into jw family.
5 years old - you are told celebrations and gifts on those days are from satan.
therefore, in school, your an weird outcast.
Being a non JW (but with a strong connection to a JW) I find this fascinating. It really helps me understand what his life must have been like growing up... He is 27 now and single.... does the fact he sends me at least four texts a day mean that "officially" we are dating?
A serious question.... I do not want you to think I am making light of the situation
apologies if this has been discussed before, or is in the wrong forum, but i could really do with some advice.
two years ago i met the love of my life; someone i regard as my soulmate.
he is an active jw and i am a practising church of england person.
Now there is a skill!
Doesn't text me for what feels like ages, then I get back online and start posting again, and he suddenly texts me....
If he is reading this; I am glad he is here and glad he is reading!
the first most important thing is that we have a loooooooooong weekend to chill, take in the sunshine (cos it's going to be hot in durbs).
the second most important thing is chocolate this year!
i've already had chocolat cake, chocolate covered marshmellow eggs and chocolate :) all notions of healthy eating - outta the window.. i know there is a ton of stuff on christ's death and resurrection - what i will watch are probably the doccies that go more into the facts and details of that time period - dstv (our sa cable) usually shows a number of these shows, find them very fascinating.. so to the christians that celebrate their lords death and resurrection - happy easter.
Hi all... Sorry to jump in here... I have a thread elsewhere and thought I would come and play too!
I'm a member of the Church of England, but am fed up of the commercialism here in the UK over Easter... Every TV advertisement is about Easter eggs, meals for Easter, alcohol deals for Easter... and absolutely no religious content whatsoever. It has just become another excuse to eat too much, drink too much, and have two days off work for a festival that most people don't believe in anyway... drives me mad...
Churches are full of "twice yearlies" - the people who only attend at Christmas and Easter because they think that is the right thing to do to be "a good Christian"...
Sorry, rant over.... :)
apologies if this has been discussed before, or is in the wrong forum, but i could really do with some advice.
two years ago i met the love of my life; someone i regard as my soulmate.
he is an active jw and i am a practising church of england person.
"It's very interesting that he is not a born-in JW but a convert. In my time with the JW's I've met many converts from Anglican, Catholic and Methodist backgrounds. Almost without exception, they are every bit as indoctrianted and zealous as born-ins and in many cases more so."
Nothing wrong with being cynical - I agree! Since he was reproved, I have been very aware he has been doing everything he can to repair his weak image with the congregation, and it feels like he is almost trying too hard to make up for not being born in... And I think he genuinely believes he is doing the right thing in bringing me to the JWs and "saving" me, despite my own personal religious beliefs. I also am starting to understand the personal struggle he must be having in wanting to see me and spend time with me, but trying to balance that with his beliefs... He knows what is expected of him as you say, but there is a chink in his armour. I sometimes describe us as being each others kryptonite!
The indoctrination must be so strong, and I am glad that he is thinking about moving away from living with his Witness grandparents and getting his own place in a larger town, as one poster said earlier (or possibly on another thread), it might give him chance to see the wider world differently, without the small town constraints and mentality of everyone snooping on each other and reporting back every misdemanour to the KH... I am not saying that this will give us a chance to be together properly, but at least he might find some freedom.
