Brutal, I am seeing a Shrink now to help me deal with my issues and problems
dreamgolfer- If only those of us who don't live in countries with socialized medicine could send a bill.
00DAD- I get where you are going with this. You are right about me not being fully deprogrammed yet. Right now I'm in a vulnerable state where I need to reexamine my beliefs and worldview. When we were JWs we were told what and what not to think. We couldn't speak our minds and doubts lest we be labeled weak [spiritually]. We were all given the same to answer to preach, study the WT publications, and pray more along with waiting on Jehovah.
BTW, abusive men are automatically disqualified as elders anyways. So if he did that would only prove he shouldn't be an elder.
He swears, although not as much as he used to before he became an elder. Yet, no one in my family tells on him. Can profanity be considered verbal abuse? Funnily enough, the secret elder manual doesn't consider profanity a sin unless it involves obscenity. Do I care if he loses his 'privilege'? NO! Not anymore.
I only have to play WT's silly game for two more years until I graduate and get my own place. Can I handle it? I hope so...