i have been out of the "truth" for about 13 years, but 9 of those years i was someone who was out but thinking i would probably go back at some point...out but not all the way out mentally.
my family are still active members and i am a little bit shunned, not invited to family get togethers, that sort of thing.
i was one of those people that left and then did drugs and partied for a while.
Welcome here. I love in your intro: " I prayed to Jehovah that if he didn't want me to go there then make something happen to stop it, but he didn't so I went." That bit made me LOL
Anyway, glad you found us, it is a good feeling to be able to share thoughts with people that understand the 'mentality' of having been associated with the WTBS
hope everyone is having a lovely day.
i ended up here after spending the past few months researching jw, without the blinders on.
i was a born-in, baptized as a teen, pioneered out of high school for a couple years (turning down a 4 year scholarship).
Welcome here, it's great to know what it was that made you 'open the door ' to your new life
Seize the day! Make each one count. It sounds like you are.
so, on sunday i left the meeting and was sitting in my car putting my keys in the ignition, an elder pulled on my door handal and opened up.
i rolled my eyes, this man is annoying...anyway he asked if i was going to be around wednesday.
i told him i should be.
Then just don't say anything, nod in agreement, tell them you are stressed, that's all. He probably just wants to tick the box that he's done his shepherding.
i was studying spanish a little while ago - had to stop because of finances but became friends with the spanish teacher and we keep in touch, see each other now and again.
i just got a message from him:.
"hola louise, i would like to talk to you about 2 things, about the jws, as we are following this fatih, we find it interesting, we haven't been baptised yet, i want to make sure before making a mistake and the other thing that allan and i wold like to talk about is starting your own business.....".
The history of the society they are looking into also, perhaps familiarise yourself with some of that also, great resource is http://www.watchtowerdocuments.com/index.html
op based on mr. freeze's topic - could attending the meetings/studying again sway any of you back to the org.
hearing the propaganda over and over again is pretty powerful i'm sure.
(i'm a non-jw, non-christian (no offense), stubborn as a bull and even i had moments of pause based on some of the doctrine (lasted 30 seconds) but i never had family/friends at stake or a background in this.
No way, not even for punkofnices millions
i am a long time lurker who has finally decided to post.
i am still in along with my wife, kids and extended family.
i am in my 40s and was raised in the org.
Welcome, never stop learning. You realise that everything we do has repurcussions, even doing nothing. Take one step at a time.
i was raised on air force bases in the us and asia until i was 10 or 11. my mother divorced my father while he was on an unaccompanied tour in turkey and hooked up with my uncle.
she married him and his children became our step-brothers and sisters.
i saw my father once when he got back to the states and not again until almost 30 years later.. after two years, my uncle put his children in an orphanage and my mother dispersed her children to the four winds so she could be free to be with my uncle without all the problems eight children who hated each other brought.. my story begins in 1977 in an old farm house in corinth, kentucky, without running water or heat, just electricity for lights and cooking.
Wow, thank you for sharing such a heartfelt account of your life. I applaud your desire to help others, keep learning for yourself also, don't just believe everything you're told, prove it to yourself.
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i have been lurking here for about a month or two.
it is really awesome to read so many similar experiences.. for example, when i was still 'in' i wondered if i was the only one in the hall that really hated the meetings.
Welcome, you've made some good choices already.
just a (slightly) quick introduction for now.
i am a 4th generation born in.
father an elder since i was an infant.
Welcome here, glad life is working out, keep your kids safe from the 'doctrines'.
checklist of characteristics.
deception lies at the core of mind-manipulating and high-demand ("cultic") groups and programs.
many members and supporters of these groups/movements are not fully aware of the extent to which they have been abused and exploited.
Marking - helpful thread, thank you
