New Boy!
You bring up many of the ideas that attracted me when I become a JW. I was only 25 at the time baptized at the year of 1974. I had already taken my High school degree and done my military service (16 month), when I met a girl that I fell in love with. A brother started a study with me and although, I could realize the reality problems with the teachings and contradictions in almost every core stone of this believes I became a Witness. What made me do such a stupid thing? Most probably my love to that girl. But also I did like the idea of worldwide brotherhood. I liked the idea of pacifism and the idea of total refusal of weapons. (remember I had done my military service and seen the capacity of those weapons we use in my country). However soon I became un elder and we were a well know family in our country, having six children!!! But the problems with my faith grow. There were so many questions the SOC. just ignored. So many contradictions in the teaching. Me being an elder could not explain the simplest of questions from my children….It all ended up in a very stressful situation, with o chronical fatigue and in the end a number of hart attacks. This made it possible for me to stop being an elder and start to fade…….. Today none of our family members are JW:s, except, the original, my wife. I have continued study on a University level. And today I think I at least, can give some satisfactory answers based on evidence (not faith) to my children and grandchildren.
Today I have no more hart attacks, no more stress or fatigue symptoms. I am just a happy grandpa trying to learn my grandchildren to read and think for themselves.
I know I am going to die, as all of us, But I don’t have to watch my children or grandchildren dying from the refusal of blood, or dying (in some countries) from persecution from other religious leaders.(Some Islamic and Asian counties) I don’t have to see my children suffer from the burden of being under educated. And I know that they will have a retirement found because they have a job that qualify them for these founds. I am happy that they do not contribute to the GB and their fake found rising to “worldwide preaching” and I am glad that none of them is working for free for one of the world’s most disgusting teachings that scares the hell out of people and children promising the big A if you don´t become “one of us”.