I felt like an idiot, explaining my oldJW beliefs

My son's b/f and his mom stopped by tonite and his mom and I got to talking about religion and all the rules we got so sick of. She is pentecost, and admits that they have to many dumb rules too, just as JW's do. She is a faithful church goer, twice on Sunday, she sings in choir. But it was interesting to hear her say, that some in her church were wacko's and just out there. Rules like you can't wear earrings , but you can wear broaches. You can' wear makeup , but she does sometimes. You are supposed to have sleeves down to your wrist . So many rules.

I told her some of ours and we laughed at alot of how ridiculous theses rules were.

I truly feel embarrassed ,like a fool, braindamaged, for even believing all the things we were told as JW's . I didnt even tell her about the demonized aluminum pans.......lol.......

I told her about d/f and d/a , and she didnt understand that. She said, when someone is at their weakest point, needing help , they (JW) throw them out? I told her yeah, unless they cry and beg to stay in , they might not get kicked out, but they are not allowed to comment, pray etc. Her mouth just dropped opened. She literally had tears in her eyes on some of the things I told her. She told me much about her church's politics and how she has a hard time with gossip and rules too. But she enjoys singing and ignores the freaks who are there she said. I told her about the pedophile exposure and she was shocked, not that there are pedophiles but the coverups.

I tell you, I felt so embarrassed that I once went along with all the JW rules, but it was good to talk to someone who also in their religion gone thru some of the same crap. I told her I just couldnt bare to stay in mine, because the elders would hound me for not doing more and I didnt want to do any more. In so many other religions like hers, they have rules and all, but they usually don't kick you out for not conforming totally with every single rule or teaching they have. With JW's you have to believe it all and live it all, or nothing. But we talked about Jesus and how that is our main concern right now.  We  had a good laugh at how organized religion can really be stupid and decided to get together more and just encourage each other. I honestly don' t think she thinks I am crazy or weird, but being an ex jw makes me feel like a freak.......lol..

Lyin' Eyes,

I too feel pretty stupid whenever I explain the religious rules that I once adhered to so strongly. This one in particular, that abomination that is know as disfellowshipping, (and where is that word in the Bible? ha!) always gets looks of disbelief from listeners when I tell them about it.

It's for that reason that I talk so much about it. Most folks think of blood whenever they talk about JW's, and JW's don't mind that too much because the idea of dying for one's faith does have a sort of "Martyr quality" to it, even a grudging admiration.

However, very few people are aware of the shunning poloicies of the JW's and have no concept of the grief and heartache that can rip entire families apart when it is practised. It's for that reason that I talk about it so much to non JW's, hopefully this will become common knowledge and will put even more people off the idea of being converted.

Englishman.

Edited by - Englishman on 23 October 2002 5:37:58

I know what you mean.  I remember in high school one of my friends asked me if I was going to be a witness when I grew up.  I said "Yes", I was stunned by the question, I  couldn't think of any other life.  Now, I can't fathom going back to that kind of life. 

When I tell people I used to be a JW, alot of them are suprised because I am not the kind of person who accepts being told what to do or think.  I feel foolish for living in a state of constant guilt/fear for so long and accepting that as right, all in the name of religion.  I always thought it was wrong to believe we were better than everyone else because we had the "true" religion and everyone else was bad association.  I remember thinking "what ever happened to equality?"

I'm glad to be out and thinking for myself.

 

I usually feel very stupid when trying to explain what I was taught all my life. I can't believe I went along with it for so long. When I explained it to my mother-in-law, she said, "That religion has a lot to answer for."

I was talking to someone a while back about how I've not seen my sister in over 2 years and she just couldnt understand how families can be pulled apart like that. So that got us onto all the other things chrsitmas, birthdays, blood etc - even as I was talking I was thinking I sound like I was a complete wacko!

Well you may feel like an idiot but I am an idiot.  I had everyone in the local general store laughing thier asses off at me the other day when I was trying to explain the beliefs, rules, restrictions, ect ect.  All seem to find it hard to believe that I would fall for that crap, and when I tried to explain how it sort of sneaks up on you they laughed harder.

So, there were no tears shed during my little moment.  Well tears of laughter.   They all knew I was a JW, they just didn't know I was so lame.  Well, now they do.

Hello, my name is Al, I'm a recovering JW and an idiot.

All religions have stupid rules....

Humans have to have these rules....they can't believe that God doesn't expect them to be clean and upright without governing rules of some sort.

Hours in field service, each month.....and report them on a piece of paper...then on to a statement that is published worldwide...??

The Holy and the Mostholy, Priests that were approved to do worship in same, Gentiles, non-jews. What is a real Jew, someone who lives in  particular region of the earth?

Rules, you can't get a Kingdom ministry if your not a regular publisher, six turning in the little piece of paper.  Ties only at meetings and no short dresses.  SOMEONE MAKE A LIST...

Do you think God is a European or South American?  Jehovah doesn't care if you are a Catholic or a Moslem!!!

Do you get what I am saying, humans are weak and dependent on the own insecurities.

Religion is just not the answer to your spirituality, pray on your own and do some research into who God is...

LB, once again I am the idiot, I don't even think you are in the running....

BREEZE

LOL @ Wolfgirl! Where did you get this quote? Back "in the day," that was my assembly hall... it's in Plant City, FL... toooo funny!

I got it at this site: http://www.mostgraveconcern.com/ under his religion category. It's a small world, eh?

Hey!!!

Please do not do this to yourself okay?  You were living what you were taught and there is nothing you have to turn inward there.  This was not your choice and you have come out of it so strong and insightful!!!!!   That is evident in your words and your ability to be able to sort it all out and express it so well.

Don't make me come down there!!!!! 

One foot in front of the other............

Love ya!!!!!

XW

I just recently had someone suggest that I was brain washed and therefore brain washable. This is ridiculous! I was the third generation JW, born into it, with a schizophrenic father who claimed to be anointed, and grew up on Bethel's doorstep! What else was I SUPPOSED to be? Dad was an elder all my life, we moved every 6 months to 'serve where the need was great' (which meant the heat got too high and he had to leave while people still adored him) and this right up until I was 23 years old.

Then the next 2 years saw the personal struggles when he left my mother and ran off with a 'worldly woman' and was disfellowshipped(but still partook--because 'man can't take that away from me').

The next 9 years I struggled with my faith and I got to really see what the WTBTS was---before I was too influenced by my father's own brand of it. And when my natural brain functions kicked in, I left. It took a year to plan the physical break because I was totally dependent on this cult(I am in a wheel chair) but when I left--I left it completely and with no regrets! None whatsoever. No doubts that I did the right thing.

Was I brainwashed? How can you brain wash someone if there is nothing in the brain to wash? I was BORN into it! I was isolated and insulated and completely controlled. I don't see how this can qualify as brainwashed if I was never even allowed the chance to develope my own mind. And I think I did pretty good fairly fast considering I was a grown adult when I first started to think!

So please don't beat yourselves up. Even if this was a conscious adult choice, there was some vulnerability that allowed it to take seed. And a vulnerable person cannot possibly make the same quality decisions that someone who is self-assured and emotionally stable can! And we are not always responsible for our lack of self-assurance and emotional instability--sometimes life overwhelms us and slaps us in the face so hard we reel! JWs jump on that so quickly! And they lie so prettily.

Next time some laughs at you, tell them WHY you became a JW. Ask them if after losing a child to leukemia, or living on the street addicted to crack, or whatever the circumstance you may have been in at the time they handed you a Watchtower, if they can just walk away from the promise of paradise and earthly resurrection and world peace and no more sickness or pain....they may like to think they are cynical enough to not bite the bait, but are they really? Ask them how many Lotto tickets they bought this year?

Ravyn

I am about to leave for my Aunt's wake at the funeral home.  Everytime I have to get together with my extended family of all NON-JW's, I secretly pray that they do not bring up anything religious.  That would mean having to go into the embarrassing past of involvement with the JW religion.  This seems to enter every facet of life.  School, friends, neighbors, family, you name it, I hate having to explain the old JW beliefs to others.  Feel like a complete looney to have ever been one of those weird people who knock on other people's doors trying to pass off the WT publishing company as a religion.

Must go now, geeze......I hate these things, I don't think even the dead like them.

Person who really hates wakes,

Shakita

 LOL @ LB

 Yeh ,I had my moments when I told people about the JW's and they just looked at me like I was a nutt,believing and living by it for 5 yrs.They tease me,saying .."you know you wanna go back"