A few of you may remember my post concerning the Assembly day, and how I wanted to get out of it in some way. This post catalogues the events after that day – a day which has changed my life.
I managed to get out of going to the Assembly, using an excuse about my stomach, and the complications which follow. This is a good excuse for me, since my wife knows, along with many in the congregation, that I have a history of stomach pains which have all sprung from my ulcer. My wife, sensing my total lack of enthusiasm for the assembly, took it upon herself to ‘have a word with an elder’ about my spirituality. This is the kind of cult that we are dealing with guys – it’s like something from 1984. A generation of snitchers which are more than prepared to snitch on even their closest family members. Anybody who has seen the film ‘Equalibrium’ will know what I am talking about when you remember the bit where the man’s own child uses mind control against him, and does what big brother tells him to do, rather than looking out for his own father. It’s the same thing as 1984.
Anyhow this elder called and arranged a meeting with me around my place. I could not get out of it – part of me wanted to attend anyway. It was no kind of judicial meeting, just a ‘friendly chat’.
Two elders visited. Apparently, my wife told them she was ‘very worried’, although that couldn’t be further from the truth. We have drifted apart so much over such a little time, she no longer cares. The kids are the only thing which keep us together. So anyhow, the elders asked how I viewed things ‘in the truth’ since the feedback they have been getting recently was that of resentment. They brought up the time I challenged the WT study conductor on a Sunday morning full house meeting (CO was visiting = full house). I put up my hand and asked how the WT magazine could write that the Bible is unique and the ‘oldest book in the world’ when any educated person could argue quite clearly against such a claim. I was looked at by everybody as though I come from outer space – not the usual looks that I got when I had just completed Bethel ‘service’ (as a side note to those who PM’d me, sorry I still haven’t got back to you but time is of the essence)
So these two elders quizzed me to the point of no return. They kept bringing up how wonderful Jehovah is, and how he will protect those wanting protection, etc. I asked where was such protection on 9/11? Where is such protection for the Kids of Beslan, earthquake victims, Tsunami victims, normal everyday people who get killed…. The answers were simple according to them – these people don’t put ‘Jehovah first’. I said that Jehovah’s Witnesses die, and they put ‘Jehovah first’. Then these elders tried forcing me into co-operation. ‘Brother, you are on thin ice, the things you are saying is reminiscent of apostate speech, and not that of a former Bethelite, or good brother’. I got fed up of their shit. Months, if not years, of emotional pain boiled to melting point. I stood up (by this time the two elders were ready to leave) and told them to get out and never come back, since ‘I am taking the kids from your evil hands to re-educate them away from this bullshit’. At this point my wife came in and told me never, and she quickly huddled into the elders and left.
Since then, I have received no word from anybody. No calls, nothing. I am holding the fort. I expect to be disfellowshipped shortly. Thanks for reading if you have got this far.