Did you ever wish you could be an average Joe and forget everything you knew about the Watchtower Society and its teachings?
What do I mean by average Joe?
For those not familiar with the expression, "the terms Average Joe, Average Jane, and Joe Shmoe are used primarily in the United States to refer to the average American."
Does the average American, or anyone for that matter think about the following terms on a regular basis? Probably not.
Armaggedon
Universal Sovereignty
Ransom Sacrifice
Preaching Work
Minor Prophets
Great Tribulation
"Is your family prepared for survival"
The average Joe likes his weekends, watches the SuperBowl, plays pool, goes fishing, just men and women doing average things. Now, while they may believe in God and even go to church midweek or weekend, their awareness of life is not generally raised to such intense levels concering the terms above.
In my experience since leaving the dubs, I wish I could have an average Joe outlook on life, but it's difficult because as I was born in the truth, I have had Armaggedon, demons, great tribulation, pioneering, "the truth" drilled into my brain five times a week for 30 years.
Even though the Society's scriptual interpretations require mental gymnastics to even understand what they're trying to say and none of their prophecies have ever come true, the fact is that while I can accept the answers and interpretations are wrong, I cannot forget the questions.
The deeply ingrained indoctrination requires you to think about these questions on a daily basis (the days text), on a weekly basis (at the meetings) and twice a year (at the assemblies and conventions) and not forgetting the preaching work.
Is the average person walking down the street thinking about Armaggedon and survival, no they are going about their business, they are enjoying their lives.
There's nothing to stop us who have faded or are fading from having a normal life, the problem is as a JW are awareness of the terms above and the questions they entail means we think differently from most of the population.
I guess the best way of explaining this is to think of the question in one of the WT brochures, "Does life have a purpose?"
And perhaps this is what many of us have to come to terms with, we are aware of these issues and now perhaps feel obligated to look elsewhere for the answers.
Perhaps all I want to do is forget the questions, but as this is not possible I feel compelled to look for answers.