Hey everyone!
So I completed the Ex-Jehovah's Witness survey (and all it took was about an hour of listening to a loop of KT Tungistall's version of "I Want You Back") and am looking to start compile data for it. I created an e-mail address to send the results to if you want to keep things confidential [email protected] or you can PM me here (please respond to the thread saying I have a PM), you can also message me at www.youtube.com/timkilgore or if you have my facebook and would rather send it to me there that's fine too. For the sake of the data which will have to be put into categories for charting and tracking please try to stick to the choices given and pick the one that best applies. If you absolutely can't then please feel free to make a note underneath after picking the most suitable answer. I've contacted a rather well known study group for statistics of this sort and they are interested in the findings and the raw data after I've completed the survey. They told me they would be more comfortable with a survey of 1000 or greater so please if you know people who don't really have too much internet access or don't visit boards like this that are Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses please bring their attention to this survey and ask them to send their filled out survey to me.
Thanks so much everyone... (if anyone's wondering why I didn't create an online survey is because online surveys only allow me to see the results per question and not the answers for each individual that fills out the survey)
Without further ado, here's the survey....
Ex-Jehovah’s Witness Survey
General
A.) Name: (First name only please)
B.) Gender
Male
Female
C.) Age:
10-18
19-24
25-30
31-35
35-40
41-45
45-50
51-55
56-60
61-65
65 +
Questions:
1.) How were you introduced to Jehovah's Witnesses:
Parents/Grandparents/Relatives were in before you were born and taught you
Parents/Grandparents/Relatives converted when you were young and taught you
Converted early in life (Teenage or earlier)
Converted in your 20's
Converted in your 30's
Converted later in life
2.) How did you leave the religion:
Disfellowshipped
Disassociated
Faded Away (slowly missed more and more meetings until you stopped going completely)
Stopped attending all at once
3.) What Age did you leave?
10-18
19-24
25-30
31-35
35-40
41-45
45-50
51-55
56-60
61-65
65 +
4.) Were you Baptized
Yes
No
5.) What General reason did you leave the religion:
Left for a boyfriend/girlfriend in the world, Fornicated with man/woman, General Fornication
Was involved with Drugs/Drinking
Wanted more Freedom (play school sports, date who you wanted, listen to music, etc.)
Didn’t believe the teachings, not allowed to question the teachings, disagreed with stance on social issues, didn’t agree with things said in the magazines or on the platform.
Felt the elders or organization abused their power, felt they took presidence over God, Problem with the way they organized the religion
Left because of the people (saw too much hypocracy, too much gossip, passed over for some leadership role, was treated badly by those in the hall.)
Depressed, Didn’t feel like doing all the things required of you, felt oppressed by the rules.
Was abused physically, emotionally or sexually by someone in the hall and it was covered up.
Rebelling against parents rules
Other (Explain: _______________________________________________________________)
6.) How did you feel about the doctrine before leaving:
Believed everything said was correct
Believed there were more things right than wrong
Believed there we more things wrong than right
Believed everything was wrong
Didn’t think about the doctrine
7.) Did your feelings about the doctrine effect the way you left?
Yes
No
8.) If you were disfellowshipped for sin, did your feelings on the doctrine effect you sinning in the first place?
I sinned because I thought the doctrine was wrong as an easy way out
My feelings on the doctrine strongly effected my willingness to sin to get out
My feelings on the doctrine somewhat effected my willingness to sin
I sinned because I wanted to and doctrine had nothing to do with it
N/A
9.) Did you feel the religion was a cult before leaving?:
I did not think they were a cult at all
I saw a few similarities between the religion and a cult
I saw many similarities between the religion and a cult
I felt the religion was a cult by definition but a good religion which it didn’t apply
I felt the religion was definitely a cult
10.) Did you research the religion's teachings after leaving?
Yes
No
11.) What are your feelings on the doctrine of the religion since leaving?
I still feel the religion is the truth,
The religion has some problems but only due to human imperfection,
The religion has some problems with it’s teachings
The religion has many problems with what it teaches
The religion is like any other religion out there it has right and wrong in it
The religion has a problem with nearly every teaching
They might have one or two teachings that are still right if I strain hard enough to think about it
They are totally wrong
12.) How do you feel about the organization since leaving?:
They're God's channel
They might have a couple of problems
They have some problems but far more good than bad
There are many problems but they slightly outweigh the bad
There are many problems which slightly outweigh the good
There are many problems which far outweigh the good
They are no different than any other religion they have good and bad
They are Totally wrong
They are evil
13.) How do you feel about the people since leaving?:
They're God's chosen people
They are mostly good people
They are good people with a few bad apples
They have more good people than bad people
They have more bad people than good people
They are mostly bad people
They are filled with liars and hypocrites
They are no different than any other religion, they have good and bad
They are misguided people and I feel sorry for them
They are evil.
14.) Do you feel the religion is a cult now after leaving?:
Yes they are definitely a cult
They have most of the qualities of a cult
They have some of the qualities of a cult
They have a couple of the qualities of a cult
They have some similarities to cults but they’re good so I don’t consider them a cult
All religions are cults so why would they be any different.
They are not a cult
15.) What is your opinion on the intelligence of those still in the Organization? :
They're very intelligent they are the only people on Earth who found the truth
They're somewhat intelligent
They’re intelligent about biblical things but not so much in other things
They're intelligent but purposely deny facts for their religion
They are like idiot savants with the bible
They're not very intelligent
They're complete morons
16.) Are you happier now that you’re gone?
I think every day about how happy I am to have left
I think I’m much happier now that I’m gone
I think I’m somewhat happier now that I’m gone
I’m slightly happier now that I’m gone
I’m not happier now that I’m gone
I was much happier as a Jehovah’s Witness
I’m miserable now and wish I could return to turn around my life.
17.) Do you feel that other than the fact you left the Jehovah’s Witnesses that they would agree with how you live your life?
They would agree with everything in my life
I do a few things they would not agree with
I do quite a few things they would not agree with
They would not agree with anything I do now
18.) If a Jehovah’s Witness approaches you to discuss their religion you’re more than likely do the following:
Oh God, run away as fast as possible
Tell them I was raised a Jehovah’s Witness and feel they’re wrong
Shatter their faith, what else would I do?
Discuss in detail all the wrong things in their religion
Give them a simple Not Interested
Discuss their religion with them and take whatever they want to place, I remember being like that
Tell them that I feel their religion is mostly right but not right for me
Ask them for a bible study
19.) Would you consider returning?
I plan to return one day
I wish I could return
It’s more than likely I’ll return
It’s fifty/fifty that I will return
It’s possible I could return
It’s not very likely I’ll return but I don’t rule out anything
It’s nearly impossible I’ll return but I guess anything’s possible
When hell freezes over
If I ever see another Kingdom Hall it would be too soon
20.) How do you feel about discussing your time as a Jehovah's Witness?:
I Hate talking about my time as a Jehovah's Witness and will avoid the subject whenever possible
I dislike talking about my upbringing strongly but will if absolutely necessary
I dislike talking about my upbringing but will if prompted enough
It's part of me I'll discuss it if it comes up
I bring it up occasionally
I’ll only talk about it with certain people who understand the circumstances
I bring it up frequently
I talk about it constantly
Some Say I’m obsessed
That's all, a simple 20 questions. Thanks so much for the help with this. I think this will have some really cool results, the sample has to be great otherwise you know any JW will just deny it as a biased sample.
Thanks Everyone!