Everyone, thank you so much. It has been a very difficult time for me.
I posted the open letter on Craigslist to vent. But I feel it was probably better to post it here.
My brother passed away just two months ago. He was baptised but left the religion years before, he however was never disfellowshipped or anything, he just slipped away. He had many issues with the religion, and suffered over the years. My brother was only a year older than me, I was absolutely devastated. In many ways, I still am, I just can't believe he is gone. I believe a lot of his medical issues were because of sadness and depression over the pressures, hypocrisy, and false doctrine we endured growing up. He was only 41.
A year before that, my cousin passed away. Same exact month. He died from complications from AIDS. My family shunned him because he was a homosexual. He was near death when they found him because HE HAD NO SUPPORT SYSTEM. They had turned their back on him because of his sexuality and he dealt with depression and sadness. Anyone that has experienced the depth of their shunning, and heartbreak of having to put together your life without any of your family and friends. My cousin was buried without any real funeral, no family that grew up with him to say goodbye. How in the world can this religion justify this? It incensed me on so many levels.
The Jehovah Witness religion breaks up families. If you choose to disagree with their doctrine they get so involved in your family and friends that it isn't just about a difference of religious belief, it is a separation from your family.
Please understand it is not like I am not aware of their beliefs, it is just that their flip flopping of doctrines, their "new light" changing on a regular basis really unnerves me. Against my better judgment I choose to involve myself with my father. He was my primary parent, my mother and step-father so beat down from the religion and mental illness, it is a wonder they are still here.
I really need support. I need to interact with people that can understand what it is like for me. My ex husband was not religious, which was great, but I worry about getting married again or having children (biological or adopted) and putting them through this. Should I just cut the JW family off completely or limit it to just phone calls and an occasional neutral visit? It is hard when you truly love them, but I just can't and won't let that cult dictate my life. I have had enough.
Again, I appreciate all your comments and well wishes. Thanks for reading!
