No, but than growing up I was the kid who carried his bible on the top of his books at school.
Life is one lesson after another, guess I'm still in school. But the JW's were a hard lesson.
Do You Feel Embarrassed That You Were Ever A Witness?
by minimus 29 Replies latest jw friends
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blacksheep
Yes. Although, in reality, I didn't have a choice: I was raised by a devout mother and non-JW father (but unreasonably supportive of everything she did).
Years later, when a girl I had known in highschool was studying with my mother; my mom took me on a study. She immediately recognized me, and said (pretty observantly) that I always seemed like I was "hiding" something. I was. I didn't really believe it, I was ashamed to be associated with it. All the people I REALLY admired were not witnesses...
Thank god this young woman (and her boyfriend, who the JW's coaxed into marrying) was sensible enough to later leave the JWs (she was never baptized).
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Special K
Yes I do feel embarassed about ever being a J.W.
But then again,.. it was my parents who raised me in this cult.. It's a powerful mind altering type of religion.
sincerely
Special K
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little witch
When I was a child I was terribly embarrassed, and tried to hide it. Hard to do in a small town.
By twelve, I understood that it was a forced thing, and no part of me. (I grew up fast).
I never was a jw myself, but was embarrassed, ashamed and angry because of the affiliation.
I am over it now (have been for years) but I continue to educate others about the indoctrination practices of the borg,and the harm they cause.
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wheres caleb?
I never wanted to draw attention to myself. Being a witness eventually puts you in a situation that makes people ask questions. In high school it was, "why don't you say the pledge of allegiance?" "Why don't you play the 'Star Spangled Banner' in the high school band?" "What's wrong with you?"
Because of the way I handled myself, I was respected and treated very well by my fellow students and teachers. Having to explain the conduct of other witnesses at school was very embarrassing. That carried over to work.
I worked with an elder's wife that was very emotionally unstable. She would talk about sex and reveal her contempt for her husband. Her excuse for her behavior was the anti-depressant medication she was on. I was still left having to deal with the questions and comments about her behavior. They found porn mags in a brother's desk; the elder's wife initiated the search. Try explaining that to your peers at work and having to face these people everyday at work. Can you imagine talking about the kingdom message with these clowns around? He's a ministerial servant now and she's still an elder's wife.
They still have a future to look forward to because of their acts of faith, and I am just a spiritually weak loser who is going to die at Armageddon. At least I'm not embarrassed anymore.
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Sunspot
Yes. The MOST embarrassment comes when I look into the mirror and realize what a foolish ass I was for 30 years of my life because I CHOSE to be one as opposed to having been raised as one.
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ScoobySnax
No. It was tough being different, it would have been much easier to have slotted in like all the rest at school, and I had struggles. But I was never embarrassed. Infact I was proud to be JW. I couldn't deny that part of me looking back.
"Its easy to speak from hindsight"
Scoob
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MorpheuzX
Yes. I was born into it. But my parents were converted. My mother was in her 20s and my father was in his 30s. Now granted, neither of them were exactly educated. But damn! How can an adult possibly be so gullible?
They were tricked but they were adults so I don?t feel much pity for them, as all the messed up consequences they suffered due to joining the witnesses, they themselves chose. But I do feel embarrassed and angry for me and my two older brothers who had our lives dramatically screwed up by being brought up in the witness cult.
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gumby
I am HAPPY to tell people I was a witness. It intrests them for one thing. It also gives you a chance to let others know their dark side. People are surprised when one leaves a group such as the Mormons or Witnesses because they are aware they are an isolation group and desenters are not liked by other members. They want to know WHY you left.
Gumby
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blacksheep
"Yes. The MOST embarrassment comes when I look into the mirror and realize what a foolish ass I was for 30 years of my life because I CHOSE to be one as opposed to having been raised as one." Hey, Sunspot...don't be too hard on yourself. Years ago, when I was trying to make sense of all the anger I had at my mom, one thing stuck in my mind (during my readings). The vast majority of people do what they do because they believe it is right at the time. That help me put my mother's controlling behavior into perspective. She, herself, went thru a lot of things, some of which I only recently learned, that caused her to be more susceptible to JW teachings. And please, hand it to yourself. My gosh, you've done what the vast majority of JWs cannot do: you took a stand and LEFT it. You had the courage to stand up and say the emperor has no clothes. Maybe it's just a pipe dream or a fantasy...I hope my mother one day admits it's a lie. But I believe she won't, even if she thinks it is (I'm suspecting that she might...just a hunch). You obviously did. You are clearly a more emotionally mature and stable person.