Before I explain why, I've never really given anyone a background on myself, even though I've been a member here for 2 1/2 years. So I'll try and make this quick.
I was raised a JW my whole life. I know many JW's in the Seattle area and Eastside. I moved to the Eastside of Seattle in 1988 where I attended the same congo as Reinhard Lengtat, who is mentioned in Ray's COC. My wife and I were married in that hall in 1992. My family also knew Marilyn's (a.k.a. Mulan) family quite well and we were even in a drama together along with her husband in 1995. (That's the year she and Big Red were on their way out)
What got me questioning things was in 1998 at a District Convention, I ran into someone who attended Reinhard's congo, and they told me he quit going to meeting. I couldn't believe it! I couldn't understand how someone so spiritual could leave the org????
That stuck in my mind for a few more years until 2002 when my wife finally admitted to me she didn't want to go anymore. And the rest is history. While my wife and I differ on some of the reasons why we left, we agree on others. But at least we're both out. Obviously I'm leaving a lot out, (and I do mean ALOT) but I don't want to get long winded. This board has been terrific in what I've been able to learn and to hear other people's experiences and how similar many of them are (and heartbreaking too) , so thank you Simon and to everyone here who participates on this board...now, for the reason why we're going back....
I just got a call from my mother (a die hard JW, but very reasonable when it came to us leaving the borg) and she told me a dear friend of our family just passed away last night from cancer. (Mulan, I'll PM you and tell you who it was) She was diagnosed with it 3 weeks ago, so her death came very quickly. This was a woman who was verbally abused her entire marriage. (married to a MS, I might add) I feel strongly if the JW religion wasn't so controlling and manipulative, she would have left it and her a**hole of a husband long ago. My mom and her we're very good friends, and we always did stuff with her family growing up. Out of all of her kids, only one is still a JW. This woman had a strong spirit, but was stifled by her marriage and religion.
So her memorial is next Saturday, and my wife and I have decided to go. We've talked about this situation before, and have agreed that there are a few select people that if they pass away in our lifetime, we will attend their memorial. This obviously being one of those situations. It will be hard, especially since both of us will encounter many people we've known, (and alot we wish we would forget) But we want to do this out of respect for her. I told my wife when we first left the JW's, that I would never set foot in a KH again. But for a few select people's memorial, I will go.
I will let everyone know how it went afterwards. Many of the people that will be there will know we quit the borg. But I'm sure there will be some who don't. And I don't have any problem telling people that we quit. If they only knew how "apostate" I was..... It will be an intersting experience to say the least.