MAD:
I am one who is here of my own valition. Yes, I at one time pioneered and led the "lifestyle". After reading and researching many topics, I simply decided to cease my activities.
I am not disfellowshipped or disassociated. I am merely inactive. I stopped turning in time over a year ago and have been to less than 5 meetings in two years.
Why? Did I commit a sin? Did someone offend me and hurt my feelings? Was I involved in immorality? Have I gone out after riches? The answer to all of those before Almighty God Jehovah is a staunch, indignant and outright NO.
I stopped because I am mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually TIRED, FRUSTRATED, DISGUSTED with religion and human beings! I have had it.
Yes, I know there are some "happy" doers of the WTBS words. We all know that the majority of JW's have never researched much of anything in their lives like major purchases, where to live, what car to buy, let alone religion. That is until that doorbell rang.
Now, all of a sudden there are millions of PARTIALLY informed, PARTIALLY educated, PARTIALLY experienced humanitarians exerting themselves in scripted life or death campaigns.
Don't you see, we are TIRED. When does the so called rest come? Is it ever coming? How many loads must you bind? How many meetings are enough? How much service will warrant some respect and genuine concern?
I learned that it is never coming. Humans are never satisfied. Like the WTBS, you now accuse those who have left of all sorts of wickedness, like the Pharisees.
Janis Joplin once said that "freedom means nothing left to lose" and I tell you truly today, that none of you are free. Unless you can maintain all relationships (business, family and social) and live freely, then you are still presenting yourself as a slave.
The FRANZ books are not simple gossip. The GB is aware of that. If it were simple gossip, given that all JW's use "upbuilding speech" to socialize, that book would never have made it off the first shelf it was placed on.
Your presence here is proof. I too once believed that relief would come. Someday, those that researched and learned to think out of the WTBS box would somehow foster change and start a new generation of empathic utopian christians. It will not happen.
This unfortunate offshoot of 19th century protestant doomsday religious fever is getting older and older. Soon, after 200 years we will write about like the Mormons and Scientologists.
What then will happen to us, the human race and the earth? I believe the more we speculate, the more we prove to the Creator we are not ready. We are still lost in the 21st century desert, still looking for signs and seasons.
If it is the knowledge, love and friendship of the Creator you seek, ask HIM, seek HIM, and stop placing human obstacles, organizations and other distractions between yourself and your Maker. If you DARE!