i was bought up as a jehovahs witness in a divided home, my dad being baptized but not having gone to meetings etc for years.
my mum being driven on by the influence of my gran.
i was forced into baptism at 15!
Thanks for the replies. I wouldn't wish what I went and currently go through on anyone else, though I'm glad that it has happened to me as I believe it's helped me move on.
It's nice to know there are people with similar backgrounds to me who understand!
i was bought up as a jehovahs witness in a divided home, my dad being baptized but not having gone to meetings etc for years.
my mum being driven on by the influence of my gran.
i was forced into baptism at 15!
I was bought up as a Jehovahs Witness in a divided home, my dad being baptized but not having gone to meetings etc for years. My mum being driven on by the influence of my gran. I was forced into baptism at 15! (Way too young and naive to be expected to make that kind of decision) but dropped off around 18 years old. Finally being disfellowshipped at 19 for having a wordly girlfriend. The thing was for the years since my baptism the other young brothers and few sisters and me led double lives. I was an "angel" at the meetings a "elder in the making" and then 2 hours later on a sunday afternoon, drinking in the park at 16 or at the pub, and often clubbing. As I said i stopped going because i didn't want to lead a double life. We were constantly told at the meetings not to "sit on the fence" etc and I didn't want to anymore. Why pretend I was someone I wasn't? So I left. It wasn't until a year or so later that my mum decided to get me disfellowshipped for going on holiday with my girlfriend. Again I wasn't going to lie to her or the elders when they came to speak to me and the shunning began. I decided I was free and applied to university moving away from home where I settled. I rarely see my mum or my sister who do not bother to contact me. In fact my mum and I haven't spoken since she told me I had to get all the remainder of my stuff (old schoolwork) out of her house or she will burn it! Lucky for me since leaving and my parents divorcing I have a brilliant relationship with my dad now. As for my mums side of the family, no-one has seen or contacted me for nearly 7 years. I don't mind this though, thats their decision and the way they choose to live their lives in a dark cupboard. The thing that pisses me off is that my eldest cousin, (baptised and daughter of an elder) got married to a wordly bloke after living with him for a year, then divorced, then lived with a new boyfriend for 2 years, left him and then lived with another wordly guy, had a baby - then got married and nothing done or said about it! Her younger brother was baptised, smoking and drinking, took drugs and his dad new. Met a wordly girl, got engaged and moved in with her - I believe they are now married, again nothing done or said! My other cousin wasn't baptised but still at 16 left home and moved in with a 30 year old guy for a year before getting married (pregnant) and now baptised. My problem is that I was honest and didn't want to live a double life and my mum saw fit to get me disfellowshipped. I am also regarded as the black sheep of the family who must be shunned whilst those mentioned bask in the families glory. Now if that isn't two faced and double standards I don't know what is!
i found out that 'i could walk' about three years ago.
i stood up and 'i walked'.
five years ago, i was trapped in the watchtower 'wheelchair' believeing that only 'they' could make me a good person through their interpretation of the bible.
Gill,
Thank You for your post. I've only just found this website and have been disfellowshipped for approx 7 years now. It's nice to see that other people share their stories and helpful to read them.
