What Caused Your First Doubt ?
My older sister has suffered, since childhood, from a severe inferiority complex that causes her to be excruciatingly, socially backward. I have my own theory of how she came to be this way and it indirectly includes the WTBTS, but that’s a separate issue.
Early photographs depict her as a beautiful, cheerful and athletic kid, as a teenager however and now being extremely introverted, my sister was at a disadvantage when it came to fashion and makeup. She always appeared dowdy, and socially inept especially when compared to any female peers attending Witness assemblies.
During our teens a member of our congregation was to be baptized at a convention and my Dad, Mom, my sister and I arranged to catch a school bus that was chartered to take JW’s from the convention parking lot to a nearby hotel swimming pool for the plunge.
In the rush to get on the bus our family became separated. I was on the bus first and was sitting at a window seat near the rear and could see Jehovah’s Witnesses lined up outside to get on the bus, my sister included. I also happened to recognize the very popular teenage son of a prominent PO from another congregation and another sharp “brother” buddy who both were obviously cruising Witness chicks, as is the hormonal custom during Jehovah’s extended gatherings.
I watched through the bus window as the PO’s son made a move to check out my sister who happened to be the only female teenager within range. Once his target was acquired he quickly wheeled and laughing hysterically returned to his friend while bending forward he made gagging gestures by sticking his finger down his throat.
Innocence was lost from me at that moment…Jehovah’s Witnesses were not special, we were like everyone else, sometimes better, sometimes worse. Not only would I have to contend with the heartless perspective of the “worldly”, I would also need to deal with heartlessness of some Jehovah’s Witnesses as well. I could expect no respite if I chose reality.
Jehovah’s Witnesses will say I was stumbled by a remote and unfortunate incident instigated and witnessed by the immature. But in retrospect I was offered a visual “grip” that would one day pull me out of a pit of darkness my parents were talked into putting us, and thus I began to see the redundancy of the WTBTS effectiveness for other than perpetuating its own interests.
Flip
