over the years since i left jehovahs witnesses, one of the more fascinating things to observe, and really to me, the most important, is what to do after you leave.. to be sure, no one leaves because of a positive experience.
and therein lies the issues with leaving.
basically, people leave in three general ways: 1. they, like myself, resign or leave due to a disagreement.
I wrote an eBook on this very subject: "Leaving Jehovah's Witnesses" at www.leavingjehovahswitnesses.org
I don't believe it has to be negative. I think it depends on getting your thinking straight before you leave. I'm often shocked at how many leave, but don't know WHY they left......it can be a strange dynamic.
what kinds of things would you like to do if you were out of the organization?
and if you're already out and free, what kinds of things did you do that you really wanted to do but couldn't because it was against jw beleiefs?.
recently, i overheard some of the younger crowd of jw's after a meeting talking about how they wished they could have this or do that, get tattoos, play the newest video games (you know, the ones with all the violence and realistic 'kickass' graphics and such), grow out their beards for 'no shave november" wear miniskirts and dye their hair crazy colours... etc.
Wow...oneday.....its brutal to think you would waste one more day wondering.....and just exit that crazy organization and start living!
over many years i have looked at jwn.
in fact barely a day goes by without my fix.. .
it is a site of contradictions.. .
Enh.
I've come and gone for extended periods of time....mostly because I'm enjoying life and don't want to continue to drown in this stuff.
I'd have to say it is mixed. I've met some very friendly, helpful people ...and enjoy the more tenured members that contribute regularly here.
I can also say I've noticed some have no intention of being helpful and either ignore newbies or don't offer any direction.
To the original poster I would say take what is good, leave what isn't useful.
he's been to my door a couple of times as they've done the territory and said hello and all that, a nice, clean-shaven version of santa clause.
he was with a sister, a mild, pleasant intelligent sister with whom i always got on well, and we had a bit of a simple pleasantries-exchanging chat while my husband ran off and hid in the house like he normally does when jws come.. we got onto the sister's university studies and i said, "but at the dc they lumped university education in with fornication and every terrible thing!".
shaved santa pipes up suddenly, "oh, you're not meant to take that seriously.
And again....fantastic......that same elder should show you where Jesus made broad, sweeping statements....and then just nudge and apostle and said "just kidding....don't take that seriously"
he's been to my door a couple of times as they've done the territory and said hello and all that, a nice, clean-shaven version of santa clause.
he was with a sister, a mild, pleasant intelligent sister with whom i always got on well, and we had a bit of a simple pleasantries-exchanging chat while my husband ran off and hid in the house like he normally does when jws come.. we got onto the sister's university studies and i said, "but at the dc they lumped university education in with fornication and every terrible thing!".
shaved santa pipes up suddenly, "oh, you're not meant to take that seriously.
LOL..if the CO heard that he would be removed.
when i slowly but surely departed, i heard that the love of money was what drew me out.
(yeah, right)..
It was rumored that I was traveling the country having sex with beautiful women and didn't want to be caught.
Then it was rumored that I started an apostate study group.
I'd love to know what I'm doing now
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9k4wjvmhi.
bro "elder" took his family to disneyland.
the first day, he did not want them to go on this "demonic" ride.
eyeuse,
I've used the Disneyland analogy a million times. They produce DVD's for kids telling them 'they can't be Jehovah's friend' if they have a magician doll..............but they can go to Disneyland??????
Their hypocrisy and gross stupidity knows no bounds.....
for me it is the smugness.
it's their inability and refusal to admit they are wrong....ever...even in the face of irrefutable evidence.
isn't pride a sin?
I cannot STAND their gross ignorance......and choice to remain ignorant.
Its repulsive to me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9k4wjvmhi.
bro "elder" took his family to disneyland.
the first day, he did not want them to go on this "demonic" ride.
A child can't be friends with God if he has a Sparlock doll.......how in the world can ANY Witness go to Disneyland period??? The Magic Kingdom?? Talking animals?? Faries? Witches?
Needless to say......HYPOCRITES
this is my first post, so let me introduce myself briefly.
i am not, nor ever have been, a jw but i have a close family member who has been a witness for many years.
i have been curious about my relatives beliefs for some time but have only recently looked in any detail at what witnesses actually believe, which led me to this site.. i have seen references to changes to generational teaching but have not really understood what it was all about until i read the article let your kingdom come but when?
The vast majority never study. They couldn't explain their own beliefs if there was a gun to their head. They just go to meetings and occasionally repeat what they heard.
Understand it? Explain it?
Nah. Most of them couldn't quote 5 scriptures from memory. They don't even read the Bible.
