Well I left the organization a long time ago. DFed but this was already after having made the decision to leave. Knowledge and learning, intellectual curiosity, studying the stars, sci- fi and science books I read along the way...and meeting 2 pivotal people . The first was an astronomer and ministerial servant...whose wife was a sister and he was on the fringes...putting on appearance for what reasons I don't know. The second was Friend was also a ministerial servant but loved philosophy. With them I started asking questions about everything. Critical thinking developed..and I very quickly starting having questions that could not easily be answered... did not jive with the world of science..and what I observed in the world..and then I began to see the non-logical thinking patterns of WT teachings.
College was the place...BUT the real answer to the question as to what is the biggest headache for JWs governing body (controlling body of old men) I would have to say would be a thirst for knowledge...otherwise known as intellectual curiosity..or maybe just CURIOSITY! Looking back I realize I was one of the lucky ones.
My best friend growing up never left..and yet he was exposed to alot of the same things as me..but I think he never was willing to pay the price of freedom...Freedom of thought..freedom to live your own life..as so he stayed.
When I was a teenager in the JW church I had a young beautiful sweetheart of a girlfriend. We were young lovers--when we were 17 and 15..We were found out...finked on...humiliated by public reproof...shamed and tragically separated.. From an emotional standpoint I realized with deep conviction that the JWs religion, morality police, shunning process..was not only draconian, unenlightened but also evil..because it brought pain...and wounded young minds and spirits.
Later..I met up again with my childhood sweetheart from JW church...We would come to know each other again on face book recently. So deeply did we feel love for each other...AND the subsequent loss..that it forever changed us. We never forgot each other or stopped loving each other. We quickly renewed our loving relationship...and we married this last year. ...but at a price..since I was disfellowshipped ..he association with me caused her to be DFed as well. She lives now outside the grace and approval of her church..choosing to be with me. Although it has caused her much pain...loss of family. She stayed in the organization much longer than me.
I believe that being in the organization...being DFed a couple of other times...and the internal pain that it has caused her..has left her wounded...and even disabled. She suffers terrible back-pain..Her mother stays in contact. (even tho my did not--very staunch) and her mother constantly keeps up the pressure for her to come back to "the Truth" I respect her right to choose to go to meetings which she has...to some extent. I know that a big part of her misses the ORG...the friends...her family..being with her true love comes at a big price.
I told her I would never return to the ORG.. the so called TRUTH. Yet she still wants me to go to the memorial...she hinted at it all week..and even right up to the last minute.. I personally became upset...but did not become angry..only upset because I know..I cannot go. My personal truth and conviction...my acceptance of all human beings as being my family and my brothers and sisters..will not allow me to come within the doors of this cult-like mind and thought control palace. Except my heart breaks knowing..I must give my sweetheart and wife the same respect that I ask of her..freedom and right to practice your beliefs..your religion.
Although I am no longer a Christian..and do not believe in God in even remotely the same child-like way that JWs do..I do know that even within the box...(meaning from the viewpoint of the Bible) that JWs shunning process is not love...that families and friends are taught to rat each other our for the"truth" and fathers and mother's disown their children under the sanction and demand of the WT...and that this is no reflection of love...
Even the Bible says: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." 34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Commenting on this..I would say this is where JWs prove they are not following Jesus' commandments and thus they prove themselves not to be followers of Jesus.
This being said...I am not a Christian..particularly because while I think that some part of Jesus teaching reflect a high and noble way to live life...these idea are not exclusive to Christianity...but can be =found in almost ALL world religions..and even in higher and evolved ways such as Buddhism --where compassion is taught as a way of life. Often I see the exclusivity of Christians teachings to be judgmental...lacking in true love of all humans and also non-adaptive for a changing and complex world..
College comparative world religions course for instance would be a helpful and interesting area for a young witness to study..as it reveals the similarities in thinking in so many religions even the MANY..MANY that claim to have the "TRUTH"
But none of this matters if the light of CURIOSITY...or an emotional jolt does not bring other thoughts and feelings to the indoctrinated followers of the WatchTOWER and Bible Tract Society. I have now watched several of my family members die...including my grandmother...my father both within the last year. Even though the date of the END of the WORLD keeps constantly shifting...and the euphemism "new understanding" is utilized to change the interpretation of critical dates that have come and gone---causing as one poster to say "These adjustments in thinking have at times required humility and reasonableness to be exhibited by longtime servants of Jehovah" ...In other words continued suspension of disbelief.
But what I have found is that most long timers...cant get over the fact that they have invested huge amounts of the their time for a wasted cause. The mind reels from what it cannot accept.. That all this End TIME PHILOSOPHY and FORETELLING is a crock..is pure fantasy....and so it is better stay in DENIAL and accept "new understanding"
Being Dfed my mother had refused to see me over the years (same with my father but he died last year)...I lost them more than 26 years ago..she even refused to have a relationship with her own grandson! He grew up to be a fine young man...who went to college...has a degree in Physics..I am immensely proud. I protected him from the so-called "TRUTH" because amongst other things that are dreadful and limiting--- it encourages the intellectual hobbling...handicapping of young minds..my implicitly and overtly labeling pursuing higher learning as a worldly pursuits therefore inappropriate for young Christians. By discouraging higher education..they make a mockery of what our divine gifts really are..the ability to think for ourselves...to create a compelling future thur our minds imagination coupled with as much knowledge as we can be blessed to have.
I wish that my wife...had escaped to a certain level of intellectual and spiritual freedom...but alas her mind and body are still chained to the hobbling machine of WT. Here parents kept her home-schooled and so as a result she finds it hard to read...hard to do other than menial work...hard to think critically..and hard to free herself even now. Yes college..and for that matter knowledge..and thinking is the greatest problem for the governing body. Perspective derived from this education makes it impossible to remain a JW without some serious denial and compartmentalization.
I find it curious that JWs live in a world that has been changed around us so radically by Science..by rapidly accelerated information and technology. So many benefits and miracles happen on a daily basis...we swim in a sea of constant change..of constant possibility. JWs can accept all the benefits of this knowledge without thinking seeing only the bad in the world..not the good us humans have created ..even attributing it to a Creator...who is in control. But I see absolute no evidence for a Creator who is in control..I see rather a human family struggling for survival and redemption...to lift themselves out of the chaos...to grow...to evolve..and that though the "World" may be full of problems...it is also full of possibilities...and beauty..and ugliness..and grace and destruction...With our minds we can stand at the center..using our imaginations..and as much knowledge..and curiosity and intellect..as we can find within US!! We can possibly find a way to survive...maybe even thrive! This crazy..sometimes ugly..but beautiful human family. grow up JWs ..become a part of life..or the Solution..
moonguy
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moonguy