Unfortunately, my experience is all too common and this
forum is full of like stories from all geographic locations.
It depends how you leave. Obviously, those who are disfellowshipped
or who disassociate, they will face shunning from friends and family (not
living in the same home). Not so much as a hello or an email. Some who have formally
disassociated have expressed regret doing so later.
However many on this forum have opted for gradually fading
and distancing themselves from the organization. If JWs believe you are merely
inactive, family relations can continue. Of course, you simply never speak
about your doubts (or certainties) or research about the organization and never
be seen breaking Watchtower rules (like celebrating holidays). This is what I
tried to do.
Even faded people do face cooling of relationships from
friends and sometimes family. And there is a constant pressure to “return to
Jehovah”, that is the organization. You constantly have to watch out not to say
the wrong thing or be caught doing something a JW cannot do (like a birthday,
Christmas, attending a church).
But then, what do you do if a family member point blank
asks, “Are you an apostate? Do you believe the Governing Body is the Faithful
and Discreet slave?” You might try to word things in a non-threatening way and
establish some common ground. But it comes a time when you have to choose to be
honest or dishonest.
If a family member is perceived as “apostate”, they can
easily be cut off. “Spiritually stoned” as it were. Even in the same household,
people have found themselves kicked out of their own home, divorces have occurred,
jobs lost.
There is nothing a non-JW can do to convince a JW to
associate with a “mentally-diseased” apostate, even family.
