How I left Jehovah's Witnesses/Maeve Courteau

by not a captive 18 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

  • not a captive
    not a captive

    In February of 2009 I slipped a letter of conscience under the doormat of my former Book Study Conductor who was out of town. That letter was written because I could not support a portion of the materials that constantly was featured in WTS literature. At the time I was a sister in good standing. I never thought I would ever leave "God's Organization".

    That letter set in motion a process that changed my Christian brothers into "the Organization". I was changed too.

    It took over a year for the change to take place and there is more change to come. But I am no longer associated with the Organization. And I have never been happier in my whole life.

    In these next few weeks I'll be moving back into the Arkansas hills and thought I should post the paperwork of that year into the ether of the internet. What good these letters can do , I don't know. But they do show what happens if you truly try to be faithful to God and follow Jesus in a(ny) religion that pre-empts your conscience.

    Paul described the role of servants of God: "Not that we are masters over your faith, but we are fellow workers for your joy, for it is by [your] faith that you are standing." Whether anyone agrees with the Bible issue I first raised in my local congregation, the issue that I first raised with the WTS, they should ask if what followed was the kind of relationship to the faithful that Paul expressed. In the end the Organization demanded conformity of belief and then hung me out to dry.

    I decided to take my chances with a more merciful God.

    This is the link to the correspondence. http://s743.photobucket.com/albums/xx79/vineydee/How%20I%20left%20the%20Watchtower

  • sooner7nc
    sooner7nc

    not a captive you have a pm

  • zzaphod
    zzaphod

    A very thoughtful and well explained way to leave WTS.

    Not like mine which was (very roughly) " I disassociate myself, don`t call"

    All the best

    Paul UK

  • Lozhasleft
    Lozhasleft

    Interesting heartfelt letters ...you left with dignity.

    Loz x

  • Aussie Oz
    Aussie Oz

    wow.

    Thankyou for sharing your journey.

    I hope you do not mind that i saved the letters. The reply from the branch clearly illustrates the truth of many on here regarding the 'thou shalt not question us'' attitude of the Organization.

    all the best with your move and your future

    oz

  • snowbird
    snowbird

    Maeve, you brave, blessed woman!

    Numbers 6:24-26 Jehovah bless thee, and keep thee:

    Jehovah make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

    Jehovah lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. ASV

    Sylvia

  • not a captive
    not a captive

    sooner7nc--you got a pm

    zzaphod--Anyway we leave is good! it took me a while to sort myself out. You sound like a man of action.

    Loz x--I did want some sanity at least. One Brother during those shepherdings thought I was being "obsessive", I reigned that thought in--how about concerned? There is not much dignity in finding that you cannot be more than a puppet before God. It wiped me out for a long time, as I realized how this religion robs us of our value before God and men. I love Ray Franz.

    Aussie-- Good for you! As I said---I put those letters out on the ether for whatever good they can do.

    Yes, I spoke to a wall when I spoke to the brothers. The letter from the Branch pushed all the buttons that are supposed to make us wet our pants and cry. But fortunately the process had taken so long that I had had time to THINK WITHOUT THE MEETINGS(No wonder they warn us about that)I knew I wasn't "enraged against Jehovah" as they were implying. I was disgusted with them. Love your posts Aussie.

  • Room 215
    Room 215

    Well and thoughtfully done! I must admit, I'm surprised at the length of the WT's response letter.

  • Soldier77
    Soldier77

    Amazing! Thank you for sharing this with us! I just skimmed through the letters you wrote and wow, just wow, great courage on your part and you did the right thing. You stood up for your beliefs and shunned the organization. I love it!

  • tec
    tec

    I'm glad you stayed true to your conscience, Maeve, and so happy you've been brought closer to Jesus and to God.

    You're right, though. It doesn't matter if they agreed with you or not. It mattered if they would encourage you to stay true to your conscience in your thoughts and love for God. They could have tried to show or guide you otherwise in your interpretation, but not tried to get you to ignore your conscience.

    Tammy

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