Was anyone out there raised as a Jehovah's Witness but aren't one now?

Question

I was, and am not now. And I'm so upset that my mom and my brother won't have a relationship with me b/c of it. Sure, they see my kids and stuff, but she goes back and forth with these feelings of missing me, talking to me, forming a closer relationship, then all of a sudden she will feel guilty and tell me "We have to keep our relationship on an as needed basis." It hurts so much for her to do this, even though I understand her beliefs b/c I was raised that way, too. But now that I'm on the other side of it, I hate that she won't get close to me - I feel like I've been outcasted. I feel discriminated. I don't want to talk bad about the religion, I understand it, and most of the things I learned I still believe. I just hate not being able to have a relationship with my own mom. I know she's only doing what she believes is right in her heart, and I know it's hard for her too, but it's not fair!!!
What do you guys think?

I don't believe JW's is a cult. For all those that are putting down JW's, I still do believe in a lot of their teachings, & suing the religion would only let Satan use me to make things hard for their beliefs.
As far as Jehovah's name, IT IS JEHOVAH, and my point is not about how bad the JW's are, I don't think they are bad, just hurtful that my mom chose them over me. While she has friends in the congregation for her, I don't have any other people in my life that could take her place. I have no one to talk to but my husband and half the things I feel, he doesn't understand so he just judges them.

Answer 1

I am a JW and I always will be. Although, my sister had concidered going Athiest, she then confronted my mother with it and my mom acted nothing as yours. She talked about it with my sister and told her to do what she KNOWS is the right thing. She is also still in the truth and to all of you people out there and in here bash talking us, calling us a cult and all that other stuff, all I have to say to you rude, judgemental people is that your information is in-correct! Now, I bet you wouldn't be calling us a cult if you actually listened to a JW for roughly 10 minutes. How about you try getting a back bone and asking one before spreading such horrible lies about us!

Answer 2

I am not sure if you are now a JW or was if you are I understand her concern. But she is still your Mother I see no reason for her to abandon you. You should both set and study open mindedly till you get a full understanding at that time you will agree on most of it. I caution any one who is following the false Doctrine of Jw's they are guilty of taking the Lord out in favor of their Chosen name for God Jehovah which does not appear in the New testament once. So they are not christian they are Old Testament hang overs that would not even be accepted by the Jews. and Both are Anti-Christ in teaching.

Answer 3

I understand the religion in what u are saying but I think she should still have a close relationship with u because u are her daughter U have the right to choose ur religion just like she did even if she doesn't believe in it she should respect it

Answer 4

I think that you should ask your mom since this religion was established in the past 100 years does she really think that all the people that lived on the planet prior to its founding had no hope for salvation until this religion was invented. If she answers honestly then how can she use this as an excuse not to talk to you even if the church is telling her this.

Answer 5

I think that this is a very tough situation. You know and respect her beliefs, but at the same time are being hurt by them. However, even though it's not fair....you both have to do what you feel is right. What you feel is right is not necessarily what feels right to her. Just keep your chin up and just continue to love her the best you can from the distance. Good luck!

Answer 6

that is hard! I'm sorry that you have to go through that! I have a friend who was raised JW and when she became a Christian her whole family rejected her. It was hard for her, cuz she was in high school and had to move out.

Jesus said we had to be willing to forsake all to follow him. He also said that anyone who does will be rewarded in this present age. My former JW friend experienced that first hand. She's made some new friends that she's closer to than she ever was with her family. Of course she still misses them, though.

:( sorry you're going through all this.

Answer 7

Wow, that is tough. I kindof know how you're feeling, my family is Jewish, and I accepted Christ a few months ago.

I don't know what to tell you besides to keep a cool head and always be kind to her. Don't stop inviting her over and having her be a part of your childrens lives.

Maybe someday you will be able to show her the truth about Christ..."In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1)

Answer 8

I studdied this religion, and several of my relatives are/were Jehovah's witnesses, but in the end they didn't think I fit the mold. I ask too many very hard questions and prove their "truth" is not the real truth with hard evidence and scientific results as well as ancient actual records. (the romans kept wonderful records of everything.)

As for your mom flip-flopping on you with emotions, it seems to be a JW thing to do. you got two choices, "repent" of your evil ways and just swallow what they say and regain your mother, or live with it the way it is. Personally, I'd just cut the unhealthy attitude mother free with the knowlege given to her that if she wants to be a normal mom and forget all this religious babble stuff, she is welcome in your life, but you just can't deal with all this ostricizing routine. I've had friends in the past that had this happen to them. they finally cut all contact with their mom and went to live with their dad. Eventually their mom started to be civil to them as time went on.

Answer 9

Jehovah's Witnesses practice the Scriptural practice of disfellowshipping for unrepentance of such serious sins as fornication, drug abuse, stealing, and apostasy. Baptized Witnesses who join the military or publicly engage in worship with another religion are considered to have disassociated themselves from Jehovah's Witnesses.

Contrary to the misinformation of anti-Witnesses, it is quite possible to become inactive in the JW religion without becoming disfellowshipped. As long as one's lifestyle does not bring reproach upon the congregation, and as long as one does not advocate one's disagreements with the religion, the congregation has no interest in "investigating", exposing, and disfellowshipping an inactive former Jehovah's Witness.

For those who are disfellowshipped or disassociated, a primarly goal is to shock the person into recognizing the serious of their wrong so that they rejoin the congregation in pure worship. It seems the questioner does feel the "shock" but still to this day does not connect it with her own actions. Instead she blames her former religion and by extension the Scriptural pattern established by the divine Author, Jehovah God.

In disfellowshipping, the primary bonds that are broken involve friendship and spiritual fellowship. It is well understood that family bonds remain intact. Parents, siblings, and grown children of disfellowshipped and disassociated ones sometimes choose to limit what they may feel is discouraging or "bad association" but that is a personal decision and is not required by their religion. It seems that the questioner's mother continues to hope that limiting her relationship may still motivate the questioner to repent of her sins and rejoin true worship. The mother may feel that it is the daughter who is herself choosing a life of debauchery over a spiritual family life.

Former Witnesses who are disfellowshipped or disassociated are typically treated in accord with the Scriptural pattern explained in these Scriptures:

(1 Corinthians 5:11-13) Quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man. ...Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.

(Titus 3:10) As for a man that promotes a sect, reject him after a first and a second admonition

(Romans 16:17) Now I exhort you, brothers, to keep your eye on those who cause divisions and occasions for stumbling contrary to the teaching that you have learned, and avoid them.

(2 Thessalonians 3:6) Now we are giving you orders, brothers, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw from every brother walking disorderly and not according to the tradition you received from us.

(2 Thessalonians 3:14) But if anyone is not obedient to our word through this letter, keep this one marked, stop associating with him, that he may become ashamed.

(2 John 10) If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, never receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him.

(Matthew 18:17) If he does not listen to them, speak to the congregation. If he does not listen even to the congregation, let him be to you just as a man of the nations

Former Jehovah's Witnesses typically pretend that they did not work hard to qualify for baptism as a Witness. In fact, candidates must have been regular at congregation meetings and in the field ministry for several months, must demonstrate their understanding of and agreement with literally every major doctrine during three separate interviews with three separate congregation elders, and must publicly declare their convictions aloud in front of hundreds or thousands of witnesses before submitting to public water immersion. No one forces any student or youngster into making this dedication, and in fact the candidate must work to qualify.

Answer 10

You should sue the JW cult... er, I mean religion... because they are manipulating your family and turning them against you. It's nothing short of spiritual abuse.