I was forced to be a Jehovah's Witness at a young age now I go to counseling 4 days a week?

Question

My family were devote JW's and I had no choice but to conform...my friends, family and associates all were JW's and I was only a child. When I got old enough I got pushed out on purpose because I wanted my life back. Now I have nightmares and no one except my boyfriend in my life. From that religion, I developed several mental disorders that affect my life. I have a wonderful job, a great relationship and just finishing up college by myself but the memory still haunts me. I don't punish people for there beliefs...why did they punish me for mine? Why did I get punished for not being one of them?

And if faith is supposedly the strongest force for a belief why disassociate yourself from the rest of the world in order not to be influenced? I think if you really believe in something, nothing can discourage you!

To those who practice the faith I am not disregarding your beliefs but that is what I experienced from my personal experience. What is the rate of disfellowshipped members in the congregations? Are you allowed to know that information? Some questions can't be asked? Why? Would you be accused of not having faith or be subjected to ridicule...I don't blame the faith..its the people who have the faith that makes it bad.

Answer 1

It is literally impossible to force someone to become baptized as a Jehovah's Witness. The Witnesses teach that an unbaptized student's sincere worship is acceptable to God, and he enjoys nearly every privilege and fellowship of a baptized Witness. It is quite difficult for a minor child to qualify for baptism as a Witness, despite the protestations of current anti-Witness activists who also misrepresent the nature of "disfellowshipping".

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. Since 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.

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

Becoming baptized as a Jehovah's Witnesses is not a trivial step. At a minimum, a student must demonstrate months of regular meeting attendance and public ministry, then must himself express the desire to be baptized. The candidate then spends hours answering hundreds of bible questions wherein he expresses both a clear understanding and personal conviction regarding Jehovah's Witness teachings in at least three separate interviews with three different elders. The candidate must vocally agree to be baptized in front of hundreds or thousands of eyewitnesses, and must be publicly immersed in water. This is not a momentary emotional decision by an unreasoning child. Dedication as a Witness required hard work and determination at the time.

Learn more:
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/1988/4/15/article_01.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/1997/1/1/article_01.htm

Answer 2

I am truly sorry for life experience that was so bad. You are not the firsy person I have heard thos from. One young man I met last summer had been very close with his familya and then they became JWs and because he did not want to follow that religion he was pushed out as well. He was very saddend by this and longed for the family relationship again. I was not sure what to tell him except that I felt very bad for him and would pray for him. I will be happy to do the same for you. I hope this helps. May God bless you and keep you.Good luck I have to say that even though I am christian if one of my 9 children chose to be another religion that I did not agree with I would still love them and associate with them but I would try without being too pushy to change their minds. I acnnot find it in me to turn my back on any of my children. If they do something wrong,IE break the law they oay the orice and I wikk stand by them and love them but they still have tp pay the price. I guess that is why it is hard for me yo understand why parents can push their child out over a conflict of interest.

Answer 3

Please join a support group. You are not the only one out there with these experiences. There are a lot of anti-cult groups forming now. You could join an established one or help a newly forming one. Most are atheist or open-faith groups. If the JWs want to exclude you, fine. Do you really want to associate with a bunch of zombies anyway? Just get out there and find good people and do your own thing. You are absolutely right about asking questions. They can't answer so they exclude those who ask. It is control by fear and you don't need it. Go out there and have a good life and when others see it maybe you will inspire others to think for themselves.

Answer 4

I'm really sorry to hear of your experiences with the JW. I don't agree with them either however. And you are completely right about religions separating themselves from the rest of the world. I am a Christian and believe that we are to insulate ourselves from the world and not isolate. Isolation does not give us the ground to spread any "Good News". Insulation (staying withing God's word), protects us from the bad things of the world while allowing us to still show others the Glory of God.

The kind of behaviour you discussed however can happen within any group and it is important that you realize that just as there are good and bad apples in any other matter, the same applies to religious followers.

Not every Christian is as pearly white as they think or would have others believe and not every Muslim is a terrorrist. Any person who seeks to punish others for having a different religious belief is wrong, no two ways about it. No matter what religion they belong to.

Answer 5

Although they seem to be a little more relaxed these days (still some family areJW) they we all very twisted for a while.
I was one as a kid and myself and everyone I have met since was pretty screwed up by what they experienced.

A life of social exclusian and psychotic adherance to their befielfs does not make for a fun childhood.

I wouldn't blame it all on the religion though, it takes a tyupe of person to become one, usually vunerable.

These good christian folk, beat me, excluded me, played mind games with children and then finally disassociated me.

Twats if anything

Answer 6

psychological issues are a relentless companion all interior the western international. here in Australia the examine coach that a million in each and every 5 human beings go through a psychological affliction for the period of their lives. There are 21 million human beings here and approximately 70,000 JWs. In my congregation of a hundred and fifty with those information 30 could be on medicine. i be attentive to of 6 that are. I have no problems with something of the international being incorrect, as i don't have the duty of judging. i be attentive to that Jehovah will choose in justice and mercy. this is no longer a burden to be attentive to the reality that's a privilege. It turns right into a burden if we shop it ourselves. What are JWs prevalent for in each and every united states, why that's their skill to locate an attain human beings to grant them the prospect of listening to the coolest information of Gods Kingdom via his Son Jesus. it quite isn't any burden yet a excitement and enjoyment.

Answer 7

One common characteristic of mainstream organized religion is social pressure to belong to the "true" religion. I was compelled at a young age to join the LDS or Mormon church as a young teen many years ago. The LDS teach that their church is the only true church, and that all others are false teachings. However, in the same breath they will express compassion and respect for "Christians".
I left this "true" church after a couple years. My spiritual journey led me to understand that my soul and relationship with a higher power is a personal one, and is not defined by the rules of one specific church, theology, philosophy, or belief.
It is my opinion that if I live my life by the well-known "golden rule", I can't go wrong. Everything else falls into place.

Answer 8

They were deceived into following a false religion. In their deluded state of mind they abused you by forcing their religion on you. You had sense enought to know the falsehood but faced chastisement for standing your ground. Now you are free, but like any child, you still want your parents' love. They are the victims of their own superstitious blindness now. But you still seem to be the only one suffering the consequences. I can't offer you any simple solutions, but I know the pain and confusion you feel is real, and very justified. You may not ever find peace with this situation, though I hope you will, but you should focus on your own future and try to provide a better life for the children you will one day raise.

Answer 9

Religion is a disease and you are a victim. Some infections (sects) are more invasive, but they all can be cured. Remember, God is the end result of a failed search for truth by a very shallow mind, provided that any search was made at all instead of swallowing the pile of delusional bilge that was spoon fed to you as a child

Answer 10

Unfortunately some faiths believe that the only way to be devoted to them is yo be completely controlled by them.JW's are not alone in this practise I had the same experience with the Mormon church. It is really sad what some will do in the name of religion.

Answer 11

What are you afraid of? That is the question that you need to answer deep within yourself. Nightmares and some mental illness are directly influenced by fear. This fear in your life is probally due to a lack of feeling loved. The Bible say
1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Seek deliverence in God's word and you life will never be the same.