Former Jehovah Witnesses - why did you leave the organization?

Question

Thank in advance

Answer 1

I was brought up from birth into a JW family. I believed what my parents told me, and I believed that JW's had "the truth". I went to all the meetings and went from door to door "witnessing". I believed Armageddon was imminent and that the only way anyone could survive, was to be a good, faithful and obedient JW. I thought it would be great to live forever on a paradise earth and had no heavenly desire.

It wasn't easy, being brought up as a JW. No friends outside of the organisation, no birthday celebrations, no Christmas, no chance of going to University or even thinking about having a career. After all, what was the point since Armageddon was just round the corner? Oh, this is back in the 1960's and 1970's.

At school we were not allowed to go to morning assembly or have religious education. That meant we had to sit in a classroom reading. When we went to any public performance (like a concert) we were marched out of the auditorium before the national anthem struck up (because we were not allowed to stand up for the Queen), then marched back in when it was over. Character forming, is one way of looking at it. Of course, we absolutely subscribed to all of this. We thought we were doing the right thing.

Our parents did not want us to have a higher education. All they wanted was for us to leave school at 16, get a job then marry a good JW. Mind you, having children was going to be a real dilema because (in case you'd forgotten) "the great tribulation" was just about to happen.

Being a dutiful daughter, I left school at 16, married a JW when I was 18 and then the whole thing began to disintegrate. I had been going through the motions of being a good JW but realised my heart was no longer in it. I became totally disillusioned when 1975 came and went without the promised end to "this wicked system of things." My husband also shared my doubts and wanted out - out of the organisation and out of the marriage. He left me for another woman.

I packed my bags and left the country in order to escape the clutches of the JW's and start a new life. For years, I wandered in a spiritual wilderness but, 11 years ago, in answer to prayer, God broke down my barriers, opened my eyes, unstopped my ears and revealed His love to me. I realised that I had NEVER been a Christian when I was a JW because I had never met with the risen Christ and understood what He did for us at Calvary.

What held me to the organisation was FEAR - fear of not surviving Armageddon, fear of displeasing my parents, fear of having nowhere to go because I knew nothing else. I also knew what happened to JW's who left - how they would be shunned by their family and everyone else. I had seen this happen to someone very near and dear to me, and I despised the hypocrisy of people who claimed to have Christian love yet turned their backs on their own flesh and blood when they tried to leave.

I now realise how wrong the JW teachings are, although I myself used to be convinced they were the only true religion. But what worries me most is how they slavishly follow the Governing Body, read all the literature given to them and REFUSE TO THINK, or QUESTION, or do any RESEARCH.

Pray for those poor, mislead and misguided people. Pray that they will be led to understand the true gospel message which is one of love and forgiveness. Pray they will come to know the risen Christ and their God, their Lord and their Saviour.

Answer 2

I left the Watchtower Society because I knew that an organization full of lies and hypocrisy could not have God's favor. I can say with the utmost conviction and sincerity that leaving was the best decision I have ever made in my entire life. The final straw for me was when I got chastised for going to college. After learning how to do real research in college, and looking into the history and dynamics of the Watchtower Society, it actually made me ill that I had been a part of it and had known so little about it's checkered past. What I thought I knew was only the surface! In light of the current UN and child abuse scandals, and how their religious leaders are covering up and backpedaling from the WTS in response to them, I don't understand how the lies and hypocrisy are not obvious to all of its members. But just like I was in the past, they are extremely well-insulated from the real truth.

Answer 3

It was my time at Bethel that convinced me that the Watchtower Society does not have Jehovah's direction with the final straw in 1994. A Bethelite friend of mine was made an elder whilst he was committing adultery. It was later discovered that this had been going on for 7 years. This proves that God’s holy spirit is not involved in Watchtower congregational appointments. Though weakening my faith, I did not know enough about Watchtower history or alternative doctrinal viewpoints to realize that Jehovah does not guide Watchtower doctrine which in many areas is also wrong; fear caused me to wait another 10 years before doing the countless hours of research that proved it.

When I started doing research one of the first things that I was shocked by was the blatant lies in the Watchtower. I first noticed this when researching earthquakes, and then the history of the 1914 doctrine. Although doctrine can be disputed, the lies could not, and I could not bear to be associated with that sort of organization anymore.

Answer 4

THis is not JW bashing, but actual experiences of mine, not hearsay, not third hand information, not misinformation, not lies, not apostacy, this is infact MY STORY:

I have been told directly by JW's and indirectly from responses here on YA that the reason I left was because I really didn't have a relationship with Jehovah, was a fault-finder, wanted to "do my own thing", and other society babble.
This however is untrue. I love God and want to worship him in spirit and truth. I am not a fault finder, but a responsible person who wants to know the facts--good and bad, of ANY organization I am involved with. I don't want to do my own thing, I want to do GOD'S thing and I must know what that is before I can do it. My relationship with God now is more personal, I worship Him not a human organization.

There are many reason I left, but I will hit the high spots.

1. Hypocricy. They speak from both sides of their umm, mouth, yeah, that's what I should say. They find fault with every other religion, tell people to research their own religion's organization, beliefs etc, but call JW's fault finders with the society if you ask questions, research, investigate ANY thing about the society, WBTS.

2. False prophecy. Yes, they did make many false prophecies and then back tracked faster than a convict trying to outsmart the tracking dogs.

3. Misinterpretations of scripture. Invisible 2nd coming, then a 3rd coming??? 144,000 heaven bound and millions of "other sheep"????

4. Inspired governing body that has infighting among themselves regarding THEIR own beliefs.

5. The judicial committee system. They claim the 3 elders are working under holy spirit's direction, but some of the results that I personally am aware of are full of wrong decisions. Then they claim that the elders are just human...so, holy spirit led or men led???hmmm
I was "called on the carpet" for being in the grocery store without shoes on....come on, sure there are no scriptures for that. There is a long story about my now ex-husband and our JW neighbor, but it is too long for this answer.

6. and last but not least the child molestation issue. We've all read about it here and know that the society has instructed the "flock" to disregard the issue because the silent lambs entries are apostate, fault finders and flat out liars and that their policy (let me state their PUBLIC policy) states it is not hidden, while their private policy is no better now than it was before as they (the society) still warn elders against advising law enforcement reporting in fear of public relations or bad press. If a pedophile is "KNOWN" to be one, he cannot have oversight or special priviledges....however "KNOWN" is a misnomer as "KNOWN" in the inner circles means proven and without 2 or more witnesses (which child molestation cases RARELY have) the accused has not been proven guilty. I was counseled NOT to go to the authorities as it would bring reproach on the organization...hmmm

These are just the highlights.

Answer 5

Some Jehovah's Witnesses become inactive because they feel unable to continue preaching or certain other Christian obligations for a few months or even years. These are not counted in any JW statistics, but they are considered "brothers" and "sisters" by active Witnesses. Their standing is entirely different from those who are disfellowshipped or disassociated.


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 primary 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://watchtower.org/e/19880415/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/19970101/article_01.htm

Answer 6

Hypocrisy....The people are for the most part kind...hardworking....dedicated...
I left first off, because I was sure that Jehovah was going to destroy me when Armageddon came....I never experienced peace or grace...I felt that no matter what i did....I couldn't please god...Why live a good moral life when you are not good enough no matter what you do?...I gave up..
That is the main reason I gave up...The complected part is that my entire childhood I was being molested by my dad..who was an elder.....As an adult I see where my fatherly love was confused with my Godly love.
I still have a hard time believing that God loves me..I can't get my mind around that one...but God shows up and blesses me anyway...There is so much more to my story , but I am getting tired....Going over this is hard on me emotionally....

For all of you who will bombard this question with a slew of accusations and doubts: I will pre answer your comments: Yes I notified the elders you need 2 or more witnesses...yes when I got old enough I contacted the authorities....too late by then I couldn't prove it...i also tried to bring him up on charges, but i needed a witness to the abuse for that, as well....I could not do anything to make him pay for what he did...and Yes I did confront him, as an adult......I worry about him having access to children now...That is why I decided to tell publicy, because maybe one of you will watch your children a little more closely if you suspect that it could happen around you......The punishment for my Father is in the hands of Jehovah....
the rest of my story mirrors Suzannes to a tee...Lots of research and years of depression and not knowing what truth is...I finally put myself in Jehovahs hands and I asked him to be faithful in his promise to help me find truth if I genuinely went out to seak it...I have been a Christian now for 6 years and I was re-baptized 2 years ago..sorry for any errors in spelling,,,,,,my spellcheck just died and I am dyslexic

Answer 7

I never was, am not now, and never will be a JW. However, I married an active one that is now disassociated.

His disassociation has nothing to do with me.... in fact the ignorant fool that I was back then, I was encouraging him to STAY! I truly felt at that time that the most important thing was that he have a relationship with God. Well as time progressed it becomes very obvious that JWs do NOT have a relationship with God!

It is more about control and seeing the watchtower slip in every week something to the effect of "to follow the direction of the organization is to follow the direction of Jehovah".

Research and studies can be done to find all kinds of reasons why people should leave them... from the foundation of the organization, to the pagan roots - how hypocritical!, to the unbiblical doctrine, to the heresy of denying Jesus as God in the flesh, to the control of the organization (which by the way is nothing more than a publishing company that has tricked the poor "publishers" aka JWs into working for them for free) that claims to be the mouthpiece of God.... yet changes its mind about what God believes constantly, they light is not bright enough from God Himself, apparently... and God must also tell false prophecies.

It is so sad really. It couldn't be farther from truth! Everything is wrong, or old light, or a false prophecy!

JWs need our prayers.

Answer 8

I was never part of that congregation but I went with a friend of mine who was invited, I stayed there, this thing took hours, and it is like with the idea of making your brain tired.

After everything was over, everybody went about their friends and I felt completely ignored! I never felt so unconfortable in my life.

I really felt more like if I was in masonic meeting.

Answer 9

I spent my entire adult life as a JW. I joined on my own as a teenager, believing what they were saying about the "signs of the times" and the closeness of "the end of the system of things."

When the things they predicted didn't happen, I still believed they were teaching true Christian values and had isolated certain "truths" that made them unique. I believed that they were instruments of God to accomplish his "purpose" on Earth.

I always believed that everything they said was provable from the Bible. I looked at their literature as support material for the things that Jehovah God had revealed to them about the Bible. I made a point, in fact, of being able to use the Bible alone if someone was uncomfortable with the literature, and would use other Bible translations than their New World Translation if someone was uncomfortable with that.

I believed initially that only Jehovah's witnesses would survive Armageddon. There are plenty of Watchtower quotations I could cite to prove they have really said that in so many words.

When the JWs were fighting for legal recognition in Greece, one of their governing body members travelled there for part of the trial. One congregation I was in hosted a speaker from their world headquarters (Bethel) who told how this governing body member had applied Matthew 24:50 to a non-JW lawyer who had been helpful in the case. I was impressed that one of the anointed would admit that only Jesus decides where the "sheep" and the "goats" come from. Almost always, witnesses are told to avoid "worldly" associates. But clearly, not all were "bad."
In 2002, the cases of witness abusers being sheltered by local and high-level elders while their victims were censured and disfellowshipped came to the fore in the national media. I followed up online to get the detail I might have missed, so that if someone asked me about it at the door, I could defend the witnesses. I was sure that the story had been exaggerated and that whatever had happened involved isolated cases that would be cleared up when brought to the attention of the anointed governing body. What I found instead was a problem massive in scope...
What I found was clear obstruction of what was right. I found one example after another of sheltering the evil to preserve the outward sheen of the "clean organization."
I spent months looking into this. I wanted to be sure. As a witness, I couldn't discuss it with my witness friends. If I discussed it with "worldly" people, I risked "bringing reproach on Jehovah's name." I was deliberate and methodical.
I found more than the abuse/sheltering issue. There was the issue of conflicting rules regarding neutrality between Mexico and Malawi. And then I saw the truth about the blood issue. The pie chart that shows every possible component of blood being allowed in some application or other by the society was an utter sock to the gut. And there's more.... I learned about mind control. I learned about them knowingly hiding errors in dating...
There was clear evidence that whatever these leaders of Jehovah's witnesses were doing, they were doing it for some bumbling incompetent of a god -- not MY God Jehovah. There was no way that the God they had taught me to love could possibly be responsible for the things I had found.
A giant house of cards collapsed before my eyes.
Integrity required separating myself.
I did it by writing an email to every witness I knew for whom I had an email address. I didn't go into a lot of detail, because I felt each one should be able to make his own decision. But I said enough to make it clear that I was leaving as a matter of principle and not being kicked out behind the scenes because of "immorality."
Out "in the world" are all those people like that lawyer. The beauty of humanity is clearer every day. The sheen that Jehovah's witnesses are maintaining is like the greasy rainbow on an oilslick.
There are those who would have no life outside Jehovah's witnesses. I remember the anointed sister who approached me a few months later and asked me if I had "come to my senses." I didn't fill her up with detail. I know she would find it difficult to function outside her belief system. I just told her that if she knew what I knew, she'd quit too. But I didn't tell her. She is still my friend. She just can't talk to me.

Answer 10

They left because it's a cult, just like mormonism.