What is the best way of leaving Jehovah's Witnesses?

Question

Those that are former members know all too well how difficult it is to leave the JW'S. What about if you are thinking about leaving the JW's is there a easy way out? To fade away or disassociate, disfellowship yourself is the question? In recent years most members have slowly faded away without anyone noticing! Put simply most don't bother going through the JW elders judicial judging process anymore. Is it best to go quietly or make a big scene when you decide it is time to find a real life outside the JW'S?

Answer 1

'Real life outside the JWs'?

(1 Timothy 6:17-21) Get a firm hold on the real life. ...Guard what is laid up in trust with you, turning away from the empty speeches that violate what is holy and from the contradictions of the falsely called “knowledge.” For making a show of such knowledge some have deviated from the faith.


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 2

I am the opposite of you , i was raised a JW but i thought the non JW's had more fun so i never became a baptised JW and went my own way . I am much older now & realize i made a mistake .All i learned as a kid rings true. You should contact the JW's and arange a study , at 16 i think you are old enough to make up your own mind but be warned Satan will make it hard for you Do not expect your parents to understand. You will need to sit down & explain how you feel and ask them to respect your decision. You never know if you stick with it and explain to them with the bible you may get them to open their eyes too. I wish you well but doubt it will be easy. After reading your other answers it is clear to see many have no idea what they are talking about , if you are starting to see the false teaching in your religion compared to what's in the bible , you are a step ahead of other people Don't listen to them keep studying the bible you will find the truth. Note . The JW's answered you here with encourgement & scripture , the non JW's answered with discourgement & unfounded accusations . As the bible says reguarding the true religion by their fruits you will know them. Don't forget to pray about it.

Answer 3

To me, it would depend on how attached you are to your family if they are JW's.

If you go through the disfellowship/disassociating process, your family members who are JW's are suppose to shun you. So if you are weak in this area, your best bet is to just fade away.

HOWEVER, doing this will cause visits, probably AT LEAST twice a year, when the circuit overseer visits the congregation and notices you are inactive. Then the elders are suppose to encourage you to return. If you want to avoid those visits, disassociate yourself.

Personally, I went through the disfellowshipping process after I purposely gave my soon to be ex-husband grounds for remarriage within the congregation (wasn't THAT nice of me?!?!!?) It also made the cut, clean, precise and most importantly PUBLIC.

The last meeting I attended was the night they read "THE" letter. Afterwards, I walked out with my head held HIGH.

I knew the potential consequences of my actions but I wanted to fully seperate myself from that organization.

During the judicial committee meeting, while the elders were trying to encourage me and asked what should they do. I firmly told them: "YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO".
I never looked back.

My family has been great.

Answer 4

The same way you would leave a Christian cult. Just fade away.. Far to many people feel pressured to be part of the Christian community and are looked down upon by the majority of this cult. It is a pity really, such cults as Christianity, JW, LDS, and any other delusional belief systems keep a hold of their members through a wide variety of tactics.

Answer 5

Just walk away. Don't look back. Don't waste your time with their insane crazy cult nonsense. Only make a big scene if you'd enjoy it.

Think of it as walking away from a mental asylum. Only a fool would turn around and walk back in.

Sure, they may not make it easy for you, but - no pain no gain!

More and more people are wanting to leave these nutty organizations. You're doing the right thing.

Answer 6

why make a scene just walk away sounds pretty easy

Answer 7

You have a choice as to what you do between now and when you die, however and whenever that may be. Group pressure can be the entwining thread that binds you to a group as well as the destruction of your own self. It's important to seek out support from outside the group to put your life into perspective and strengthen your resolve, about your own wishes, like you are doing now. Expect that they may seek clarification unless you make it clear to them that they are no longer part of your life.
A clean break is best.

Answer 8

I would go dressed as santa and get them to tell me to leave, though the christian way of doing it would be to tell them why you no longer wish to fellowship with them be sure to wipe the dust off your feet on the way out and put a gargoyle at your front door to keep them from harrassing you in the future

Answer 9

I packed my bags one morning and left home with my bf. We told my parents we were off to buy a CD, but actually we didn't stop driving til we got over the state border.
But the religious issues weren't my only reason for leaving, my father was abusive.
I did try to discuss it with them before hand, but they gave me a flat "NO" even though I was 18, so I just left.
To leave kicking and screaming only gets their backs up, and convinces them that they are 'right' and you are 'wrong'.
Just walk away and start afresh. It isn't easy but within weeks of doing it the relief is intoxicatingly fantasic.
If you are asking in regards to yourself, feel free to email me if you need to talk.

Answer 10

I would avoid a committee meeting at all costs....if you can keep from getting DF, There is hope that you may be able to help others out....if they excommunicate you, you will be unable to give them the REAL good news at a later date......It takes great strength to do what yo are doing and I can assure you, God will bless you....