How many EX - Jehovah's witnesses are here?

Question

Why did you quit?
Were you born into it or did you join on your own?
Would you ever go back?

I quit them in 2003.
I was one for 35 years.
Joined on my own.
I'd never go back. I quit after I learned about the protection of child abusers, the fallacies of the blood issue, the problems with the 607/1914 teaching, among many other things that led me to conclude that the "faithful slave" isn't, and is beating its fellow slaves.

NICE website, Simon61161! I like the commentary as well. Thank you so much.

Tash, I applaud your bravery and wisdom. I wish I'd been as clear-thinking as you when I was your age!

Achtung: "Becoming baptized as a Jehovah's Witnesses is not a trivial step. "

You're right. Do you realize that even the witnesses simply used to baptize us in symbol of our dedication as "CHRISTIANS!" They changed it years ago. You're being baptized as witnesses. Think about it!

May 15, 1970 WT, Your Conscience Toward Jehovah, p 26
(1) Have you recognized yourself as a sinner and needing salvation from Jehovah God? And have you acknowledged that this salvation proceeds from him and through his ransomer, Christ Jesus?
(2) (2) On the basis of this faith in God and in his provision for redemption have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to Jehovah God, to do his will henceforth as that will is revealed to you through Christ Jesus and through God’s Word as his holy spirit makes it plain?
*********************
June 1, 1985, Watchtower Subjecting Ourselves to Jehovah by Dedication p29
The first question is:
On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?
The second is:
Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in association with God’s spirit-directed organization?

Ah, Perplexed_One, I understan. Of those I've met in the few years since I left, there are many who I think wanted to just run right out and find a new "truth." I've gone through the same studies you mention and we seem to have drawn similar conclusions. I will never go back to the dubs.

BTW, I'm going to keep this "question" alive as long as possible. I appreciate your stories. I'm sure there are many more out there in this group.

Answer 1

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

1. I was constantly challenged by people who said I was missing something by not looking beyond The Society's publications. To be sure, I did read from other sources, but these were all of two kinds - other Christian sources and anti-JW sources. I found other Christian sources to be weak and deficient in undoing the Witness teachings. I also found the anti-JW material to be even more contrived, biased, and impassioned than the JW material.

This kept me in much longer than I should have been. It was only when I tried to find an opposing view that attempted to completely undo all Judeo-Christian beliefs that I made progress. Once I found the source of the Judeo-Christian god (Ugaritic texts, Canaanite Pantheon, et al), undoing the JW's was easy.

Not only am I no longer a JW, I am no longer a Christian.

2. My parents were studying with JW's when I was born. I was raised to be a JW. My parents are still in the group. None of my family nor my wife's family has shunned us for our newly found insights.

3. I could go back at any time, but only knowing that their teachings were not representative of reality. I don't mind what they do or how they live. I like religious diversity the same way I like variation within species. There may be some odd belief held by some group that allows its adherents to be selected for survival over other groups. Variation, as well as religious diversity, is good for survival and the continuation of life. Preach on your crazy JW (<---encouragement, not insult).

Answer 3

This year the Jehovah's Witnesses are getting a serious wake-up call.
Never before in the history of apostasy has there been a plan like this. Apostates are going to dress up clean shaven and in suit and tie pretending to be JWs outside of district conventions ( regional assemblies,etc.- whatever they are called now) everywhere this year, facing worldly passersby and vehemently defending the Watchtower against any "worldly" people that may get in our face as we hold up our signs.
The signs I like best are the ones that say "Blood transfusions are the work of Satan! Anybody that receives a blood transfusion will not inherit Jehovah's Kingdom!" and "Jehovah's day of wrath is imminent! He will kill you and the buzzards will eat your flesh unless you become one of Jehovah's Witnesses." We will also carry watchtower publications that back up these statements. For example from the Watchtower publication, Worldwide Security under the Prince of Peace p 159 we read:
"those slaughtered at Armageddon will not be laid in graves with markers to memorialize them.
Birds of every sort and beasts of the field will share in the benefits of God's triumph and at the same time ,help cleanse the earth of the many carcasses that will lie strewed upon the ground like fertilizer, unlamented, unburied, abhorred by the survivors'
The bottom line is Jehovah's Witnesses really believe these things. I recall on plenty of occasions householders would oppose the pioneer sisters and upon returning to the car, the pioneer would say , "that person is buzzard bait". You see, JWs like to sugar coat Watchtower doctrine to newly associating ones. Becoming a JW is a persuasive process that requires time. If the doctrine was offered in the raw to everyone they meet, there would be a shock factor and fewer would join.
This is what we plan to do - offer the world JW doctrine in the raw. Give the shock factor. There is nothing dishonest about this. Unlike the laughable attempts by apostates in the past, this plan will have the desired effect. With an organization that takes vain pride in itself and its appearance, this will not be taken lightly by the Watchtower. No doubt, the Watchtower will try to thwart our plan, but if we remain diligent this will be a success! We welcome all Ex-witnesses everywhere to participate in this plan whether in groups or independently and encourage you to make your own catchy signs just as long as they are neat, no profanity, have actual offensive JW doctrine and make sure to dress neatly and well groomed. Remember, we're not going to attack or argue with JWs. We are going to act like we are JWs!
ALSO, holding these signs directed at worldly passersby is bound to stir up angry emotions from the worldly ones against JWs and the Watchtower. We are expecting that! So if any worldly person gets in our face, we are going to verbally defend the Watchtower as the one and only true religion and shout right back at them! This is gonna be a load of fun...be there!

Answer 4

I left in 2006 at the age of 35. I was born into it, so unfortunately did not have a choice but to spend my childhood being indoctrinated. I spent a number of years as a pioneer and then several more in Bethel.

In Bethel I saw enough people disfellowshipped who had done nothing wrong, and people made elders whilst fornicating etc to know that Holy Spirit has nothing to do with the Watchtower Society. A bit of research showed that the doctrine is based on an eisegisis approach and highly inaccurate.

Nothing could ever make me return, it is a cult as are Mormons, Scientologists etc etc and the sooner the world is rid of such manipulative organizations the better.

My research is at jehovah.net.au and jwfacts.com

Answer 5

My mother was third generation witness, her mother before her and grandmother being involved. My dad was not a witness, but gave up his military career to make my mother happy. Heiss above says baptism is not a "momentary emotional decision by an unreasoning child." I was a 13-year old child when i was baptized and the most I remember doing to prepare for baptism was attending a few studies with an elder, nothing like the intense preparation described in the previous post. What 13-year old is mature enough to participate in the baptism preparations described in his post above, anyway?

I totally wish I'd never been baptized, but nobody told me fading away was an option. I'm surprised heiss is even advocating those who have witness family to avoid becoming baptized and just shut up in order to have a family relationship. what a farce. (maybe I should get reinstated to just fade away, then we can play nicey nicey.. hmmm?) But even if you faded away you couldn't fully live without constant fear of reproof and disfellowshipping. They make it their business to be in your business. Actually, I'm glad I've made a clean break because now I don't have to live a half-life, even if there's no relationship with my family, I'm living MY life rather than a lie.

This is what happens when an organization replaces a direct relationship with god. I can't imagine anyone who has a close relationship with their family putting it danger by joining this religion.

what I also don't understand is how these JW posts on this site are such a direct contradiction to what really happened to all of us. How can so many ex-JWs telling the same story all be lying about their experience? I also think newer JWs are told lies about past teachings, in order to discredit those of us who are screaming about the injustice done to us.

Answer 6

you can see my complete testimony at my site, a link for which is at my Yahoo 360 page.

In short, my parents converted when I was 4. I left when I got out on my own. My issues at that time were largely ethical ones but I later learned about all of the doctrinal ones when I began to learn what the Bible REALLY says. I have been out for 22 years now and am grateful to the Holy Spirit for leading me out. I now run my own ministry helping people break free from cults and I am truly blessed to have finally found the REAL TRUTH and to have a personal relationship with my creator, rather than a man-made religious label.

Answer 7

My mother was an active JW, my father was inactive and most of the female members of my family on my mother's side are JW's.
I started to realise it was a farce around the age of 16 and a half, when I was 18 I ran away from home due to the fact that my mother would not give me permission to leave, my father was abusive and I couldn't live the lie of pretending to believe anymore.
I will be 23 at the end of the year and haven't been to a meeting since I left home. I am slowly but surely returning to a normal life, although it is a daily struggle to see things for what they truly are, not what I was brainwashed to believe.

Answer 8

I was not born into it but unwisely stayed after I had the choice(brainwashing and all). Just under 21 years I was in that cult. I was a pioneer for almost 5 years. I was a ministerial servant. I was in charge of my congregations accounts and the literature. I was also on the building committee in my state. I was in charge of several big crews for various construction projects in my tenure as a witness. I left after all the hypocrisy finally set in. I wont go into details(not that i mind, but its kinda long) but my judicial committee wont ever forget me. Neither will the Circuit Overseer at the time. I did go out in a figurative blaze of glory. Will I ever go back? HELL NO! I try my best now to get people considering the witnesses to change their mind. I also try my best to get out to the public, the side no one sees of the witnesses, the criminal and sadistic side.

Answer 9

I was 'born in' 1957 to hard core pioneer parents who were reviled for getting 'knocked up' with your's truly (armageddon coming any minute don't have babies)

My family started out broken by the watchtower and stayed poor, we lived hand to mouth and the watchtower ruled us with an iron fist.

Had a brutal time going to school during the 'better dead than red' super nationalism of the early 1960's. I got beat up in the school yard while the WT leaders who ran my show and made my rules had personal bodyguards.

They made us all dysfunctional with their 1975 fiasco (it's all your fault for serving jehover for a date) Damn you Watchtower psychopath flunky tyrants.

Danny Haszard Bangor Maine http://www.dannyhaszard.com

Answer 10

I quit because I was shown scriptural proof that the trinity is a viable doctrine.

I was born into it

It would be true apostacy for me to go back to what I believe is a major mouthpiece for Satan, It would be a grand Slap in the face of God who has saved me from it.