I am just interested in hearing your stories about your time spent as a Jehovah Witness. What was it like growing up? What were you restricted from doing? How has it affected your life in a negative way? What happened on the day of your birthday? Did your family say happy birthday to you? What made you realize you had to leave the cult?
I DO NOT WANT ANY JEHOVAH WITNESS TO ANSWER ME WITH QUOTES FROM THE BIBLE. I want REAL, TRUTHFUL, HONEST ANSWERS. I want ANSWERS NOT QUOTES. I repeat...I WANT ANSWERS NOT QUOTES!!!
2007-10-25 04:45:35 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I see so many Jehovah Witnesses answer questions with bible quotes. I can't stand that. If I ask you a question I don't want you to answer me with a quote from the bible.
2007-10-25 04:47:27 · update #1
hi beautiful mind..... you know, unforutatly, with the mentality the witnesses has brainwashed me with since childhood, i am overly parnoid from this question. thats what they do to you. they keep you paranoid, in fear, .... fear to experience, fear to appreciate things other than the watchtower. i didnt start appreciating things and REALLY seeing things till i was rescued from the cult by my amazing husband (non jw) i had to run away and elope when the opportunity arrived I GRABBED IT AND DIDNT LET GO! i am so glad i left. it was the most mind liberating thing. i was born a free spirit and i was trapped in religions cage. being forced to listen to thier propaganda. and it was really frusterating because i couldnt speak out for what i thought was right for me. so, because i coulnt speak out, i had to internalize my feelings for 18 years. thats a tough thing to do and it had to come out some way. most of the time it was artisticaly and sometimes the only way i could feel in this brain numbing religion, was to cut myself sometimes. but that was a LONG time ago. im WAY over that now. so... yeah, there are some damaging affects. mostly long term regret that i didnt leave sooner than i did. i have alot of living to catch up with.
peace... & TRUE agape love without exceptions!
vick
2007-10-25 07:42:23 · answer #1 · answered by ~testube Jebus~ 4 · 2⤊ 5⤋
No.
Growing up, I had a lot of support from my family (immediate and extended), the elders, and all my brothers and sisters.
I wasn't restricted as such, but I was protected from worldly parties and the like.
The only real negative thing to happen was that I was severely bullied, not by the Witnesses but by the children of other 'Christians' at my school. I doubt that they made me a target because I didn't celebrate birthdays or Christmas, but I'm certain it was because of their parents spoke in a derogratory way of the Witnesses: "They got me out my bed at 11:00 on a Saturday morning, give him kicking." That kind of thing. These children were the offsrping of both Catholics and Protestants. Little cherubs.
It has not affected my life in a negative way at all, far from it. The bullying forced me to rely on Jehovah at an early age so I'm not even bitter about that. The Theocratic Ministry School is a great blessing - a public speaking program, absolutely free!
My family did not say happy birthday to me or any festive greeting. I'm glad I didn't receive those once-a-year empty gestures because that's what the world dictates. I got presents at other times of the year which made me feel more loved than if I had simply received gifts because every other kid in school was getting them.
Jehovah's Witnesses are not a cult. Cult's are secretive but Jehovah's Witnesses are very public through their ministry and their their meetings are open to the public. If you must insist that they are a cult, then they are the only true cult.
I also believe that it is against Yahoo guidelines to try and restrict people in the answers they give. Jesus often used scriptures when answering people, and since Jehovah's Witnesses are Christians - followers of Christ - they do to.
Psalm 150:6 "Praise Jah, you people."
Thank you for this opportunity to look back on my years of service to Jehovah. It has been most encouraging.
2007-10-25 05:06:24 · answer #2 · answered by Iron Serpent 4 · 5⤊ 5⤋
This made me LOL: Other forecasts of this apostasy were made by the apostles Paul and Peter both verbally and in writing, and the Lord Jesus Christ himself warned of its coming. In his illustration of the wheat and the weeds (Mt 13), Jesus said that the Devil would sow “weeds,” imitation Christians, “sons of the wicked one,” among the “wheat,” the “sons of the kingdom.” These would exist until the conclusion of the system of things, when they would be identified and ‘burned up.’ Jesus said that the Devil would sow “weeds,” imitation Christians: Meaning JW who act as if they care and are Christian which show very little Christian like ways.... “sons of the wicked one,” among the “wheat,” the “sons of the kingdom.”: Maybe the word kingdom is a hidden message that anyone within the Kingdom Hall would be 'burned up'. No one really knows we all only know what we feel in our heart. JWs judge just as I do and I plan to be Judge right back not from you but GOD and when that say come I will take what I get. As far as the JW as a whole admitting to their wrongs everyone will see that punishment...
2016-05-25 20:08:35 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, this answerer is not a former Jehovah's Witness.
It seems somewhat ironic for the questioner to accuse Jehovah's Witnesses of being a "cult" while noting her own expectation that they would support their beliefs from the bible. Sadly, the questioner is uninterested in the bible.
Learn more, please.
2007-10-25 05:20:57 · answer #4 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 5⤊ 5⤋
My story is so long that it would take up so much space. Yes I was a Witness...for 22 years..I was in a little different situation in that my father IS an Elder, Still is and Elder and he is a violent pedophile.
His sickness would have been practiced on me no matter what religion he hid in...It was just easier to hide in the Witness religion...I think he knew this before becoming a Witness.
What really matters now, is that God saved me out of that oppressive cult, and delivered me from that family...I am now a Christian with a wonderful and fulfilling life.
2007-10-25 04:54:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 9⤊ 7⤋
I wasnt baptized but studied with them for a while. I didn't fit in because I actually verified everything they taught and came up with the conclusion that all JW's are either born into it, brainwashed into it, coerced into it or guilted into it. From my extensive observation of several Kingdom Hall congregations, it is my personal opinion that all "faithful, dedicated witnesses" are emotionally, physically or mentally needy. When choosing to walk away, things got ugly.
2007-10-25 04:52:32 · answer #6 · answered by Virtual Evie 4 · 8⤊ 7⤋
Its Not " Former or Ex JW".. its APOSTATES, and the Reason they left is because they wanted their ears tickled, To be able to engage in all kinds of unwholesome conduct and get away with it. That kind of behavior is accepted in other Religions and that is why they gravitate towards it. Its No wonder it is written " “Owing to this many of his disciples went off to the things behind and would no longer walk with him.”
2007-10-25 05:06:12 · answer #7 · answered by conundrum 7 · 6⤊ 9⤋
No. I am a present Jehovah's Witness.
Thank you and God Bless
2007-10-25 04:57:29 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 8⤋
please go look at
www.sixscreensofthewatchtower.com
This is about the most comprensive look at the WT&TS I've ever seen
2007-10-25 04:53:53 · answer #9 · answered by Wondering Faith 2 · 5⤊ 6⤋