DebraLee Posted April 1, 2004 Share Posted April 1, 2004 I'm a former Jehovah's WItenss yet my mother father and brother are still witnesses. This prevents me from having a close relationship with them. Just wondering if there are any other Ex's out there I can chat with. It would make a good support system for me and maybe you too. Link to post Share on other sites
Girlie Posted April 1, 2004 Share Posted April 1, 2004 I am an ex, but my parents and other relatives are, also. My father left the church first and they actaully encouraged my mother to leave him rather than stay with a non-believer and possibly be influenced to leave the church. Luckily, she left the church instead. I am sorry you are going through this. I hate the fact that they teach to stay so far removed from anyone not involved with them, but that's how they keep people involved with them. Link to post Share on other sites
Tragedi67 Posted April 2, 2004 Share Posted April 2, 2004 I am an ex JW, my grandparents on both my mom and dad's side are still, my dad and stepmother are still. My mom married out of the faith when i was nine years old. My grandmother had a hard time accepting my stepfather and the fact that my mom and I were now celebrating the holidays........she still hopes that I will one day return to the faith. If you ever wanna talk just PM me, and I'll send you my email address........I know it's hard when you want to be close to your family and they won't accept you and still try to force the values on you..... ~April ~ Link to post Share on other sites
Clarity Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 I wanted to say hi. I'm not an ex JW. This thread caught my eye though bec. my boyfriend was raised JW from birth and goes back and forth in his association and with wanting to become bapatized. I was raised Catholic but I have some family members who are now JWs and one of my best friends all through childhood was also JW. Our JW family still get together and the whole Catholic side of the family goes out of our way to respect that the JW members don't celebrate holidays, no matter how christian and how family oriented by tradition they might seem to be. We therefore, do our best never to give presents in an offensive way to the kids and purposely schedule some of our gatherings to avoid holidays so all of us can be together and all the kids can play still. Anyway, RE: I hate the fact that they teach to stay so far removed from anyone not involved with them, but that's how they keep people involved with them. I get very afraid. I want my boyfriend to follow where his soul leads him. If he wants to get baptized and he's a good Christian of any denomination I will love, support and respect that. But I don't feel the same response from him. Whenever he starts studying, he gets very judgemental toward me and people in general. I try to be understanding, but it's pretty hard not to feel defensive when he starts judging me. Especially since I'm not a consistently practicing Catholic and then I get all guilt-laden that way. Then other times he feels the same as me and I get so confused at where he's coming from. Anyway, a somewhat different perspective... Link to post Share on other sites
Papillon Posted April 19, 2004 Share Posted April 19, 2004 I had a very good friend die during a coma because his parents were Jehovah' Witches, and they would not allowe a a blood transfusion, while he was an atheist himself. We are planning a case of negligent homicide against them and his parents' church. ****ing religious bastards. Link to post Share on other sites
pixiechick Posted May 21, 2004 Share Posted May 21, 2004 I have to first say that I don't personally subscribe to any religion. I sometimes wonder if organized religion has done more harm than good in the course of mankind. Basically I'm very pessimistic about any and all religions. I don't often like to talk about religion, because I don't like hurting people who do believe. I think it's great for them if it helps them be better people, but I want no part of it. Let me explain how i got this way. I was raised JW til I was five. The church kicked us out cuz we went to my grandmother's funeral and she was baptist. So I don't remember much about the JW religion. But my dad's side of the family is still JW, and we've all been disowned. Since then, my parents (toting me along) have been catholic, methodist, baptist, unitarian, and probly some others that i dont remember. So really, for all their efforts at being religious, I think they're just confused. They are now members of methodist church and really hold it against me that I dont wanna get my kids baptised. My main problem with JW's is their exclusionary practices. I was born with gastroskesis, a birth defect that results in no skin growing over the abdomen. This of course required a lot of surgery to save me. However, my father refused to allow the doctors to give me blood. The surgeon came out of the operating room and held up his bloody gloves. He told my dad "these hands can save your baby and you are tying a rope around them". But my dad held fast. Obviously, I did somehow survive. It kills me to know that a few years later, the same church that my dad was willing to let me die for, kicked him out. I didn't ever hear this story until a few years ago. Most of my pessimism was established through childhood. It seemed like the rules kept changing and I was always expected to just have faith or whatever. So that's my little story, and I prefer not to advise anyone about religion. Link to post Share on other sites
Papillon Posted May 24, 2004 Share Posted May 24, 2004 Jehovah's Witnesses are a bunch of xxxxx They're among the xxxxxxxxxxxx that come out of religion. A close second after Islam. They're not witness to anything - theyre only witness to their own xxxxxxxxxx, ironically. Link to post Share on other sites
BlockHead Posted May 24, 2004 Share Posted May 24, 2004 I disagree. Mormons should top the list. They are required to give around 30% of their income to the Mormon Church. They aren’t allowed to dance. They use probably the most poorly translated version of the Bible (translated by a High school dropout). Some followers practice polygamy. Those people are truly brainwashed. Link to post Share on other sites
Papillon Posted May 25, 2004 Share Posted May 25, 2004 Originally posted by BlockHead I disagree. Mormons should top the list. They are required to give around 30% of their income to the Mormon Church. They aren’t allowed to dance. They use probably the most poorly translated version of the Bible (translated by a High school dropout). Some followers practice polygamy. Those people are truly brainwashed. Forking out 30% = SuX0R! Polygamy = RoX0R! Link to post Share on other sites
BlockHead Posted May 25, 2004 Share Posted May 25, 2004 Papillon Polygamy = RoX0R!Most of the polygamists are on welfare so we are the ones who are covering most of the cost. Maybe you are partially right about Islam. The Wahhabi sect sanctions the murder of nonwahhabis. Link to post Share on other sites
Tony Posted May 25, 2004 Senior Moderators Share Posted May 25, 2004 The original poster is looking for a support system and to hear the views of other former members of the JW religion. There is no place where she says she is seeking to have that religion belittled or attacked. Please respond directly with your experiences without distasteful attacks on religion. Civil views and opinions backed by experiences and observations are acceptable in most cases as long as they don't contain vulgarity or attacks. Many kind thanks for your cooperation. Link to post Share on other sites
Clarity Posted May 28, 2004 Share Posted May 28, 2004 Tony is totally right. This thread was a request for support and the persons who started it showed deep courage and dealt with a tender topic in a positive, sincere way. The thread was obviously started to open conversation with people who understood and not to hear attacks. It touched my heart when I saw this thread because it was brave to put oneself out there so candidly on a subject that many people find difficult to discuss. I think Tony did a really honorable thing by moderating. I wish more people would digest what they're reading before they freely talk smack. To those of you with strong opinions, lots of people want to hear them but instead of scapegoating innocent posters and hijacking their thread, think about starting your own next time. My opinon means little but I felt compelled to say something. (not that it matters but I am not JW now nor was I ever. I am just someone who values compassion over judgementalism.) Link to post Share on other sites
ms_life Posted June 15, 2004 Share Posted June 15, 2004 I'm a former JW and am an only child. My mother is a strong and faithful JW. I miss having a close relationship with my mother but I also respect the belief. I knew what I was getting into in the beginning and I knew the consequences of my actions. My mother is there when I need her and I know that she would love to have a close relationship with me, but at this time it is not possible. Either myself or my mother is gonna have to make a change. I believe that the teachings and the beliefs of JW is no more farfetched than any other religion. I don't bash any other religion and I think it is wrong for others to do that. Until you fully know a religion's belief and why they believe what they do you need to keep your opinions to yourself. Getting back to the thread, I stay in touch with my mom and if she needs anything she tells me and I do what I can. I feel that it is wrong for me to expect my mother to step out of her belief and her joy to satisfy me. When Jesus was on earth it wasn;t easy for him so why do we think it's gonna be easy for us or others who truly believe. Your parents are doing what the bible says, and either you believe the bible or not. The scripture that they are following is 2 John 8-11. If your are not going to follow the teachings then you must be prepared to accepted the consequences. I know that sounds harsh but remember I'm in the same boat. Link to post Share on other sites
ms_life Posted June 15, 2004 Share Posted June 15, 2004 To many religions today don' t enforce proper behavior so people feel that they can do what they want a be forgiven and that is not true you have to repent and turn around from your bad ways. I know that we are not to judge but when people are doing things that are spelled out in the bible black and white , there ar no exception to the rule. That is the exact reason why morality is out the window, because people don't receive any type of reprimand for bad behavior anything is acceptable almost anywhere you go. Well not in the religion practiced by Jehovah witness and I commend them for holding firm. Link to post Share on other sites
Girlie Posted June 15, 2004 Share Posted June 15, 2004 There is a big difference between not condoning someone's behavior and completing disassociating them. In my opinion, dissassociation and the like is done out of fear of actually having to listen to views that are different. Often it has nothing to do with punishment for anything other than not accepting life as they see it, though not necessarily doing anything WRONG or IMMORAL from the Bible's standpoint. I probably sound bitter, but then I speak from experience, having been a part of the JW's myself. In any case, hope you are doing ok, DebraLee. Leaving something like that and being cut off from people simply because you don't subscribe to what they believe anymore is BS. Link to post Share on other sites
ms_life Posted June 16, 2004 Share Posted June 16, 2004 That is the problem with people today that don't practice what they believe. They just say they believe something as long as it is conveinence for them and they don't have to make any changes or done anything special. Bottom line is if you confess a faith or a belief you have to follow the teaching. JWs go over the guidelines, the bases for their belief and the way the organization works. You don't go in it blind. You know what the religion stand for and they follow the rules. If you can't walk the walk or talk the talk move on, but you made a decision and so did your family. If they accept your decision, then you must accept theirs. I don't believe that your family has totally abandon you, they just have rules to follow and they are doing what their hearts in leading them too. You have a family, your husband and the daughters, concentrate on that instead of what your mother, father, and brother are doing. Didn't you know this would happen? If not, then you weren't paying attention. Link to post Share on other sites
ms_life Posted June 16, 2004 Share Posted June 16, 2004 This is for Girlie, why care if they Dis-associate you, especially if you don't believe. What is religion a system where certain belief are taught. Why not go someplace where you believe what they teach and associate with them. People who bash are apparently upset due to ignorance or guilt, that's what I think. Link to post Share on other sites
Babyface24 Posted June 16, 2004 Share Posted June 16, 2004 What? Where are you people from? My family is JW. But my brother was disfellowshipped. And he still calls and comes over when he pleases. Family can still interact no matter what. Its the other members of the congregation that cannot. Your mother is taking it to extreme. Link to post Share on other sites
tink_turlte Posted June 18, 2004 Share Posted June 18, 2004 i agree with babyface my family is also JW's and my auntie has been inactive for the longest and we still associate with her even though she is doing things that dont go along with our belief she is still family. also about being kicked out for going to a funeral is not true because my grandmother on my dads side was not a JW and i went to her funeral. they would never dis-associate any one for that it had to be more involved. i am studing to become a JW even though i was raised around it. i have to make the decision for myself Link to post Share on other sites
Babyface24 Posted June 21, 2004 Share Posted June 21, 2004 How far along are you tink? Link to post Share on other sites
tink_turlte Posted June 22, 2004 Share Posted June 22, 2004 im considering baptism how about you? Link to post Share on other sites
Babyface24 Posted June 23, 2004 Share Posted June 23, 2004 I am already. I am a MS too. Link to post Share on other sites
shywon Posted July 17, 2004 Share Posted July 17, 2004 New member and noticed this post. Cant seem to get the pms working, so if you would add me or like to contact me, please do so. Like to chat with some of the ladies. Link to post Share on other sites
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