“I’m losing my mind”, I thought as the air rushed out of my lungs. The compass of my life was spinning out of control. I willed myself to stare at my computer screen as I watched yet another John Cedars video that solidified my awakening. Familiar words suddenly lost their meaning as my life, as I’d always known, seemed to lose direction.
“How am I meant to ask anyone about this when no one else seems to realize the things I have learned or found out?”
“What is this knowledge going to cost me? My family relationships? My friends? My future?”
These were the very thoughts I grappled with as I started awakening from my religious indoctrination.
My name is Sacha, and I share this article with you to assure you that you are not alone.
As a recent member of the JWSurvey team, I have taken on the Support & Aftercare Manager role to help the many people who reach out and contact us. I help to handle and respond to the multitude of emails and Facebook messages received each week.
Please allow me to introduce myself:
Since birth, I spent my entire life as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses – a fully devoted believer in “the Truth.”
As far as I was concerned, this way of life was part of my very DNA! Everything about me as a person was defined by this belief structure. After all, I was worshiping the Almighty Jehovah God along with his earthly organization, right?
The household I grew up in was very spiritually-minded. Theocratic activities were part of our daily routine, fueling my endeavours to be the ideal JW youth. I pioneered, worked on JW construction projects, and even lived and worked at the Australian Bethel Headquarters for five years. I genuinely enjoyed my “theocratic” life.
In true Watchtower tradition, I married the perfect JW sister and we continued in spiritual activities, such as pioneering together. I became an appointed man in the congregation and had an active share in congregational duties. I enjoyed this confection of a life, along with the many aspects of Watchtower service that opened up to my wife and I.
However, it was during these very pursuits of “Kingdom activities” that I discovered unsettling facts about the organization. While researching through the Society’s own publications to prepare for talks, and from examining old books from the congregation library, disturbing information came to my attention. The irredeemable history of “the Truth” had been completely whitewashed and distorted. Further comparison of past writings with Watchtower’s current rhetoric revealed that the Governing Body was not being transparent about many issues.
Naturally, I dismissed these things as “Old Light” and was determined to resolve these qualms – but only from “approved” sources. And once again, in time I found dissatisfaction with the answers found in Watchtower’s resources.
In this information age, it became apparent that if I was to be truly thorough and intellectually honest, I had to take a comprehensive look at the wide variety of information that is so easily available. After all, how was I meant to actively recruit members into the organization unless I myself could conclusively prove it to be true? Also, didn’t the Bible itself encourage us to use our “perceptive powers” and God-given brains to determine all things?
So I allowed myself to embark on an innocuous research assignment. If this is the Truth, then it should easily withstand a bit of analytical investigation and research, or so I remember thinking to myself. Sourcing material from a JW echo chamber was not going to be sufficient. It had to be from all sources, and confirmation bias needed to be left at the door. Truth is truth, after all!
One click led to another, and suddenly I landed in what seemed like a scary part of the internet. There it was… JWfacts.com. As I hovered my mouse over the page ready to click, every nerve ending in my body screamed “NO!” – an indoctrinated reflex, I now realize in retrospect.
It wasn’t long after that when I found the very website you are reading right now: JWsurvey.org. With great hesitation and trepidation, I betrayed my JW-honed flight response and allowed myself to anonymously take part in the Annual Survey. Through all the anxiety, I simultaneously felt safe and liberated to see that I was not alone in taking part in this! I also explored the many online forum support groups and enjoyed interacting with the honest-hearted people who made up these communities. Some beautiful friendships have resulted!
Many current Jehovah’s Witnesses will cling to the convenient misapprehension that those who conscientiously leave the organization are taking the “easy road” in life. Yet if there’s anything my own experience has taught me, it’s that there is so much courage and integrity involved in fearlessly turning over every stone that has paved your life thus far. To go against the grain of an established life as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and head back to the drawing board of your life’s blueprint is far from easy. I have enormous respect for all who have been brave enough to do so. It is like navigating a “narrow and cramped road.”
I was very fortunate that my wife Sherrie (along with our fur-baby Derby, the Abyssinian cat) also eventually made her way out of the religion. She too took her own journey of discovery – at her own pace – and learned “The Truth About The Truth.” I didn’t force her. I simply created a safe atmosphere in our home where she could learn things for herself. (Sherrie is also a member of the JW Survey team. Keep an eye out for her articles.) For more information, our journey is captured here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9bqZ9JJ_qg
And so, ever grateful for the resources and assistance we were given to awaken, I feel an overwhelming desire to assist other people who are traveling this path. Having now joined the JWsurvey family, my role is to help process the multitude of emails and messages that come through via this site and various other social media platforms. It is our promise to you that your messages will always be treated with the utmost confidentiality and respect. We have been in your situation. We know how important it is to feel comfortable to open up.
It’s important to us that you know we are here for you and have experienced the trauma you may currently be facing. We understand, and we want to provide a safe and soft landing place for those needing to take stock of their lives, regroup and process their thoughts during the “waking up process.” We can provide a listening ear and assist each other to build a community and support network.
Above all, you are NOT alone! You are part of an ever-growing wave of momentum worldwide. As you begin to steer your way through the community, you’ll discover that so many Jehovah’s Witnesses feel just like you. Silent prisoners of what they know, they are troubled and distressed at the realization that they may have spent a lifetime of devotion to something that is not true.
Our team here at JWsurvey.org does not have all the answers. We can’t solve every step, or fix everything. However, we can provide some basic support, experience and information to anyone in need of moving forward and taking control of their life. It is our aim that this will help some face the future with hope, strength, and dignity.
Please be assured that we value TRUTH and HONESTY and will draw on our broad experience to assist where we can. After what we have been through, we all deserve to live a happy and successful life!
Feel free to reach out and share your thoughts and experiences. Make use of the resources we have here as you navigate your way through life after Watchtower. Pass the torch and look for ways to assist others.
And most importantly, please know that you aren’t losing your mind. You are not flawed or broken. You’ve just woken up.
“…most importantly, please know that you aren’t losing your mind. You are not flawed or broken. You’ve just woken up.”
Thanks for the wonderfully encouraging article!
What a crock of poo poo
I’m not a jw
It’s so wonderful to be free of the tentacles of the Watchtower.
And it’s great to see this website full of real truths for those who so desperately
need support and fellow wakers.
Thank you very much for your hard work.
The Watchtower like corrupt governments try to keep their secrets hidden,
thank you for exposing the evils of this worldly and occult organisation.
This is some deep poo poo, but Sacha has been able to describe his exodus in a satirical yet not sarcastic mood. As with all wakening “Neo”s, you either appreciate the humor and absurdity of the scenario or embrace what will become your plunge into insanity. As I look back now at the white-washed history of JW’s and compare to its actual history, I can easily see how related its journey has been to that of the other offshoots where a leader direct from Central Casting has conjured up various dogmatic beliefs based on sundry verses here and there then imposed those beliefs upon pain of banishment. And, that dear former believer is the summary of the Watchtower Experience.
I am do proud of you Sacha for reaching out to people
who need to know they are not alone and can receive
assistance when needed most.
Possibly the person stating “crock of poo” may still be a JW
and why is he looking at this??? Keep up good work Sacha
I’m not a jw
I am a older person 73 yrs. and fully awoke now, so now what? I have lost my family, all my so called J.W. friends, no one to talk to who would understand my situation so I feel I’m in the world all by myself so maybe I was better off asleep, at least I had phony friends to talk to and places to go to every week. Waking up comes with a heavy price to pay, I’m just saying!
I’m very sorry you’re going through, it must be painful. Waking up is always better than staying in dark and confusion but depends on individual cicumstances (age, family, health issues, personal preference etc) the sensation of this experience might be varied. I work with the elderly and I’m aware that being senior citizen might be a very isolated feeling anybody, and certainly leaving the Witnesses would add more trouble to it. Ex JWs community – as long as lack of religious or any other kind of ideology – is vital to reduce this kind of loneliness. Your experience might be well used in a form of activism.
Pluke77,
I know many in my old congregation that are your age that are awake but go for the friendship. I personally can’t do that, it’s too soul destroying to sit there & fake it.
I went through the loneliness stage but I have finally found friends. I hope that you can join a “Men’s Shed” in your area or something similar to find new more genuine friendships.
I’m a somewhat older person at 62. I woke about 6 yrs ago. I too lost all my family, so called friends, and only had a few people to talk to. These were people I knew from work, and now my wife who is supportive, being an ex JW herself. Living a lie is harder than being woke. I don’t think you can return even if you felt you would be better off. You would reject “the truth” all over again, the org. would reject you all over again…endless frustration and pain. It takes time, but it does get better. You need a new friend even if that person does not understand where you come from, most people can sense genuine feelings and the cry for help. I am not urging you to unload on anyone but you can find friends who make the days easier.
Pluke77,
You are welcome to join the discussions on borean pickets watchtower reviewer. Just google it. That site consists of a Christian community of ex-JWs and some current JWs who recognise the failings of WT, but did not let their recognition of those failings destroy their faith in God.
Part of the deception we were taught by WT is that Satan uses his own human ministers, who appear to be ministers of righteousness, to lead other people away from God, while we were taught that scripture does not apply to WT elders and its leaders. Even while we saw WT beat slaves of Christ in its own congregations, and outside those congregations, we denied to ourselves that scripture about Satan being an angel of light and his ministers appearing as ministers of righteousness applies to WT.
That behavior of beating with words every Christian not identifying as a JW, and beating with words and actions those Christians who are JWs, identifies WT as an “evil slave.” Part of that same evil slave (group) Christ spoke of in Matthew 24. And for what purpose does the evil slave exist? To lead people away from God, as Satan appears as an angel of light, and his ministers as ministers of righteousness. Don’t fall for that demonic trick, as Satan’s ministers are both inside and outside of the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and they do not always beat people, as their only tactic to lead people away from God. Sometimes they entice with words and false teachings which lead people away from God. Some of those offering such words used to follow God.
Your life is just beginning, stop and think about what things you would like to do, choose 1 or 2 activities. I was 71 going on 72 when I awoke, my world was in turmoil, I was woken by Terrance Obrien’s lies, I am so grateful he lied in the Victorian Inquiry, couldn’t believe my eyes to see the WT was using a female lawyer, females can’t give a public talk, but, can support lying in a court room. Watched JW.org rebranding, the 2014 International Convention, was cult like, a sales seminar, Heard speakers, saying ignorant and uninformed statements from the platform. I DA’d, gradually I took time to find myself, becoming comfortable with aloneness. I found time to contemplate, what was happening to my life, I chose 2 activities one online course, and one where I joined a craft group. The craft group felt strange, and I felt like a fish out of water, but gradually built friendships slowly. I came into the org as an adult, so at least I did have experience of being involved with non-JW’s, I have dabbled in a number of other activities, water colour painting, scrapbooking, Writers Group, taking time to listen to music, watching operas, reading, there are many things I still want to do or try in the future. At our age our time is short, but, our future is full of exciting things to do, and definitely, try and find a EXJW meetup group and if you decide on an activity of your choice, you might even find a meetup group for that interest. Your future can be a full and meaningful as you choose, I wish you well with the rest of your life.
Thankyou for the good advice and I will start over because I will keep hope alive!
Great article Sacha, and a great choice for this position as Sacha is a wonderful caring person, Sherrie and Sacha have made time to help people in need and show such a loving caring honest spirit that I almost feel sorry for the organisation to have lost them, yay for us though.
Reading this article makes me realize how WT continues to hemorrhage the members with compassion, conscience, intellectual honesty and, above all, the backbone to stand up for what’s actually true, even in the face of ostraization. With more and more ex-JWs climbing out of the woodwork each day, I’m left shaking my head at this carcass of an organization, disproportionately composed of weak-willed members, many of whom are afflicted by “mental and emotional problems” (WT Jan 2016, p 25, 26). To the Hateful Eight running the show: your vibe attracts your tribe. Good luck.
Ashley Summers what you say is very true. Especially those who struggle with leaving KNOWING how painful the consequences are going to be. I agonized about my decision to DA but have no regrets. No friends or family outside my immediate circle, but my moral backbone is intact.
@ruthlee No friends or family on the outside… I hear you. The worst part is how the indoctrinated JWs all murmur the same response to those who conscientiously up and leave: “they chose the easy path, to leave”… yeah, because living an insulated life with all the friends and family you’ve ever known and having your conscience spoon-fed to you is just SO hard *rolls eyes*. No, JWs. Standing up to corruption, dishonesty and a lifetime of lies is NOT the easy path. As demonstrated by people such as yourself, it is the hardest thing you could EVER do in life. Respect.
“If this is the Truth, then it should easily withstand a bit of analytical investigation and research, or so I remember thinking to myself.”
Oh, how the days of thinking JWs have long gone. Remember when Witnesses used to be able to explain the “deeper things” of Watcher doctrine? Now everything is so dumbed down. The articles read like children’s books, and the mentality is likewise reflected in the membership. “Uh, overlapping generations? Go to JW.org”, “where does the Bible differentiate between blood fractions? Just go the JW.org”, ” how did we arrive at the 1914 chronology in the face of 607BCE being debunked literally EVERYWHERE? Erm, have you visited JW.org?” Zero substance to these believers. Absolute parrots at the carts, unwilling (or too scared) to even delve into such a flimsy belief system.
AWESOME ARTICLE MY FRIEND!
I CAN’T THANK YOU AND SHERRIE ENOUGH FOR ALL THE HELP AND SUPPORT YOU GAVE ME WHEN I NEEDED IT MOST.
I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL TO HAVE WOKEN UP AND MET SUCH AMAZING PEOPLE LIKE YOU BRO!
Great article Sacha. I will always be grateful for you being there for us. It sure was a scary experience waking up. Love you guys.
I really feel pity for you if your story is true. But such is life. A lot of people are not JW member and still face ups and downs. At least JW will give you a hope of comfort from the Bible. For the millions who are making up this organisation, there’s still something convincing and let them be.
Hope is not a strategy.
The only thing convincing most to stay is being terrified of either dying at Armageddon or losing their families. I was one of them. Most want freedom but are too scared to leave. Sacha is putting himself out there to help others with nothing to gain. Unless you’ve lived through it you have no room to be critical. Every single ex JW needs to scream cult from the roof tops to warn and help others not get sucked into the trap.
Terrified of dying, yes Chloe S, thats a huge hurdle because the instinct to live is so strong. Witnesses have given an abusive and manipulative cult the power of life and death over them.
Belief is ok but the moment it becomes compulsory, it becomes immoral. The problem is though, if belief does not include a certain amount of fear and control it will die and we can see just that happening with the Anglican Church who went and removed all undue influence.
So the whole thing is about exploiting the fear of death and how to live forever. False Promises and Hope – a billion dollar industrial sized scam well past it’s use by date.
taifree 12……it’s all very well being philosophical by saying ‘such is life’ and ‘let them be’ but first, show these Witnesses the truth about the Org and then let them decide and see how many stay.
Let them see that WT would rather people die than admit they’re wrong regarding blood transfusions. Let them see WT would rather people die than run the risk of being sued into oblivion by the furious families of dead loved ones. Let them see that Jehovah chooses money over people.
Witnesses like to feel all warm and fuzzy over the 1500 or so Witnesses who died for WT in the holocaust but don’t even give a thought to the thousands killed by WT itself and how they all have blood on their hands.
We don’t allow a serial killer to walk free because he was deluded so WT has no excuse. It could be argued that WT is a criminal organisation responsible for the deaths of thousands of people in it’s care. Lock them up!
It takes a courageous and honest person to leave WT.
Very uplifting article. Thanx. So glad you guys made it over the wall and across the moat to FREEDOM. Another example showing that it CAN be done, even by a “born-in”. Also exposes watchtower’s LIE that if you leave the Borg your life goes straight down the sh*tter, “Satan” gets you by the throat, you end up addicted to crystal meth and die horribly in an orgy-gone-wrong with the Hell’s Angels, being eaten by wild dingos as your drug-addled body lies in some gutter in Thailand. :D
PS Good-looking couple. And love the green eyes on that cat.
OMG! Love the response. My children & I started leaving more than 10 years ago. We often chuckle about the stereo-typical formers we should be: methed up, STD ridden, drunken gutter dwellers. What a crock!
Thank you for a great article. It can feel a lonely experience waking up, but the truth is there are many others that have done so and managed to come out of the other side.
Thank you for a very well written article. Speaking for myself, I was fortunate when I left aka, got kicked out, because I had friends that were of like mind. I wasn’t all alone, but leaving behind the thoughts of Armageddon and such were difficult. I’m glad I didn’t lose my faith connection with my heavenly Father and His son during my journey as so many others have. You sir, and your wife are a blessing to many. Thank you.
@pluke77
Freedom isn’t always free. No one said life is fair. The ‘un-fairness’ of life is a reality you become aware of when you awaken. In JW Land, there is always the PROMISE that everything will balance out eventually in “Jehovah’s” Perfect & Just Universe. Just wait long enough and the “New World” will be presented to you all balanced and neat, with a pretty bow on top. Well, we know that’s not reality, don’t we? So what do you do now? Well, first, you shed the old JW attitude of praying to a Magic Man in the sky, going to a few meetings, and then expecting nice things to fall in your lap. JW Land is a community, and that’s why they get “nice things”, because they support & help each other, just like in any other social construct, not because of any Magical Sugar Daddy in the sky. So, now that you’re out of that soul-sucking cesspool, you are the Master of Your Fate. It all depends on your ATTITUDE. You can say, I’m 73, it’s all over. Or you can say, I’m 73, time to start fresh. My advice is, Get out there. There are almost 8 billion people on this planet. You literally can’t step out your door without bumping into somebody. Yes, it is challenging to make friends these days. I’m not going to blow sunshine up your ass. There are a lot of sleazy people out there. I myself am no social butterfly. I ditched most of my own “friends”. But know what I found out? It’s better to have few friends than to be surrounded by shallow, soul-sucking, fake friends. Trust me, you’re better off on this side of the moat. The rest is up to you. This is an opportunity. One door closes, another one opens! Put yourself out there. Research clubs, groups, and activities in your community. Hang out at Starbuck’s. At the bookstore. The library. Take a class where you’re bound to meet people. Take up a hobby. There are early-morning walking groups. Talk to someone on the bus. At the Community / Recreation Center. Get involved in the community. Volunteer at the hospital, etc. Just use your imagination (something that is stifled in JW Land, by the way) and be alert for opportunities. Be positive and view your new situation as the opportunity that it is. Have courage.
Anyone else have any suggestions for @pluke77?
ATTITUDE
ATTITUDE
ATTITUDE
“It’s better to have few friends than to be surrounded by shallow, soul-sucking, fake friends”
So true. I heartily agree. What a beautiful and encouraging comment. Life isn’t a popularity contest. I just keep being true to my Self and life is much better on the outside of dub-land. Cheers!
Thanx. And I agree, life is not a popularity contest, nor should it be a competition. No one in their right mind needs to be interested in “Keeping Up with the Kardashians”. Lol
Thanks for the advice and I have already signed up at the library to hear a violinist play so that’s a start. I just needed to vent because I already knew what to do, ATTITUDE, ATTITUDE, ATTITUDE, just needed a reminder so thanks a lot! (smile )
For anyone who’s still a bit foggy on watchtower’s “overlapping generation” teaching, here’s an esteemed member of the “Governing Body” elucidating it for us: https://youtu.be/G5Hd04mh9V4
Before I left I asked an elder to explain the overlapping generation to me in a way that made sense, he said ” did you look at the video on it?’ I said yes, he said ” did you read the article in the watchtower on it? I said yes, he said ” keep reading it until you understand it”. So these are the people we go to when we need help understanding something that never made sense in the first place!
So many people leaving. But have you noticed how much time and money they are putting into countries in Africa and other poor countries?
They are going after the easiest to deceive. Now Zambia is the main branch for all the new construction around southern Africa. All English, Spanish and Canadian people being sent there. Is there no locals they can use?
It’s ok to get them to clean or do manual labour But don’t let the black man have control on their own land for teaching or anything important. There are European countries with less JWs or a greater ratio of non witnesses to population yet they won’t send people here. I worked in Chelmsford and we have those in construction wing sent to Africa. Why not send them to their own countries or places like Ireland with over 1000/1 one JW to population????
Because educated countries are waking up.
The amount of money spent here in Chelmsford is a disgrace. How they have charitable status is beyond me. How they they justify millions in fancy gardens and full size swimming pool with gym, basketball, tennis courts and do this in the name of a charity.
They could have just leased or bought an office block. Why all of this opulence????
Millions extra spent just so the rooms with balconies. They ask for more money to build fancy Bethels but people starve. The first project in Zambia is to do up the bethel there. Not to help the locals who have no homes but let’s make a fancy bethel. We don’t even print so it is all offices. This work could be done from home. When o when will the charity commission open their eyes. Is Chelmsford and Warwick not enough to show what the donations are used for? What charitable work is a fancy home for the elite?
I am also a coward. I will lose my family if I leave. So I am slowing drifting. It’s a way out. Do less and less. They think you are lazy or not a spiritual person but who cares what they think. At least they can’t control my family by telling them not to talk to me. I think it hurts them more. I’m here and they can do nothing about it.
Andy,
So true. The Watchtower is concentrating on areas of the world that are poorer and are losing membership in more educated countries. Their attorney admitted that the Watchtower was just like the hierarchical Catholic Church. Finally the truth about the Truth has been spoken! Just like the Catholic Church the Witnesses find themselves looking for more gullible people in third world countries where they prey on the poverty stricken who are desperately looking for a “do over button” to their wretched lives. Their convoluted message gives these pitiful people a false hope of something better in their lifetime but it’s all a pipe dream. And what’s at the end of a pipe, you may ask? Nothing, maybe excrement, but mostly empty air.
The Watchtower is gleaning the fields that Christendom has already picked clean. They have managed to pick up sheeple nobody really wants. In the process they have managed to create a church of compliant, cowardly, snitches and pedofile protectors. Yes in their effort to emulate the Catholic Church the Watchtower has managed to pick up their “problems” as well.
Oh by the way, drifting (fading) is not cowardice but it is a very good and successful way to leave the organization that works! My family and I have managed to leave this soul sucking cult following this non-confrontational strategy. First slowly drop mid week meetings then make field service a once a month endeavor ending it completely after a few months. Then slowly drop the Watchtower study leaving after the public talk all the while avoiding the friends and elders with their concerns. Participation in congregation meetings should taper off as well. Do not, under any circumstance, allow them to manipulate you into the “back room” for a session of guilt and arm twisting!
Let those elders come to your abode and then tell them what you know and be prepared to show them from non-apostate news sites. Do mention “the Guardian” articles on Watchtower’s decade long U.N. involvement, which is almost 20 years old news. Then ask if they know about it and if it’s so innocent why has the Watchtower covered this knowledge up. Next stand back as your brilliant arguments and counterpoints cause these false shepherds to beat a hasty retreat to your door! Good luck on your fade and on your awakening!
Big B
“Yes in their effort to emulate the Catholic Church the Watchtower has managed to pick up their “problems” as well.”
We used to be one of them with several problems, in desperation. If WT doesn’t create problems in people’s lives (like in-borns), they attract converts with serious troubles. And treat then as garbage. Especially when they dare to ask uncomfortable questions.
Good points, Andy. Looks like watchtower’s racism is poking out again. Well, at least they have a token black on the GB. :D
Good advice, Big B. Discretion IS the better part of valor. And while one is still “in”, they can always come up with creative ways to “stick it” to the Borg in subtle, yet effective ways. Your admonition to resist any attempt to manipulate one into the “back room”, comes straight out of the military handbook. The No.1 Rule regarding getting captured, is, DON’T !!!
Your not a coward. It’s one of the way out especially those who have family inside the borg.
Hi Its been a while since i’ve used this website although i recently watched the Leah Remini documentary in which John was one of the guests yes although I’ve never been disfellowshipped I too feel the cold harsh judgements brought upon me this is despite not even doing anything wrong well that is apart from not going to meetings any more. The sad part is all witness should be growing in a spiritual sense yet I find instead of becoming more mature they have become totally dependent on what the watchtower says.the only instruction anyone ever needs is found in the bible not in the watchtower.
Great article Sacha! So well told and articulated – you write like a pro. Well done for having the courage and honesty to evaluate your most treasured beliefs. If only believers of all faiths could be this devoted to finding “truth”.
So happy that you and Sherrie have your freedom now, even if it’s come at great cost. And thank you for sacrificing your time and energies to be part of the JW Survey team and providing such valuable support to others going through the waking up process.
Sacha,
This site appears to censor comments way beyond what your stated guidelines for censorship are. Some of my posts are readily displayed, others are not displayed at all. Those not displayed include some topics I attempted to post several times, written at different times, in different comments. The last occurence of that happening is one comment I just wrote for the first time and posted to pluke77. It didn’t show.
Will you find out the reason for this, if you don’t already know, and post your discovery? And if it is because of censorship and not a mechanical issue is it occurring because the site is proposing a certain ideology, while not stating that it is? For instance, do certain words divert posts to some never-neverland off site, never to be heard or read again? I believe you are one that will know as you stated in your article you answer emails and other correspondence, and because previously you claimed to have something to do with computer pages on this site.
Thank you in advance for your response to this inquiry.
Hello Messenger,
Thanks for your message. I am not aware of any “censorship” of comments.
I can see your posts.
Perhaps some glitch took place?
Thanks for reaching out though.
Kind Regards
Sacha
Probably a glitch. It’s happened to me too. Perhaps the Witch Tower has their own team of hackers. Wouldn’t be a surprise, since they have their own team of sleazy lawyers and spin doctors!
Thanks for your reply and looking into it.
I was never really startled or hurt while waking up to WT’s tricks. Probably because over the course of many many decades I “fought the fine fight” against groups of congregation elders, in three of the six or seven congregations I was a member of, including my first congregation and next to my last congregation. I admit that I was surprised to learn that those running the org are just as sneaky and dishonest as those groups of elders I found in those three congregations.
This is no indictment by me against all JW elders or circuit overseers. I found some of them to be real nice people. But some I was around were liars, and they were otherwise dishonest people, and very harmful souls attempting to bring havoc into the lives of other congregation members. After attacking the midgets (a metaphorical designation for those elders) on their own turf, I found attacking their superiors quite easy and natural, once I smelled that foul odor from their superiors. The irony in this is that it was WT that taught me to join others in a fight against false religion. So I continue to “fight the fine fight” against WT, in order to bring all thoughts of those who will live into captivity to God. Another irony is that while WT was schooling me to teach others who false religion is, they never told me it was them, since most of them don’t even know it.
Hi fellow-truthseekers,
I have been a baptised witness from 1969(born 1943 in germany) learned and studied the bible thoroughly-flood, radio carbon dating,mchrono;ogy the works until the last 2-3 years when started researching the “governing body” and realised they are group of self appointed crooks and using us to donate our time – I did a lot of work on kingdom hall construction and enjoyed the grass-roots brothers tremendously…
In short Ilive with my wifes family (9 flehly sisters and all baptised) and need to get away,I just don’t know how ? Can you help me ? I am 76 years old and still have some strength and enjoy my electricalwork and presently live in the USA/Florida.
I need to talk to somebody
Hoping for a reply soon
Ex-JW (not disfellowsipped just disassociated
Manfred
P.S. I am nervous writing and excuse my mistakes -my brain gone back to German my first language
Hi Manfred. First let me wish you Good Luck.
I assume you mean you need to physically move away from your wife’s JW family. I guess that would depend on finances. It sounds like you personally don’t have the resources to accomplish that. The only thing I can think of is, if your wife has money, or if any of your (or her) relatives can help, then come up with a really winning reason why you need to move out. Maybe more privacy, more pleasant location in your “old age”, boredom, etc. Use your imagination. But I sympathize, man. It must be really “interesting” living under the same roof with 9 JWs. Lol … Hang in there, and don’t do any mass shootings. If you have a gun, throw it away! :D :D :D
Hi “Gruntled
glad you answered me-I don’t live with all 9 of them only 3-and one next door -but the constant Jehovah talk gets under my skin. I had a house fully paid for from 1987 and was fool enough to sell it. I still have some of it but by the time I split it, it won’t last too long, where are you physically located ?
Would like to meet somebody to talk to.
Until next time
Manfred
Yes, I got fed up with hearing Jehovah this and Jehovah that, Jehovah Jehovah Jehovah. LOL
Unfortunately, I’m not in your area, but keep visiting this site. It will do you a world of good. And if you’re looking for company on the outside, check out the advice I offered pluke77 above.
Things can only get better.
Cheers
Gunther, you can find exjws on the Redditt site and some are willing to message or contact you so you have support you may need
It’s http://www.redditt/r/exjw/
Anyone that resorts to name calling has no valid argument. Thank all of you that helps open the eyes of those that are ready to hear the real truth.
As a lurker on the Jehovah’s witness. com forum I followed all your posts and progress as stuckinarut2 from the first time you joined the forum with great interest, and I knew I liked you from the get-go.
You have such a genuine caring and non confrontational style that appealed to me and I thought straight away ” I like this guy” .
Quite a few times I wanted to join the forum just to reply to your posts, but I hesitated, and didn’t join.
I even went as far as typing out how I would respond to a topic you posed for discussion.
Nevertheless I went along for the emotional ride with you, sharing your struggles and your joy as the elders treated you poorly and Sherrie woke up to the truth about the truth.
Just like you and many others jwfacts.com was key in my becoming fully awakened. I was looking for that one-stop-shop where I could get the evidence based answers that my honest research demanded.
I felt something was deeply wrong with Watchtower, and the evidence confirmed that.
I would have accepted evidence to the contrary proving me wrong, as it would change nothing for me as to any significant life decisions. All I wanted was the truth. Supported by factual, verifiable evidence.
Well done and thank you for taking on this responsibility, I’m confident you are the best qualified person anyone could hope for as a support person. You come across as a healer and comforter by nature.
Just remember to keep some in reserve for you and Sherrie.
Warm Regards.
Hello Rayoflight2014!
Thank you for your very kind comments. I appreciate that very much.
Your thoughtful reminder at the end is also very valid and appreciated!
As we all help one another, we need to bear in mind that ” we cant pour from an empty bucket”, so need to take care of ourselves as well.
I hope you are doing well, and pass on our love!
Sacha
Hi Sacha,
Thank you for sharing your and Sherrie’s story. I once said that leaving the faith in 2007 felt like stepping off the end of the world. Like you I was so very fortunate to have my wife and daughters leave with me. Although my oldest did remain in the faith for about 6 months on her own. I was pretty active in the Ex-JW community in the years after we left. I even hosted the local meetup group in Chandler, Arizona, USA.
Then in the fall of 2013 we started to attend a local Unitarian Universalist congregation. We became members in 2015. The UUs accept folks like me. That is, an atheist, who nonetheless feels an inclination towards religious life.
I’ve given a few UU sermons. When my sermon is posted to YouTube I check in with the Ex-JW community and share the link to the sermon:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CthJxyCM694&list=PLZzR7_SOiyAQpfpodZACYUrB9H_A8Db5R&index=9&t=0s
For those who may be interested I hope its shows a life beyond Jehovah’s Witnesses is possible. Even a religious life for someone like me.
One of the members of our UU congregation has a daughter who lives in Australia. I always enjoy listening to his report after he visits. Visiting Australia is definitely one of my life-goals. Many in the Ex-JW community are indebted to Paul Grundy and his well researched jwfacts website. It was his website that convinced me sincere Ex-JWs existed and could present arguments that could not be easily dismissed.
Cheers,
-Randy
I have faded almost completely, i read on another site that we all seem to go through an Armageddon moment that starts the wake up process, mine was 2 things, an out of control elder & the witch hunts on my family & then i grew a beard, & tried to give a talk, no no no, then the CO turned it over & said i could give talks, so i said to the the Brothers, so its not a spirit anointed decision,no comment, so i have slowly crept out the back door, this process has taken 6 years, lucky for me i have a job which puts me in constant contact with people & co workers, so i am not lonely, another 2 in the local Congo have faded, so plenty of contact with them. But not easy for some i know.
Yeah apart from JWsurvey, JWFacts, JWfiles, Watchtowerfiles, Watchtower documents .org great site as this very brave sister reveals what really happened in the Bethel cover ups on child abuse got DF , exjwcriticalthinker has some brilliant youtube videos’and sixscreensofthewatchtower all helped change my attitude after I’d suffered from a complete emotional psychological break down and got no support and got all my privileges removed, I started to really doubt if this was really a loving organization which makes me laugh as the current theme for this years convention is “Love never Fails.I