I was raised as one of Jehovah's Witnesses from 1969, until I left in 1982. I waned in my attendance during my last years in high school, and shortly after my marriage. My Dad left the Society because of the hypocrisy of others, my brother and sister fell away because there was no demand to continue going to the Meetings, and my Mom - well she left afterwards as well. I stayed because I believed everything I had been taught, I was faithful to Jehovah's Servant without question.The day I bagan studing the 80 Questions for baptism, was when I began to have serious questions of my own. The Elders grew wary of my search for the TRUTH; a Truth beyond their doctrinal, cookie cut answers. One of the major things that began my journey of leaving was researching and questioning the Leaders of the Organization itself. Never ask questions. Don't think for yourself; or you will be in darkness, lost and apart from Jehovah's Servant.
Jehovah is the same yesterday and forever; the Watchtower leaders are ever changing, their Light always a different color. Why all the changing dates for Armageddon? Why the many changes in the Biblical Translations, to suit their doctrine of the day? Why? Why? Why - must I accept only what they say; when what they say is ever changing? So, I became a Southern Baptist; a Lay Minister for seven years - preaching Jesus is LORD. After 15 years, I began to question again; returning to many of the same JW questions that lay unsnawered.
Surfing the NET, purchasing many books and studying the Bible for myself I finally washed myself clear of JW-ian Shadow. However, I remained psychologically scared for life; skeptical of everything. One reoccuring theme that touched, and "haunted" me was how everything was Pagan related. So, I studied Paganism. Today I call myself a Pagan. I got a tattoo on my left arm of a Tripple Moon with a Pentagram and Hounds. My tattoo reminds me that you can never unring a bell. The misinformation, and out right lies of the Jehovah's Witnesses, and the misiformation of Christianity is something I can not unlearn, unresearch, nor go back to "not knowing."
As a Seeker, truth can be found in many places and love seen in many faces; one belief is not invalidated by another's view of their walk with Deity. I believe the cults like Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses mislead people through the manipulative misdirection of zealous Leaders seeking their goals. Organized Christianity is a farce on mankind, for Jesus taught things which were layered upon by men with their own agendas. Paganism sees the Universe as the beginning and end unto itself; men responcible for their own actions. Ill treatment and decption upon ones brother - watch out - Karma's a bitch. 
Great post!
ReplyDeleteUp close and personal Jehovah's Witnesses can be wolves in sheep's clothing.
Think about this-When the devil comes knocking on your door he may not have the 'dark goth look'.They could be smartly dressed and wielding the Christian Bible.
I have Jehovah's Witnesses family in the usa who practice the Watchtower JW enforced ritual shunning that i have not seen or heard from in 15 years.
The central CORE dogma of the Watchtower is Jesus second coming (invisibly) in 1914 and is a lie.Jehovah's Witnesses are a spin-off of the man made Millerite movement of 1840.
A destructive cult of false teachings, that frequently result in spiritual and psychological abuse, as well as needless deaths (bogus blood transfusion ban).
Yes,you can 'check out anytime you want but you can never leave',because they can and will hold your family hostage.
The world has the Internet now,and there are tens of thousands of pages up from disgruntled ex-Jehovah's Witnesses like myself who have been abused by the Watchtower cult.
Jehovah's Witnesses are often a mouth that prays a hand that kills.The Watchtower is a truly Orwellian world.
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Danny Haszard former Jehovah's Witness X 33 years and 3rd generation www.dannyhaszard.com
Excelent Comment, Thanks! I guess I've lost some of my bitterness, with reguards to the JWs. Though Org. Rel. is still very much a pet peeve of mine.
ReplyDeleteI always heard that the JWs were a cult, but they didn't seem like they were much more malevolent or misguided than any other sect or denomination of Christianity. Even when we were kids, I didn't notice how affected you were by the experience. I guess that is part of being a clueless kid. It seems like folks raised in that environment have really come away with some deep scars. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm sorry I didn't understand what you were going through. But it seems like you turned out pretty well for a bone-head pagan.
ReplyDeleteAw man... That's just the way it is. Quit asking so many questions. Pay no attention to that little man behind the curtain!
"Organized Christianity is a farce on mankind, for Jesus taught things which were layered upon by men with their own agendas."
ReplyDeleteAnd so it was with the constitution of the United States.