Anyone else have problems with jehovah's witnesses?

I was raised as a Jehovah's Witness. As a kid we went to Kingdom Hall meetings and my parents are very active in the faith and congregation. I first started questioning their beliefs in high school when I became aware that most of their prophecies about Armageddon and the end times had not come true. I also began seriously questioning the stance against blood and organ transfusions, and the serious flaws in their translation of the Bible. Well to make a long story short, after talking with my parents, congregation elders, and lots of other people, I made a decision to formally leave the congregation. This has caused a huge rift between me and my family as the congregation has basically accused me of heresy and put me through disfellowship. For those of you who are Catholic, disfellowship is the same thing as excommunication.

So now my parents struggle to even stay in contact with me, the circle of family and friends I grew up with has turned their back on me, and I'm left wondering why I had to have anything to do with this cult. I've since moved on and made my own way in life, but 10 years ago my life was basically ruined by these people.

Does anyone else have any similar experiences with the Jehovah's Witnesses and maybe offer some advice on how to deal with disfellowship?

Jehovah’s Witnesses and freedom of speech.
Who are Jehovah's Witnesses?

They will extol and preach 'God's Kingdom' and this sounds attractive,what they hide from you is their Watchtower sect version that Jesus has already had his second coming in 1914 and is working 'invisibly' through them.
They have won 37 of their 46 U.S. Supreme Court cases, assuring us all of freedom of speech and assembly and equal protection under the law.

The sad irony is that the Watchtower Society *daily* abuses the human rights of thousands of its members. It denies current members the right of free speech by forbidding them to speak to former members, even close family members.

And it denies former members their right of freedom of worship by refusing to allow them to leave the religion with dignity, should they come to disagree with Watchtower's practices or doctrines.
The 'religion' of Jehovah's Witnesses is a dangerous cult that controls every aspect of its members' lives.

Are they knocking on your door?
---
Danny Haszard http://www.freeminds.org

my grandparents on my moms side are jehovas witnesses and I hate it because they don't even remember our birthdays..I think it's a waste of hapiness to be jehovas..and I also hate when they knock on our door and tell us about god..

When they knock on my door I just set my dog on them lol, I'm not against them for their religious beliefs I just flat out don't like them(sorry if that offended anyone)

I'm not a Jehovah'a Witness. But once upon a time, I used to work at a school. There was a 5 yr old girl in the classroom across from me whose family was Jehovah's witnesses. I remember everytime the school had christmas parties or birthday parties for other children, her family requested that she sit in the hallway. She would always be sitting out there crying by herself. This really broke my heart

That's really sad swercyma...
I think that people should just go by what they believe in instead of whatever they're /supposed/ to believe in, you know? It's totally cool if you believe in the whole jahova's witness thing, but it isnt cool if you dont believe in it and your parents/whatever is just forcing it on you.
There's all these stories where they dont believe in all the holidays because of blahblahblah (I have several jahova's witness friends), but I dont understand why it's so bad to celebrate birthdays... celebrate the day you or someone else was born. Or get all lovey-dovey on valentine's day... or dress up for fun on Halloween! But that's my opinion and I totally respect their's and everything...
But still, I dont think things should be taken so seriously to where you can't even celebrate the things you want to (if you want to) because of your religion and stuff.
I'm sorry if that doesnt make sense AT ALL
(and please dont start flaming me because of what I believe in, I totally respect what you believe in so respect in what I believe in, ok?)

Yeah well I never had a single birthday party growing up, nor did we ever celebrate Christmas, Thanksgiving, or the Fourth of freakin' July. That's not really what I'm asking about. Nor am I asking about your problems with JW's who come door to door.

The question is directed at those who have been shunned or disfellowed, or know anyone who has, or know what can be done about it. Sorry if I'm on the blunt side, but none of you really know what it's like to go through something like this and that's why I framed the question the way I did.

Ok mj79,
All of us have been shunned at one time or another. Most people on this site have been shunned or disowned or they wouldn't be here asking advice on how they look or how to get back with there lover. I lost all of my friends when I started dating a black man who is now the father of my child. So yes it has been a long journey to try to make new friends who love me for who I am. If these people disowned you because of a decision you made for yourself, then I don't think that they cared to much for you in the first place. Nor are they true followers of God. I know that this is hard for you, but there are people out there who will accept you for who you are. And when a friend loves and cares about you, they suddenly become your family

Ok mj79,
All of us have been shunned at one time or another. Most people on this site have been shunned or disowned or they wouldn't be here asking advice on how they look or how to get back with there lover. I lost all of my friends when I started dating a black man who is now the father of my child. So yes it has been a long journey to try to make new friends who love me for who I am. If these people disowned you because of a decision you made for yourself, then I don't think that they cared to much for you in the first place. Nor are they true followers of God. I know that this is hard for you, but there are people out there who will accept you for who you are. And when a friend loves and cares about you, they suddenly become your family

I was raise with being a jehovah witness and still is. I do believe in God because I do good and whenim in a situation or I really wantsomthing I pray to God for what ever I want it happened. It happened to me like 5 times

well... I have a problem with it but one of my really great friends is being converted by force from catholicism...which I think is pretty wack. So far he hasnt tried to push any religion on me or anything. but im not allowed over to there house anymore because they feel that I am a worshiper of the devil... even though I am a practicing roman catholic.

Jehovah's Witnesses are a cult because they try to cut you off from others who do not have the same beliefs, including family.
The Watchtower is a truly Orwellian world.
--
Danny Haszard born 1957 as a 3rd generation Jehovah's Witness
http://jehovahwitness.vox.com/
I was in the cult and now I'm out

I am so happy that I don't HAVE to celebrate Christmas with all its pagan festivities, or that people HAVE to give me presents on that or any other day.

Hi mj79. I am sorry about your situation. I know many others who live in similar circumstances to yourself. I am not disfellowshipped but still have family members who are JWs. I was one for nearly 40 years.

I belong to an Ex JW recovery board and it has helped me and lots of others to heal and get on with our lives. Just having someone to talk to who understands your situation can help in a big way. Here is the address... please come and visit us.

http://p196.ezboard.com/bexjehovahswitnessforum

See you there I hope.

Steve

I have been a JW for 59 years, I grew up in it and have about 232 family members in it. Remember Noah? You remind us of how he probably felt , but God was right the people were bad from their youth up. The organization now is horrible, the people are suspicious or scared of being DFD because they lose they family relationship. I have chosen to stay in the background, they would probably wish I would go away but I won't. I sit and I will wait until Jehovah makes it clear who he has chosen as his faithful slave. I refuse talks that are not according to scripture and I have to detox and not go to every meeting or a brainwashing will occur. Visit some of the sites mentioned and beat them at their game get back reinstated for your family relations ( it seems to be very important to you as mine is), then just stop going or just go every now and then or just sit quietly and let them wonder. Wait on Jehovah to help you my dear little bro. or sis.
Take care

mj79 after reading the other comments and on ofd your replys I now understand you more fully. All of us who are on this site has been shunned or something. I am a major whistleblower on pedophilia and Elders trying to have sex with single sisters when they are married. I will fight them in court but in such a way they cannot disfellowship me but I am on the shun list by elders and the society only. Most publishers like me because I am not afraid. I disagree with dignity. I am older. Prominent in the medical community and treat the brothers and sisters including CO &DO. I refuse to get close, I do the David. (read the account) You have been equipped to read, study and pray correctly use it! Go one on one with your father and his son. They are your family also. He will come to your aid. You are sincere, I feel the pain in your comment.
Take care fellow worshipper.

Hm...My friend is part of Jehovah's Witnesses, he doesn't celebrate anything O_O well like Christmas and stuff

Hm...My friend is part of Jehovah's Witnesses, he doesn't celebrate anything O_O well like Christmas and stuff

I was raised to be a JW. I believed it as long as I never got information other than Watchtower’s (a printing company!) information. When I began reading the bible without their publications I found so many discrepancies between what they taught and what the Word said there was no going back. Jehovah's Witnesses/JWs are captives of the Watchtower/WT constantly-repeated 'mantras':

[1] The WT is God’s only “channel of communication”. Its leasers alone hear from Jehovah God and will tell you everything you need to know when you need to know it.' (In material which you can have for a contribution.)

[2] 'Armageddon (when Jesus will destroy everyone who isn't a “loyal” JW) is coming soon.'

[3] 'You will be guilty for the deaths of every person Jesus kills who would have become Witness--if only you'd spent more time in field service ‘placing’ our literature and/or conducting bible using our materials (“without which no one can understand the scriptures”).”

[4] 'This world is 'going out of business' so you don't need any higher education. Jehovah expects those who worship him to be full time [UNPAID] preachers; attend all five (5) meetings each week, while supporting themselves and their family with part-time work. (The WT encourages those who 'pioneer' to get low-income housing; food stamps and medical care--federally funded by your tax dollars--in order to maintain its workforce.)

[5] All governments and religions are controlled by Satan the devil.

[6] The WT has its own version of honesty. One must tell the truth only to those who deserve (in its opinion) to know--like them. Unbelievers, of course, do not deserve to know what they don't want to tell. (The WT calls this 'Theocratic Warfare.')

Does this sound like a cult to you?

There is a website set up by a British woman who has been through the same things as you. She's trying to set up a network for former JWs, so they can help each other out and just learn about how others have coped. I'll try to find that site address for you...

http://www.exjw-reunited.co.uk/

Got it! It's a very new site and when I looked before it had a lot of gaps - maybe you could help her out?

flossheal & stm345, thank you so much for your web resources. I'm going to pay those sites a visit. That's exactly what I was looking for. Take care...

hello mj79 just wanted to make sure you are okay. say your picture. You hang in there and talk to Jehovah and Jesus, you can talk to your father. I don't like hearing msome fo the pain in some of the comments. Remeber when Jesus came he encountered the sanhedrin, a big organization. They had been lopped off by Jehovah. Wait he will show us the way. Stand back and wait. If Jehovah cannot handle the flock and religion, them we need to go looking for a GOD. The thought scares you.
Take care mu brother,
You see I am older I had to learn to view your profile.

I got your e-mail.
You are welcome

BTW, my name is Wapontake on our forum.

http://p196.ezboard.com/bexjehovahswitnessforum

You can remain as anonymous as you want on our site and there is no joining fee. I think the other site mentioned would be good but I was uncomfortable about the registration process and the amount of information you had to divulge and a fee to join. There are many forums for exJWs. They all have different personalities. If ours doesnt suit, we have a links page where you can locate others.

Hope we can be of assistance mj.

Steve

To add to stm345 comment make sure of all things and you will get a site that is helpful in understanding the problem and some encouragement..
Take care.

I don't have a problem loving them as another person God has put before me. I just pray for their souls as I have them read John from their bible and leave out the extra 'a' before God.

Search 'Jehovah's Witness and Christianity' and many pages come up. Yes, they get all their teaching from the Watchtower in NY.

I knew a girl who was an active witness and she told me she wasnt allowed to celebrate her birthday because it was sacreligious or something.

I thought that was kinda stupid I mean you're celebrating life so in turn you're celebrating god and a higher being or whatever you believe in. so it was lame.

but...I am not a religious person myself, but I am a hopeful person. I have faith in other people. hope and faith, irregardless of who or what you believe in is all you need.

ALL OF YOU ARE ABSOLUTE IDIOTS AND FOOLISH PEOPLE! JEHOVAH IS THE ONLY ALMIGHTY CREATOR AND HE WILL JUDGE ALL IN HIS OWN DUE TIME, MEANWHILE WE GET SPIRITUAL FOOD TO SUSTAIN US. ALL OF YOUR STATEMENTS SHOW CLEARLY THAT NONE, I REPEAT, NONE OF YOU HAVE READ AND STUDIED THE BIBLE PROPERLY.
PRAY FOR WISDOM, BUT ALSO STUDY - PS 1:1-3.
NONE OF YOU BELIEVE IN JUUDGEMENT DAY, RATHER ASKING FOR WEBSITES, HOW FOOLISH!
BYE.

'So now my parents struggle to even stay in contact with me, the circle of family and friends I grew up with has turned their back on me, and I'm left wondering why I had to have anything to do with this cult. I've since moved on and made my own way in life, but 10 years ago my life was basically ruined by these people'.

OMG I WANT TO CRY US. THE jehovah's witnesses DID NOT TURN THERE BACK AT YOU YOU TURNED YOUR BACK AT US SORRY IT'S TRUE. AND HEY I AM OLD 15 YEARS OLD AND YOU KNOW THAT A LOOK OF OLD PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THAT DAY TO COME FIRST WE NEED TO SAVE PEOPLR AND THEN THE DAY IS GOING TO COME.. AND DUDE YOU MAKE US SEEM LIKE SOME REALLY MEAN PEOPLE I TRY REALLY HARD IN MAKEING JEHOVA HAPPY AND I REALLY TRY HARD AND SOME PEOPLE JUST GO AND MAKE FUN OF THAT BUT THATS O.K BECAUSE JEHOVA IS NEXT TO ME AND ALWAYS WELL BE UNLESS IF I DO HIM WRONG..
DUDE YOU SHOULD NOT TALK SO BAD ABOUT US YOU NOW WE HAVE FAIT I DONT KNOW IF YOUR STORY IS REALLY OR JUST TRYING TO MAKE US LOOK WRONG BUT THINK ABOUT IT!!

'So now my parents struggle to even stay in contact with me, the circle of family and friends I grew up with has turned their back on me, and I'm left wondering why I had to have anything to do with this cult. I've since moved on and made my own way in life, but 10 years ago my life was basically ruined by these people'.

OMG I WANT TO CRY US. THE jehovah's witnesses DID NOT TURN THERE BACK AT YOU YOU TURNED YOUR BACK AT US SORRY IT'S TRUE. AND HEY I AM OLD 15 YEARS OLD AND YOU KNOW THAT A LOOK OF OLD PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THAT DAY TO COME FIRST WE NEED TO SAVE PEOPLR AND THEN THE DAY IS GOING TO COME.. AND DUDE YOU MAKE US SEEM LIKE SOME REALLY MEAN PEOPLE I TRY REALLY HARD IN MAKEING JEHOVA HAPPY AND I REALLY TRY HARD AND SOME PEOPLE JUST GO AND MAKE FUN OF THAT BUT THATS O.K BECAUSE JEHOVA IS NEXT TO ME AND ALWAYS WELL BE UNLESS IF I DO HIM WRONG..
DUDE YOU SHOULD NOT TALK SO BAD ABOUT US YOU NOW WE HAVE FAIT I DONT KNOW IF YOUR STORY IS REALLY OR JUST TRYING TO MAKE US LOOK WRONG BUT THINK ABOUT IT!!

My brother just became a jehova's witness I will be honest it really bothers me how does anyone even know what the right religion is they could be wrong just like any religion could be I hope that what I believe will be all that matters.we will never know what is right until we are gone

Oh funadvice...

Thank god you are out of there.

Go here for really good advice on leaving JWs... they also have a DVD called 'Recovery from the Watchtower'

http://www.freeminds.org