Getting to Know the JDubs
Yep. I was one of them. Jehovah's Witnesses. Perhaps you met them on one hungover Saturday when they unexpectedly knocked on your door and you then sent them all to hell. To which, they might've responded by asking, "what makes you believe in a fiery hell?" Not the best way to start your weekend.I'd have to say, despite their annoying tactics, they come across as nice people. That is, until you wish them a Merry Christmas. Don't get them started on that, 'cuz they will get weird! One time, I witnessed--you do a lot of witnessing as a Jehovah's Witness--a JW beating up a Christmas tree! I wish I were kidding but it actually happened. I was friends with a woman who was married to a guy who wasn't a witness. The JW's words for non-witnesses are "worldly" or "unbeliever," used interchangeably. Anyhow, as we were out all day fishing for converts, he decided to put up his tree. Big one too. When we walked into the house, she was so flabbergasted at the tree that she started wailing at it. I remember seeing ornaments flying everywhere. The tree wasn't having it though. Those tree branches started wailing back and it turned into a real fight! I had 50 bucks on the tree.
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| They should have cast Jehovah as the Grinch! |
The point of that story, is to illustrate how seriously Jehovah's Witnesses get with their beliefs. After all, everything that they read from their literature is to be taken without question and as fact. Besides not celebrating any holidays--including one's own birthday, they also believe that accepting a blood transfusion is a huge no-no. It may seem random to an "unbeliever," but their belief is that either you practice "blood abstinence" or you'll die in a fiery Armageddon. They even have little cards that say "No Blood." Once I got into an accident in a rough neighborhood and they found my "No Blood" card, so they shipped me off to the Crips Hospital. Imagine my dismay. I look like a smurf with those Blue bandanas.
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| Only Jehovah's Witnesses and anorexic vampires need apply |
I lived a Jehovah's Witness life because, like every other member, I was conditioned to believe that sacrificing my life to this institution/publishing corporation is the key to salvation. My parents raised me in the cult so leaving at that time was not an option. Becoming a Jehovah's Witness means going to the Kingdom Hall, knocking on stranger's doors looking for converts and accepting the entire JW doctrine without question. One also has to accept that a small group little old men in upstate NY called the "Governing Body" is the mouthpiece of God. Their worst doctrine by far is their policy of shunning anyone who decides that the JW lifestyle is not a good fit for his life. Leaving the mob is easier than leaving the Jehovah's Witnesses! More and more former Jehovah's Witnesses are being vocal about this horrible practice. For example, former member Brenda Lee, who is a long time anti-cult activist tells her story about growing up as a Jehovah's Witness and the cruel way her family shunned her after she left. Check out her story at http://www.outofthecocoon.net/
Leaving the Cult (Yes, it's a cult. Get over it!)
The Jehovah's Witnesses disfellowshipped me because I had committed a "serious sin." The leaders of the cult, called "elders" had a meeting with me to discuss my future and my fate. They found me to be "unrepentant," which simply meant that I was unwilling to stop living my life to its fullest instead of being a drone. Although it was rough at the time, I didn't realize how much freedom I had given myself! The Jehovah's Witness life was all I knew up until that point, so leaving meant that my life would drastically change. It was an intense experience--like the day I went to see that Michael Bolton concert. I wanted Michael to notice me so badly and he didn't. Life's just not fair.
Oh, Michael Bolton. Why won't you notice me???
When the JW's kicked me out, I was totally shunned. None of my childhood friends could even so much as look at me--as if I were that ugly! Anyhow, there's a whole controversy about their disfellowshipping policy. The Jehovah's Witness leaders aren't what you may call, merciful people. I committed a "serious sin" and could therefore never associate with Witnesses again. I know of mass murderers who get off with a lighter sentence than me! Watch any episode of Orange is the New Black and you'll see what I mean!
To shun or not to shun?
Anyhow after leaving, I did what any other rational person would do, I donated bags of clothes to Goodwill. What the hell else was I gonna do a closet full of tacky clothes?
Nobody should have to go through an experience like that. It's a humiliating, degrading and a terribly sad experience--kinda like watching a Jennifer Lopez movie.
Anaconda--When you can't breathe, you can't scream. That's getting shunned by JW
If anyone reading this needs help after leaving the Dubs because of the trauma of shunning, I will refer you to the sites listed below. Please know you're not alone. There are others out there who have gone through disfellowshipping and/or disassociating and have gone on to live happy, productive lives. We ex Dubs are more than happy to help :)
http://gayxjw.org/
http://www.silentlambs.org/
jwsurvey
http://watchthetower.net/
There's plenty more, but those are enough to get you started on your quest for a meaningful life post Jehovah's Witnesses.
