Welcome Amy, I try to not ever let politics, or religion come between family, friends, and me. Neither do I take crap from anyone for anything....but if there is going to be withdrawing, it will have to be them...I only am responsible for my own actions. It works for me. Some dis-owned me, and when they found I loved, and cared for them anyway came back. Some didn't, or maybe just haven't yet...I always leave the door open. Good luck to you....stay strong.

You don't say which religion you are escaping from. Some religious sects are extremely intolerant of apostates. I hope your family does not adhere to one of those.
Anyway, good luck to you and enjoy your newfound freedom to think for yourself.

Welcome, find friends here

Disclaimer: I'm the local grouch.

At level three it isn't your first post.

It's good to remind self righteous Christians that they're SUPPOSED to love one another, even their neighbors. If that doesn't annoy them enough, you're better off without them. (There are passages in the old testament that says they ought kill the heathens and sell daughters . . . silly nonsense like that).

Of course you could test out the waters with these gems:

I don't come from a religious family, but I come from a very fractured family.

My best perspective is this. There are going to be people that come into your lives that love you and treat you like you wish your family did. Hold on to these people and love them with all you got. Because at the end of the day, the only ties you "really have" with blood family is coincidence. There is no guarantee they will treat you well, but of course if they do.. see the rule above.... love them with all you got.

Welcome to the asylum, very few will bite unless you ask nicely. Welcome to being out and open about your thoughts. Maybe the best advice is to let them slowly drift away and find new friends, those can be as close as family. If your family ever gets past the religious brainwashing they have suffered, they can reach out to you. But I am also one who believes in not just burning bridges to the ground, but mining the shores to make it difficult to rebuild the bridges again.

I lost family and friends when I left the Moron (oops, Mormon) religion. It depressed me for a while, but time heals such wounds. I now enjoy life more than ever before, and I have new family and friends who are much better than the previous ones. Hang in there. Keep a positive attitude. Look for the good things in life.

Hi Amy, welcome to the community ☺

The two ex-JWs that I know well were also cut off from family and friends when they came out. That is, initially they were cut off.

Both found, gradually, that some family members were less strident than others. The official, information-only phone calls gave way to broader conversation. For both, siblings were the first to break the silence (maybe because siblings feel less of a responsibility than parents do? I don't know.)

So, time will probably soften some of these responses... eventually. I would normally suggest that, until then, you should try to get to know people outside of that circle - but that's much harder in a pandemic! So...I guess online is your best option.

In the spirit of meeting like-minded folks online, then: I'm pleased to meet you!

Welp, I'm not here to tell you all will be fine with your family, as in my case (a Southern Baptist background on par with Jehovah's Witnesses in their zealotry), it was not.. just wanted to supply a little realism for your expectations & offer assistance unto you (should you so desire). I'm new here as well (my home forum shut down a week or so ago), am a writer with an insatiable appetite for knowledge (both philosophical and scientific) & can be reached by simply clicking the Caterpillar.
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Edit: Oh, I guess it's my name that is clicked & not the image (like I said: new too ) but aeeehh, close enough.

Welcome! When you consider the condemnation and small mindedness you've escaped from, it's not so hard. I don't miss it!

Welcome to the site, can't answer the question but someone most likely can.

I sort of disagree with the advice "you are better off without them", but empathize with the grief and loneliness that may accompany the sudden loss of family. I would continue to call, or send letters, at least to let them know you still live and how you're doing. Remember your cousin no one can find? What if your sister or uncle or nephew decide next year they'd also like to depart the family religion. Maybe you'll find allies down the road. And family is family. So despite what they might say, I think there's always a mothers love or fathers devotion if push came to shove.

Look for ways to connect with others in things you do find interesting. Best of luck to you!

Your family will come around! It may take awhile, Be yourself and it may be hard but humor works wonders!
Congrats on your double barreled outing! that took real guts but the feeling of freedom in your heart will ride you through the hypocrisy ingrained in our culture!

It can be a bit o fa shock to have to create a whole new social system instead of letting a church do it for you. As humans evolved we evolved as "group animals" meanign we developed instincts to gather in groups for safety. That human instinct is still somewhat active, and people generally feel better when theyu belong to a largee group, which is the one positive function religion provides.

As for suggestions. Before the Pandemic i suggested people check out meetup.com to find peopel with similar interests. Most meetup groups are on pause right now though.

I still suggest the strategy of finding people with similar interests. Thyat may be why you are on this site. However, what ever your interests are... cay hikes, bicycling, cooking, movies, happy hour or whatever, jus tlook for groups and peopel who share your interests.

I'm a misanthrope at heart but that would not stop me from talking your leg off. Family and friends may come around. If they do not, screw them. At least you can finally see how they must have thought all along. Our world is not a nice place.

Some of them may come around.

Howdy and welcome here.

Welcome! You can forgive, but never forget. Given time some of them may want be in your life.

Need more info.