Hey I'm new to this group.I've just been trying to reach out to as many exjw forms as i can as of late.I was raised in it,a 3rd gen.I think im at the tipping point of being disfellowshipped for apostasy.I don't want to stay i of course don't believe it anymore,but Im just really afraid to lose everyone.I don't know how to doge the elders,I need to for just a little while longer.I can't stop them from coming into the house.But would anyone would happen to have any tips on how to handle them?It would be greatly appreciated
Whatever you do, do not answer the question they use to trip people up. It is "Do you believe the organization is directed by Jehovah?" If you say no they will say you disassociated yourself. If they do ask you, be vague or lie your ass off! Good luck escaping!
Write them a letter, disassociating yourself from the religion. That is what I did back in the 1980s and all the visits and questions stopped. I was once an elder in the religion. They now even have a web page describing how to do it - their opt-out option: [jwfacts.com].
Yes, I noticed after posting my comment that jwfacts.com wasn't from the JWs themselves.
Should I assume that you still live at home or with a relative? Save money...sock your money away....get all your paperwork together -- birth certificate, SS card, car title, insurance policies, etc.
Make a plan to LEAVE that town. It's easier if you make a clean break --- they are going to shame/shun you and even harass you. They are going to send wave after wave of elders to try and break you down.
Find a new town to lay low in for a while --- cheap rent a room -- and get a job. Find new people, find new friends, work hard, study for the SAT/ACTs with the future idea of continuing your education, and learn to live without fear and meeting schedules.
Save up some cash and then head to New Orleans
The elders have no power over you whatsoever. Some people feel more of a sense of closure once their judicial committee is over and the announcement is made that they're no longer one of jehovah's witnesses, but if it's not something you feel up to, then tell the elders to leave you alone. They'll have to, and if they don't you can probably get the law to help you. Either way though, like clauddvon said, some people are going to follow the organization's advice to avoid contact with you. It will hurt, but the people that avoid you simply because they were told to have conditional love for you, at most. There are better people out there, try to find those people and be friends with them instead. There's a lot of exjw "apostates" in the world who are almost the complete opposite of how they're portrayed in the kingdom halls and magazines. If you decide to sit through a judicial committee, I'd recommend recording it so other people can realize what they're signing up for, hopefully before they sign up for it. And if you don't want to deal with it, tell the elders to leave you alone. If they don't respect your rights, tell them they're harassing you. If they still pursue it, involve the police. Keep us updated please and let us know if you need anything.
Accept the fact that your loved ones are going to be out of your life and face it head on.
No matter when you do it, the end result is being shunned... There will be no good time to do it. Elders can suck it. When I was disfellowshipped, it was a great day... The chains were broken.
Just do it.
Posted by pgl4vtLast time this happened was 1980.
Posted by WildgreensJWs hide pedophiles
Posted by BestWithoutGodsLaughing my donkey off. 😂🤣😂🤣
Posted by zingNothing to fear
Posted by ClauddvonI'll start.