Ex-Jehovah Witnesses: Why did you leave the church?

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I’m starting this post for Ex-Jehovah Witnesses to share what led them to leave the JW church. Hopefully this will help current JW’s to find the truth that is in Jesus Christ.

Thank you for sharing.

Pork
 
The very first doctrine that made me question the governing body was their explanation for God allowing evil. They really emphasized the Vindication of God’s Sovereignty(right to rule) as the reason. They gave an illustration in the “What does the Bible really teach” book of a student in a classroom questioning a teacher’s method of solving a problem. They say that the best way to show the student he is wrong is to allow him to try to solve the problem his own way and fail, so that all the other students will see that the teacher knows best. They say that this mirrors the story of Adam and Eve wanting to govern their own lives. This illustration is the main illustration used by JW in magazines and other publications. It did not make any sense to me, and is outright wrong. They would mention a few correct views of God’s allowance of evil, but the main reason would always be the Sovereignty issue. God does not need to show anyone his right to rule. JW go as far as to say that if God destroyed Adam and Eve, that the angels might question God’s actions and possibly wonder if the humans were right. This really bothered me because I would have to use this ridiculous reasoning with my bible students because you have to read through the whole book. I would just gloss over it because of my inner feeling of it being wrong, and would try to mention other reasons for God allowing suffering.

So I did research in the watchtower library and sure enough the idea was always present, but was not the main reason, the main reason was more correct back then with this illustration: If someone breaks a bone, they go to a doctor. The doctor says, “This is going to hurt really bad when I place your bone back into place, but only through this pain will you recover.” So my curiosity led me to read Charles Russell’s books, and he touched on the subject. He did mention God’s Sovereignty as well.

But researching those strange books and how little the modern day witnesses have in common with Charles Russell, led me to think a little bit about this Governing Body I was following. I began to research what kind of changes they had made through the years. At that stage I was still thinking that they were the closest religion to the truth, but they were not the perfect image I had of them growing up. So for about a year, I really thought one day I could refine some of their doctrines and present them to the Governing Body, I had pipe dreams.

It was going out in service that I came across two men that professed to be Christian and appeared to have devoted their lives to following his commands and continuing to educate themselves by reading the Bible daily. I could no longer say that they were not Christians as the Watchtower would say by stating things like, “There are 7,000,000 Christians in the world today…”. These people I was trying to recruit had better relationships with Christ than many of my brothers and sisters at my hall, and who am I to tell them they are false Christians and they need to be baptized into the Watchtower Society.

Then there was also John 6, about the importance of eating Christ’s Body and drinking his Blood. I would ask my Mom, how can we read that if we don’t we have no life in us, and yet refuse to eat and drink at the memorial? It wasn’t a question of his real presence, but of the act itself.

So on and so on, and now I am here.
 
So that actually is what got the wheels going, but the following are actually the doctrines that forced me to leave and never go back:
  1. Weak explanation of God’s allowing suffering
  2. Judgement of all other “Christians” as false
  3. Not eating and drinking at the memorial of Christ’s death
  4. 2 different hopes of life after death, Earth OR Heaven
  5. Jesus not our mediator, but only mediator of the anointed
  6. Old testament saints will not go to Heaven, but Charles Russel and friends would
  7. We are not judged by our lives right now, but will be resurrected and live 1,000 years and be judged on that life, but not Charles Taze and Rutherford
  8. Jesus came in 1914 invisibly
  9. Reading the Bible and interpreting it yourself will lead you to think like false Christians, You have to use God’s spirit directed organization for interpretation.
 
pacloc said:
So that actually is what got the wheels going, but the following are actually the doctrines that forced me to leave and never go back:
  1. Weak explanation of God’s allowing suffering
  2. Judgement of all other “Christians” as false
  3. Not eating and drinking at the memorial of Christ’s death
  4. 2 different hopes of life after death, Earth OR Heaven
  5. Jesus not our mediator, but only mediator of the anointed
  6. Old testament saints will not go to Heaven, but Charles Russel and friends would
  7. We are not judged by our lives right now, but will be resurrected and live 1,000 years and be judged on that life, but not Charles Taze and Rutherford
  8. Jesus came in 1914 invisibly
  9. Reading the Bible and interpreting it yourself will lead you to think like false Christians, You have to use God’s spirit directed organization for interpretation.
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Welcome Home.

I found your posts interesting.

Thanks for the above list.
 
Thank you phyllo, it has been a fun and enlightening ride. My wife and I will receive our sacraments in 2 weeks!

I would like to know what doctrine or experience got witnesses to doubt the almighty governing body. Please share if you can.
 
Thank you phyllo, it has been a fun and enlightening ride. My wife and I will receive our sacraments in 2 weeks!

I would like to know what doctrine or experience got witnesses to doubt the almighty governing body. Please share if you can.
 
Just a few of many, many reasons:
  1. Repeatedly using just a phrase of a scripture to make a certain point, while rarely if ever considering the entire verse or the context. For example, James 1:27 “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”. The part about caring for orphans and widows is almost never mentioned, and when it is, in a watered down weak application.
  2. Condescending view toward anyone who is not one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. In their comments made during meetings and among themselves at other times, “worldly people” (anyone not a JW), are lumped together in one big generalization as being ungodly, ignorant of the Bible, and not to be trusted. I was embarrassed to bring an interested person to a meeting at the Kingdom Hall and have them hear the judgmental, uninformed, unloving attitude.
  3. Hypocrisy. For example, the congregation was said to be a place of safety and peace, when I knew for a fact that there were pedophiles, with a frightening ability to make everyone (uniformed) think they were wonderful people, so charming. This was bad enough, but the constant drumbeat of “we’re so good and clean and the world and other religions are so bad” was just too much to put up with after a while.
I could write a book. I do not hate the Witnesses, just sharing a few things off the top of my head that any current JW will recognize and possibly think about.
 
Winston_Smith said:
Just a few of many, many reasons:
  1. Repeatedly using just a phrase of a scripture to make a certain point, while rarely if ever considering the entire verse or the context. For example, James 1:27 “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”. The part about caring for orphans and widows is almost never mentioned, and when it is, in a watered down weak application.
  2. Condescending view toward anyone who is not one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. In their comments made during meetings and among themselves at other times, “worldly people” (anyone not a JW), are lumped together in one big generalization as being ungodly, ignorant of the Bible, and not to be trusted. I was embarrassed to bring an interested person to a meeting at the Kingdom Hall and have them hear the judgmental, uninformed, unloving attitude.
  3. Hypocrisy. For example, the congregation was said to be a place of safety and peace, when I knew for a fact that there were pedophiles, with a frightening ability to make everyone (uniformed) think they were wonderful people, so charming. This was bad enough, but the constant drumbeat of “we’re so good and clean and the world and other religions are so bad” was just too much to put up with after a while.
I could write a book. I do not hate the Witnesses, just sharing a few things off the top of my head that any current JW will recognize and possibly think about.
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Winston,

Thank you for sharing. What led you then to the Catholic Church? Are you entering RCIA in the Fall?

Pork
 
Porknpie said:
Winston,

Thank you for sharing. What led you then to the Catholic Church? Are you entering RCIA in the Fall?

Pork
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To any Witnesses reading this, please understand I still have a broken heart over learning that “the truth” is not what I sincerely thought it was.

To Pork: Eventually I allowed myself to take a fresh look at religion, and discovered this: what JW’s are taught about Catholicism is entirely misleading. Keeping with the 3 thoughts I mentioned here earlier:
  1. Use of scripture: Catholic teaching takes a comprehensive, open and honest look at scripture. Unfortunately it seems true that many Catholics do not know their own faith as well as they should, but the official doctrine taught and lived by the Church is Bible-based. Back to James 1:27, even as a zealous JW, it always bothered me that we did such little charity while the “evil” Catholic Church is famous for its charity for Catholics and non-Catholics alike. This reminded me of Jesus’ example.
  2. View of others: The calm, confident, loving stance toward non-Catholics, such as referring to Protestants as “brothers in Christ” with a warm invitation to come back. This reminded me of Jesus’ example too.
  3. Open forums for discussions of disagreements and problems. Admission and handling of the problem of pedophiles. In this context I am speaking of the reaction of JW leadership compared with Catholic leadership. The problem has occurred too often in both organizations, but the Catholic response has been more caring, more open, more trustworthy. A simple but important example: Just go to the Vatican’s web site. On the front page, see “Abuse of Minors, the Church’s Response”. Next go to JW.org, the Witnesses official web site. Try to find an admission of what’s happened, a caring response, anything but PR spin.
Long story, but not ready for RCIA yet. I am in contact with the local priest and taking his advice.
 
I wasn’t a JW but I have a friend at my church who was. What really got to me about his story was how he had to tell his church elders the only reason he was visiting his grandmother was to convert her, since not being a JW herself, and not having entirely positive views of them, it was his duty to avoid her.
 
Winston_Smith said:
Just a few of many, many reasons:
  1. Repeatedly using just a phrase of a scripture to make a certain point, while rarely if ever considering the entire verse or the context. For example, James 1:27 “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”. The part about caring for orphans and widows is almost never mentioned, and when it is, in a watered down weak application.
  2. Condescending view toward anyone who is not one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. In their comments made during meetings and among themselves at other times, “worldly people” (anyone not a JW), are lumped together in one big generalization as being ungodly, ignorant of the Bible, and not to be trusted. I was embarrassed to bring an interested person to a meeting at the Kingdom Hall and have them hear the judgmental, uninformed, unloving attitude.
  3. Hypocrisy. For example, the congregation was said to be a place of safety and peace, when I knew for a fact that there were pedophiles, with a frightening ability to make everyone (uniformed) think they were wonderful people, so charming. This was bad enough, but the constant drumbeat of “we’re so good and clean and the world and other religions are so bad” was just too much to put up with after a while.
I could write a book. I do not hate the Witnesses, just sharing a few things off the top of my head that any current JW will recognize and possibly think about.
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Amen!I agree with every single point!I get sick of the fingerpointing and making their religion seem so perfect when really there just judgmental
 
pacloc said:
Thank you phyllo, it has been a fun and enlightening ride. My wife and I will receive our sacraments in 2 weeks!

I would like to know what doctrine or experience got witnesses to doubt the almighty governing body. Please share if you can.
Click to expand...
Hi,

I have no idea I was born and raised a Catholic. The older I get I thank God every that He chose me to be a Catholic.
 
Phyllo said:
Hi,

I have no idea I was born and raised a Catholic. The older I get I thank God every that He chose me to be a Catholic.
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Yeah, I didn’t think you were an ex JW, I just worded my statement a little odd. I wish I was raised Catholic, but better late than never. I find it interesting that the reason people do not like the JW is for the arrogance they have. That was actually the exact first and last topic that I discussed with 2 elders after the very last meeting I attended. I told them that I had run into Christians out in field service and felt wrong that I would have to tell them that their baptisms were not real if they wanted to join. I asked the elders how could they say that about them, and they quickly wanted to know who these strangers were. They then responded with a very upsetting statement that not even all JW are really Christian, and that not all the partakers of the emblems are really anointed. It was a sure sign from God that day of the evil in the hearts of the JW leaders that want to hold on to salvation for themselves and strip it from anybody else that does not obey the men in New York. I asked them how they could have so much trust in the men in New York, and they gave no response. Another Congregation’s meeting was starting, so we had to go. I never talked to them again. It was Super Bowl day last year.
 
pacloc said:
Yeah, I didn’t think you were an ex JW, I just worded my statement a little odd. I wish I was raised Catholic, but better late than never. I find it interesting that the reason people do not like the JW is for the arrogance they have. That was actually the exact first and last topic that I discussed with 2 elders after the very last meeting I attended. I told them that I had run into Christians out in field service and felt wrong that I would have to tell them that their baptisms were not real if they wanted to join. I asked the elders how could they say that about them, and they quickly wanted to know who these strangers were. They then responded with a very upsetting statement that not even all JW are really Christian, and that not all the partakers of the emblems are really anointed. It was a sure sign from God that day of the evil in the hearts of the JW leaders that want to hold on to salvation for themselves and strip it from anybody else that does not obey the men in New York. I asked them how they could have so much trust in the men in New York, and they gave no response. Another Congregation’s meeting was starting, so we had to go. I never talked to them again. It was Super Bowl day last year.
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I don’t believe that JW’s are Christian. They don’t believe that Jesus is God. They don’t believe in the Trinity. A JW is baptized into the Watchtower and not into Christ.

Oddly enough my friend is a JW and a lovely lady. She was baptized a Catholic but some how fell under the JW spell. She was baptized into the Watchtower several years ago. I told her that her Catholic baptism was still valid and her response was adamant. She said " I don’t care". That struck me as odd but it should have not being that she would die for the Watchtower. Such a smart lady to be mired in the Watchtower.

Thank God that your eyes were opened and again welcome to the Truth that is found only in the Catholic Church.👍
 
The reason I was a JW: 4th gen on my Father’s side, and 3rd gen on my Mother’s side.

Reason I left (besides God’s gratuitous grace)
  • When I was 12, some Jewish neighbors helped me with a severe emotional crisis. I thought to myself, a loving God would never kill them just because they were born in the wrong religion. He must somehow love them.
  • When I was 13 my family was thoroughly swindled by another JW family and the elders did nothing.
  • When I turned 14, my parents began a long torturous 3 year divorce which appeared diabolical and shook me to the core
  • When I was 16, I started checking out all the books from our JW congregation library because I wanted to know everything about my religion. This led to a heartbreaking discovery of lies and many false prophesies, and an extreme change in JW beliefs over the years.
  • I started a dialogue with elders about the specific changes, lies, and false prophecies. They couldn’t make me a shunned apostate fast enough.
I think the two specific graces God gave me were (of course there are always more): I read the bible (horrible translation though it was) at least once a year, usually twice a year. The whole thing. I learned to read from the Bible at age 3. It was a grace of desire to know who is God? Who are these people and situations he wants us to know about?

The second most important grace God gave me was the love of truth. JW’s talk so much about how important the truth is all the time. Or they did while I was growing up. So, if you constantly teach me how important truth is, and then don’t ascribe to the truth yourself: I will consider you disingenuine. If truth is so absolutlely important, it must be chased after as if your tail is on fire!!

I wandered after the shunning and homelessness. I was confused and hurt (still am). My family are still JW’s. But I just could not go to meetings knowing what I knew about the JW’s. I became Catholic through the grace of God and my husband’s family. I went to RCIA for three years, making sure I asked all the questions I could and listened to others questions about Catholicism. I have been a Catholic for ten years, and I teach CCE for Jr. High with my hubby. So I have to constantly learn about the Church. So many saints, sinners, doctors, popes, encyclicals etc. 2,000 years is quite a bit of history to cover.

My Father still has never met my husband of 18 years. I missed my grandparents funeral because I was not told. I try to contact my brother, but he still will not respond. I am 40 now, but I am considered very very dangerous to JW’s since I am a shunned apostate.

I LOVE my Catholic faith, and am so grateful that God is so good all the time!
 
tarean said:
The reason I was a JW: 4th gen on my Father’s side, and 3rd gen on my Mother’s side.

Reason I left (besides God’s gratuitous grace)
  • When I was 12, some Jewish neighbors helped me with a severe emotional crisis. I thought to myself, a loving God would never kill them just because they were born in the wrong religion. He must somehow love them.
  • When I was 13 my family was thoroughly swindled by another JW family and the elders did nothing.
  • When I turned 14, my parents began a long torturous 3 year divorce which appeared diabolical and shook me to the core
  • When I was 16, I started checking out all the books from our JW congregation library because I wanted to know everything about my religion. This led to a heartbreaking discovery of lies and many false prophesies, and an extreme change in JW beliefs over the years.
  • I started a dialogue with elders about the specific changes, lies, and false prophecies. They couldn’t make me a shunned apostate fast enough.
I think the two specific graces God gave me were (of course there are always more): I read the bible (horrible translation though it was) at least once a year, usually twice a year. The whole thing. I learned to read from the Bible at age 3. It was a grace of desire to know who is God? Who are these people and situations he wants us to know about?

The second most important grace God gave me was the love of truth. JW’s talk so much about how important the truth is all the time. Or they did while I was growing up. So, if you constantly teach me how important truth is, and then don’t ascribe to the truth yourself: I will consider you disingenuine. If truth is so absolutlely important, it must be chased after as if your tail is on fire!!

I wandered after the shunning and homelessness. I was confused and hurt (still am). My family are still JW’s. But I just could not go to meetings knowing what I knew about the JW’s. I became Catholic through the grace of God and my husband’s family. I went to RCIA for three years, making sure I asked all the questions I could and listened to others questions about Catholicism. I have been a Catholic for ten years, and I teach CCE for Jr. High with my hubby. So I have to constantly learn about the Church. So many saints, sinners, doctors, popes, encyclicals etc. 2,000 years is quite a bit of history to cover.

My Father still has never met my husband of 18 years. I missed my grandparents funeral because I was not told. I try to contact my brother, but he still will not respond. I am 40 now, but I am considered very very dangerous to JW’s since I am a shunned apostate.

I LOVE my Catholic faith, and am so grateful that God is so good all the time!
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Welcome home. You are one of the fortunate ones to have recognized the truth when you saw it.
Yes, you would be very dangerous to the JW congregation. They wouldn’t want you to contaminate the rest of the group with the truth.
God blessed you with a loving husband to help you through. You are truly blessed indeed.

Just pray for your family that they come into the light also. That is all you can do for them

It is truly sad that they to have disown their family because the Governing body said so.

God Bless You.
 
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