Former Jehovah's Witnesses "de-conversion" stories

[adstrinity]

Since there was the one thread about the Mormons, let’s also have one for the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

What made you decide that God is a Trinity and that the Bible didn’t say what you were taught it said? When were you able to accept that “Jehovah” wasn’t God’s Name and did that render the Bible incomplete for you? Are you happy you can celebrate birthday’s now or do you still feel this is a bit egotistical for the person getting older and dualist between that person and loving God? Are you any less ready for death now? Are you willing to accept a full transfusion or do you still leave this up to God (not accepting one if it is your time to die)? Are you glad you don’t have to devote your spare time to going door to door and memorizing Bible verses? Did the irony ever occur to you that your magazine is called “Watchtower” and others perceived you as being imprisoned in a cult? What else have you decided is not true about the JWs and what caused you to believe this?

 

[T_More]

Since there was the one thread about the Mormons, let’s also have one for the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

What made you decide that God is a Trinity and that the Bible didn’t say what you were taught it said?

Well, when I actually read the real New Testament, and not the twisted one the WTS published. From there, using some common sense helped tremendously, but prayer, prayer, prayer helped most of all.

When were you able to accept that “Jehovah” wasn’t God’s Name and did that render the Bible incomplete for you?

See above.

Are you happy you can celebrate birthday’s now or do you still feel this is a bit egotistical for the person getting older and dualist between that person and loving God?

Yep! Giving my daughter what I did not have has been great! Celebrating life is always a great thing. What better way than the day you entered this world?

Are you any less ready for death now?

I wouldn’t say I’m more ready or less, but I’m more comforted about finding truth and how that translates into what waits for us all when our time ends here on earth. I have never felt so spiritually liberated in my whole life.

Are you willing to accept a full transfusion or do you still leave this up to God (not accepting one if it is your time to die)?

Yes, I would accept one. I’m interested in preserving the sanctity of life.
Are you glad you don’t have to devote your spare time to going door to door and memorizing Bible verses?

I’m more interested in sharing with others, JW or non-JW, what I’ve learned about the beauty of the one true Church. And I look forward to using that same spare time in spedning with my new brothers and sisters when I enter the Church and volunteering my time to helping the poor and sick, a new experience for someone coming from where I came from.

Did the irony ever occur to you that your magazine is called “Watchtower” and others perceived you as being imprisoned in a cult?

Watchtowers make up a rampart of a citadel. Those citadels also keep people in.

What else have you decided is not true about the JWs and what caused you to believe this?

Too much to list. What is shared is that there is a God and there is a visible authority here on earth. After that…

/QUOTE]

 

[adstrinity]

Well, when I actually read the real New Testament, and not the twisted one the WTS published. From there, using some common sense helped tremendously, but prayer, prayer, prayer helped most of all.

What caused you to read a non-WTS NT? (And which translation did you read?)

Yep! Giving my daughter what I did not have has been great! Celebrating life is always a great thing. What better way than the day you entered this world?

OOH! And I have another question for you and all other former JWs!!! At what point did you realize that Jesus died on a cross and not a torture stake?

 

[T_More]

What caused you to read a non-WTS NT? (And which translation did you read?)

**It wasn’t as simple as picking up another bible and it everything changed. Much of the WTS’s own bible supports doctrine such as the Trinity. They have been trained to read the bible a certain way, so when certain Scriptures are pointed out to them and question them on it, most can’t converse intelligently on it, and the rest just go to the “our understanding is better than anyone elses…”. Which in a way is correct, their bible is unique to them, so yes, they do understand it better than anyone elses. I enjoy the Catholic Study Bible, the New English and the Jerusalem.
**



OOH! And I have another question for you and all other former JWs!!! At what point did you realize that Jesus died on a cross and not a torture stake?

**History! The fact is, crucifixion was used by the Romans. Archaelology and historical accounts have provd this. The WTS changed their own views on this because it became an opportunity for them to be different from others. When I came to see that the Greek language did not have a word for the Cross, and then doing some research on how someone dies between the two methods (upright stake vs Cross) and reading the overwhelming evidence left by the Early Church Fathers, it was easy to see what the WTS had done. Another tactic used by Rutherford to make them seem special by bucking what had been accepted for 1900 years. **

 

[adstrinity]

bump For those of you who haven’t seen this thread, and would like to share.

 

[Optimusmastro]

I am currently engaging in a discourse with a Jehovah’s Witness at my Gym. I don’t think he was ready for my responses,…his name is Shaun,.please pray for him as he has agreed to read a book by Scott Hahn, ‘The Lamb’s Supper’ in exchange for me reading his literature!

Optimusmastro

www.prime1-marco.blogspot.com

 

[T_More]

I am currently engaging in a discourse with a Jehovah’s Witness at my Gym. I don’t think he was ready for my responses,…his name is Shaun,.please pray for him as he has agreed to read a book by Scott Hahn, ‘The Lamb’s Supper’ in exchange for me reading his literature!

Optimusmastro

www.prime1-marco.blogspot.com

I’m surprised that he would agree to this. Make sure you test with questions to see if he in fact read it.

What made you choose that book? I haven’t read that one by Hahn yet, but I hear it’s quite good. Was there a reason in particular that you picked that one?

 

[Optimusmastro]

I choose the book out of chance,…(he saw me reading it!) I guess this is what made him believe I was open to a discussion. (which I was) I like it because Hahn goes deeper into the book as an explanation of the Mass and how it relates to the book of Revelations. I considered offering him ‘Reasons to Believe’ but felt it was too apologetical. My goal is to plant a seed and let the Holy Spirit do the rest. If he reads the book and says to himself, ‘okay I guess I understand their worship a little better’… it could lead to further discussions, (Church history, Philosophy/metaphysics, and later the Trinity.)

Please Pray!

God Bless

Marco/Optimusmastro

www.prime1-marco.blogspot.com

 

[adstrinity]

I would like to hear more…if there ARE any other former JW’s on this forum, but, in the meantime,

How do the JW’s understand that those who blastpheme against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven in this life or the next? (Since they do not believe the HS is God)

 

[D0UBTFIRE]

I am a former Jehovah’s Witness.

What really got me to leave was reading Crisis of Consciounce. The sad part was that since the JW’s had proven to me that all the other religions were false, once I became convinced that they too were false …I became atheist.

One of the details that really stood out to me was about the incorrect date they used regarding Nebuchadnezzar putting seige on Jerusalem. If you use the correct historical date then their “biblical chronology” stuff regarding Daniel’s prophecy and the beginning of their organization goes down the drain.

It was strange because I was really into it at a very young age. I got baptized in my early teens (I must have been 13 or 14) and I left within 2 years time. I’m now 25 and it’s kinda hard to remember a lot of what went on.

 

[T_More]

I am a former Jehovah’s Witness.

What really got me to leave was reading Crisis of Consciounce. The sad part was that since the JW’s had proven to me that all the other religions were false, once I became convinced that they too were false …I became atheist.

One of the details that really stood out to me was about the incorrect date they used regarding Nebuchadnezzar putting seige on Jerusalem. If you use the correct historical date then their “biblical chronology” stuff regarding Daniel’s prophecy and the beginning of their organization goes down the drain.

It was strange because I was really into it at a very young age. I got baptized in my early teens (I must have been 13 or 14) and I left within 2 years time. I’m now 25 and it’s kinda hard to remember a lot of what went on.

Doubtfire, I sent you a private message. Franz’ book has impacted alot of people, as it should, but I actually was well into my personal journey out of the WTS before I had even heard of it. I actually just read it finally in the last couple of months. It validated all the things that I had already concluded, but the sad thing is that Franz seems stuck in a holding pattern and can’t break free of the WTS’ theology. It didn’t make sense to me for him to conclude that things were off their kilter in how they established doctrine and the functionality of the organization from the top down, and yet, cling to the bulk of their teachings.