P
PolycarpOfSmyrna
Guest
Hello there! I’m a 19 year old boy hailing from Brazil born-in as a Jehovah’s witness. To give out some context, I was raised in a very loving family, that actually encouraged me seeking higher education (as you may know this is not the case from the part of WT’s org) and, in many ways, far less strict than many averages JW families, you could say. I’ve dedicated a lot of my life to this religion, and I’m even a ministerial servant (the aid of a pastor, so to speak) at the moment. Well, how I got into Cathicism? Basically, I started enjoying reading philosophy starting from High School, and I decided I should know more about apologetics so I could preach better to atheists. Gradually I was introduced to St. Thomas, St. Augustine and many others. This, alongside my readings around “apostate” literature as WT’s name it (literature made my ex-JWs about the religion) made me realize that I’m in a high control religion and a man’s made group composed of false prophets.
I won’t discuss these points too much in depth since it probably is mentioned elsewhere. From a personal perspective, after all these years as a JW, it seems the magic has woren off for me. No matter what I do, I don’t feel like I have a relationship with God; I feel like I have a relationship with a religion and my community. That’s about it. It’s all about the ministry hours, and keep giving out more and more in the preaching work! Especially in recent times, worship as a JW feels more and more bland, at least for me. Chesterton actually argued that religions that depicted Jesus not as God, but as a created prophet would tend to become secular religions, and this is where I feel I am, at the moment. I feel I was taken away from Christ my whole life and that I’ve never recieved His grace.
Now, here’s the thing. As many of you may know, WT promotes the unloving teaching of disfellowshipping. Basically anyone who leaves needs to be shunned and avoided at all costs. Including family members. Since I’m legally an adult, WT would advise my parents to kick me out of home (although I believe they wouldn’t do so). I wish I could actually be able to discuss all these matters with my parents properly, but I know I can’t. At least not right now, and definitely not with my father. He has complete and blind faith in this org despite their many failed prophecies. In fact, he even admits - and is fine with it - that some aspect of the doctrine will be changed in the near future. This religion takes you as a hostage, from a psychological standpoint. And, as far as my life in general goes, I’m not unhappy as a JW. I love my family, my congregation, and I own to this religion how I stand as a person today, and I don’t know if I would be the same way in terms of ethos otherwise. I fear losing my family a lot and I’m struggling every day thinking about what I should do. Are there any ex-JWs around here who converted to Catholicism? Would anyone in the forums have some advice for me? I ask for your prayers as well. I tried to make this short, but feel free to ask questions if you feel the need.
I won’t discuss these points too much in depth since it probably is mentioned elsewhere. From a personal perspective, after all these years as a JW, it seems the magic has woren off for me. No matter what I do, I don’t feel like I have a relationship with God; I feel like I have a relationship with a religion and my community. That’s about it. It’s all about the ministry hours, and keep giving out more and more in the preaching work! Especially in recent times, worship as a JW feels more and more bland, at least for me. Chesterton actually argued that religions that depicted Jesus not as God, but as a created prophet would tend to become secular religions, and this is where I feel I am, at the moment. I feel I was taken away from Christ my whole life and that I’ve never recieved His grace.
Now, here’s the thing. As many of you may know, WT promotes the unloving teaching of disfellowshipping. Basically anyone who leaves needs to be shunned and avoided at all costs. Including family members. Since I’m legally an adult, WT would advise my parents to kick me out of home (although I believe they wouldn’t do so). I wish I could actually be able to discuss all these matters with my parents properly, but I know I can’t. At least not right now, and definitely not with my father. He has complete and blind faith in this org despite their many failed prophecies. In fact, he even admits - and is fine with it - that some aspect of the doctrine will be changed in the near future. This religion takes you as a hostage, from a psychological standpoint. And, as far as my life in general goes, I’m not unhappy as a JW. I love my family, my congregation, and I own to this religion how I stand as a person today, and I don’t know if I would be the same way in terms of ethos otherwise. I fear losing my family a lot and I’m struggling every day thinking about what I should do. Are there any ex-JWs around here who converted to Catholicism? Would anyone in the forums have some advice for me? I ask for your prayers as well. I tried to make this short, but feel free to ask questions if you feel the need.
