7: MY INITIAL SELF HELP STEPS

[@nandibrumidge1274]

Thank you so much for posting this! I too am on a healing journey as my mom started studying with the JWs when I was 11. The amount of harm and destruction this organization can do to one's life is understated. I am happy you have made it out and are thriving!

[@charleysjourney]

Awww thank you so much for your lovely comment. I hope your healing journey is going well and you’re finding the happiness you deserve x

[@AbenaK-K]

A lot of people were already looking for an avenue to leave. Lockdown was a lot people’s tickets to leaving cults they were afraid to leave.

[@charleysjourney]

Yes I agree, and despite lockdown being difficult for obvious reasons, it was very freeing for those in cults or high control religions, so that’s a positive

[@AbenaK-K]

I really don’t understand why this shunning thing is so important to them. I’ve seen people switch from church to church and even from one religion to another but their families and churches didn’t shun them.

[@charleysjourney]

I know, and it’s so cruel. Sadly that’s what makes them such a cult, because leaving an organisation ANY organisation shouldn’t come with dire consequences such as shunning. Every person should be free to exercise their right to leave or be part of a religion without losing access to their family or friends

[@lawrencemoore1779]

I'm sorry my last comment-just looking at disfellowshiping from outside look -how else can u keep those sins from corrupting the congregation u tell me but the fact of the matter is it works Jehovah's people r not known to have those serious sins associated with it, also Mathew 7: 13 14 says the narrow road leads to life meaning strict that's us to a t, the broad road means we r allowed to do whatever we want ,do see results of religion that teaches like that ok

[@nandibrumidge1274]

Actually, the child sex abuse cases occurring in Pennsylvania by active Jehovah's Witnesses disproves your claim. Several elders and ministerial servants have been arrested and charged with child abuse, not by the elder body of those congregations, but by law enforcement. The JWs that reported the sexual abuse and later went to the authorities to seek help were disfellowshipped. This was done to discredit their accounts and delegitimize their claims in the eyes of other Jehovah's witnesses. The NIH (National Institute of Health) actually has several qualitative articles that document the psychological harm done to former Jehovah's Witnesses that were disfellowshipped. The act of disfellowshipping has even been associated with both suicide attempts and suicide of prior members of the Jehovah's Witness organization. So this is certainly not a loving arrangement. Please think critically: what type of organization would make it impossible for you to leave in good standing (you have to be either disfellowshipped or disassociate and both result in shunning) and make all counter arguments against the organization or its doctrine be considered apostasy? The answer: A destructive cult who wants to keep it members at all costs, squash all derision, and exercise undo influence in every realm of the lives of their members.