To be sure, no one leaves because of a positive experience. And therein lies the issues with leaving. Basically, people leave in three general ways: 1. They, like myself, resign or leave due to a disagreement. 2. They are kicked out, disfellowshipped and shunned. 3. They “fade” away, acknowledging to themselves that they disagree with JW dogma and practice, either in whole or in part, yet not wanting to face the sanctions that come with openly disagreeing with Governing Body dogma and practice.

When I first left Jehovah’s Witnesses, I was somewhat amused at the sheer amount of anti Jehovah’s Witness websites out there. While websites like freeminds.org and jwfacts.com are great, (non hysterical sites that stress fact and presentation over emotional responses), there are at least 5 times as many other sites that act as if you should treat a Jehovah’s Witness at your door like you would a spreader of the Ebola virus.

I don't disagree with the fact that Jehovah’s Witnesses are somewhat dangerous and usually go for the low hanging fruit. Anyone with a curious, questioning mind who doesn't immediately accept the dogma is usually given the lowest priority from an individual Jehovah’s Witness or a congregation. Which brings us to a very important key to helping Jehovah’s Witnesses leave if they feel trapped.

Facebook.

Yes, thats right, apparantly, the GB is concerned because a lot of people are having "Facebook sex". They are meeting old friends who aren't Jehovah's Witnesses and getting it on with whomever would willingly sleep with them. Evidentally, the GB would like their flock to believe that when JW's get on Facebook and other social networking sites, fornication happens.

Now, this IS news. Because most people who are on Facebook, or Twitter, or other social networds, are clearly not having sex, as evidenced by the fact that they are actually typing status updates or playing games like Farmville.

This was used as more "evidence" that really, because the internet is of "the world that is controlled by Satan", JW's are really better off staying away, limiting their own use of the internet. Because too much use could only weaken their faith.

So why would the Governing Body lie about this?

I had a brother. His name was Jon.

Jon was a sweet, super sensitive guy. Also, a very tortured soul. He wanted so much to be accepted, to be certain that god was with him. Actually, he really did believe that Jehovah was god, and that Jehovah didn't hate gay people.

You see, Jon was gay. And he was baptized as a JW at 13 years old. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of what he would be like had he been able to survive his tortured confusion. Jon killed himself in 1998. He would have been 34 this year.

When we were kids, we used to talk about how our families would visit each other, etc. Jon looked up to me, and I know that he loved me very much. That brings me a lot of comfort. Because of JW dogma regarding disfellowshipping and shunning, which I bought into, I wasn't able to help Jon at all when he needed me the most.

That old saying your parents told you when they were too tired to explain anymore. Sort of sticks with you.

Did you know that curiosity doesn't kill you at all? (by the way, what does kill you is listening to bad or false advice and information) It is the impetus for future learning. Perhaps you recall seeing a toddler, learning, and always asking "why?" The reasons that adults tire to answer this question is that there is a limit to the answers that can be given where agenda's are at stake, esp if they are not your own. That is where the answer "Because I said so" originally comes from. When education lacks, authority will usually answer a persons curiosity, with the aim of squelching it.

Those who leave Jehovah's Witnesses are often misunderstood for the choices that they make after their exit. From the Jehovah's Witness (JW) point of view, those who leave are leaving a "spiritual paradise" where "the truth" exists. Those who leave thus put their everlasting life in jeopardy. (joining the rest of the world that is not part of this 6.5 million member religious group) Then there is another group that doesn't understand what some exiting JW's choose to do: Christians.

This quote, taken from the drama of the 2009 District Convention this year, is startling to me in what it reveals about Jehovah's Witnesses. In reality this quote isn't some kind of unearthed spiritual revelation, it is a demand. It is a standard, and it reveals all anyone wants to know about how judgmental the Governing Body indoctrinates its members to be.

So what do you want to write about today? Do you have some time? As I write this on a Sunday morning, I can't help but remember all the time, blood, sweat and tears I gave to this cult. The hours studying, travelling, are all part of the process which turns off your brain. Do you need a break? I recall a CO saying from the platform that when we are tired, it isn't one's spiritual activities or "sacred service" that is the issue, it is the "worldly things we have to deal with, like jobs, school, and the like. I have to ask, does the Governing Body want one to believe that no one will be working in paradise, or learning? Or is it simply a matter of a leadership that doesn't understand, and doesn't care about the real life stress its flock is undergoing?