I'm an ex Jehovah's Witness AMA

[StressyMessyJess]

Any questions Ill try to answer as honestly as possible 😊

Did you go knocking on people's doors with leaflets?

Yes I did and hated it!

Why did you decide to leave?

Did you feel like you were trapped?

What were the services like?

Out of 100 doors you knocked on, how many would engage with you to the point you got a new recruit?

I decided to leave when I wanted to have a boyfriend outside of the religion which isnt allowed. I was 22.
Not exactly trapped but I felt lots of pressure not to let people down.
The 'meetings' were 3 times a week at the Kingdom Hall and are quite different to standard Church services. Fairly relaxed and lots of families there

Almost zero.
I just mostly hoped to not get shouted at!

What main things have changed since you left?

In my own life or changes in the religion?

Both!

Ah, thanks for asking
Things I do now which wouldn't be allowed as a JW:
Live with my partner
Celebrate Christmas and birthdays
Have any friends I want
Have any medical treatments I want
Atheism!

Changes within the religion, women can now wear trousers to church whereas it was previously modest skirts.
Slightly less strict with things like having tattoos, having parties, etc
Less door knocking and more standing on the street with a information board
They do a lot of their meetings/conventions via zoom and have Kindle Bibles 😆

Were you born into the church? If so, are you still in touch with your family? How are they about your decision?

Have you watched the comedy ’The rest will burn’? I think that’s the name. I really enjoyed it, as a religious person myself. It seemed quite a gentle poke at religion.

Have you been shunned by your family? Do you reconnect with people who were shunned, when you get out?

Have your family disowned you since you left the religion?

I used to have a good friend who was a former JW. Sadly she was the most messed-up person I know.

Yes I was. Still very close to my family.
My parents were initially upset and they would obviously like me to return but they accept my decision. We tend not to talk about religion as we now have very different beliefs

Is there anything you miss? Anything good about being a JW?

No I am very close to my family. See them weekly and speak most days.

Sorry to hear that about your friend. Some have had terrible experiences

Thanks for the thread.
Are children brought up in fixed gender roles?
What is the attitude towards further/ higher education for both sexes?

That's really good to hear! My poor friend was disowned by her parents and sister. It's a big part of why she has so many issues I think :(

Good to hear that you’re still close to your family.

My husband was shunned by his (JW) family and nearly everyone he knew at the age of 16, and had to move out into a bedsit. He's amazingly strong and resilient, and we actually do sort of secretly see his family now, but I view the religion as cruel, small minded and shockingly ignorant.

Sorry - that's a rant not a question! Good for you for getting out OP

I think they are a bit more progressive now and encourage further education etc.
When I was a child it was certainly frowned upon to prioritise a career or go to university.
Men are very much in charge so gender roles are very traditional(sexist)and men always take the lead/get the final say and women are meant to essentially pander to their husbands

Thanks for this. Hope he is living a happy, free life!

My neighbours of many years are JWs, very nice people we get on well with them, they never mention it apart from maybe saying in general conversation that they are going to a meeting, they have never tried to force their beliefs on us. Do they probably know that we are atheists even though we have never mentioned religion.

I’m so pleased they’ve modernised a bit. Does that mean children are allowed things like party bags? I wont remember the broken look on a little boy’s face when other children gave out party bags at school (back when I taught they often brought them in on their birthdays). Everyone would get one apart from the JH kids!

How did it feel first celebrating Christmas?