Were You Raised As A JW From Infancy?

by CuriousButterfly 15 years ago 30 Replies latest 15 years ago members private

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  CuriousButterfly 15 years ago

  My parents converted when I was a toddler, so I have no memory of the holidays etc.

  I sit here reading, reading and yet more reading. I was raised as an elder's daughter and married to an elder, yet I can not whip a bible out and defend JW's beliefs to the core. Yes, I know the basics and know things learned over the years, but I do not feel like an expert.

  To get to the point, is there anyone else out there who was raised as a JW not feel quite the expert or skilled as they should for all the years in the organization? While I have reservations about "the truth" I cannot proficiently debate what I am reading. It is sad but true, maybe I have always not felt this was the "truth"?

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  Twitch 15 years ago

  Actually I was a wee toddler when mum took the "truth". I do remember one Christmas with presents and liked it but it was the only one. I consider myself born in and am, for all intents and purposes.

  As for your question, I never was an expert and didn't want to be. I always questioned and never liked the answers. So I left and made answers I liked. Didn't care if I was "good" or not at being a witness; it was over.

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  yknot 15 years ago

  I think it also depends on the decade you were raised. I was born prior to 75 and cut my theocratic teeth post-75 and some of the "berean period" prior to the early 1980's clampdown and the start of the great dumbing-down.

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  St George of England 15 years ago

  My parents became JW's in the late 1940's when I was just a little lad. Apparently we celebrated Christmas, birthdays etc but obviously I cannot remember them.

  I was never really studious in Bible matters, until this last few years when the alarm bells started ringing. In fact I do not know many JW's who are really familiar with the Bible; they tend to use the WT publications instead. After I got married I went to Uni, got a good job and threw myself into that as I really enjoyed it.

  George

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  asilentone 15 years ago

  yes, I was raised as a jw from infancy, the only good thing came out of it is that my parents were very heavy smokers and they had to quit smoking before they got baptized. I am grateful for that since I have never touched a cigarette in my life. Oh well.

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  coffee_black 15 years ago

  I was raised in the religion…third generation. Gave my first presentation at the door at age 4. First talk at 8. I had no other frame of reference.

  My parents were not your average jws. I was taught to question from an early age… not just to believe everything the watchtower said. I went to college, as did my dad before me. He was a servant in the cong. before the elder arrangement, and was appointed an elder when that arrangement took effect. He caught some flack for it, but stood his ground.

  I think when you are raised in the religion it is just as much a social thing as it is religious. One gets a shallow education about the Bible, because the same few verses are used over and over, and much of the rest of the Bible is not used so much. One is told over and over that this is the Truth, and jws are the happiest people on earth… and you believe, not so much because you know it’s true, but you have nothing to compare it to, and all your friends and family are part of the package. My dad was a brilliant man, but he didn’t see through it… he died before all the information was available about the organization on the internet. My parents had a real love for God which was apparent in their lives. That, and being taught to question as a child, allowed me the mental freedom to do the research that led me out.

  Witnesses are kept dependent on the organization for their “knowledge”. I’ve been officially out for 17 years… I have learned so much more since I left than I ever did as a jw. Most jws I’ve encountered since leaving have said things like “You know it’s the Truth” and “you left the Truth” When I ask them to prove that they “have the Truth”…they can’t. Truly

  I had a meeting with elders when I started questioning and researching.. I was appalled at their lack of knowledge. I was the one turning to scripture… they never even opened their Bibles. It was eye opening for me…. The meeting went on for nearly 3 hours, and they did not answer a single one of my questions…never even quoted a scripture.

  JWs sit through countless meetings…and I think most just get bored and tune out. I know I did. It is very possible to attend for years and learn nothing… take the new generation teaching. How many JWs even noticed the change?

  Coffee

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  straightshooter 15 years ago

  My wife was raised by her jw mom. She told me that it took her 3 years of personal study, after she was 19, to be able to explain the Bible effectively.

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  CuriousButterfly 15 years ago

  JWs sit through countless meetings…and I think most just get bored and tune out. I know I did. It is very possible to attend for years and learn nothing… take the new generation teaching. How many JWs even noticed the change?

  I noticed it and talk to my husband about it. I keep asking why to they change a major doctrine as say oooooops this generation will pass? That alone makes me rethink what I have been taught. He is pretty reasonable but for some reason this does not shake him or make him question like me. He does have a very close family member d'fd (for 30+yrs) and is very easy going about talking and spending time with them. My immediate family as well as his family (he is 4th generation) are pretty much JWs.

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  coffee_black 15 years ago

  Hi Curiousbutterfly,

  You are the exception...most jws don't notice. And a belated welcome! Good to have you here!

  When they made the last generation change in 1995, I attended 2 congregations because I wanted to see the reaction. There wasn't any... I looked at the faces around me...and not a flicker... not a single comment. I asked my x husband (who was at the time and still is a jw) what he thought of the change... he said "There is no change...you're reading it wrong."

  Coffee

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  XPeterX 15 years ago

  yeah.I used to jump from seat to seat,swear,scream and disturbing others the whole time at the meetings

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