Welcome to our little corner of the internets.

I'm sorry to hear about your lost friendship, but you have to know that with believing JWs, friendship and even family bonds always take second place to the cult. Some people may seem at first glance to bend or break the rules, but when push comes to shove, they put their little cult first. This is the greatest harm the cult does to it's members, is this denaturing, destroying of all that makes us human. The cult makes people slaves to a printing company, to the point that they will turn their back on lifelong friends and even their own children at the drop of a hat. Sad, really, but it's not your doing. Friendship is precious, I understand that you're hurt by this, and if you do consider yourself a true friend you may decide to make contact with her again in a year or two, and see if she's willing to discuss this.

Glad to hear you've found someone, by all means please read up on the issues we've written about here. Doctrine, dogma, is only a small part of the JW experience. Simply reading their magazines for years does not really make you understand the craziness that goes on in the closed social circle of the 'congregation'. What is most damaging to people is not belief in Armageddon or some other nonsense, it's the constant gossiping, backbiting, physical, mental, sexual abuse, profiteering, fraud, and so on that you have to deal with year after year after year. This often leads to deep depression, suicidal tendencies, feelings of utter worthlessness, etc. Just because someone has stopped going to JW gatherings doesn't mean they have worked all that out of their system. So, please, read up on it here, and invite your friend to read as well. Perhaps she'll open up a little and talk to you about whatever her issues were that got her to leave.

Looking forward to hearing more from you. image

Jody image

  When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
-- Ansel Adams