Surviving the Cult Experience (continued)

In a Usenet group I read a very important testimony from an ex-Jehovah's Witness that I want to share with you readers because it tells something important about the way people experience the time after either disfellowship or leaving the cult. Even though this related to a different group it all relates very well to the experiences you can read about in the various issues of the Ambassador Report through the past many years.

Words in italics are those I wrote, and words in bold are what this person wrote:

>>> I wrote a highly relevant article on that very subject:
>>> http://ezinearticles.com/4469389
>> >>
>> >> I see you were once involved in the Armstrong cult. I'm pleased you got out. I am a Jehovah's Witness survivor.
> >
> >Welcome to the real world. :-)
> >
> >Glad you came out. Hope you are doing well - and please don't hesitate
> >to follow my blog. It might contain things you could also use. I have
> >also created numerous HubPages on the subject, e.g.:
> >
> >Are You In A Cult? http://hubpages.com/hub/Are-You-In-A-Cult

That is a very informative video and so true.

The first emotion that I went through after leaving the Jehovah's Witness cult was doubt. I wasn't absolutely certain that I had made the right decision.

That emotion instilled fear. For 30 years I had heard stories about what had happened to those who had left the cult.

Then came loneliness. I had no friends except Jehovah's Witnesses. When I left the cult, there was an immediate cessation of friendship. No Jehovah's Witness would talk to me or even greet me on the street.

Next I felt ashamed. I couldn't believe that I had been that stupid.

And then came anger. I wanted go back and tell the ones I had left behind what I had learned, but that was impossible. The cult uses the word 'apostate' very effectively. There's no way an ex-Jehovah's Witness can penetrate that barrier. Jehovah's Witnesses are taught literally from day one that there will be those who will attempt to pull them away from the 'Truth.' They also use other trigger words and phrases such as 'worldly' and 'independent thinking' to guarantee that their members will never hear the real truth about the cult.

I have corresponded with some Jehovah's Witnesses who, after being disfellowshipped, discovered that they were in a cult, yet still went back because it was too difficult for them to manage their life on their own. I have corresponded with a few others who realized that they were in a cult but stayed in because of family ties. I personally knew of one elder who had serious doubts about his religion but he couldn't leave because his wife, children, brother, sister and all of his extended family were Jehovah's Witnesses. He would have been instantly shunned by all of them and could have been facing a potential divorce. He would have been financially and emotionally bankrupt if he had left.

I think all can relate to the above. We each had different experiences in this, but I want to make it crystal clear. This blog aims to support anyone that desires to leave with information as to why Armstrongism is a cult.