tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7805716.post4245123080399016178..comments2024-02-10T08:21:19.099+00:00Comments on Kapitano: Can I Get a Witness? (Part 1)Kapitanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14647896216499813443noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7805716.post-57505923088216636032016-03-23T14:26:23.183+00:002016-03-23T14:26:23.183+00:00They are the nicest, non pushy versions of Xians o...They are the nicest, non pushy versions of Xians out there, followed by Mormons...<br /><br />I actually left my church because of Jehovah's Witnesses. True story: It was a Saturday, I was a 14 year old doing chores, so engrossed in scrubbing clean the windows that I totally missed out the signs that the JWs were coming: Neighbors run inside, lock their doors, close the blinds & hide as if they've run out of Halloween candy so it's best for visitors to move on; eerie quiet as radios are turned off & children's laughter & cries are silenced; & even the road is deserted & neighborhood absent of people, like a ghost town, abandoned & emptied of all human life...except for stupid me, so intent on scrubbing those windows clean & shiny that I didn't know they had come til one said hello & pulled me out of my engaging task.<br /><br />I was confused at first, thinking they were lost, then I saw their literature--the mags, The Watchtower & Awake--& realized the neighbors had gone into hiding, so then I figured out these were JWs.<br /><br />Long story short: I was polite & courteous because that's how I was raised. Had a short friendly conversation. I wished them luck & a good day & they left me some literature. I went back to cleaning the windows & by the end of they day, I did an awesome job, those windows sparkled in the afternoon sun.<br /><br />That would've been the end of it, except some neighborhood rat tattled me out to my pastor, who drove over that evening & interrogated & berated me for talking to "Satan", his words, not mine.<br /><br />I was shocked to be treated like an idiot who had done some terrible deed. But I was also pissed off that this mofo had the gall to attack me & make horrible accusations about people he has never even met! But most of all, I was sad to see my mother, looking at me, & realizing in that instant, that the church, her church that she & my father founded, now headed by this bigot, that church, my church, had lost me forever.<br /><br />That was my last dealing with the pastor & never went back to church again. I was all ready questioning the idiotic & ridiculously offensive customs & beliefs in the church, & that showdown with the pastor was the spark that lit me to go out & explore other faiths, beliefs, & philosophies, & culture, all with encouragement of my Mom. And high school was a wonderful time where I visited & studied a vast diversity of religions & cultures & ideologies & faiths, & it made me a better, more aware, & a bit wiser person.<br /><br />Please do share your experiences with us!eroswingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06678990077292314028noreply@blogger.com