How do I tell my parents that I don't want to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses anymore?

Brother I feel sorry for you. I knew a girl who was in your situation and she told her parents. They never spoke to her again. This was about 3 years ago and I have no clue what happened to her. Sad. I dont know how serious your parents are but if I were you I would wait. Wait until you are financially stable. Then you can rely on yourself. You are 18 my friend not a little boy so they wont treat you like one. The entire JW community will shun you. I honestly feel sad for them. Maybe not your parents in particular but millions of parents that have been brainwashed and turned against there own children. I wish you the best man and if they shun you just remember that you havent really been shunned, you've set yourself free.

You don't have to disassociate with JWs to stop going to meetings and such. You don't get disfellowshipped or shunned for that. 9 is way young to get baptized. Most parents have their kids wait until at least 16. Just take a break and tell them you don't want to go. Take time away and make a decision about whether to continue as one, be something else, etc. at a later time. Young people have a hard time doing a routine, sitting for long periods of time, etc. Mine do not go much. Neither are baptized. The teen years are hard in many ways. Another option would be to study with some other person to get a better understanding than you would have had at 9. You can do that now or sometime in the future. You don't have to make a decision overnight. Debbie

It is a known fact that some children do not remain in the religion of their parents.

You certainly have a problem. First, your parents if they are pioneers will be sad, any parent would but only you can decide whether or not you want to serve God.

You will have to find a job and get yourself an apartment. You are of age. I know that is what I would tell my male child. If you were female I would allow you to stay home as long as you are working and doing something. Since you were not disfellowshiped they will still talk to you...hopefully try and put some common sense into you. But even if you were disfellowshiped they could still talk to you. They are still your parents. There is nothing out there in the world but sometimes children feel they must make their own mistakes. So go and make your own mistakes.

My father was raised a JW and when he became a teenager he began to act similar to how you are acting. He told me he would hide the magazines in his back pocket when he was with his friends. Well, my father is now a worldly man who gambles, with no home of his own and no money to even pay his rent for the one room that he rents. He believes if he had remained in his faith his life would have been much different...I agree it might have prevented him from gambling away every penny he earns.

I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses

Big responsibilities are not given to brothers until they are baptised, & even then only if the brother wants to do them.

You also got the hours of pioneering wrong too

Conclusion? - You're faking it with this "question" rather than at the meetings

edit..

So okay maybe you're a baptised Jehovah's Witness ( I say this because there are many anti-JW 'questions' that are made up on this site) .. well if you are, then maybe you need to go out into the big wide world (run by Satan) & find out the hard way just what it's really like. Many childen reared in the truth are spared from all that anguish & heartache but if you want to learn the hard way then so be it.

There will always be a warm welcome for you when the penny drops .... if you realise before it's too late.

On second thoughts... I still don't think this is a real 'question' because you said "I know JW, don't talk to or associate with non-JW's"

This just isn't true, although its what some people THINK is true.

Just being honest

I am a JW and I want to be more spiritual my heart and sole wants it but my Brian doesn't I am scared to tell my mom I love my Kingdom Hall I go to but I do sometimes fell annoyed I pray to Jehovah that he will help me and he does ! Don't give up I wasn't raised and born a JW I wish I was

Firstly, if you wish to no longer be one of Jehovah's Witnesses that is certainly your choice.

Simply "dropping hints" about most anything rarely works. Be honest. If you don't want to be a Witness, say so.

I am a Christian, one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Now, as for not living as a Witness.

As long as you are under their roof, you do need to follow their rules. Can Mum and Pop tell you how to believe??? Nope, but while they foot the bill, you have to live as they believe proper.

If you don't want to/don't feel you can, then start getting act together so you can be your own man under your own roof.

I have a good friend that grew up in a JW family. When she told her parents, they shunned her which means they had nothing else to do with her. This is what JW's do with those within who reject their religion. I urge you to not tell them until you are moved out and supporting yourself. You're 18, so start making the move, get a job and an apt. or go to college or something. When the time is right you can tell them without being homeless. And don't ever give up on God. Keep Him close so He can guide you. Sometimes religion and God are two different things.

hi, im truly saddened by the fact that u want to leave the truth. It will no doubt be one of the hardest things telling your parents that u want to leave the truth because either way it will hurt them and they may not ever get over u leaving the truth if u decide to do so. Im 17 and my brothers 18 also so me and him know exactly wat ur going through. I think its mostly just you wanting to be like everyone else its no doubt hard being different and we are very different from the world in many ways.

being as young as we are its hard to watch our friends from skool do things and know we cant do it. and now that ur jst out of skool its even harder 4 you cuz theres so many things u want do that all the other kids do that graduated with u & u cant because u know jehovah doesnt approve of it (and also ur parents). My dad was disfellowshiped around 20 something so he knows what ur going through hes now reinstated and a ministerial servant and he says that hes very glad that hes back n the truth cuz he said it was realy hard out there n the world & being a witness he said hid him from all disgusting things the worlds involved n. thats y our parents are so serious about us staying n the truth.

it is really sad y u want to leave cuz u have no valid reason for wanting to leave u jst want 2 b n the world & b like every1 else but i guess i truly culdnt truly understand becuz ive always loved being a witness ive made sum really great friendships and always having some1 2 talk 2 is very encouraging. as u kno u r not the 1st 2 go through this thing though theres so many whove left and really regretted wen they did so.

i really dont want u 2 leave the truth and jehovah doesnt either because this world as u may know is coming to an end very soon. this world is getting worse and worse everyday and thats one of the biggest signs that show us this is true. dont u want to be apart of the many things that jehovah has in store 4 us. i mean if u leave now how will u have the chance to live n a perfect world w/ ur family friends and everyone thats closest to u. i know u no doubt want this.

basically wat im saying is that i dnt want u 2 leave becuz ur going 2 miss out on all the great things thats soon 2 b coming and its going 2 get alot harder without jehovah n ur heart. I feel u shuld go to the elders though about how u feel becuz that is wat there for, 2 help u through theses things. bring ur parents with u wen u go 2 im pretty sure ur parents wont shun u bcuz they love u & they want wats best 4 u. theyll b understanding & theyll listen. but remember they wont be happy with u wanting to leave. anyways i really hope u make the rite decision bcuz ur 1 of mi fellow brothers and i care about u so does all of our other brothers and sisters.

-- im gonna ask mi dad of sum ways that he feels wuld b easy 4 u to talk to ur parents about this bcuz i know this is a burden on u. it wuld probably really help cuz he had to do the same thing at a time. hes out of town rite now so i have 2 call him so if u want u can email me if u want 2 know what he says or if theres any other way i culd help.-- angelicamoore010@yahoo.com

Well, first you must prepare yourself for a long, hard road. You know it will not be easy, but hopefully your parents will see that you are old enough to make your own choices. In the meantime, I would prepare a list of reasons why you don't want to be JW anymore, and have it readily available when they ask why. Because they will ask why.

if your parents are understanding, they should stand by you no matter what.

i think the best thing to do is just sit the both if them down and tell them that this path is just not the right one for you.

dont yell, dont argue, let them tell their side, but remind them that you love them and you know they love you too, and it would mean so much to you to have them support you in this BIG descision that you have thought of for a long time now.

make a pros and cons list, that way you've done your homework and can show them how serious you are!!

good luck