Welcome To All Rad Associate's,
Growing up as a Jehovah's Witness there was a lot of pressure to conform, and one of the ways people were screened/controlled/motivated were by labeled characteristics bestowed upon them by members of the congregation, especially the elder body and sometimes even Bethel themselves. One of the most prominent labels for those who were non-conformist or disobedient but still in the church was "Bad Association", or Bad Associate's.
It was a label I tried to avoid my whole life, but due to my history as well as my mouth (I've always been the mouthy sort, if you couldn't tell) I got stuck with it several times despite working hard to remain faithful and loyal to the church. Now, that's all over, and I consider myself and all my dissenting EXJW family as "Rad Associates".
So any of you who are tired of being labeled bad, sick, dirty, disloyal, opinionated, worldly, apostate, or whatever label was thrown at you... shake it off.
You're Rad just for exercising your brain and standing up for yourself. You're even more Rad for speaking up and disagreeing with policies like shunning, silencing abuse, rejecting organizational control, and valuing the rights of yourself and the people around you.
Whether you were a JW, a Scientologist, a 12 Tribes member, a Catholic, a Jew, a Mormon, a Muslim, an Immigrant, a Woman, a Man, Gay, Straight, Lesbian, Trans, Queer, what have you, you're an amazing human being with a completely unique perspective and a fantastic voice! Use it to encourage and empower the changes you want to see in the world. Use it to spread awareness, and save others who are being manipulated by authoritarian organizations, high control religions, or abusive persons.
I have started a facebook group for ex-cult members of all backgrounds to share artwork, stories, films, projects, careers, whatever you like! I want to see what you're up to, and the world does too. You can find it here.
If you would like to submit a story, poetry, art, or otherwise for the UOV Project please email me at [email protected]
Stand up. Chin high. Use Your Voice!
I look forward to hearing from you.
It was a label I tried to avoid my whole life, but due to my history as well as my mouth (I've always been the mouthy sort, if you couldn't tell) I got stuck with it several times despite working hard to remain faithful and loyal to the church. Now, that's all over, and I consider myself and all my dissenting EXJW family as "Rad Associates".
So any of you who are tired of being labeled bad, sick, dirty, disloyal, opinionated, worldly, apostate, or whatever label was thrown at you... shake it off.
You're Rad just for exercising your brain and standing up for yourself. You're even more Rad for speaking up and disagreeing with policies like shunning, silencing abuse, rejecting organizational control, and valuing the rights of yourself and the people around you.
Whether you were a JW, a Scientologist, a 12 Tribes member, a Catholic, a Jew, a Mormon, a Muslim, an Immigrant, a Woman, a Man, Gay, Straight, Lesbian, Trans, Queer, what have you, you're an amazing human being with a completely unique perspective and a fantastic voice! Use it to encourage and empower the changes you want to see in the world. Use it to spread awareness, and save others who are being manipulated by authoritarian organizations, high control religions, or abusive persons.
I have started a facebook group for ex-cult members of all backgrounds to share artwork, stories, films, projects, careers, whatever you like! I want to see what you're up to, and the world does too. You can find it here.
If you would like to submit a story, poetry, art, or otherwise for the UOV Project please email me at [email protected]
Stand up. Chin high. Use Your Voice!
I look forward to hearing from you.