A Word to my Family and Friends - Please Read this First

First and foremost, I want you to know that I love you all—in my own special way. Whether we haven’t seen or spoken to each other in years or if we still have some sort of contact, if I ever considered you a friend, you should know that I am still here for you. Whether you were the kind of friend who hugged me often or the kind whose closeness made words and gestures unnecessary, I care deeply about you and your families.

Family will always be family—nothing will change that. Looking back at our time in a whole lot of different congregations, when we called each other brothers and sisters, I truly felt that way. The lines between family and friendship were so beautifully blurred, and you were all family to me.

Deep down, I hope you know that I am still the same person I have always been. I did not make changes in my life with the intention of hurting anyone. Even with the drastic impact my choices have had on our relationships, I did not pull away from you. I think about you all often, and for those who can’t or won’t maintain the same relationship with me as before, please know that I am still here for you if you ever need me. I will not abandon you.

I hold no ill will toward any of those I once considered “brothers and sisters.” Even if I wasn’t close to everyone, I still believe you are good people. My decision to leave was not due to issues with any individuals within the organization.

Every step I took was carefully considered, made only after thorough research and deep reflection on what was best for myself and my family. I am not sad about the choices I made, but it does sadden me to realize that sometimes love can feel conditional—contingent on believing the same things. My love is not conditional. I will always accept you, no matter your beliefs.

I am aware that things are being said about me and my family. It pains me to know that conversations are happening behind our backs. Many of you seem to be afraid of hearing the real reasons why we left. You will find them here on this website. Sharing my story is not an act of rebellion or bitterness—it is simply the truth of my own experiences, and I believe I should be free to share them as they are.

Some of the things I might have said in the past could be hurtful to you. Again, please understand that this was never my intention. Some of what I have written or will write is laced with a pinch of humor. This is not to make fun of you or your beliefs but rather because humor is my own coping mechanism to deal with what I feel—the rejection, the absurdity of some of the things I have discovered. Most of what I publish comes from my own research and is not simply a copy-and-paste of talking points from elsewhere. If you ever feel that anything I share is incorrect, please feel free to reach out to me to discuss it.

If you are willing, I encourage you to read my story. If you choose to stop after this message, that is perfectly okay too. I only ask that you don’t assume or speculate—please go to the source. The first part of my story can be found here.

There is so much more I could say, but I’ll end with a quote often attributed to Isaac Asimov:

"If you fear that reading skeptical literature will cause you to doubt your religion, you already doubt your religion."

No matter what, I wish you all peace, love, and happiness. I am here if you ever need me.

With love,
Oliver