JWs and making decisions

dmouse

I was interested in two articles in the Watchtower of October 15 th 2003.

Both articles give an insight into decision making as a Jehovah?s Witness. I found the juxtaposition of them quite interesting!

First article on page 6 & 7. Making Wise Decisions

My comments in green.

?In matters of major importance, it is vital to make wise decisions, [well duh!] since happiness is largely dependent on our doing so. Some people may feel that they are quite capable of making such decisions and may reject help when it is offered. [What, you don?t want the advice of spiritual appointed window washers?] Is that wise? Let us see.?

?Often, your decisions may affect others. So never deliberately make an unwise ? even stupid ? decision that could jeopardize precious relationships with friends and relatives or, above all, with God. ? [Any decision that goes against the WBTS is ?stupid? and will get your ass kicked out ? don?t forget WE control your family and friends, so make the ?right? choice!]

Of course, the main thrust of this article is to promote baptisms ? not enough people are ?making wise decisions? and selling their soul to the WBTS.

?The decision about what course to follow now is yours to make, truly a decision that is a matter of life and death. Would you welcome help in making the right decision, the wise one?? [doesn?t it make you want to puke?] If so, decide to study God?s word. Decide to learn the divine requirements for pleasing God. [As promulgated by the WBTS] Decide to meet them. Above all, decide to carry your decision through to completion. Briefly stated, decide for life! [Of course, what they don?t tell you is that it?s probably the last decision you?ll ever make, once a JW your whole life is controlled by the Org]

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In the same magazine, on page 23, is an article entitled ?Youths, Walk Worthily of Jehovah?

In regard to making decisions, notice what two Christians ?youths? said about having to leave the protective custody of their normal highly controlled environment for a few months:

Takos: ?Being away from the protective care of my parents as well as the loving oversight of elders who knew me well was difficult and intimidating.? ? At times, I felt extremely vulnerable.?

Petros: ?For the first time in my life, I had to make decisions about entertainment and associations entirely on my own, and my choices were not always wise.? ?Sometimes I felt uneasy with the greater responsibility that increased freedom brought.?

Guess how old these JW ?youths? are ? 15? 16? No, Takos is 21 and Petros is 20!

Seems to me that the Society are creating a generation of wimps that can?t function or think for themselves without the control systems that they set up. Whatever happened to maturity?

RunningMan

So never deliberately make an unwise ? even stupid ? decision that could jeopardize precious relationships with friends and relatives or, above all, with God.

Don't forget, we are holding your friends and relatives hostage. Do as we say, or you will never see them again.

The decision about what course to follow now is yours to make

Do whatever you want, just make bloody sure that you want to do what we say.

(I can't stop the colors - green, yellow, everywhere.)

worldlygirl

My ex is 42 years old and still couldn't make a decision on his own if his life depended on it!

Greenpalmtreestillmine

"Whatever happened to maturity?"

Unfortunately, the Organization is of the opinion that maturity is fostered by telling people what to do all the time. The Society hinders spiritual and personal growth when it dictates every aspect of spiritual life and personal life. They keep the brothers in safe spiritual walkers and spiritual playpens like toddlers.

As all parents know if you insist that your children remain babies they will either rebel or worse never grow up. The Society has forced the brothers and sisters to remain spiritual babes always looking to mother for direction and never allowed to stand on their own before God. They have made themselves god, father, mother and conscience maker for 6 million people. A heavy responsibility before God, very heavy.

Sabrina

dmouse

I like your analogy Sabrina. The WBTS certainly keep their adherents in spiritual play-pens!

I remember when I left the JWs I was quite disoriented for a time because I kept wondering what ?mother? would tell me to do in certain situations. Eventually I was able to make decisions and make up my own mind about things without looking at Watchtowers etc.

It took a long time for me to be able to think for myself, rather than just parrot what I was told.

Elsewhere

Often, your decisions may affect others. So never deliberately make an unwise ? even stupid ? decision that could jeopardize precious relationships with friends and relatives or, above all, with God.

Did they really say that? Damn. It looks like the number of DA's are going up. They are warning people not to leave the bOrg... literally threatening them.

undercover

Seems to me that the Society are creating a generation of wimps that can?t function or think for themselves without the control systems that they set up. Whatever happened to maturity?

That's exactly what they want. If you can't think for yourself or use logic to reason something out, then it's easier to keep control over them. JW kids are raised to be completely dependant on someone else in all matters. When they become adults, they have not learned to think or reason or use logic. They are unable to make any decision without consulting someone else. That someone else usually becomes an elder or another JW who will spout the company line. All of this keeps them in control to the WTS for their entire life. Only when one thinks outside the JW box does one have a chance at seeing the real issues and problems of this religion. That's why The Matrix is an interesting watch for former JWs. We are Neo. We are fighting the Agent Smiths. We are attempting to escape the Matrix.

Elsewhere

Speaking of the Matrix... one of the resolutions was that anyone could leave the matrix if they wanted. It became a choice. The WTS does not want to give people that choice. They want to scare people into staying "hooked in".

JWs and making decisions

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