As life experience began showing me conflicting "truths", the cognative dissonance was just about killing me with depression.
Same here, Six. I went through a range of emotions, including anger and rage, over the dupe I was and the huge number of opportunities that had been denied me. It's the reason why I have no problem accepting JWs who remain in the org... it's waaay easier to stay the course rather than change horses in mid-stream. I just had to accept the whole truth, not just the version I had learned growing up. Everybody's not like me.
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Bigboi,
To even entertain the notion that all these sacrifices may have been for naught is enough to make anybody recoil in absolute terror.
Like I mentioned to Six, it was a bitter pill I had to swallow -- coming to accept that I had been a dummy for far too long (until my mid-thirties) and that it was too late to take advantage of many of the opportunities for a full and meaningful life, and almost too late for many others.
It would be easier to stay with the way I was raised and HOPE that there would be a pay-off in the end. I just didn't (and don't) see one. That's why I understand my sister, I guess... not wanting to upset her comfort zone. She tends to be rather close-minded anyway, so if she wants to continue to believe in a santa clause, "more power to her," I say.
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Sorry to read about your family relationships, Rex. Your story can be repeated thousands of times over. To be truthful, in the past I have thought: "What would be the harm in me going back to the kingdom hall, if only to maintain old family and friend relationships?" I know some do and I understand completely.
Since my wife is a (non-thinking) dub just like my sister and since she takes my daughter to the meetings, I have already announced that I will be returning to the meetings one day. My wife was gleefully relieved, until I told her that my only purpose would be to hear the lies, deceptions, and half-truths that my daughter was hearing so that I could help HER (my daughter) cut through all the bullshit.
She's only two, so thankfully that time is a ways away. Even when it comes, I've decided that she will not be a regular attendee since Sunday mornings are a special time for me, what with ESPN's The Sports Reporters and CBS's Sunday Morning program (imo, the best 90 minutes on all of television). Two Sundays out of the month, Baby Girl will be sitting here with me, learning about her world. Wife will have to adjust. Sorry, wife.
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Somebody,
It doesn't help when the wbts print articles that begin with the words,"A View From a Higher Source".
You're right, of course. But my sister, while believing in god, has seen enough to make her at least question what she reads and hears respective of the organization, which she still ludicrously believes is 'being used by god.' I have a hard time coming to grips with her pathetic ignorance. I keep thinking, "she should know better."
Maybe one day...
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Path,
It is all about ... having that imaginary safety net throughout one's life.
And can you blame them? I mean, really??? I can't.
Shucks, especially lately as everyone's future has become a bit murkier, I've yearned for those days of blissful ignorance when I believed in my heart that a Higher Power was not only watching but was in full control, only waiting to step in one day and correct all of my and humanity's problems. It was a VERY comforting place. Just not real.
As it was with Dorothy, it's hard having to face the painful reality that there really is no Wizard.
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Good thoughts, Cygnus.
Like I said, JWs believe only one source of 'truth.' Even if the gb, in the pages of a Wt magazine, had the balls to openly admit their UN shenanigans to the rank and file, the average JW would totally swallow as "truth" the spin the article put on it, rather than see the evil double standard.
Like my sister... almost a year ago when Bill's story hit, I didn't tell her all that I was learning. I merely hinted to her the possibility of a heinous Watchtower policy that jussssss maaaaaybe irreparably damaged hundreds (thousands?) of innocent children. You know... sorta like the one the Catholic Church as in place? ... that the gb has vilified so much? Her response? "Why are you always so hard, so negative, about the society?"
I couldn't believe it!! I had to throw up my hands, even though I wanted to thump her on the head, just like Mama used to do to me in the meetings when I wasn't paying attention. Well, millions of folks just like my sister aren't paying attention. They need a good thumping.
Later, y'all,
tj
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"You can't wake up someone pretending to be asleep." -- Linda Bankoski
