Watchtower Acceptance

by The wanderer 6 Replies latest jw friends

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  The wanderer

  The Hope

  Promises of everlasting life in paradise earth are held
  out to the newly associated individuals. Photographs,
  graphic images and artistry which help support the
  scriptural understandings of the organization are used
  constantly to reaffirm the beliefs.

  The People

  Individuals who for the most part, seem to be quite whole-
  some and very interested in seeing you progress to the
  point of baptism. It seems by all accounts that there is a
  true international organization seeking to do God's will.

  The Organization

  It seems to be an organization that strives to carry out
  God's will. Individuals hold the organization as God's true
  channel of communication and obey its direction unquestion-
  ably, even in the face of death.

  The Reality

  In the beginning it seems very exciting that God has a master
  plan that you can become apart of. It is very understandable
  how an individual can fall for this "sales pitch." Because most
  people with good motivation want and hope for the best.

  The Aftermath

  Once an individual discovers that he or she has been duped for
  as many as 10, 20, 30 or more years, it can become a devast-
  ating blow that may require years of psychotherapy.

  1. Your education was put on hold because the "end is near."
  2. You do not marry and have a family because "we should be pioneering
     in this time of the end."
  3. You do not follow your dreams or a career path because finding sheep
     like ones takes on all importance.

  I cannot help feeling absolutely stupid and embarrassed and entirely
  uncomfortable to mention that I was once one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

  Would anybody like to share any additional thoughts?

  Respectfully,

  The Wanderer
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  Warlock

  Wanderer,

  But it sure sounded good.

  No need for embarrasment. No need to feel stupid.

  Feel bitter? o.k. Feel some anger? o.k. Resentment? o.k.

  Just don't let those feelings overtake you.

  You thought you were doing a good thing. We all thought the same thing.

  Warlock
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  cognizant dissident

  Wanderer:

  Yep, you pretty much summed up my life in your post! I vascillate between feeling like an embarrassed, stupid victim, to feeling righteous anger and resentment. Hope I graduate to just not caring one way or the other very soon.

  Cog
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  Satans little helper

  we've all been there; the feeling of being robbed does pass, and then you start enjoying the feeling of being able to discover your own direction through life, and find that you discover who YOU are and what YOU think about things.
  

  It's tough to begin with but accept and move on, you can only control what happens today and tomorrow, not yesterday. In time it will be nothing more than a painful memory.

  SLH
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  ronin1

  Hi Wanderer:

  You are not alone with your feelings. My husband and I have discussed these exact issues time and time again. But at some point you have to let go of feeling betrayed, or angry, or bitter, etc.

  We are currently going back to school to pursue degrees, working, and enjoying activities we did not take time to do because of our full devotion to the organization, (ie: meeting attendance, aux and regular pioneering, building construction committees,) etc.

  So do not continue to feel bad, just continue on with living and working towards your dreams and goals you did not concentrate on while in the JW organization.

  Ronin1
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  thecarpenter

  Hi Wanderer,

  I have been with the bOrg over 20 years and found myself disillusioned by it for the last 10 years. I was trying to find some rationalization to deal with the false prophecies, bad policies, lack of love, false friends and so on... the last ten years were years of misery. Finally this year I had enough. I did a lot of research on the net and read several books on the bOrg and mind control tactics. After doing that, I knew I could never go back and that I was going to have to start all over again.

  It has been not quite a year yet and already is falling into place now. It seems that every new experience outside the bOrg is a adventure. I can honestly say that I am having much more fulfillment now than before. I have met many nice non-witnesses and my telephone book is getting filled up again (it looked practically empty when I got rid of the witness 'friends'). I think the key with getting on with life is to welcome change (it is going to happen anyway) and taking the initiative of making positive things happen.

  Also, this board is very helpful in getting rid of any lingering guilt. Personally, I find the people here to be nice people that I would very much like to meet in a gathering and hang out with. Enjoy your stay with us.
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  Swan

  Welcome Wanderer!