The web each JW weaves makes it too difficult to leave

jwfacts

I just found out that a JW friend of mine has just formed a company with several JWs, including some of my relatives. I know he realises it is probably not the truth but had put on hold doing anything about it for the sake of his wife. Now there is little hope of him leaving for some time. Not only does he stand to loose friends and relatives, now money is involved as well.

It is quickly apparent how powerful it is for a cult to strongly discourage association with non cult members. When all your contacts are JWs and you have vested financial interests to stay a JW there is yet another reason not to leave.

I wonder what percentage of JWs know it is not the truth yet stay regardless. I would guess as many as 10% know it is based on false hood but are too trapped to leave, and at least another 10% have serious doubts but the thought stopping question "where else would we go?" prevents them from looking further.

Zico

I'm one of them.

When I sit in the meetings I can't help but wonder if ANY of them have the same feelings as me...

Arthur

and at least another 10% have serious doubts but the thought stopping question "where else would we go?" prevents them from looking further.

This is probably the biggest hurdle; and the strongest "thought-stopping cliche" that prevents Witnesses from even doing any research into the organization's doctrines and history. The WTS has done a masterful job of demonizing all other Christian churches and denominations. Witnesses have been thoroughly indoctrinated with the paradigm that all other Christian churches are pagan, nationlistic, orgy-loving houses of demonic "spiritual darkness".

And of course, all "worldly" people are immoral, violent, wicked sinners who are "staggering to the slaughter". Many JWs are like the towns people in the movie "The Village". They dare not stray too far from the safety of the organization, lest they be mislead by the "empty deceptions" and "philosophies of men".

Ironically, it was the empty deceptions and philosophies of men inside the org that caused me to leave.

jwfacts

It would be great to be able to know. I used to sit there and wonder as well. One brother started to miss a lot of meetings and then attempted suicide and I could feel that he was struggling with the same doubts I was, but was too afraid to ask. Eventually he left and we are now great friends, and he is over the suicidal depression he went through as a JW.

Highlander

One brother started to miss a lot of meetings and then attempted suicide and I could feel that he was struggling with the same doubts I was, but was too afraid to ask. Eventually he left and we are now great friends, and he is over the suicidal depression he went through as a JW.

Thank goodness that he was unsuccessful at suicide and successful at leaving the j-dubs.

Arthur

One brother started to miss a lot of meetings and then attempted suicide and I could feel that he was struggling with the same doubts I was, but was too afraid to ask. Eventually he left and we are now great friends, and he is over the suicidal depression he went through as a JW.

That's very interesting. That is what I went through. I came very close to committing suicide a few times. When I finally made the decision to leave the org, my emotional health began to improve dramatically; and swiftly.

yaddayadda

'..know it is not the truth...'. You want your friend to leave because he discovers it is 'not the truth'? Such phrases are meaningless. Every religion has some truth and some falsehood. There is truth and falsehood everywhere, inside and outside of religion. Can you prove the JW's don't teach many things that are in fact true? Now it is suddenly a matter of life and death for him to leave?

serendipity

I didn't have a tangled web, but I know my JW relatives who are business owners have done so. If they wanted to leave, they'd lose JW employees and contacts. It would cost them a lot of $$$.

The web each JW weaves makes it too difficult to leave

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