I confirm that many, but not all, children are beaten, threatened, and highly "manipulated" out of fear of beatings to remain quiet. Even babies are beaten/pinched/slapped to submission. The older women teach younger women that they are doing the young child a favor to make the child listen to Jehovah. Some kids are pretty smart, and learn to sit still as quiet at 2 or 3 years old. So, they are not beaten (as much). God bless the JW child with an attention disorder.
As you "progress" in the brainwashing, you'll be manipulated more & more to confirm to the group's ways and to lose your individuality. The way to separate you from your family is to tell you that "bad associations spoil useful habits." Your family will likely question your new ways, and the JWs will jump on this as being a sign that they are aligned with Satan and trying to "drag you out of the Truth." You will be told that it's best to cool your relationship with them, unless they seem willing to start a Bible study. Therefore, to please both the JWs and your need to keep a beloved family, you will try to recruit your family into the JWs. They will likely resist more, which will affirm to you that your family is resisting the Truth and Jehovah God (who you are now programmed has the Truth). As you progress in the brainwashing, you will begin to view "normal" activities (activities that make us individuals) as bad or a waste of time - sports, higher education, political viewpoints, hobbies. Your family will still engage in these activities that you will deem as anti-Christian. You will become judgmental of your family. You will begin to see them more & more as bad associates. Your family will continue to have "family celebrations" such as Christmas, Mother's Day, Valentines, etc....which you will view as super Pagan. You will "decide" that you have nothing to do with your family, and chill your conversations with them about most everyday matters. I say "you" will decide...but it's really the Organization that has decided it.
Yes, there are all sorts of unwritten rules on who can sit together. I knew a baptised JW who was engaged to a non-JW. The non-JW started to come to the KH. The two were reprimanded for sitting together. The elders wanted to not give the impression that they were dating (though we all knew) and that he was independently coming to the Truth.
Further, teenaged boys and girls usually don't commiingle by sitting together or talking to each other in a single pair. Everything must be done in a large group.
Further, dating is resigned to couples with a strong intention of getting married. The only way to date is if you are dead serious about finding a marraige mate. And, then, a proper JW date is chaparoned with the couple never being alone....especially not until they are engaged.
Everyone must dress a certain way for every meeting.
- Suits, jackets, ties, dress pants, socks... for all men and boys (especially older boys). No jeans, shorts. Men shouldn't have facial hair (but some European JWs do have beards & mustaches).
- Dresses and pantyhose and nice shoes for all women and girls. Dresses must be to the knee (unless the woman is going to be looked at as loose). Bare legs are frowned upon, even in the heat of the summer. Remember those skort type skirts or billowy gaucho pants that look like a skirt - not allowed! Pants - never unless it's a congregation picnic. Comfortable shoes such as "old lady loafers" are not allowed unless you are a really old lady. I have a relative with a bone chip in a toe joint - and she painfully wears heels while in service or in the meetings.
- Oh, and everything must be neatly pressed. I know one single man who wasn't allowed out in service becuase, although in a suit, he had a disheveled appearance.
- Even when a JW attends a convention, they are to dress in "business casual attire" (i.e. no jeans, shorts, etc) whiel in the convention city (i.e. at dinner or in the hotel).
Dress rules are super important. It shows how much you respect Jehovah, and treat the meetings as a special event. It also shows that you are a mature Christian and understand that you are representing Jehovah and His Organization and ready to witness to anyone at any moment. Spiffy people attract recruits and can sell more magazines. Like Amway, they are trying to sell the world something.
Oh, the rules & rules & rules & rules & rules & rules & rules & rules & rules....one must follow for acceptance of the group. Break any one of these rules, and feel the wrath of the group's scorn. Elders watch the houses of suspected rule breakers! JW friends and family are programmed to rat on other followers. If you have any paranoid problems, get out.
Each night, I still find myself going over & over the day's activities and scared I did something wrong. I feel that when I do make a "mistake" (even for something trivial like breaking a glass) that the wrath of someone is going to come down on me. Perhaps I was beaten too much as a child for fidgeting in the KH.
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