The way I see it is that there are many, whether born in or came in later, who know something is wrong, but can't or won't accept, for whatever reason, that they are victims of a fraud, so continue on. But, I think that under the right circumstances, they would take a hike. Then there are those who take everything in the religion way too seriously. They worship this organization and the GB without doubt and would never even consider for a second that it might not be God's channel. They are the kool aid people and are also, not so coincidentally, the ones who display the most mental and emotional impairments. I have seen this scenario many times: the more unflinching devotion to the organization, the more mentally unstable the person is.
WalkTall
JoinedPosts by WalkTall
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48
Do You Think Some Witnesses Are Mentally Ill Or Mentally Impaired....
by minimus inand that's why they are in the religion?.
i recall many jws over the years who were what i'll call "weird"---and looking back at it, many witnesses are "odd" and "different"..
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For those still in- why do you (really) stay, and what would it take for you to leave the org?
by serenitynow! infor the so-called conscious class, those of you who know it's all a disgusting lie, what is the real reason you stay in?
i find it hard to understand how ones who know what the org truly is would continue to be an active jw.
i'm not talking about the "faders"- those with an actual plan to get out as painlessly as possible.
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WalkTall
Echoing what others here have said, it is because of my children. I don't want to lose my relationships with them. I love them so much. So, as unbearable as it is to listen to the poisonous lies at the KH and assemblies, etc., I hang in hoping that my children may awaken someday soon.
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Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 09-19-10 WT Study (HARVEST)
by blondie inours is the privilege to.
plenty to do in this harvest work?1 cor.. 15:58.. .
did russell expect there still to be harvesting today?.
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WalkTall
Para 16: in order to continue to QUALIFY for the PRIVILEGE of being a harvest worker....
The WTS is so shrewd. Call anything a privilege that people have to qualify for and it makes them want to do it, no matter how much of a dirty job it is. Everything is a privilege, from mowing the lawn to cleaning out the toilets, and these pathetic people clammer to do it because it makes them feel special, qualified, privileged; they belong to something important, and they believe they are making God happy.
It is endless mind games that the WT is playing. This is the type of article that leads me to believe they know exactly what they are doing. They do not care about helping people gain a spiritual balance in life; they just need worker drones.
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For those still "in" for whatever reason, how long did it take you to disconnect from the things you were taught?
by Crisis of Conscience ini'm coming up on a year of when i first "woke up" regarding the org.
i still am "in" because i am trying to weigh out my options.
my wife is still mentally "in" and i know way to many people.
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WalkTall
It has been almost 5 years since I awakened, and I am still attending meetings. I love my husband and grown children so much, and am stubbornly refusing to leave without them. I parted ways with my parents and sibling when I became a JW as a young adult and I refuse to lose two families in one lifetime because of this religion. So, I take it one day at a time. Sometimes, I get through it, no problem. Then there are some meetings when there is so much glorification of the organization and the GB, so much pressue to conform and obey, that I just want to stand up and scream at everyone "don't you see how they are manipulating you???". Those are the tough ones. Sometimes, I just get up and walk around, go outside, or go in a bathroom stall and cover my ears (since they torturously have speakers in the bathroom!).
It is odd to sit there and not be in the fantasy world everyone else in the room is in. At times, I feel like a child in first grade at Christmastime and being the only one that knows that Santa Claus isn't real. And I can't tell them. It is a weird situation to be in.
There are moments when I am so angry at myself for getting involved in this and I can't believe that I have to live my life this way. But, for now anyway, I am willing to bide my time, while taking every opportunity I can to discreetly point out to my family how controlling an organization this is becoming. They do see it, but unfortunately, the cult personality continues to take over when they start expressing a negative thought about the organization. So it's slow going, but I'm not giving up yet.
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If you want to see Episode 1 of the new XJW documentary, "Belief," here are links
by AndersonsInfo inbelief: episode 1 - sacred ground.
belief: episode 2 trailer.
the video it looks better in full-screen version so click on "box" at right bottom.
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WalkTall
Mani,
Love the video. I am currently trapped inside as I don't want to lose my grown children. It is hard mentally, physically, and emotionally, but I am surviving. I am slowly learning to find my 'pristine' place, my sacred ground. I need to connect to that to be able to keep my sanity until I can someday, hopefully, break totally free.
Since awakening, the most fascinating part of this journey for me has been realizing how much our minds and social conditioning are responsible for our involvement in religious organizations. The spiritual aspect is the fantasy world that binds together certain people who, for myriads of reasons, accept the same fantasy. I envy you your opportunity to learn and research the psychological aspects and consequences of religion on the human race. And I so appreciate your sharing your discoveries with others.
Are you familiar with Bill Maher? When I saw your documentary, it reminded me of what he has been saying for years regarding the dangers of religion. Maybe there is some way to forward your work to him so that it might be able to reach a wider audience.
Again, thank you so much for making the video.
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Were You Good At Field Service?
by WalkTall ini used to be in awe at the jw's who were so good at the doors.
they were conversational, informative, and knowledgeable.
i sucked.
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WalkTall
I used to be in awe at the JW's who were so good at the doors. They were conversational, informative, and knowledgeable. I sucked. And I used to get so down on myself about it. I never thought of myself as a dumb person, and could not understand why, after so many years as a JW, I still could not express myself coherently in field service. My presentations never sounded natural and I could never seem to explain myself correctly, or my mind would go completely blank if questioned on anything. Having awakened, now I think I understand why. I think my brain just could not logically compartmentalize WT information because it never really made sense to me; even when I was not consciously aware that it was a bunch of nonsense.
Anyone else have that problem?
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Studying my faith away
by the-illuminator81 ini want to introduce myself.
i'm a 28 year old active, married jw from belgium.
in the preceding months (i'd say starting from about march) i've been slowly losing my faith.
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WalkTall
Lady Viola, I totally understand where you are coming from. I too am trapped inside because I refuse to leave without my family. To leave would mean to have a different life, a separate existence, from them. Their lives are all wrapped up with the organization, so I play along as best as I can, doing an extremely slow fade and doing what I discreetly can to get them to start thinking for themselves. But I, too, sometimes, feel physically ill listening to the divisive, self-promoting propaganda at the meetings and have done the rush to the restroom a few times myself. Fortunately, right now the weather is agreeable so sometimes I just walk around outside to get some fresh air and clear my head for a while. I have discovered that being aware, being part of the conscious class, can be a lonely place to be sometimes. But it helps me to know that there are so many out there just like myself.
Get the help that you need. This is a difficult time of transition for you. But you will get through it. There are many of us out here, fighting in the best way we know how, for our freedom and hoping that we can also free the ones we love. So, please remember you are not alone. Here I am across the world from you, feeling much the same way. We are all here, to listen and to help when we can, as we can truly understand some of what you are going through. If you like, please pm me anytime, and continue to post, especially when you are feeling sad and lost.
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Treatment of Women In the Watchtower Society
by phoebed ini am new here- and very very depressed.
my story is very long and i can not now even tell all the story.
i am shocked, disoriented, depressed.
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WalkTall
Welcome Phoebed. I am also still trapped inside. This is a great place to vent, question, or just to find some comfort. Staying connected here is one of the few things that keeps me sane sometimes. Just knowing that there are people with whom I can have an intelligent interchange of thought, freely, and without fear.
The submission of women issue is what first gave me the uncomfortable feeling, many years ago, that something was not right, not only with the organization, but with the Bible itself. I would be interested to hear what your research uncovered regarding the meaning of the Greek word "kephale". Please share your interesting discovery.
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Atheists - Do you ever talk to God?
by AK - Jeff ini scream out sometimes.
am i angry at a 'being' that i don't think exists?
or the embedded concept?.
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WalkTall
Beautifully said AK Jeff.
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Atheists - Do you ever talk to God?
by AK - Jeff ini scream out sometimes.
am i angry at a 'being' that i don't think exists?
or the embedded concept?.
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WalkTall
When it hit me that God, Yahweh, Jehovah (whatever) and Satan were just the gods of the ancients Israelites just like all the other ancient cultures had their own versions, it hit me like a ton of bricks. It was like in a blink of an eye I knew that they were not real. Letting go of a belief in the evil god was easy, a relief really. But, the good one, the one I'd called Jehovah struck me with unimaginable grief. I still grieve for my lost believe in him. For the most part, I've accepted it, but there is still that small part of me that hopes there is someone, something, that set this all in motion. I guess I have a hard time letting it go because I worry and wonder how I would handle a crisis without having something stronger than myself to turn to.
So, I suppose I am not a total atheist, not yet anyway, and as silly as it is to me now, I still find myself praying, talking. At times, when I feel alone, I miss him.