Posts by Good JW

12

My Dad's Funeral

by Disassociated Lady 2 in

i had not seen my dad for 15 years because i had left the borg.

(i had been out 26 years but there was a few years when the jws permitted contact with outsiders and then changed their minds again).

they made contact with me again just before he was diagnosed with cancer.

Sorry for your loss! It's one of the hardest things, not only with losing your dad, but having to submerge yourself in the JW environment again. When my dad died I too had to go back to the kingdom hall etc, it's such a mixture of feelings. Emotions are heightened so it's easy to become sensitive about things which may not have troubled you much before. It definitely gets better! I fell out with my close JW sister and her husband around that time but things are pretty amicable now.

I've now learned to accept the quirks of the JWs, it doesn't bother me anymore (it's actually amusing sometimes). Doesn't matter if the same courtesy isn't reciprocated, I understand the situation and that gives me peace. Have learned to build my self worth in other ways (not validation through acknowledgment of other people or feeling accepted within a certain class). It's good to know why there's been such a big learning curve when leaving (e.g. social awkwardness, detachment, difficulty trusting people etc). In a sense, since I know how much adapting that's had to be done, it makes me realise many of my former associates are still "in that (deluded) place" so don't hold much against them (pity more than anything else). You do get the few narcissistic types, or power hungry ones, but in the main I find they're just trying to clutch onto some sort of hope (even though IMO the doctrines are often the main cause of fear etc).

Going cold turkey (no JW contact at all, either through people or media/online forums) is usually a great plan - focus on your own life (building lasting friendships etc) and don't expect much, if anything at all, from your former JW friends. That's not to sound negative or bashful towards all JWs, just a bit of realism, especially if you're feeling extra delicate :)

25

What is the biggest problem with the JWS religion or the Watchtower Corporation from a sociological and theological perspective ?

by Finkelstein in

many have spent years associated with jws religion and having eventually left it for numerous reasons but if you were to directly pinpoint a source of the problem with this religious organization what would it be ?.

in my personal viewpoint it would have be the core operation of literature proliferation and other products associated with the wts.

corporation.. once you think about it everything is focused around the operation of the wts publishing house, its distribution and circulation of its published goods.

Good JW

Thanks Finkelstein.

When bad things happen in the world people want answers, and someone coming along with direction (and showing a keen interest in them) is like a breath of fresh air for many, especially the vulnerable. Any audience these self appointed gurus gain leads to feeding the ego, and ultimately deluding them into feeling special/elite. This feeling keeps them driven so much that losing control over the "disciples" becomes a threat to their fake identity, hence the propaganda (either self believed or outright lies) to keep people in line.

"Don't go elsewhere, you need me".

They jealously and arrogantly guard what they see as their "property". Mix in some truths to sound plausible, pepper in some nice things, reason in circles, spin/ignore the negatives, keep making more followers...rinse and repeat. Pack it neat and tidy, label the box "The Truth" to make it easier to sell.

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On the one hand claiming to have exclusive rights to "The Truth" sounds crazy and arrogant to most reasonable people (and what puts them off). However, on the other hand it's actually a very good sales ploy. Can you imagine trying to advertise something as having mediocre results?

"Come and try this new product, it may work, or it may not, it's pretty much the same as all the rest out there!"

Would you buy that? Hardly. Come at someone with something "original" and "authoritative" (THE Truth...this is almost Divine, not just bible commentary) and suddenly you have someone's attention (or at least the person who's more open to exploitation).

25

What is the biggest problem with the JWS religion or the Watchtower Corporation from a sociological and theological perspective ?

by Finkelstein in

many have spent years associated with jws religion and having eventually left it for numerous reasons but if you were to directly pinpoint a source of the problem with this religious organization what would it be ?.

in my personal viewpoint it would have be the core operation of literature proliferation and other products associated with the wts.

corporation.. once you think about it everything is focused around the operation of the wts publishing house, its distribution and circulation of its published goods.

Good JW

What's wrong with the JW religion...(as brief as this can be!)

Sociologically:

Historically humanity has gone through different stages of development. To grossly oversimplify this and keep it relevant to the JW, there is the basic group phase whereby individuals realise that working together ensures better survival and quality of life. It starts from the family and extends out towards tribes etc. This developed into hierarchy structures etc with their laws and codes for self preservation as a society.

The next (overlapping) phase that we're still going through (as evidenced by war/racism) is one of accepting people from the "outside groups". Accepting people of different nationalities, races, sex etc. Whether you believe in evolution or not, accepting this progression of civilization is vital for long term survival, and those who don't submit to the progressive flow will not bode well either individually or as a whole.

How does this tie in with the JWs? This religion is stuck in the old mindset of "us vs them" (the ancient priestly hierarchical rule of nationalism). No matter which way you dress this up (e.g. the rich vs poor, virtuous vs savage) it's the same crap that won't last...it'll die out with each subsequent generation, much like sexism has done over the decades.

There's only so long you can keep a person back; trying to delude people into a superiority complex (ultimately "us vs them") only works so long. People start to small the BS and wake up. Ask many ex JWs about this and it'll be high on the list of things that made them uncomfortable as a JW (made to feel as if everyone else was "unclean" except themselves).

Theologically:

Actually this should be called "spiritually" because that's where the real problem lies (theology changes throughout history, but spirituality remains pretty constant). Watchtower is a pretty cold corporation that's devoid of spirit. By spirit I mean a person's better inward drive towards what they currently believe is true/pure/good. The WT takes this freedom away from the adherent, and that's a huge thing - i.e. your free will (the main thing that makes humans "special"). Spoon feeding anyone into a state of drifting through life (dependency) is the worst thing you can do to them, and that's what WT does. Many can't quite pinpoint this error in the WT but they know it just doesn't sit right with them deep down, and many leave as a result.

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In a nutshell:

1) Backwards and unethical philosophy to social structure - "us vs them"

2) Enslavement of a persons spirit (whatever you define that to be) - "we'll tell you exactly how to feel/think"

9

An update for the completionists

by jaydee in

for all of you who have closely followed my posts over the years....(ok, so that's none, i get it).

some time ago in a galaxy far far away.... i posted some aus government files.. one of which contained an article...'what is a jehovah's witness - - by milton g henschel.

(see here).. https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/161119/more-aus-watchtower-pdf-files.

Good JW

Not the best place...

That's not what he was thinking

31

The hypocrisy of today's Watchtower

by UnshackleTheChains in

i don't really need to explain anything really.

all i can say is that i was gob smacked at the sheer audaciousness of the entire study article.

i'm still speechless.

Good JW

UnshackleTheChains:

That paragraph you quoted reminded me of my conversations with die hard JWs. I have tried reasoning with the most stubborn of JWs (no heated name calling or anything silly), and in some cases, made me wonder if they were "on the spectrum". One particular JW was so absurd in his ability to (cold-heartedly) reason through WT goggles it just makes you shake your head in disbelief.

The recurring theme being that extreme indoctrination = love. Anything beyond that is "unloving". They literally redefine words, as per cult practice. There was no sense of basic human compassion/empathy unless they were a "repentant JW" (read: submitted to current WT counsel).

WT says that the Pharisees were cruel, and this translated = "they did not teach what the we teach about God (trinity, hellfire, soul, last days etc).". Human ethics/morality doesn't come into the equation because in a cult doctrine is more important than the person (although they rarely see it). The so called greater good = WT propaganda.

Simple examples of WT "morality":

A bad person - someone who tells you to take some time off meetings and not worry about underlining your WT

A good person - someone who tries to "support" you on field service by making you feel guilty over not going out.

31

The hypocrisy of today's Watchtower

by UnshackleTheChains in

i don't really need to explain anything really.

all i can say is that i was gob smacked at the sheer audaciousness of the entire study article.

i'm still speechless.

Good JW

(Watchtower logic)

Mercy:

"Hi Marry I've been snooping about on your computer and noticed these racy emails between a worldly guy and yourself. I'm not going to be a jerk so I'll give you 10 days to go to the elders and confess all the nitty gritty details of your relationship".

31

The hypocrisy of today's Watchtower

by UnshackleTheChains in

i don't really need to explain anything really.

all i can say is that i was gob smacked at the sheer audaciousness of the entire study article.

i'm still speechless.

Good JW

Everything from not allowing ourselves to be like the Pharisees and how we should be merciful and fair and not focusing on the smallest details

Watchtower:

"Be kind, merciful and fair. Do not strain gnats like the Pharisees" ***

*** Please see clause 16959 for further details, under subheadings "Keeping the congregation clean", "Is your mother a mentally diseased apostate?" and "Why it's loving to take a huge dump on your best friend". Further updates to come (depends which way the wind is blowing).

Stay tuned for next week's article entitled "Is a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of blood acceptable to Jehovah?".

31

The hypocrisy of today's Watchtower

by UnshackleTheChains in

i don't really need to explain anything really.

all i can say is that i was gob smacked at the sheer audaciousness of the entire study article.

i'm still speechless.

Good JW

When I first left the org it took some time to realise the actual abuse/hypocrisy. You're so desensitised to it, you read stuff in the bible and think "well at least we don't get stoned anymore".

Lol

The same will be the case with thoroughly indoctrinated WT followers, they're so used to the crap it feels normal.

14

Cart Witnesses vs Faith Healing Church

by pale.emperor in

today in liverpool the cart witnesses were in their usual speck in bold street holding out their wafer thin rags and books that they literally can't even give away.

but today the city centre was flooded with some sort of black church handing out their leaflets and little invitations to a "special event" this sunday.

i took a leaflet off them as they handed it to me and they were very smiley and cheerful.

Good JW

This is the sort of situation I'd pray for when I was a JW. I loved debating scripture because I genuinely believed and (thought) I knew my stuff.

That was actually my problem - as a JW I got a bit full of myself in some respects concerning what I thought I knew. Being a "logical thinker" made me use that ability only for the good of the WT mindset. Was my own worst enemy. Took some time before I was able to step outside the bubble and truly analyse what was going on.

What did it was realising that the GB ("faithful slave") wasn't perfect, or anywhere near it (if "Christendom got things wrong, how come that made them Satanic, but when WT got things wrong, that was just imperfection and new light")...and if they were just taking a "stab in the dark" and hoping for the best in their guidance (no better than Joe Blogs publisher), why on earth was I putting stock in what they said, especially if it meant death (e.g. leaving a family motherless because she refused blood and died during childbirth)?! Why not go straight to the source, or at least weight things up myself?

It's tunnel vision, the JW will always feel their way is right....until something happens in their life that shakes them up a little bit - perhaps something really close to home that jolts them. Then and only then will they be able to take the goggles off. For your average JW, debating people is just a sport (to validate what they've already decided is true)....everything that follows this faulty mindset will only be selective "proofs" to back that up.

35

what big change could bring down the watchtower?

by stan livedeath in

what single big change do you think could back fire and bring the cult down ?.

me: tithing..

Good JW

There's a difference between the structure/organisation of JWs and the religion/faith of JWs. In fact, many JWs expect the structure to fall down but their faith to remain in tact! This only reaffirms their conviction that Satan is attacking them.

The downfall I believe is already in process though (IMO); and that (amongst other things) = a dilution of previous values. The idea that they are different from the rest of Christendom is slowly eroding away. Other than the social value (the bonus of sticking together), there's not as much conviction of belief to make the average JW stay. Eventually I believe it will just become less cult-like and more like a mainstream religion, or else it'll fizzle out purely as a result of being so out of touch with reality (as the generations go on, there's less and less threat of feeling isolated since there's already been many who've "abandoned ship").