Were you ever scared of going to prison as a JW?... (page 2)

undercover

When I was a kid and watched documentaries on the Holocaust it was frightening. The history of it was frightening enough, but to believe, as we were taught, that it was going to happen again...to us was just too much for my little ego to handle.

I used to daydream about how we could survive in the woods or in an abandoned building somewhere so as to avoid going to a concentration camp.

There was a thread the other day that showed the pictures from the Paradise book and other newer books that showed people dieing at Armageddon. To a 5 or 6 year old, that was some pretty terrifying stuff. How would Jehovah know not to open the ground under our house but allow it to under the next door neighbor's? What if happened while I was at school? I was the only JW kid in my elementary school. Would I die along with all the other kids?

Should a 5, 6 or 7 year old have to worry about this kind of stuff?

Fast forward 30 years: At the height of my indoctrination, I actually looked forward to having the police called on us. To go to jail for preaching would be the highest honor. That stupid feeling only lasted one summer while I aux. pioneered, though. It wasn't long after that that the doubts started surfacing fast and hard. Now I look back at my over-zealousness and realize what a numbnuts I was. The scary part is I understand why Tom Cruise is such a tool. He's under the Scientology control just as I was under the WT control. It makes you do and say stupid things.

Balsam

What scared me is what happen in Europe during WWII and what happen to the African JW's in Malawai back in the 1970's, it was terrible the suffering they went through. I never worried about it much in the USA, could never see that kind of stuff happening here.

Ruth

limbogirl

this topic came up in our house many times when I was a little kid. my younger brother loved sweets, candy, etc and since we were never allowed to have any kind of junk food he would do anything to get his hands on the stuff. My parents always joked that he would sell the WTS out and give the authorities any information they wanted for a stick of gum. This always got big laughs...but thinking about it now...so weird for this to be a discussion point with children!! btw, my parents had my brother pegged correctly!! only the stick of gum wouldn't be necessary.

VM44

In the 1960's I was told we would be arrested and taken away from our homes.

If in field service we would be taken straight to jail!

In the 1970's while having traveling with an elder, I was told that we would be working in the fields as forced labor, so we should not get used to eating large meals. So when we stopped at a restaurant to get something to eat, I only ordered a small portion. (Maybe that elder thought I ate too much!)

That elder is now 83 years old, retired as an electrician and living in Arizona!

The fantasy of being sent to concentration camps was developed as part of the "persecution complex" devised to make the JWs feel they are God's chosen people!

The persecution didn't even have to be real! Just an imagined future persecution was enough to keep the illusion alive!

It is rather disgusting that technique was used to mold the thinking of both adults and childern, who bought every word of it.

--VM44

garybuss

I turned 18 in 1962 just in time for the Vietnam occupation and the draft. Witnesses were going to prison right and left. I sent in my medical records and was classified 4F. Basically they saw me as more of a liability than an asset. That was the start of a pattern.

I didn't fear prison. I figured it couldn't be any worse than the 12 years I just spent in the public school system. I have nothing but contempt for the Jehovah's Witnesses for the way they treated their boys. They could have allowed those boys to do alternative military service, but no, the Jehovah's Witnesses sent them to prison or shunned them. The United States provided an acceptable program of alternative military service. The Society required those boys to refuse compromise and many of them did 5 years hard time and graduated with a record of a convicted felon. I think it's just terrible.

schne_belly

Yes, this was one thing that I was very scared of. I remember worrying about what I would do if I were seperated from my family and put in a concentration camp. We were reminded we would possibly have to give our life for our "brother" and if we would be willing to do that. I always thought something was wrong with me, because there were many that I wouldn't be willing to die for.....

blondie

I grew up in a very abusive family. I find it hard to think of anything that would happen to me in prison that didn't happen at home.

Blondie

drew sagan

Personally I've come to think beyond such fear. Terrible things happen everyday, and if somethings going to happen to me, so be it. To live my life in fear of such things seems illogical.

TresHappy

The worst thing that happened was the apartment complex managers calling the police department because we were soliciting.

Lady Lee

When I got pregnant at the end of 71, my mother was furious. She said I just made my life impossible because it would be harder to flee to the mountains (north of Montreal) with a child in tow or risk imprisonment and having my child ripped out of my arms

Thanks mom.

That child is now 33 and has 3 of her own children. At least she doesn't have to worry about fleeing to the mountains with them

Were you ever scared of going to prison as a JW?...

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