I was still going to the Hall when I joined this board 4 years ago but have done The Fade over the last 2 years. My family doesn't treat me any different, although I do not see my former friends from the Hall any more. In one sense I feel bad because I do miss these people and I know (from what my mother has told me) that they always ask about me and miss me. It's unfortunate that a religion can force people to have to choose between family, friends and the beliefs of a f**ked up cult, but that's the reality of it. While I miss these people, I will not go back just to make things 'easier'.
I'm a little confused about this forum
by gordon d 41 Replies latest jw friends
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Dismembered
Greetings gordon d,
Please forgive me if my questions offended any of you.
Not at all. I think your questions are/were valid. I hope you've had some of them answered
Dismembered
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garybuss
In the United States the freedom of religion laws are written to protect the business of religion to do business. The laws do not protect the victims of religion itself. If the laws protected the victims of religion, that would amount to the government interfering with the business of the religion because a religion like Jehovah's Witnesses can not function without the victims.
There is no personal freedom and no justice for a victim of a religion. The only freedom is to quit the religion, but then the religion is free under United States law to impose sanctions, such as shunning, defamation of character, loss of housing, loss of employment, and loss of family, on the victims who leave.
The laws are written to protect the religion business, not the religion's customer. -
Will Power
Gary - right on!
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becca1
Welcome Gordon! You asked a valid question. I noticed also that you read with understanding the explinations given by some here. I commend you for being open minded and willing to see a different point of view. We all have our own story to tell and we all have different ways of dealing with our situations and this forum gives us the support of not being alone and an avenue for expressing ourselves.
I for one am "actively fading". Since discovering the UN fiasco I have not been in field service but I attend most meetings because of family. If I DA or am DF'd I have too much to loose. So I am trying to slowly drift away. However, I draw the line at helping others to become JW's so that is why I do not go in FS.
Thank you for understanding us. And again, welcome.
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Lady Lee
Gary
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Lady Lee
Gary
That comment belongs in a thread all on its own
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shera
In the United States the freedom of religion laws are written to protect the business of religion to do business. The laws do not protect the victims of religion itself. If the laws protected the victims of religion, that would amount to the government interfering with the business of the religion because a religion like Jehovah's Witnesses can not function without the victims.
There is no personal freedom and no justice for a victim of a religion. The only freedom is to quit the religion, but then the religion is free under United States law to impose sanctions, such as shunning, defamation of character, loss of housing, loss of employment, and loss of family, on the victims who leave.
The laws are written to protect the religion business, not the religion's customer.yes!
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Mary
Gary said: There is no personal freedom and no justice for a victim of a religion. The only freedom is to quit the religion, but then the religion is free under United States law to impose sanctions, such as shunning, defamation of character, loss of housing, loss of employment, and loss of family, on the victims who leave.
You're right Gary, and that flies in the face of what Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom that:
- "[N]o man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer, on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities."
The more damage I see this frigging religion doing, the more upset I'm getting......I just feel like sitting here and crying over the injustice of it all.
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HadEnuf
Hello Gordon! Here is my theory of why some, not all, still do the JW thing even though their heart is out of it. It's like being in an abusive marriage. (This is from a female point of view, but it works both ways as to gender). The wife is abused, bullied and is generally treated unkindly by her husband. She has kids and those kids have grandparents and maybe she's not financially independent. So she stays because she see's no alternative at that time. She takes the abuse because she has no where else to turn. I think it is called "Battered Wife Syndrome". So I think there is a form of "Battered JW Syndrome". Some people feel they need to stay in for numerous reasons. They have a JW spouse whom they love and is totally devoted to everything JW. They have children who are the of the same thinking as their spouse. They stay because they feel there is no way out without losing family, friends...their whole support structure (for whatever it's worth). This is especially true of those raised JW or who have been in decades. Their whole life has been an isolated life of JWism. It's hard to leave things behind and virtually start over. Many here have done it and reaped the consequences. In my case it was losing all JW "friends" and being shunned by my mom and sister for over 4 years now. Others, as I stated before, stay so they don't make waves and can retain their relationships with loved ones. It's a HARD, HARD choice.
So what may appear hypocritical to some (still going to meetings, field service, etc.)...is behavior brought on essentially by JW dogma and their rules and regulations. Whatever way you choose to look at it...it's a lose, lose situation.
A hug for you...mumsy