There are JWs happy to be in that org (page 2)

Doubting Bro

Agapa37,

I think comparing Josiah's happiness to anyone today is probably not a fair comparison. A couple reasons why I think that way is because:

1 - I don't recall a Bible verse mentioning Josiah's happiness. I do remember him being in mourning after the reading of God's word and realizing that Israel had strayed so far from the Law.

2 - Josiah was a King and could actually influence his nation. He gave the orders to destroy many of the idols and had the strength of the army to back him up. Who exactly could be compared to him today? I just stepped down as an elder and can tell you from experience that not a single elder, CO or DO has any chance to effect any change on an organizational basis. Perhaps temporary relief but I've seen enough political games in my life to know that if you mess with the wrong personal, you will pay.

Plus, I thought that after the selection of JWs as Gods people in 1919, we entered into a spiritual paradise. A paradise where individuals had been transformed from wild animal like personalities to peace lovers. Yet, you are comparing the state of Israel in Josiah's day to the modern day condition of JWs. Perhaps your comparison is a good one but doesn't that mean that we're NOT in a spiritual paradise? It can't be both ways. And, before the letter to the congregations in Revelation is brought up, remember, Jesus directed these words to his followers at the BEGINNING of the Lords Day, not 90+ years after it began (if you believe it began in 1914). At this point, the JW congregations are supposed to have been completely cleaned. There is no mention of a second judgement of the house of God. So, it either happened in 1918 and true worship was purified and restored, leaving no room for the massive problems within the congregations that you are admitting or it will be a future event.

Regarding the happiness question, I believe most JWs happiness comes entirely from focusing on the New System. I know many depressed and downtrodden ones and the WTS treadmill doesn't help. If more time was spent helping others in a tangible way (not just giving out magazines), I think it would really help. The happiest folks I've seen are ones that are working at conventions, the KH or quick builds. I really think that is because you get a sense of accomplishment. Field service (except on rare occasions) don't give you any sense of accomplishment, at least it didn't give any to me.

Gill

The 'happy' ones are on Prozac or Valium. The others look forward to their bottle of whatever in the evenings to get them through the pain of the day.

The Watchtower remains a place of refuge for the misfits and malcontents who otherwise would not feel equal to the stresses and strains of life that we all endure,and they cannot accept that death is an inevitable fact of life. They hide in their imaginary tower, feeling superior, deluding themselves to reality and in so doing believe themselves to be 'happy'.

Well, if that's happiness, I'll take misery any day!

Lady Lee

My mother truly is a miserable person. She is so miserable that even her JW family can't stand her.

But my mother believes she is happy.

She grew up in a home full of every kind of abuse you could imagine. But she knows rules. She knows how to follow rules. And she knows bad things happen when you don't follow those rules. She finds it hard to function without them so a JW life suits her well.

So she believes she is happy. She just doesn't know that slaves aren't really happy

LovesDubs

I always APPEARED to others to be happy too. You get really good at it. The Society says over and over that if you ARENT happy then YOU are at fault because you are not SPIRITUAL enough. You arent STUDYING enough. You arent out in SERVICE enough. Your meeting attendance isnt REGULAR enough. Its YOU. This is Jehovahs Happy People DAMMIT!! If you arent happy YOU are some kind of screw up and we are going to HELP you by now avoiding you because your unhappiness is probably contagious so that will make you even MORE not happy and we are shunning you and not inviting you to get togethers because we LOVE you you know.

I never in my life before or after my 13 years in the Dubs met as many people on antidepressants, vitamins, with rare blood ailments, and cabinets full of homeopathic crap than they were.

Jehovahs Happy People...shhhhyah. Right. Even if you ask a JW with a gun to his temple if he is happy being a JW he will say "I LOVE being one of Jehovahs people! What a priviledge to serve the one true god!" Just before he blows his brains out.

Brother Apostate

Some JW's are "happy" because they don't want to think for themselves.

Some JW's are "happy" because it's they only way they can have a relationship with their "loving" family.

Some JW's are "happy" because they are on a power trip.

Some JW's are "happy" because they have a non-stop source of cheap, honest labor.

Some JW's are "happy" because they have a social network that they think they couldn't develop otherwise.

I'm sure there's other "happy" reasons for being a dub, those are a few off the top of my head.

BA- Happy I'm not a JW

anewme

There are those who are hanging in there. We were all among them once. Like Lady Lee said, knowing the rules and living by the rules can create a sense of inner security and a feeling of righteousness.
Also a good number of them came from unspeakable backgrounds and separating themselves from their past continues to be a relief for many. And as with anything, personal experience dictates our feelings for something whether it be a religion, a company, a product, or a person.
But alot of happiness in the org is also blissful ignorance of the changing policies and unfair treatment and ignorance of cult tactics to manipulate their emotions and thinking.

If they knew what we know, they would not be too happy.

Anewme

dedpoet

Of course the watchtower has some happy members, apart from the ones in positions of authority who enjoy the power they've been given..

They are continually told that they are the happiest people on earth, and if you tell a group of people something often enough, then the odds are that eventually some of them will believe it.

All cults have happy members anyway. If you listen to the Jonestown death tape, you hear people talking about how happy they are to be Peoples Temple members 10 minutes before drinking the Kool - ade. I guess if you're the type of person who doesn't particularly enjoy having to think for yourself, then being in a cult, and letting someone else do your thinking for you, would make you happy.

Confession

This is Jehovahs Happy People DAMMIT!!

Got a kick out of that, LovesDubs. Reminds me of this...

Mental programming and Group Dynamics
Are effective but often cause stressing
So many Jay-Dub alcoholics
Deep down find their lives so depressing
Keep your noses to grinders and put on your blinders
Drink a fifth of cold Absolut
If you’re badly blue, the fault is with you
It has to be, this is “The Truth!”
It’s the Truth, it’s the Truth!
Let’s drink to the Truth
Our lives filling up with dismay
It’s the Truth, it’s the Truth!
Time to break out the hootch
We need to get numb right away!

jeanV

They are continually told that they are the happiest people on earth, and if you tell a group of people something often enough, then the odds are that eventually some of them will believe it.

true, but it is not the only thing. most JW I know are happy, friendly and cheerful people. It depends also on the congregations, I've seen some where everybody is happy and others where most are unhappy, I guess it has to do with the charisma of the leaders.

under_believer

Doubting Bro, that was an excellent response. You are a better man than I.

There are JWs happy to be in that org

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