Ok so I've been reading thru the posts here for the last week or so since I found it. And I just am amazed I think or I don't know...I feel something that I can't quite put my finger on. It's like this... I was raised in 'the truth' as many here were. I have spent A LOT of time around witnesses...it has basically been my whole life. When I go to the meetings I look around and see these people that are 'looking the part'. After reading thru some of these posts it really makes me wonder how many at he hall really are 'dedicated' to the cause. I guess I had this 'angelic' view of everyone that was a witness....that I must have been devil child because I had doubts and didn't agree with lots of things....now I'm realizing that 'HEY!' there are lots of devil children in the organization! lol I think my eyes are more open to things now...and honestly for the last week I've been wondering if maybe my dad has ever had these same kind of thoughts I have. He and I are SO much alike...we think alike on so many things that it wouldn't surprise me if he had this type of thought process. He also brought the computer/internet to the family back in the day....and he is on the computer A LOT looking stuff up like old war buddies (was in the army b4 he became a JW) and when AOL came out he used to like to go to the JW chat rooms and get people all up in the air about his comments.....I'm going to have to feel around and see with him.... Anyway I kinda went off my topic there but bottom line I'm seeing witnesses in a different light now....like not all of them are 100% dedicated....some might be on the edge just hangin around for nothing better to do....hmmm...interesting anyway sry bout my rambling....I don't know if I made the point I intended to make...but I sure tried ;p lol edit: how the heck to make paragraphs....
It's just....oh I don't know...Werid!
by rosiegurl 13 Replies latest jw experiences
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AuldSoul
I think most of them are just afraid they will lose all their friends and families if they are honest with themselves and everyone else. Having integrity and being a Governing Body's Witness don't mix well.
Don't worry, you put it very well. And welcome!
Respectfully,
AuldSoul -
GoddessRachel
I understand the gist of what you are saying. It makes you wonder who you can really "trust" when you look around you in the kingdom hall. After being away from it for a year I wonder in amazement how some who I think are smart, kind, genuine people can really believe all of it. Maybe they don't... I'll never know because the WTS has succeeded in making everyone AFRAID of saying how they really feel.
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rosiegurl
it's like I've been conditioned to think one way and one way only all my life...and here I'm seeing people that used to be pioneers, elders and more saying that they have the same doubts that I have had most of my life I guess it's time to 'recondition' my thinking =)
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Nosferatu
I had this 'angelic' view of everyone that was a witness....that I must have been devil child because I had doubts and didn't agree with lots of things
I was very much the same way. The longer you're out, the more it goes away. You'll see these "pillars of the congregation" die in this "old system of things". You'll see a JW you recognize at the grocery store and notice how their hair is turning gray, and how their face is starting to wrinkle. All the things they said wouldn't happen to them are happening to them. That's when you see them for what they are: dubs.
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moshe
I haven't been to a KH meeting in almost 20 years, but I am sure I could pick out the 'doubters' without too much trouble. They don't have a WT indoctrination study with anyone and go out of their way to not talk to many people in service They do maybe one Saturday and one Sunday afternoon a month, tops. They have wordly activities and even worldly friends. Their kids even play soccer or tennis after school. They miss meetings during the week and don't have a family WT study beforehand , either.
Yeah, I could find them out, if I was still at a KH.
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Crumpet
After reading thru some of these posts it really makes me wonder how many at he hall really are 'dedicated' to the cause. I guess I had this 'angelic' view of everyone that was a witness...
I know what you mean - LOL! What surprised me most was that not everyone was as devout as my family and how many actually follow the rules with a sprinkle of sugar and take the stuff from the platform with a liberal pinch of salt and the most shocking thing was just how much time on ministry was spent in coffee shops. No wonder I seemed to work twice as much territory as everyone else!
Its a bit belated but welcome to the board!
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Mad
The solution is to realise ALL people are screwed up- some more than others! Remember that you are there to worship Jehovah as God, Christ as King! It's the ONLY place you'll learn about them- so ignore people who aren't sincere- or seem to be- and realise that there will be falacies in OUR faith as well!
Agape,
the Mad JW
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TopHat
I haven't been to a KH meeting in almost 20 years, but I am sure I could pick out the 'doubters' without too much trouble. They don't have a WT indoctrination study with anyone and go out of their way to not talk to many people in service They do maybe one Saturday and one Sunday afternoon a month, tops. They have wordly activities and even worldly friends. Their kids even play soccer or tennis after school. They miss meetings during the week and don't have a family WT study beforehand , either.
Moshe, you must have a cystal ball because that was me you just described when I was going to the KH.
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lilybird
Its true many stay because all their family is in and they are afraid of losing them. When I decided to leave some 20 years ago, the jw who had been my best friend since our teen years phoned me to talk about my decision to leave. She tried to talk me into to staying but then confided to me that she really wanted to leave but couldn't because her family and her husbands family were devoted dubs over several generations. So it was easier for her to stay than rock the boat.. My husband and I............ we didnt care if family and friends not longer talked to us.. our freedom and our childrens freedom was more important.. I guess it comes down to prioritys.. but I am sure now my friend and others I grew up with must really be wondering..and feeling a bit like they have wasted their lives away...