by Paralipomenon 24 Replies latest jw friends
My husband and I were just talking about this this morning. You would think the JWs would harbor SOME curiosity about what's being said on the internet. If there was some negative talk about MY church, I'd want to read it just to see what they're saying.
I guess there'd really be no way to determine a percentage, because people can access the net with complete secrecy.
Lavendar
WT Wizard:
I agree with your post. I especially like your second paragraph.
You are so right about how they want to take the internet out of the homes of the JWs. Of course, they can't physically go into homes and remove it but they do the next best thing. Like you said, they keep them impoverished with education bans (for any gullible enough to heed this bad advice), job limitations (because of lack of qualifications), too many meetings and hours of service, etc. They may not keep them physically isolated but they keep them mentally isolated. I know of people who got a computer so they could do research with the CD but they don't want internet service. Part of the reason is because they don't have the money for internet service. What the religion hopes for is that they will retain a core of ignorant, uneducated and 'obedient' people who will not be aware of their scandals. A large part of this group are the elderly (who are computer illiterate) and the rest comprised of a mixed bag of mostly die-hard, ignorant raised mostly-in-the-religion types.
LHG
28.766309%
When I finally googled Jehovah's Witnesses and accessed 'apostate' websites, I was so completely distraught and frustrated by what I should believe that it was a last-ditch effort to find out what God wanted me to do. I seriously thought I'd be struck by lightning or that the elders would decend on my home and DF me or something.
I think fear keeps most JWs away from apostate sites. I think that one reason the WTS is talking so much about the evils of apostates is precisely because there are so many people with internet access now, and the fear is the only thing they have to control the R&F anymore.
GGG
Trying to scare people out of xJW sites (or the Internet in general) is very shortsighted imho, even if it works for a time. When something does scare you it sort of fixes you a date: you know you'll have to face it sooner or later, and you will not be completely at peace until you have done so. It's only a matter of time.
Otoh I think many JWs, at some (sometimes long) stages in their life, would remain completely unaffected by xJW sites, so it is completely useless to keep those out.
All in all, I guess the WT would make a smarter move if it turned back to air and answer the main criticisms publicly instead of keeping them secret, so most JWs would know what they may find on an "apostate" site and think they already have the answers rather than being surprised when they venture online. They have successfully used this aggressive (rather than defensive) strategy and sent millions of dubs in FS to face people who may know better (in science or theology for instance) and they have lost relatively few of them in the process. How would we cope with hundreds of JW apologists instead of the current handful? He he...
All in all, I guess the WT would make a smarter move if it turned back to air and answer the main criticisms publicly instead of keeping them secret, so most JWs would know what they may find on an "apostate" site and think they already have the answers rather than being surprised when they venture online.
Precisely Narkissos. Damage control and spin is the name of the game.
I sure did! :) But I also remember feeling like people would 'find out'. As if they could know just by looking at me.
The few times that I did look at those websites, I was so nervous I could hardly think straight. I doubt any of the information actually sank in at the time.
That, in itself, should have been a wake up call for me.
My guess is about 25%
Are you shocked???
I'll tell you why I say this.
Very, very, very few JW's have computer expertise. They work at feckless jobs and are kept busy, busy, busy. They've been warned off the Internet for years. Older people (over 30) never learned how to use a computer and don't trust them.
Do you know how many people my age even know how to turn on a computer???
The persons most likely to view a "dangerous Apostate website" in the Kingdom Hall crowd are teens using their illicit friend's PC. That is not very many.
Most of the knuckle-draggers who come here to lurk and talk smack are teens and young adults without a clue as to what their religion is all about. They feel invincible and want to take down the stupid Apostates with their mighty sword of Truth.
Once they are disabused; they leave.
It is only the YOUNGER GENERATION in religions worldwide that you find a narrow group willing to open themselves up to being proved wrong by anybody.
Youth is very ego-driven.
All in all, I guess the WT would make a smarter move if it turned back to air and answer the main criticisms publicly instead of keeping them secret, so most JWs would know what they may find on an "apostate" site and think they already have the answers rather than being surprised when they venture online.
They already do this, though. They say that apostate websites are full of disgruntled, disfellowshipped people who have a gripe with the WTS. They spread lies through their apostate websites, and since they are so evil and directly opposed to Jehovah, they are guilty of the unforgivable sin and faithful JWs need to stay far, far away.
It's the fear that keeps the faithful away, imho.
GGG
All in all, I guess the WT would make a smarter move if it turned back to air and answer the main criticisms publicly instead of keeping them secret, so most JWs would know what they may find on an "apostate" site and think they already have the answers rather than being surprised when they venture online.
Uh, wasn't the Proclaimers book a bald-faced attempt to do just this?
Roller
