by minimus 25 Replies latest jw friends
I think there are many that understand that alot of things are bullsh*t. I think they KNOW that the "Truth" is not everything it's cracked up to be. They recognize that many directions should simply be ignored. Just don't talk about it. Carry on and make believe it'll go away. Or wait on Jehovah.
Whatever the reason, for those that "get" it, maybe s o m e t h i n g will force them out of this stupid religion.
What do you think??
That's exactly the truth - why you hear 'the light gets brighter' or 'where else would we go' so much. They've been taught all their lives that there is no other option. And even if you're thinking something isn't right you're constantly enforced with the idea that the end is right around the corner - so people fool themselves that well IF it IS right around the corner I would hate to start showing weakness now and miss out on everlasting life. It's so engrained in them that if they just hold on a little longer - you hear it every meeting (along w/ trust the F&DSC) - everything will be all right.
I compare it to a baby that's sometimes afraid to walk because he is so comfortable crawling and keeps falling on his butt - but once he gets the hang of it he realizes he's so much better off. Too many people are just in a comfort zone and while they may see some issues they're afraid to start walking. it's scary at first. Doesn't help they are re-inforced with the idea - so many people are walking, and since just a few get on the road to life, then walking must be a bad thing.
Morph - (finally learning to walk)
Worked that way for me. Unfortunately I know a lot like me still in due to family pressures.
I'm also still technically in due to my wife ... family pressures. However there is a huge difference between being 'in' and still supporting the view, or even still hoping they are right and refusing to search for answers, and re-creating your mindset to embrace a new set of facts. I have done nothing to allow them to DF/DA, but I believe it's obvious to those around I don't 'support' the WTBTS's views anymore. Even if others cannot be this obvious I pray and hope that at least mentally they can free themselves and see the beauty that awaits.
Morph (seeing things with a brighter light than ever)
The PO at my last KH was like this. He knew it was not the Truth but he did not have a choice but to stay a JW. He would alwyas tell me "what else is there?"
Most JWs I know fit your description, min.
I guess that's why the "slave" is so frustrated.
The result= a weak fragmented "organization"
1.Only sick people go to the hospital. Only messed-up believers approach Kingdom Halls.
2.The JW's offer alternative explanations for everything Christian. In doing this they cite historical instances. Among their disproofs of Christendom they manage to dislodge loyalty from their prospective victims. These victims transfer loyalty to the JW's belief system. Frying pan into fire.
3.Gradual erosion of social ties and the banning of outside influences makes a JW dependant in the extreme on Kingdom Hall based socialization and Society based instruction.
4.An alert, curious and active-minded person of some intelligence will always notice discrepencies in the Watchtower propaganda message. Depending on how much individuality is left in them they will "earmark" these instances.
5. It takes a deep depression, tragedy or personal emergency to push an active JW into CONSCIOUSLY examining the UNTRUTH of the "Truth"
6.There is "nowhere to go" similar to the Kingdom Hall. This keeps most of them running on the nowhere oblivion treadmill of field service and meeting attendance.
7. 9 out of 10 (just my guess) ex-JW's have to be disfellowhipped to get the clear idea that Jehovah is a lie.
8.Few people can avoid merely carrying their mental infection (belief supported by scripture) around with them the rest of thier sad, pathetic lives.
9. A courageous, searching inventory of history, scriptural criticism, logic and fallacies is the only authentic escape from the mind-rape of Jehovah's Witness hell.
10. Once an ex-JW has the mind-tools in place, they can tackle dismantling the house of cards which composes JW theology. When they finally see for certain it is ad hoc cult-think the anger commences and life begins!
Well put, Terry. And I agree that MAYBE disfellowshipping can make one realize the truth but the fact that all their known association has disappeared might make them feel they have to go back.
I'm hoping that the more and more involved my brother gets (currently being trained for the circuit work), he will see how much corruption there is in the Org. Although he was at Belthel for 8 years and left because of the way he was being treated, he blamed it on "imperfect humans". I still have hope.
