Are we suffering from a victim mindset?

by DT 28 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  DT

  I don't want to be disrespectful or cause needless disputes, but there are some thoughts that have been bugging me. I have to wonder why former members aren't doing more to combat the power of the Watchtower Society. Of course, I realise that some have made great contributions and others have to first make their own healing process a priority. However, the situation is still kind of absurd. Here is an organisation that is causing the deaths of thousands of people and untold misery. They are also holding many of our friends and family hostage. Their shunning policy and slander of former members is about as brutal as they can get without resorting to physical violence. It's as if they have declared war on us and we haven't realised it yet.

  Could it be that we don't recognise our potential power? Do we think that our actions against the mighty Watchtower Society will only backfire? Recently, I was thinking about how hard it is to do things to weaken the Watchtower Society. Then I remembered that it was the Witnesses that taught me that any actions against their religion usually fail. I think the reality is different. It's wise to avoid giving the impression that "apostates" are crazy, but I don't think we have to walk on eggshells either. There will always be some witnesses that won't respond to any kind of reasoning, but I'm sure most still have some level of sincerity and want to do the right thing. All we have to do is start to break through their mind control. Also, if we can make the public more aware of this dangerous cult, then the witnesses will have trouble finding new recruits to replace the steady losses of people leaving.

  There are a lot of things we can do, some of them are pretty simple and easy. However, it might be worthwhile to first consider our mindset. Have we inherited a feeling of helplessness from the Watchtower Society? Does anybody think it can be therapeutic and liberating to do something meaningful to combat their power? I think the average apostate can easily counteract the efforts of ten or more witnesses. They are using outdated and inefficient methods while we can be far more creative. Also, it should be far easier to convince someone of the dangers of that cult than it is to convert them into that religion. I look forward to your thoughts.
• 

  nvrgnbk

  When one considers all the injustices, abuses, deceptions, atrocities, etc. committed throughout history, rabid dedication the destruction of an irrelevant apocalyptic cult would appear to some to be a sad way to spend a short life.

  Expose it where we can, in particular to friends and relatives?

  Yes.

  But to make the destruction of the Watchtower conglomerate our life's work may be less than healthy, IMO.
• 

  Sad emo

  Possibly some are victims and still feel powerless - you can't easily switch form victim to survivor mindset without first going through a recovery process, which some here are still doing - be that dealing with abuse, loss of family or the feeling of having been conned etc.

  Amongst those who are survivors, I believe there is a lot going on against the WTS, like Nvr mentioned, on a one to one basis and amongst friends and family. I have little doubt that there are other larger scale, co-operative campaigns going on too but probably can't be publicised (ever wonder why the campaign strategy section of this board is by invitation only?!).

  The fact that boards such as this one exist bears testimony that we are campaigning against the WTS by putting the information out there for all to see - so in a way, even if there are victims here, their presence and sharing of their experiences also becomes part of the campaign.

  Again, as Nvr wrote, if one's sole mission in life is to bring any organisation down, it can become very unhealthy and with the reverse result too because it may end up being seen merely as the rantings of a madman.
• 

  Junction-Guy

  DT, I just wish there were more people willing to work against this cult. If enough people got together we could do some major PR damage to the Watchtower.
  
  There are many dynamics and issues involved as to why this isn't so, and there is no easy answer.
• 

  nvrgnbk

  DT, I just wish there were more people willing to work against this cult. If enough people got together we could do some major PR damage to the Watchtower.

  Do you want to end up bitter, consumed with hate?

  Always seeing injustice, personalizing it?

  Always wronged?

  Always frustrated?

  Always waiting for the right opportunity to bring down the giant?

  What will it take?

  Proof of failed predictions utilizing their own literature?

  Proof of mishandling of pedophilia within their organization?

  We have that already.

  When the Watchtower organization becomes irrelevant to the man in the street (oh wait... it already is), what then?

  Some people will always prefer delusion over reality.

  There are many dynamics and issues involved as to why this is so, and there is no easy answer.

  So true, Dave.
• 

  Junction-Guy

  I'm not sure about the bitter part, but children being abused in every way imaginable is enough to make most normal people angry.
  
  People have their causes--save the whales, save the rainforest, gay rights, welfare reform, protesting wars, voter reforms, etc etc etc.
  
  If people just gave up, would we ever accomplish anything?
• 

  nvrgnbk

  I'm not sure about the bitter part, but children being abused in every way imaginable is enough to make most normal people angry.

  Is this exclusive to Jehovah's Witnesses?

  No.

  Do the elders meet to invent new ways to abuse children?

  No.

  In my years as an elder, the cases of abuse I dealt with were mostly incestuous and mostly committed by minors.

  Are there cases of abuse committed by those that hold positions of authority within the organization?

  Yes.

  Can that be said of any religious organization?

  Yes.

  Is that tragic and vile?

  Yes.

  Even some working with U.S. government task forces designed to track and prosecute pedophiles have been found guilty of... pedophilia.

  Shall we fight to bring down those organizations as well?

  If people just gave up, would we ever accomplish anything?

  I'm not advocating "giving up".

  I am advocating being intellectually honest, first and foremost with ourselves.

  The biggest crime of the Watchtower is their perversion of truth.

  To make vain promises in the name of a non-existent God, to advocate the postponement of this life for the sake of a future never-to-be-attained life is a type of murder.

  That assassination is not unique to Jehovah's Witnesses.

  It's common to all religious zealots.

  Peace to you, Dave.
• 

  Junction-Guy

  I disagree with your last few statements.
  
  Most churches do not encourage their members to give up education, to drop out from society, they mostly encourage their members to get a decent education and to become productive members of society. It is mostly fringe cults like the JW's that do otherwise.
  
  
  Also Im not talking just about the sexual abuse as that is prevalent in all sectors of society--religious, atheist, business men, doctors,lawyers. pedophilia is not unique to the JW religion, however the way it is handled by the JW religion is definitely different than in most other sectors.
• 

  nvrgnbk

  Most churches do not encourage their members to give up education, to drop out from society, they mostly encourage their members to get a decent education and to become productive members of society.

  Right.

  But that's not due to their religiosity.

  It's due to secularization.

  Secularized Muslims do not blow themselves up.

  Some Muslim zealots do.

  Secularized Christians do not suggest that natural disasters are judgments from God to punish the wicked.

  Some Christian zealots do.

  When people hand in their ludicrous beliefs in exchange for reality, everyone stands to benefit.
• 

  Eyes Open

  Interesting thread.

  I've had thoughts of designing a succint leaflet which could be dropped through letterboxes outlining why organisations like Jehovah's Witnesses don't have truth, warning potential victims, but then reality sets in and I remember I don't have loads of money to get the thing printed and distributed.

  Due to the nature of religious belief, it's impossible in my view to actually bring an organisation down. The WTS vanishing would be something I would dearly love to see, but until humanity has learnt enough to protect itself from religion and cults in general it won't happen.