"We don't FORCE FEED our children spiritual food." Oh really?

by Open mind 51 Replies latest members private

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  milligal

  reniia-I feel as though you are presenting an either/or scenario (either we give our children something OR they will find it on their own) I have to disagree-both with this theory and with your opinion that more families (I assume JW?) are not force feeding their children....

  Children follow example; you can provide safe boundaries for your child and still allow them to choose. I am an atheist, I present both sides to my children they can choose to believe in God and I'll still love them- they can investigate both sides with freedom. Am I scared they're going to run out and become satan worshipers because I haven't directed them specifically in one direction? No. I am teaching them CORE values, what it means to be respectful, honest and hard-working. I have no choice but to let them apply these values to their own choices and belief system. This strategy creates strong people, I want my kids to be leaders, feel valued and know that they have a choice in their lifestyle. I don't need to take them to five meetings a week to 'teach' them about my belief system unless I am afraid that they will not do what I want.

  As far as JW's less frequently force feeding their kids, are you aware of the degree JW's are willing to take a custody battle? I went through 7 years with my JW ex. I cannot believe he spent all that time and money trying to take my child from me because he's not motivated by armageddon coming tomorrow and what's going to happen to our son if he's not a JW.
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  WTWizard

  Hmm. Getting dragged to every boasting session. Study time enforced by the parents. Field circus when they should be out playing. Not getting to watch cartoons on Saturday morning like real children. Having to take a stand for the Tyranny at school. Being dragged to a$$emblies in lieu of real vacations. And that is not force-feeding them?

  I wonder what happens to the witless child that chooses not to participate. Suppose one Saturday they choose to watch TV or sleep in instead of going out in field circus. Suppose they want to celebrate Christmas this year. Suppose they want to no longer go to the boasting sessions. Or if they want to skip the study--or they have a different viewpoint about doctrinal matters. What then?
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  happysunshine

  Good point Milligal re values.
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  gymbob

  Frankly, those of us who were born and raised in it know better. Gymbob
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  Mary

  Recently, an elder was giving a talk explaining how important it is for young ones to regularly take in spiritual food. Then he looks us all straight in the eye, (Good audience contact, BTW) and says: "But we don't FORCE FEED our children spiritual food."

  Funny because I specifically remembering one CO years ago telling us that we should be eating from Jehovah's banquet table on a regular basis and compared it to a parent feeding their infant baby. The moron actually said that parents should "force feed their children otherwise they'd never eat anything. And so it is with Jehovah's Organization today. We should be partaking of the abundant spiritual food whether we want to or not."
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  flipper

  OPEN MIND- Another really good thread by you ! Good job ! You throw some good ones out there !

  If any of you here have seen the documentary on video or DVD called " Jesus Camp " - you will certainly more fully understand how dangerous it is for ANY religion to force feed " cultish brainwashing " into our young people's minds. It is disgusting in that documentary how many fundamentalist religions in America are cramming down the throats of young people their " mind control" spew ! Making little Hitlers out of 8 and 10 year olds who in the name of " god " and " Jesus Christ " want to bomb , destroy and maim everyone NOT on the side of George Bush and the military ! It's disgusting how adults in these churches whip these young peoples emotions into a frenzy before the " group mentality " takes over and they are ready to massacre anyone not considered a " Christian " . Scary as hell ! Do yourself a favor and watch it.

  The Jehovah's Witnesses cult is every bit as dangerous as those fundamental cults - just more subtle in the manner they attack the conscious and sub-conscious minds of the children in their cult. Think about it - they pressure young people to put first , no - not going to college and geting an education first so you can provide for yourself in this world jobwise - but they push them into thinking the most important work is knocking on people's doors pushing magazines into people's hands and making converts for a cult who is offering them a fake " paradise " and future ! Then any showing interest if they and their children start going to meetings- they are encouraged to drop off any associations with former friends and relatives who may " hinder " their alleged " progress " in the cult. At first these " new " ones will be shown care and supposed love - but after being in for a short while - they are treated in a controlling, mind control manner being forced to see life and issues the governing bodies way- or no way. Otherwise they have to get out of the organization to escape the mind control. So - yes it's forced in the witnesses as well ! Hook, line, and sinker
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  V

  Expose on child baptism. Add "water-boarding" to force-feeding...

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l8ELIQEdZE
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  Open mind

  bttt, since I see sKally is posting today.

  I'll even paste my last inquiry to sKally here so she doesn't have to re-read the whole thread:

  *********************************************

  sKally:

  Nice skirt.

  Why thank you. BTW, how did you know what I was wearing?

  Bada-boom.

  Seriously sKally. It's not a skirt. We are at an impasse and, IMO, we should just agree to disagree. But I'm willing to give this one last try.

  Please let me know if any of the following bullet points do not accurately reflect your viewpoint on what people like me should be doing:

  1. Once a JW realizes that there's something not quite right about the JW religion, she/he should have the courage to do further research.

  2. Once a JW realizes her religion is not what it claims to be and that, in fact, it has policies and doctrines that cause harm, up to and including the death of innocent people, she should take action.

  3. One of those actions is to clearly inform her fellow worshipers exactly what is wrong with the JW religion.

  4. To fail to inform fellow worshipers is morally wrong.

  I agree with points 1 & 2. We part ways on items 3 & 4.

  It's not a skirt. It's a difference of opinion and morals.

  Please let me know if I have accurately expressed your views, and if not, where the inaccuracy lies.

  om
• 

  sf

  3. One of those actions is to clearly inform her fellow worshipers exactly what is wrong with the JW religion.

  4. To fail to inform fellow worshipers is morally wrong.

  Replace the word "wrong" with the word "factually documented as fraudulent,, deceptive, corruptIVE/CORRUPTED and deadly in their P O L I C I E S "...and do this within the congregation...not here., then my answer is yes to number three.

  Morals schmorals. It's common sense and decency. Not to mention, you OWE THEM THE REAL TRUTH...NOW. Not when it's best for you and your families. But now.

  It absolutely insenses me how so many of you keep it all going...the "printed stuff" too; meetings, field work, masking your true feelings, keeping facts to yourselves, all the while so many are suffering at the hands of this organizations DEADLY P O L I C I E S.

  Numer one and two are pretty obvious if you read my history as an active, dedicated, apostate, in good standing. As they say....duh.

  OPENMIND,

  Who do you think suffers the most in this organization? You? Your adult wife? Your adult jw family members, if any?

  And before you fire off a eply to THIS post, think about those whom are under your belief system. How would YOU feel if someone knew facts that could change your life and that of your kids, and did not share it because their family was much more important than theirs, or anyone elses?

  sKally
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  Open mind

  Thanks for your reply sKally.

  Option 1 (of many): Do lots of research. Jump up at the Kingdom Hall and in a loud voice "expose" as many Watchtower lies as possible before being asked to leave the premises.

  Results: Probably reach no one. Reinforce the idea that apostates are anti-social and have been overreached by Satan.

  Option 2 (of many): Do lots of research. Slowly, carefully, at the right moments, plant and water seeds of independent thinking in the hearts & minds of my family.

  Results: Probably reach the kids. Maybe my wife. Maybe extended family and some in the congregation. Even if I reach no one, I will sleep well knowing that I followed the strategy with the best chance at reaching those I love most, my family. And yes, I love my family, more than I love humanity in general, Satan worshiper that I now am.

  Here's another way to look at it. Have you ever read the fairly long essay by the JWD poster whose username is "Confession"? The title of the thread was called "That Voice".

  In it he artfully describes the long process of awakening to the truth about "The Truth".

  He's dreaming that he's in a radio booth and there's someone screaming at him from the other side of the glass, but he can't quite make out the words. Eventually he realizes that the person on the other side is himself and he is telling himself that "it's a lie!" (JWism, of course).

  IMO, what you propose is ineffective as far as reaching the hearts and minds of still-in JWs. If you want to "scream behind the glass", go right ahead. I, on the other hand, am going to carefully use my position to reach as many still-in JWs as I can before the glass, sound-proof wall (shunning) goes up.
  If my technique is more effective in waking people up, then to that extent, it is also morally superior to jumping up in the middle of a meeting at the Kingdom Hall, making a scene and going out in a blaze of truth-telling glory. (But hey, I'm only making that "morally superior" comment as an academic aside.) I truly feel each of us should do what we as INDIVIDUALS think is best. That, of course, includes you too.

  What concerns me the most about your non-stop "get out now!" message is that some newbie might unwittingly follow your advice and blow whatever chances he has at reaching ANYONE. Before he's had time to read more and make a more carefully considered decision.

  Agreeing to disagree,

  om