How Pathetic Are Jehovah's Witnesses?

by Tired of the Hypocrisy 8 Replies latest jw friends

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  Tired of the Hypocrisy

  I have to say that I have been experiencing a wave of Pathetic JWs. They all seem to be hyper defensive, off base, and willing to do and say anything to win. The ones I run into lately are very wary since I wear my grizzled "Commander Ryker" beard like a badge of honor. They scatter to the four winds when I approach, with the exception of an old timer whom I met when I moved here. And he always has a grin on his face like he wants to say something but never dares....LOL

  Online they are different.

  I have been asking a few questions on yahoo answers. Most of the JWs who answer me come off very defensive and ramble on endlessly with very negative bantor, judgementalist accusations, and with long essays that make no sense when put into the context of my question. What they are doing lately is a new low for them, a least in my experience. There are a couple (Since it takes a minority of two to ban a question) that are getting my questions deleted by yahoo. Some are even going into my archive of questions a few months back and getting old questions deleted which have been resolved peacefully. They claim a variety of terms of service violations, but when I feel like appealing, the majority are easily restored. Am I experiencing Theocratic Warfare? They lie to get my questions deleted, but when yahoo receives my appeal letter and actually reads my questions they prove the JWs liars by reinstating the question.

  They lack the ability to read a question and try to answer it. Well, a couple actually do, and they do an excellent job of reasoning. Sometimes I agree with them and other times I don't but there is always respect between us.

  This desperation can only mean one thing. The end is near and they know it. They feel the heat and will stop at nothing to hide their history and distract truth seekers from the truth about the watchtower. I suppose they feel like they are accomplishing something?

  The only thing I can think of is to ask more and more questions. Any ideas on hitting back?

  Here is a new one I hope you can help me with: What Are JWs Afraid Of?

  http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081008051742AAzunoF

  "If either the right wing or the left wing gained control of the country, it would probably fly around in circles." Pat Paulson

  http://watchtowertruth.blogspot.com/
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  PrimateDave

  I was about to reply, especially in reference to one of the posted answers, when it indicated that the question was deleted. Pathetic, indeed.
  
  Dave
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  PrimateDave

  Edit: Ok, the question is back again. I will leave an answer.
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  drew sagan

  There is a method to their madness.
  
  In regards to your own personal experience in the Watchtower, ask yourself these two questions: (please note that they may not apply if you were born in, but try and play along)
  
  1. - When did you first realize it was the "truth"?
  
  2. - When did you first realize the Watchtower was chosen by God to be the 'faithful slave'?
  
  In answering #1 I think any person who has converted to the JWs will most likely give you a story about how they learned about the name 'Jehovah', or that they met some nice people at the kingdom hall, learned the "truth" about hellfire, ect. In all these cases they will recall coming to believe it is the truth based upon any number of abstract theological points combined with some feel good experiences that they had.
  
  Now question #2. I'm sure it would take them a much longer time to answer that question. I was a convert to the JW religion. I remember learning about the name 'Jehovah', hellfire, Trinity, paradise, worldwide brotherhood. I remember thinking about these things constantly when I first began to associate with the organization. These were the things that proved to me (at the time) that is was "the truth". But I cannot tell you an exact moment when I came to believe the Watchtower was the all powerful chosen agent of God (i.e. faithful slave). I actually remember my BIble Study were the guy trying to convert me tried his hardest to convince me of this doctrine. I was totally lost at the time. it was confusing and I just didn't get it. Eventually I would come to accept the doctrine, but I have no recollection of it. I simply accepted it, but without excitement.
  
  I bring this up to explain that people do not become JWs simply by accepting evidence the Watchtower has been chosen by God. Rather they believe it to be the truth because they were sold on dozens and dozens of minor issues that were arranged in a specific order and then sold to them. They are very attached to these various ideas (name jehovah, hellfire, trinity, holidays, ect). They believe these things prove it is the truth.
  
  But when you challenge them, you are moving along question #2. You are asking them to defend something that they have no personal expierance in defending (or even thinking about for that matter). You have caught them off guard and the only way they can combat you is to give you a long list of reasons as to why they think it is the truth. The return to the distractions that they have been told prove it to be "the truth".
  
  That's why JWs can be very scattered and erratic in their dialogue. They have no experience in defending their religion in a progressive, logical way. They instead focus on a number of loosely connected talking points that they naively think when added all up prove it is the truth.
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  wobble

  How true Drew! "JW's can be very scattered and erratic in their dialogue" I have had discussions with two long- time JDubs recently and found it frustrating that they could not use logic,or more often than not would not answer a point at all. It was a bit like playing ping-pong and every time they batted the ball away from the table!

  In the end I left both with a different question from the "silver bullett" thread,this was some weeks ago,they still have to get back to me....

  Love

  Wobble
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  carla

  I think Drew Sagan is right on. One other point is what the poster said about asking legitimate questions, if a jw deems your question illegitmate they will lie, skirt the issue and talk of anything else but the question at hand. Then they will accuse you of bad motives and call you names like apostate and opposer. They are unable and unwilling to actually think about what they are supposed to recite and parrot back. I don't think they even know what they are saying half the time. Why should any question be out of bounds unless they have something to hide?
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  WTWizard

  The system of only needing two people to ban a question is ridiculous. But even worse is that the witlesses will band up and do whatever it takes to get anything deleted if it challenges their beliefs. They want people to only see their side of the story, and this adds evidence that, if they were able to, they would seize the government and plunge the whole world into the Second Dark Ages.

  And they wonder why I am not willing to put even a penny into the Worldwide Pedophile Defense/Start the Second Dark Ages Fund.
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  PrimateDave

  This was my reply to the question:

  One of the posters answered: "if your here to criticize, you need to take it to the society"
  
  I think what we have here is a key issue for people who are Jehovah's Witnesses. The fact is the Society, as it is commonly known among the Witnesses, is a human institution just like the United Nations, the Catholic Church, or Bank of America. Like any human institution it is completely fallible and self serving. Any honest appraisal of its history and actions aside from its own self serving public relations message will lead people to question its motives and especially its claim to be guided by Holy Spirit.
  
  A good example of this is the fact that the Society has NEVER directly addressed the issues brought up in the book _Crisis_of_Conscience_ written by former Governing Body member Ray Franz, instead choosing to obliquely warn against so-called "apostates." An honest and direct consideration of these issues would go a long way to reestablishing credibility among critics of the Society. No, the approach taken by the Society itself shows that fear of the truth guides their actions, thereby betraying their claims of divine guidance.
  
  So, why are the questions being deleted? Do some people experience mental discomfort when confronted by ideas that they simply cannot accept? Is it easier to deny that there is an issue with their chosen faith than to honestly address the questions presented and follow the answers to their logical conclusions? Perhaps, only they can really say what goes on in their minds. My answer to this question is simply based on my own experience as a former Witness baptized for 25 years.
  
  To those who would ask, "Where else can we turn to?" I would suggest that you haven't looked deep enough into religion and faith if you believe that the Witnesses have the "truth."

  
  So far I have received two thumbs down, but I am neither surprised or disappointed considering the lack of quality evident in the majority of the "answers" given to your question.
  
  Dave
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  drew sagan

  Good points PrimateDave.
  
  I think in a more general sense I would simply say that Watchtower leadership has followed a policy of complete isolationism. The leaders have locked themselves away in their corporate office and answer to nobody. They do not even put their names on the articles they write.
  
  In essence, they hide from their piers. Who are their piers? It is not typical folk like you and I. Rather it is the scholars and religious leaders the Watchtower claims are wicked and in error. If the leaders of the Watchtower are unwilling to allow academic discussion with such people, they play themselves the fool.
  
  Let their leaders come out of the shadows and debate, argue, and discuss their absurdist theories with respectable academics who disagree. Even the mormons attempt such things (not that they are taken very seriously for it).