Did You Expect Perfection From Jehovah's Witnesses?

by minimus 33 Replies latest jw friends

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  Lady Lee

  some very different questions Min

  Did You Expect Perfection From Jehovah's Witnesses?

  No

  ....either from others or yourself?

  Definitely from myself. And I felt totally inadequate on that level.

  Were you regularly disappointed when the elders, brothers or sisters didn't measure up to what they were preaching?

  What I expected was kindness, love, empathy, compassion, support. And even those I thought were doing good failed miserably when I needed them the most. For years I was the one every came to with all kinds of things - non-WT related from sewing and cooking ideas to child care and whether they should talk to an elder about a serious matter -- undisclosed to me. But when I finally got to the point of being suicideal and started talking not one person helped.

  Did you actually believe "The Truth" was 100% true?

  I don't know anymore. I do know I wouldn't survive Armageddon so I guess I believed it. I could not really imagine myself in paradise. It just was too unreal to me - like a fantasy. But I sure did try and I suppose others thought I was such a good witness - at least that is what Mouthy and others have told me. No one knew what was going on inside
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  AllTimeJeff

  When you claim to have the truth, as fervently as the borg does, and you point to "the international brotherhood", then expectations are raised.

  This leads to disappointment, obviously. Many (most) KH's are breeding grounds for the easily offended. When you think about it, JW's in past decades usually were able to harvest a good amount of people who looked for perfection. When it was offered and sold as such, they ate it up!

  Imo, a lot of these converts were at the least, having issues. This cult attracts those with personality problems.

  Having been raised as a JW in a nuclear family, I had no issues until I got caught up in the BS and married a cult member before I really knew what was going on. So I could see the absolutely unrealistic expectations. I never did anything as a JW because someone was perfect or had offended me. I just took people for what they were. If we got along, we were friends. If not, I kept my distance.....

  To me, it was interesting that real issues, such as elders and others who abused their influence and power, hypocrites and outright liars, would often be swept under the rug. The borg, from the GB down to the elders are expert spinners of their weaknesses. "Well, no one is perfect!"

  The GB had its both ways.... Their motto should be "Join the JW's! We will be perfect! Some day!"
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  Wasanelder Once

  No, just human kindness at it wasn't there. W.Once
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  Doubting Bro

  Like others, I didn't expect perfection but did hold them in general to a higher standard. Especially those in positions of leadership. After all, holy spirit was appointing them, correct? Many would point to the issues in the 1st century congregations as proof that we can expect problems today. However, they don't understand that the JW teaching is that the spiritual paradise is now and was not in existance then. Also, the "great apostacy" was already starting in the 1st century (according to JW theology) and that after the appointment in 1918, the JW organization was supposed to be the restoration of the true religion. So, you can't have it both ways. An occasional bad apple is one thing, but you would expect that would be rare. Oftentimes, finding a BOE without a bad apple is the exception.

  I began to slowly realize this as I worked my way up the organizational ladder. COs that seemed nice to the flock would often say horrible things about members in elder meetings. Administration at conventions were really no different that corporate leadership that I worked with secularly and many times were worse.

  By their fruits you will know them. How many times have JWs said that about other religions? Yet, when problems arise, they often say "other religions are going through the same thing". Its the double standard that really gets me angry.
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  eyeslice

  No, like others, I never expected perfection but did expect high standards in love, empathy and understanding. Unfortunately, these all to often are sadly lacking.
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  garybuss

  Did You Expect Perfection From Jehovah's Witnesses?
  
  I expected the virtues of truth, fairness, and honesty, as advertised. Instead, I got lies, tricks, and denials. The first time I tested them as an outsider, they folded up like a $2 suitcase in the rain.
  
  
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  stillajwexelder

  pNo - the elder I studied with taught me early on in my study that even the GB were not perfect
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  verystupid77

  Yes on all acounts. I hated myself so much because I could never do enough. And I was so tired of waiting on Jehovah to take care of problem in his own time. You Jehovah allows bad thing to go on because he is testing us. The pedophiles were the last straw. No God would allow that.
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  Black Sheep

  I expected the virtues of truth, fairness, and honesty, as advertised. Instead, I got lies, tricks, and denials. The first time I tested them as an outsider, they folded up like a $2 suitcase in the rain.

  Thanks Gary,

  That description fits my experience very well. I had never thought of it like that.

  Cheers

  Chris
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  BluesBrother

  Did i believe it was truth? Yes , of course or I would not have done it.

  Did I expect perfection ? No, because I never saw any.

  I miss read the thread title at first. I saw it to be "Do you expect Perfection? ", meaning from the ex dub perspective.

  I see a lot of posts on here that slams the individual dubs for thoughtless or inconsiderate actions. I say ."give them a break, they are only human" There are plenty of worse people (individually) than most dubs .

  They make a rod for their own back by trumpet blowing about what wonderful people they are, but the individuals cannot live up to it.