by compound complex 44 Replies latest social humour
Hey Jimmy!
This is wonderful news. And here many of us thought reform impossible [or improbable]. Is this just a regional thing, according to your personal observations and knowledge of the internal goings on within the WWW of Jehovah's Witnesses?
You will become a leader amongst the people.
CC
Har-dee har-har-har! This would be funny if it weren't so true.
The JWs want to portray those who leave as trouble-makers because we yelp in pain about the pound of flesh extracted in the process. Like we're having a paranoid's wet dream. Their question is the epitome of disingenuous - "why don't you just leave?" The fact is they have cleverly (or more likely instinctively) devised a cult culture that is the material equivalent of being ham-strung: the more you struggle, the more you hurt yourself.
"Gee, why do you want to hurt yourself? Oh, these ropes we've tied around your wrists and ankles? Pish-posh! Just ignore them!"
Dear BB:
Your insightful musings are, as ever, pithy, cogent, salient and, dare I say, stinging?!?!?
"Simply go away. Do not be afraid," the leaders tell us. But under their breath they intone, "You're dead meat ..."
Thanks!
CC
CC,
Under their breath or out the other side of their mouths! Heinous, reprehensible bastards!
Seriously, even my own dear mama tried the "Why don't you just walk away?" line. Then, a few years later, she too came over to the 'dark side' ! We have been happily worshipping the god of darkness together ever since (with occasional breaks to bake muffins).
TRUE BELIEVERS
Those who seek escape from the intolerable cruelties of life must now deal with the intractable will of the soft-spoken leaders of kindly mien.
They soothe our withered soul and parched spirit with the promise that they can - that they shall - lead us into an era of uncommon prosperity and peace. I, for one, looked upon these princes among men and felt deep within me that, at long last, a direct line of communication had been established betwixt me, the merest of mortals, and the Divine.
The so-called soft-spoken leaders of kindly mien, I have discovered to my regret, are not whom I believed them to be. In the unplumbed depths of my heart of hearts I once safeguarded them; they were second only to Messiah.
The need to climb the highest mountain, or go yet beyond and ascend into the heavens to find truth was acknowledged as entirely unnecessary. Youth asserts that the grass beneath his feet is not green at all. Surely, then, the pastures are increasingly verdant, as well as luxuriant, the greater the distance the young man goes. It is merely illustrative of wanting more than home - literal and figurative - could ever supply.
Youthful folly is reined in, as in the case to which I allude above, not by one's natural parents, but by those seekers of candidates for the Kingdom. It is they who become surrogate fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters to the initiate of the Spiritual Family. Long-time associates - I now see that they were my genuine friends - grabbed hold of my authentic self and begged me not to abandon my life and them. It was too late.
The princes among men and their recruiters have promised me a glimpse of the divine, and now it is they who hold sway.
The alteration has commenced.
You have stolen my life, my family, my friends ...
c c,
We, who had misgivings about the witnesses when involved with them, needed someone like Ray.
He was able to take the fear out of the doctrines of the society, allowing us to make a better assessment of them, without the fear of the ground opening up and swallowing us.
My wife and I read both his books, it was when my wife realised that the G.B. were very very ordinary and not inspired that finished my wife’s dedication to them.
C.C. good thread allowing us yet again to thank "RAY" very much.
KT
Thank you, KT, for sharing your personal experience.
Yes, somelike like Ray Franz - a kind-hearted, God-fearing man - takes up the cause of the lowly ones in righteousness. The result?
Those here on JWN and our fellow escapees throughout the world! Who could have known the vast and far-reaching effects?
Gratefully,
CoCo
I sincerely believe that, of all the personalities on the Governing Body during the 70's and 80's. It was Ray that God saw something special in. Something good he could use to help others.
I believe he used Ray's unique experience, personal knowledge and kind heart to free many of us trapped in this cult.
I hope and pray that Ray now looks back on the first 60 years of his life, not as a waste of time, but as a training ground for the work given to him after leaving JW's. Similiar to Moses with the Egyptians or Daniel with the Babylonians.
I owe that man a H U G E debt of thanks for the life he's had. For without his experience, my whole family would still be trapped and misreable.
I hope and pray that Ray now looks back on the first 60 years of his life, not as a waste of time, but as a training ground for the work given to him after leaving JW's. Similiar to Moses with the Egyptians or Daniel with the Babylonians.
boyzone
Thanks much, bz. Let's allow R.F. to address the above prescient comment!
CC
See below:
I am grateful in a sense for what I have experienced within the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses, and what I experienced within the Governing Body. I doubt that I would have fully appreciated the value and importance of Bible teachings in all these regards had it not been for seeing in such a personal way the effect of a legalistic approach to Christianity. I would never have realized how a surface morality can be produced that nonetheless allows for acts that are not only unmerciful but sometimes cruel, extremely so. Now, however, I can realize how it is that the apostle's words [Romans 2:17-24, the gist of which is, do you, who know the law and teach it, break it? God's name is blasphemed because of you.] just quoted can apply equally today. I can understand how it is that an organization can claim to be a "spiritual Israel," formed of "Jews" in a figurative sense, can proclaim worldwide that it and it alone stands in God's favor, knows His will and law, is His appointed guide to lead people out of darkness into the light of truth, an organization that draws great attention to its making known the name of Jehovah throughout the earth - how it is that such an organization can nonetheless be guilty of a form of lawlessness so serious that it brings grave dishonor on the very name it claims to honor.
bttt for Jimmy, KT and boyzone ...
