Who's Really To Blame?

by AllTimeJeff 18 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  AllTimeJeff

  I hope all reading this will consider the following a commentary. I have no one in mind, but a few posts have got me thinking about my own JW experience. Also, reading of the bad experiences and pain of others here gives me much room to pause.

  Clearly, most of us, with good reason, hate Jehovah's Witnesses (the religion, and sometimes, the people). Which is really quite amazing, since we all used to be a JW.

  These are just some thoughts for public consumption, but I am wondering how much good it does us collectively/individually to be angry at the whole lot of JW apologists. Especially when you remember that we used to do the same thing.

  We used to defend not celebrating holidays and birthdays. We defended JW dogma on blood. Perhaps you even said that JW's do not protect pedophiles. Because thats all you knew. I know for a fact few would like me in my JW incarnation. The indoctrination I received caused me to act like an idiot. However, in my defense, I didn't know better for a long time.

  And that is why I would like to (for the record) make a suggestion. Have pity for the occasional stray JW that comes here.

  Remember, they used to be us. Yeah, maybe they shouldn't be on the internet. (really?) Or maybe, the more JW's that come here is a sign of where the religion is. Many of us have the opinion that the GB won't be able to keep all their followers off the internet. Why would we be mad and begrudge these ones their one small bit of autonomy? Even if they spout JW dogma. Who cares? Trust readers to see their thin reasoning. Objective people don't buy their BS. Why do you think their growth is so slowed in the West these days?

  Here is the real enemy, who you should be upset at. The Governing Body.

  So if David Splane, or Anthony Morris, Geoff Jackson want to come on here and make small talk with the apostates, let em have it. Give me a spot at the top of THAT line.

  But to get so upset and treat the occasional stray JW that wanders on here like a pinata? Aren't we doing a bit too much projecting in that case?

  I know some (many?) of you might disagree with me, which I respect. I just want to put this out there. There are many other ways to use our emotional reserves. Frankly, in my opinion, to get too upset over the occasional JW on here is to give them way more importance then they deserve.

  And lets face it, being a JW did drain our emotional resources. We need to conserve where we can, rehabilitate what we can, and experience revenge the best way possible. Live well.

  Love and Peace to all! (and I do mean that... )
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  musky

  AllTimeJeff, Great post. I really appreciate your comments. I think for some here, they have been emotionally upset by their experience with the witnesses. For others here, I think they may not be totally convinced that the watchtower is wrong. It comes out as being in "attack" mode.
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  OUTLAW

  AllTimeJeff..You make some good points........But..You have to remember we are dealing with people,at different stages of recovery.......We have people who are just starting to cope and someone like Reniaa walks in and rips off all the bandages..LOL!!.............It piss`s people off..But..Reniaa has every right to be here too..........Us old timers have seen it all and try to deal with things as they come up.....It can be a crazy house,but we have all fought to keep this hospital going ..None of this could have happened with out Simon/Angharad and our Mods....................I think one of the first realizations a Newbie comes to is,the WBT$ and Jehovah`s Witness`s are not one and the Same..You already get that..You are years ahead of some......................As people become more aware they will realise attack mode is not always the best way to deal with things..LOL!!.................All and all..I like your thread..You hit the nail on the head....................................OUTLAW
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  mraimondi

  we will see. Hopefully things will improve (they havent in at least a year) and people wont get called out as "trolls" or even "apologists" for having a different view. Labels of any kind are detrimental especially for people just wanting to express their opinions/experiences/POV. It is really true ignorance, and there is NO excuse. You CANNOT blame someone like Reniaa for anything, we are all our own people, and are going to have to face certain ideas and facts, no matter what you've been through.
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  oompa

  you said maybe we should have pity for them?

  i do

  and that includes the gov body dude

  most were prob raised in like me

  they prob really believe

  so i pity them too........and all of them.....but damm if the local elders still dont have so much power they can take my family away....they will be harder to pity if they do that........oomps
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  OUTLAW

  mrainmondi..Things have improved a great deal since the begining of JWD.....Early JWD was a much tougher place than here..I doubt many here would have survived the early days..Things are much better at JWN and they will get better.......There will always be a Reniaa..As board members mature,they will realise that.............Simon has created an incredible place for us all..........................................OUTLAW
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  dinah

  I have NO PITY for the GB. I hate them.

  And trolls who think they can save our souls by herding us back into the "fold"................... argh!

  I would rather die cold and alone.

  Don't try to save my soul. Been there, done that.

  I try to stay quiet when an active Witness shows up. It's hard, I wanna slap the sh*t out of them. Wake up!! Dayumm! They write crap, the masses think Jehovah wrote it directly to save his his people. It's CRAP!

  I did read the bible in my journey, it does NOT add up with what the Witnesses teach.

  I could rant for hours, I choose to sit on my hands.
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  OUTLAW

  Dinah..Love your post!!..LOL!!......................Trolls and GB..Off with thier Heads!!............................LOL!!...OUTLAW
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  yesidid

  Thanks Jeff,

  Great thread.

  I also find it difficult to understand why we should suddenly become Holy in our own eyes.

  So Holy in fact, that we can condemn others for doing, or justifying the very things we habitually did/said.

  Were we the only Witnesses who were misguided?

  How can it hurt us to give them the benefit of the doubt?

  After all the very worst they can be is our enemies.

  And aren't they the ones Jesus told us to love?

  yesidid
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  lurk3r

  Thanks for posting that ATJ.

  How could we not feel sorry for these people? Your right, we wer there too, and we did the exact same thing. Getting pissed off with them only strengthens their resolve dammit. I want them to do the same as me - respect my wishes and leave it at that. If they push, THEN I push.

  I don't hate em now, and I hope I never do.

  I don't feel sorry for the GB one bit. I don't hate em though - not yet anyways. I can understand the hatred some display however, but I would rather cross that road when I come to it.

  Am i correct in my thinking that there is one GB member that isn't one of the annointed?

  Every single day I wonder what these guys are all about, and I can't help it. I have read a few posts that really make sense too. Perhaps these guys ARE holding out and trying to contol so bad cause their pensions and futures are at stake? I can't see at least SOME of these guys going to bed at night wondering even a LITTLE bit if they are doing the right thing. There has to be more than meets the eye here. Has to be.

  lurk3r