by deemoo 34 Replies latest jw experiences
demoo:
Get out now! There are bible studies at almost any church around you. All you have to do is call the office and find out when the next one meets. Anyone can be seduced into this cult. They are masters of seduction. They will prey on what they deem to be your weaknesses.
Run for your life!
Hi, Deemoo! Interesting 'handle'; how did you come up with it?? About the JWs; are you researching a term paper on various religions, or just curious??
The statement made by Scarred for Life has validity; the WT - oops, must spell that one out - WatchTower Bible and Tract Society aka Jehovah's Witnesses does indeed use various mind-control techniques. However, since you've hit upon the happy idea of asking them the same questions after a month or two to see how the answers have changed, you're probably not in great danger of becoming one. You might want to read several books on mind-control and cult techniques, and see how many of those techniques you can spot in the Jehovah's Witness meetings - make it a scorecard!!
I left 24 years ago and never looked back - BUT! I did attend one Public talk and Watchtower study years later, just out of curiosity. My therapist was on pins and needles - VERY WORRIED that I was going to go back into the 'cult', but I found the experience simply amusing and revealing - wouldn't you know it, I attended the meeting with the talk on "Making New Disciples"!! EVERY blasted JW in that hall (seemed like it...) came up to me after the meetings and asked whether I wanted a 'Bible study'! Talk about having the 'sheep' come to them - or so they thought!! By the way, they repeat their talks, given from outlines that have been around for years, in case you haven't spotted that yet...
Anyway, WELCOME to the board! 
Zid
Hello everybody!
I would've joined this forum so much earlier if I had known what a warm, friendly, inviting place it is :) I come back from work and there are a whole heap of replies waiting for me! *feels all warm and fuzzy inside*
Some replies -
"Most people believe that they could never be recruited into a cult." That's true for me too. I don't believe I could ever be indoctrined. But, I shall take your warning to heart and lay my hands on the anti-cult book.
I do hope the love bombing doesn't end - I enjoy it! :D Doesn't mean I will join up just for it to continue. I can see how people who are going through a difficult time in their life would be seduced by this. Just somewhere to feel accepted and get some support.
I do enjoy the studies! It is fun to have ideas that oppose my current line of thought thrown at me. It's a way to clarify what I believe in and why I do as well. And it is a great way to learn why other people belive what they do, and why they think something is the "truth". My one fascination with religions (all of them) is the way everyone who practices a religion are dead sure they are right and everyone else is wrong. Is there no room for error?
Re: handle - my first name is Deepti (female) and "moo" comes from my family name.
It is interesting to read everybody's experiences, the highs & lows, and the uplifting stories about how people found themselves after leaving.
There must be a place here (on these forums) to post about the various factual errors in the WTBTS publications. I've had too much time on my hands and have been looking up the quotations, etc. I'll put them up sometimes later.
*virtual hugs*
Dee
Good morning, and welcome, Dee.
You seem to have both eyes wide open, but tread carefully.
Your unique take on the JW's is refreshing. Tee hee hee.
Please stick around. We need you.
Sylvia
Welcome...
If you're interested in learning about JWs firsthand, then you're going about the right way. Some people will tell you to stay far away from them as possible, but I think it's good to actually see them face to face and ask them questions directly...especially since you're not interested in becoming one.
But it's good to balance the information they provide with information from critics of the religion as well. And boy will you find the critics here... Most of the people posting here have been adversely affected by the WT Society slash JWs in one way or another, so for the most part you're not going to hear too much good about them here.
I do agree with you that many JWs are simple, sweet people. The problem with the religion isn't so much the everyday people, the rank and file we call 'em, but with the leadership and the doctrines. The rank and file, for the most part are victims...victims of a mind control cult. An outsider may not grasp that concept but those of us who were in in can testify to it.
Your actually studying with them and taking the time to counter what they say with what the critics say is going to give you a pretty good idea of why it's not a good religion to become too involved with.
I hope you stick around awhile and share your experiences with us. I'd love to hear the take of how the studies and interaction goes.
Welcome DeeMoo,
You seem very "aware " and your eyes are wide open to such things a "love bombing" and "mind control"
Good for you.... welcome and I believe life will go well for you ... you needn't suffer the pain and disappointment
experienced by so many on this board !
Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense,,,, Buddha
Caliber
Big WELCOME Deemoo!
I stopped going from door to door as a Witness because of the book you are "studying" Its title is a fraud,because it does not show you what the Bible really teaches IN ANY WAY,look in the Appendix for some wacky stuff,it is also dishonest too in the way it presents JW's view on Blood, it doesn't touch on the new (again wacky ) idea about Blood fractions.
I walked away from the religion about a year after stopping making converts for them, because I decided it was a blasphemous religion which does not respect Jesus,since leaving I have become convinced it is a dangerous mind- controlling cult, so be very very careful!!!!
You are though in a position to have a LOAD of fun,we can feed you lots of awkward questions to ask! Tee Hee!
Welcome again,
Love
Wobble
@ wobble --- FEEEEED MEEEE
Here's an example to get you started. The current thing I've been bothering the people I study with (I'm a girl, but I study with a guy - apparently this is unusual) is why women are made to wear skirts to meetings and when they go door to door.
So, they picked up a passage from 1Tim 9,10 (Timothy again!) which says "Likewise I desire the women to adorn themselves in well-arranged dress, with modesty and soundness of mind, not with styles of hair braiding and gold or pearls or very expensive garb,"
Immediately, I said - Well! That means women aren't supposed to braid their hair! Neither wear gold nor pearls! You guys don't follow that...
To that, they got very defensive and said that paragraph only means that women should dress modestly, it shouldn't be taken literally.
BUT, they take the next paragraph literally where it says that women should learn in silence with full submissiveness.
PAH! When I asked the guy how they deiced which parts of the bible must be taken literally and which parts needed to be interpreted, he didn't have an answer. He actually couldn't see my point about the hypocrisy :(
Anyone have any more I could ask?
Hi and welcome!
Sounds like you are pretty switched on but it's still a good idea to thread very carefully. Remember that they've had decades to fine-tune their techniques and do seem to have the answer to everything.
Keep posting!
Am
I was raised a Witness and hung around it for forty years of my life, looking back I see how much I lost of my own ability to choose for myself to do this or that for myself, to be a Jehovah’s Witness you to accept someone else’s ideas (I don’t mean scriptures) rather than your own, you become afraid to function in your family life, or in social situations all out of fear of displeasing the GB or (elders) and being called on the carpet over an infraction of some manmade rule. I am pretty sure all Jehovah’s Witness feel like this it’s just that some have more stamina concerning it I guess. If you have to believe something similar to the Witness’s I suggest the Bible Students, they don’t seek to control every facet of your life.
