daniel-p says:
At that point, what do you have? What are you? How much is life worth, when you've given up your ability to think for yourself? |
In other words, "The unexamined life is not worth living." (Socrates) I certainly agree with that. He too was put to trial for heresy because he challenged his students to critically examine theie accepted beliefs.
jambon1:
Perhaps you can share with us some insite concerning the unhappiness you experienced in the organization? You may have touched on it when you responded to Angel Eyes remarks concerning the weeds in the wheat. One thing I cannot stand is the remarks given by "religious" people who are quick to label critical examination of religious beliefs as "falling in line with Satan." I get accused of it too, especially when my wife tells me that I try to "discount the Bible" or when I try to "disprove God." Personally, I think she is torn but is too afraid to even challenge her beliefs. I was very comfortable with mine until I began to let that WT dogma sink in my head. Now, I find myself troubled at times in spite of the fact that I never joined up with the organization. I find myself not knowing what to believe from time to time.
In a way, I envy people like Angel Eyes who are happy drinking the WT Kool-aid. Life is so simple for them for they never have to think for themselves. The Watchtower has it all figured out for them and if they have a question that needs an answer, rather than looking inside themselves, reasoning, and in my case, praying to God and looking for Him to make a way, all people like Angel Eyes has to do is look it up in a Watchtower somewhere. For people like her, the Governing Body has all the answers, one just has to look.
I liken who she is to who I was back when I first became a Christian and started attending a fundamentalist church. The preacher would preach with authority about politics, current events, how to dress, how to worship, how to please God, what to listen to, how to view the holidays, etc, etc, etc.. I liked it at first, as I was certainly seeking answers in life. But eventually, he began to sound ridiculous and at times I caught him contradicting himself. Eventually, some of his preachings began to make me feel like he was speaking directly against me. I was living at home at the time and I was 21 and I even recall him preaching from the pulpit how people over 18 need to be moving out of their parent's home. To say I was depressed over it was an understatement. I eventually left.
But, lo an behold, I found myself latching onto another blowhard who had 'all of the answers' except he wasn't a preacher. He was Rush Limbaugh and at the time I thought of myself as a raving dittohead who looked forward to watching his late night TV show (remember that show). When it got cancelled, I would listen to his radio program almost religiously. When a friend of mine (who happened to be a Witness at the time) said that she thinks I considered it my "little church." She was pretty much right though I did not really see it clearly at the time. In fact, the blowhard preacher at the fundamentalist church looked a little like Rush (and certainly was as no nonsense like Rush) and when I did visit the church, I could not help but to call the pastor to myself Pastor Limbaugh. I know, it is hillarious now but I guess that was how drawn I was to people who had such authority in their speach. Well, around 1998 (after I have been in college for 5 years) and started to think for myself, Rush Limbaugh began sounding very ridiculous to me also. Bill Clinton this, Bill Clinton that, etc, etc..
So I guess in short, I think people are drawn to the WTBTS because of the fact that they seem to "speak" with authority about issues that have no easy answers. People are looking for answers to questions that have no real easy answers. I can certainly see how someone like Rutherford (another blowhard) could amass a following. People like that always have a demon or multiple demons (Rush's demon was Clinton and the liberals, the Pastor's demons were gays, Santa, Xmas because it was suppose to be Christmas, Procter and Gamble, the government, Clinton, televangelists, and liberal preachers). Of course, Rutherford's demons became the WT's demons.
To a thinking individual, these blowhards begin to sound ridiculous and will eventually contradict themselves. To a thinking individual, their diehard followers also sound ridiculous and very child like.
