are in some sort of denial. It's like they imagine that perhaps if they try hard enough it will be the Truth, instead of a Lie wrapped in some shiny wrapping. Why else would some be so incredibly afraid of so-called "apostates"?
I rather suspect that many who are young and enthusiastically active JW's today
by gubberningbody 4 Replies latest jw friends
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yknot
I don't think R&F are afraid of so called apostates so much as the WTS leadership is..........
I don't know of any young JWs who actually shy away from apostate conversations compared to older ones who are quick to bring up the 'don't be tickling my ears' commentary. That said I don't many young JWs who put much effort in FS these days compared to the effort they put forth to being seen as spiritually strong.
Beyond that most respond with 'I feel or I think' commentary rather than the ability to discern their religious origins, directions or basic timeline.
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WTWizard
They are not prepared for anything else (if they were born in or their parents became witlesses while the children were small). It is this that makes them (some of them, that is) want it to be the truth at any cost. Just wait until they reach their 50s and 60s, have no retirement, and start developing disabilities from all the excess field circus demands. And, wait until they are about 70 (the equivalent to being 98 in the world), near death, and realize that they have accomplished precisely nothing.
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SirNose586
Here's my take on this, because finally this is something I can identify with:
The ones who are really putting their nose to the grindstone, climbing ranks and so forth, are the ones who have been looking for validation in their lives. Why is it that the weirdos put in the most hours, the career pioneers? Well, they just can't mesh with anything else. I know that growing up, I wanted to feel normal more than anything. I always had a little edge thanks to being smarter than the average kid. And nothing alienates you faster than being smarter than other kids and rubbing it in their faces, or merely their knowing that you're smarter than them. So whenever I could identify with the cool kids, being close to popular, it felt good. I felt validation instead of alienation.
What's the bottom line with my experience? These really good dub kids have no validation from the average, popular dub kids who are in it for more obligatory reasons. They are massively sheltered. This sort of group dynamic drives the "good Witness kids vs. borderline Witness kids" drama themes for a damn good reason: it is very real. I wanted validation from the cool dub kids, in addition to the cool school kids. I never really got it from those dub kids. I recently found out that no one took me into the inner circle of friendship because they all wanted to "protect" me. They figured my rank-climbing and brown nosing meant that I couldn't take their personal drama and secrets. I'd failed to get in good with them in a lasting way. I'm not upset about that, at least not anymore. But I'd failed to truly connect with them, so I sucked up to the local elders.
So when the local elders consistently reward the kids who put in the extra effort, who don't get in trouble, etc., it really does make a lasting, deep impression. I had a charismatic Bethel-trained PO who molded me into a potential elder/Bethelite/pioneer to look out for me. I know understand how much I looked up to him, without considering it. It also helped that my father never came close to the Mike Brady-like "let me guide you through life, son" type of father. I needed a father figure who was worthy of emulation, and my dad never felt good enough about himself to take up that role. So this PO filled the vacuum nicely.
So I disagree with the hypothesis that the ones working hard are trying to overcome denial. Never forget that people could really be working hard because they feel good about what they do. The mouse gets his piece of cheese, the whale gets his fish, and so the performance continues. I'm very lucky that I stopped getting my little slice of cheese and broke out of the maze.
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SirNose586
I will add at least one more thing: I did go through the "why is Da Troof not working for me?" in De Nile phase, but this was when little doubts started to creep in right after graduation. The majority of my motivation, however, was based upon the essential "behavior and reward" dynamic.
Edit: "I know understand how much I looked up to him, without considering it" should be "I now understand how much I looked up to him, without considering it."