What's wrong with being a Jehovah's witness

by dgp 50 Replies latest members adult

• 

  zagor

  Few weeks ago I've met a remarkable elderly lady who lived behind the iron curtain of East Germany until one day she was offered a chance to run. Apparently a couple of fellow students have dug a tunnel and her best friend was going to escape that evening. They've been talking about escaping together for a long time before and now that opportunity was finally there she came to get her. You would think it was an easy decision to make. After all it was fulfillment of a long dream. The thing is she couldn't. Not because of fear, but suddenly she was faced with the possibility of never again seeing her then aging mother and brother who was married with two kids. In the end her friend did go ahead but E. stayed behind. They were reunited only some 13 years later when wall finally fell and cried like kids talking for hours, days. Of course, nobody in their wildest dreams expected that to happen before it did.
  I asked her if she regretted her decision, she said "NO". She said "I was already free, the wall didn't define who I was inside" And I guess that is the key in anything. Freedom is the state of mind, not necessarily state of body or physical ties. Nobody should judge anyone for decision they make. People make decision for all sorts of reasons and unless we know full story we can't really say what is or what is not right for them.
  
  Interesting thing was also happening with her friend on the other side, she was plagued with feelings of guilt and helplessness particularly because after it has became known that she escaped she later learned her own family was being harassed because of that.
  So whatever one decides is really their own decision. We are all players in a biggest stage show that ever was in my opinion and finding the best route is not easy. Some must come out otherwise their sanity would be impacted, others stay behind because of a husband, a wife, wider family etc but they might already be free inside. Still others love to have both their life and their freedom without needs to explain themselves to anyone.
  
  I love the quote from the Shawshank Redemption
  "I have to remind myself that some birds aren't meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright. And when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up DOES rejoice. Still, the place you live in is that much more drab and empty that they're gone. I guess I just miss my friend. "

  Watch the movie you'll love it

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWUfFwoe8ko
• 

  leavingwt

  Your a lucky man to get that far LWT..

  The JW`s I know..

  Are happy where they are..

  I have assisted five people. I hope to assist more.

  I asked myself, "Would I want to know?"

  Each time, I say, "Hell to the yes!"
• 

  flipper

  DGP- Everything is wrong with being a Jehovah's Witness. They are trapped under cult mind control of false illusions. EVERYBODY deserves to know the " real " truth and not live in delusion. Period. But some witnesses are ready to hear it, and some are not. Gotta pick the right time in each various case
• 

  jwfacts

  I still wonder about whether some people are better to remain JWs than to leave. It seems a big responsibility to try to force such a big change on another person.

  I have an article at http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/wrong-with-being-jehovahs-witness.php which summarises most of the dangers of being a JW that you may find interesting.
• 

  Open mind

  My parents live, breathe, eat, sleep Watchtower.

  Why should I mess with their opium if it eventually helps them slide peacefully into that long dark night?

  om
• 

  readyornot

  Every situation is as unique as the person involved. I know witnesses who would crumble outside the walls of their watchtower confinement. Another, if I was given the chance I would try to question, coax and cajole them into awakening, because I hate to see their suffering in that bOrganization.

  You never know the effect you may have on someone. Sometimes we are heard the loudest when we whisper.
• 

  slimboyfat

  No view of the world is completely correct. Jehovah's Witnesses are wrong? So is everyone else. Jehovah's Witness beliefs can cause hardship and even death? So do other beliefs. I am more concerned about a society that thinks it's healthy to send thousands of young people to foriegn countries to kill and be killed than about Witnesses who don't want blood transfusions or don't want to go to university.

  Frankly in many ways I see more wrong with society than I see wrong with the Society.
• 

  nugget

  Someone once said in a talk that even if there was no paradise then being a JW was a great way to live. When in you would agree with the statement. When out you see that it is not true.

  When in you think that you are living to a high moral code that enhances life. You are making positive choices that will lead to everlasting life in peace and happiness. Your family and friends have shared goals and ideals and you are united with a worldwide brotherhood.

  These are lies, JWs are no more moral than any other social group but are often unable to do anything about a bad situation. If a husband abuses his family wives are encouraged to stay and not make a fuss. If people are desperately unhappy in a relationship they cannot divorce or seperate without censure and some feel their only option is immorality as the way out, having to go through the humiliation of JC and DFing. Some Elders and elders families are relatively bullet proof and use their position to behave attrociously with no consequences. Other elders. MSs and R&F are bullied by the BOE who feel they have the right to interfere in lives and wield authority as they see fit.

  People are used as busy fools and made to feel that whatever they do is it not enough. OAPs feel guilty for not going out in FS since requirements to preach are relentless. Other people give up on hopes and dreams and never fulfil their potential since it is better to be window cleaner than a brain surgeon or charity worker. The poison is passed from one generation to the next becoming more deeply ingrained.

  The threat of shunning is real, the bullying is real and the mind control is real. If people were kept in a mental institution although nothing was wrong with them we would all accept their need to get out even though the outside world would be tough on them emotionally and mentally. Leaving the organisation is similar. The fact that people can be traumatised by the thought of elders visiting and that there is a fear of discovery when you start to break away, these are not healthy responses. I don't remember being terrified that I might meet my weight watcher counsellor when I stopped attending their meetings. People are bullied within the organisation and are turned from rational human beings into judgemental hypocrites.

  The society has a way of shrinking your world down to just them that is why it is essential that there is support for those leaving, that people realise they are not alone out there and there are people who are willing and able to help them adjust.

  Having said all of this noone will leave unless they are ready so whilst we can embrace our freedom and sow seeds when we can we cannot deprogramme someone overnight. We can be there waiting to catch them when they take the first step away from the organisation. Apologies for the rant but didn't defrost the milk so haven't had enough tea.
• 

  zzaphod

  Personally, I would not approach a JW, I believe they are like the Alcoholic or Drug Addict that will only act when they feel it is their time,and from what I`ve seen alot of people naturally reach this decision without any outside help. The internet must be having a devastating effect on the steadfastness of some, I wish it had been about when I left.

  Paul UK
• 

  babygirl30

  The sad fact is that my own FAMILY would crumble w/o the 'org' - but have imploded while IN the 'org'. (make sense???) My father really IS not a die-hard, but in order to shut my mother up AND to keep the social circle/praise that he gets from those in the cong (he is a narcissist) he will STAY purely for superficial reasons. My mother, who has deep seated emotional issues, would never make it 1 day outside of her protective bubble of JWs!! She has nothing else in her life...no job, no outside association, no 'real' friends, no social life - NOTHING but being a JW. It gives her some sort of superiority over others (in her mind) and she uses that to feed her false sense of pride..very sad.

  Attempting to expose anything JW that those 2 'live' would only serve to make ME appear 'nuts' to them...when they announced their shunning of me (after 9 mos of reg association despite my being DF'd) I DID bring up a few questionable points for them to consider. But in the end, was labeled 'sooo deep in the world' that I apparently wasn't thinking clearly or making sense, and so THAT was all the more reason for them to cut me out of their lives. TO those that are successful at convincing others of the REAL 'truth' - I applaud you. Wish I knew what the felt like to see those you love and care about learn the real deal.