Are you a better person for having been involved with witnesses? (page 2)

John Doe

Absolutely not

In what aspects are you a worse person than you would have been otherwise?

dgp

I like this question. Sure I do.

I am not a JW and never will be. But, being involved with witnesses did make me better. Only I would define "better" in very different terms.

First of all, I have come to see you all, guys, either in or out, as my neighbors. That doesn't mean I have stopped seeing the rest of us ("us" meaning "you, witnesses or non-witnesses) as my neighbors, too. I have no reservations about you, witnesses or former witnesses. I no longer see you as Saturday morning killjoys.

I do feel that we who are out should care a lot more about you and your plights. We should not simply say that you have a right to believe whatever it is that you want to believe, provided you don't ask us for a Bible study. We should care more about what happens to those inside.

I have no question that many witnesses, if not most, are honest and sincere people. But through what seems countless hours reading and posting here I have come to really understand what hypocrisy could be like. I always despised that, and I despise it even more. With hypocrisy, for example, I mean that I really really hate the magazines when they talk about "Cherishing the gift of singleness", for example, when that really means "We know you're single; shut up and toe the line".

I have come to appreciate mental freedom beyond measure.

I can't believe the abuses that are commited in the name of God. Not that my former church hasn't made much abusing, either.

I can't approve or understand why a good person will die rather than taking a transfusion. I fail to see how God would give you blood and then ask you to die for lack of it.

I see deceit more clearly.

I have become a full atheist.

And I wish there was a way for me to help put an end to all that misery.

Yes, I'm a better person. Only the Watchtower defines "better" in a different way.

Razziel

As OnTheWayOut said, we've become better people not because of the JW experience, but despite it, which is not the same thing.

beksbks

In what aspects are you a worse person than you would have been otherwise?

You didn't say anything about being a worse person, you asked if I was a better person for having been a dub. I think if I hadn't been a dub, I would probably be less shy and insecure.

shopaholic

No. After leaving the witnesses I realized how selfish and arrogant I was as a witness. I'm so much more a sincere, kind person now that I'm out.

flipper

No, not at all. I'm actually a better person since exiting the witnesses. I can think outside the box with critical thinking ability free of mind control. I would have been a better person without any influence by the witnesses

gubberningbody

I think you're not really free until you can see the good, and speak of it as good. It wasn't all bad otherwise no one would be there.

beksbks

What was good?

Darth plaugeis

Yes I feel I am a better person for sure. After surviving the years of abuse and being told what a terrible person you really are, I can stand up for myself now. My children haven't talked to me for years and I think about them everyday, but it is easy to see why they feel the way they do. Brainwashed by the BORG. 5,10,20, 30 years from now perhaps they will say "what did I do to Dad?" Maybe they will contact me and do you think I'll tell them go to hell? Of course not. I will welcome them with open arms, I have never stopped loving them and never will. Being forced to go door to door knowing what a bunch of idiots we looked like walking down the street. After enduring that nothing scares me anymore. Being forced to go door to door in the slums of Boston with the biggest dork you have ever met because this is Pioneer School. Nothing scares me at all. Having to endure the most boring conventions for year after year sitting in suits with no AC. Having to listen to a brother talk about anal, oral sex, masturbation from the stage with children of all ages in the audience nothing embarrasses me anymore. Having to pretend to be friends with people who must of eaten lead paint as kids made you tolerant. It wasn't over night once you leave, but after a few years you learn who you really are, and find out you really are a good person. Being told gays are evil scum then finding out they are wonderful people just like me. Yes I do feel like I am a better person.

mindmelda

You're kidding, right?

Um, no. I was just a kid when I was dragged into it. I really didn't have time to become a drug addict or a criminal who needed cleaned up by the WTS.

I will say that I did learn to be a good public speaker and salesperson, though. If you can get up in front of people and sell that stuff with a straight face, you could sell air conditioners to penguins.

Are you a better person for having been involved with witnesses?

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