by asilentone 23 Replies latest jw friends
Mad Sweeney,
While I realize there are degrees of hypocrisy even in everyday life, there is far too much in this religion. You are especially right where it is about elders and their families being offended (too bad).
I noticed elders would be especially protective of their children - especially when these children have been accused of being involved in wrongdoing. Then the elders get real ugly.
I think it's a "conscience matter".
Sometimes it takes living in hypocrisy to make someone think about their beliefs vs their actions. Good Advice is rarely taken.
It's ok if it's in 'fractions'.
Why would you give yourself permission to be a hypocrite? That's like saying as long as YOU are ok with being a liar, don't worry about it.
For a JW to stop being a hypocrite would be hypocritical.
W
My grandmother used to say "If you're sweeping your own doorstep, you'll be too busy to notice when other people don't sweep theirs."
In other words, people who have nothing better to do than criticize other people over trivial things need to get a better hobby.
Ooh, what a smack down, Scully!
But I don't think it's possible to be a JW and not be a massive hypocrite. Although I think that it is sometimes unknown to the JW that they are acting hypocritically, since they are just following the guidance of the GB in what they do.
StAnn
I think it's normal to a degree.
The rules and demands are so burdensome that you are almost forced to play outside of them and be a hypocrite.
From everything from defending positions you don't really agree with to pretending you enjoy service to having hidden 'worldly' friends to playing blackjack when you go on vacation, etc.
JWs are forced to be hypocrites. It's not necessarily their fault.
No one ever sees themselves as the bad guy. That is one of the first things you learn in sales. Child Molestors, Nazis, Rapists, Serial Killers, they all got mitigating circumstances in their mind. In other words it's a waste of time to criticizie, judge or codenm. It just pushes people away. Acceptance, Tolerance, and encouragement however can produce the results that many people try to achieve with their criticizism.
"Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain -- and most fools do" -Dale Carnegie
