"The Perfect Storm" To Be A Jehovah's Witness

minimus

Why do people become Jehovah's Witnesses?

Mini, It's "THE CONCEPT" as Ray Franz and Don Cameron explained. It's their belief that the Watchtower Society is God's Organization. This belief makes them captives, having a mental image of the organization that seems to take on a personality of its own. This in turn controls them, moves them, or restrains them, by molding their thinking, their attitudes, their judgments...The concept of "the organization becomes in fact, the dominant, controlling force.

From Captives of a Concept..Don Cameron, page 11, 12.

Of cause "The Carrot" the promise of living forever on a paradise earth is another reason why.?

Also, taking a Bible study ( really the society's interpretation of the Bible ) without doing a history study of the Watchtower first, lures one into becoming a Jehovah's Witness.

Blueblades/ Mall Cop

Mall Cop

To them it's not the perfect storm, rather, it's the perfect life that they hope to have on a perfect paradise earth forever, releasing them from the perfect storm.

Heaven

It's the hope to come to God and do what's right, to be rewarded with eternal life, and have all their problems fixed for them.

edited to add: Many years ago I was told that Jehovah's Witnesses could answer all my questions. They never have. I never joined.

Mickey mouse

In the past a lot of converts were idealist utopians who were looking for a quick fix to their problems. Nowadays the majority are oddballs looking for acceptance.

OUTLAW

I have no frigg`in idea..

Its all I knew and I could`nt get out fast enough..

Maybe my parents were nuts..

......................OUTLAW

AGuest

Why do people become Jehovah's Witnesses?

I can't answer for anyone else, dear Minimus (peace to you!), other than my kids, and they would say, "My mom..." . I went "in" when they were toddler/small child, so until they left (right before I did) it was all they knew. But in case it will help... or ring a bell with anyone else here... here's why I became one: they (the JWs that came to my door and later the ones that studied with me) said they had the "truth" [about God]. And that's what I wanted: the truth... about a whole lot of stuff, but mainly, about God. Who doesn't, at some point or another in their life? But no one had ever said that to me, before - that they had the truth. Everyone else seemed to say God was some "mystery" being and no one (but a few) could really/fully get to know [about] Him. I knew better than that, though - everything IN me knew better than that - but I didn't know enough to know that the WTBTS didn't know, either, and was playing a con game. I was in my early 20's, with 2 small kids, and working full time. Not much time to begin "deducing" things like this.

It mainly started because I felt I owed it to my children to teach them about God... that it was my responsibility... and these were the only ones (that I knew/had come to know of) who seemed (I say "seemed" because it turned out to be the classic bait and switch!) willing to sit down with me and talk about God, perhaps even teach me something about Him that others had not been able to... as well as have "open" discussions using the Bible (yeah, right...), or any other book, including ancient history, science, etc. (because I had those kinds of questions, too). It was the fact that they would actually open the Bible that gave me the impression we were really going to discuss what was IN there... rather than just quoting me some passages like others had done when I was a little girl.

Or so I thought. Newsflash: they do the same thing; they just have a few more passages to quote. And so, as I said, it's really nothing more a classic bait and switch, a true con.

I do have some responsibility (all "marks" do!), and take it, for the most part. But I was mothering two small children... and working full time! (in fact, I had just returned to work after less than 2 weeks' maternity leave - they didn't have FMLA back then...) so I didn't really pay close attention to the swtich. For years (and so, my bad!) I ignored it, excused it, explained it away... by choice, I now know. And so, it seemed to have occurred slowly, gradually. Only because I delayed it as much as they did. They delayed by responses such as, "That's a good question; let me research that and get back to you..." but never getting back to me: Bible study folks, pioneers, Book Study conductors, elders, POs, COs... "mature" Bethelites... the "FDS" itselt... heck, even a bona fide member of the GB. None of them could ever respond to my "deep" (that's what THEY called them, not me - I thought everyone wanted to know what I wanted to know, were asking the same/similar things) questions/comments. Or, I would get the classic... "Wait on 'Jehovah'" and then, whadya know!... here came a talk or WT/AW on just that subject. And, well, heck, they were answers and NO ONE had provided any of those for me before, so...

But I let them do it (even when I began to know better)... and so stayed... and sometimes prayed... and "waited... on 'Jehovah'."

[NOTE: I realize that I didn't ALLOW myself to "see" that the "answers" were contrived, but it wasn't because I was stupid, per se - it was because I was tired and overworked... and more than that, I didn't want to be one of those "they" talk about who was "always finding fault." So, initially, I would allow myself to start down that "Okay, there's something wrong with ME, why can't I just get/accept it like these others?" just to "fit in." But it got harder and harder... and I knew I was all that stupid...]

I went along... to get along. Which is something I will NEVER do again, at least not where MY spirituality, life, and eternal life are involved.

It wasn't "Jehovah," however, who eventually answered my questions... every one of them... and who eventually called me... and began to lead me out. It was the Most Holy of Israel, JAH of Armies, through His Son and Christ, the Holy One of Israel and Holy Spirit, my Lord, JAHESHUA MISCHAJAH. I distinctingly heard them/him... and once I began listening to and following them... they (the WTBTS) kicked me out. Like the priest and Pharisees did to the blind man that came before me and those like me, who said it was the same One who opened his eyes, as well! Not to worry, though - I was on my way out, so they did it to my great benefit. So, I ain't all that mad at' em!

Anyway, that's why I went in... and why and how I came out.

Again, peace to you, dear Minimus!

A slave of Christ,

SA, who has a bit of time on her hands today, obviously...

ziddina

My parents joined because they were manic-depressive idiots, and dragged me in, too; enforcing my "conversion" with slaps, kicks, insults, and at one point knocking me unconscious....

With an introduction like that, no wonder I got out!!! Was never actually "in"; just going through the motions because I was intimidated by the bullying...

And now I HATE bullies, and target them every chance I get!!

Zid

OnTheWayOut

Maybe my case is your "perfect storm." I was exposed to JW beliefs between 5 and 11 years old. Then my mother got DF'ed but didn't explain what that meant to me. All I knew was that she stopped going to the KH. She went back when I was 13, but I didn't go with her. It ruined me for religious celebrations, though. I "knew" they were pagan and I felt uncomfortable about them.

When I was 23-ish, I was a practising alcoholic and my personal life was falling apart. I attempted a suicide and felt sure that God interfered to save my life. Because my mother was JW, she sent the local JW's calling on me. Well, that seemed like an answer to my prayers.

JW's told me just what I needed to hear: God really does personally care about you, He has a mission for you.

Is that your "perfect storm" scenario?

EmergedAsMe

" So, initially, I would allow myself to start down that "Okay, there's something wrong with ME, why can't I just get/accept it like these others?" just to "fit in." " by Aguest

I was a born in... but I experienced this too – because talking about your true thoughts is repressed it seems like everyone else gets it and something is wrong with you not the message. Peer pressure in the direction of becoming a JW (heavy JW association, and why do you think they want you to invite studies to the meeting asap?). I know of one JW that came in from the world and her adult daughter told me that she (her mother) felt like she needed "to join the club" to be fully accepted. The other thing is many who join the JWs from the outside are a bit odd, mental problems, just gone through a major life event (death/disaster) or just are worn down and tired from life and the JWs just seem oh so nice...(lovebombing)

Manipulative, deceptive recruiting and peer pressure – do not underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups!!!

(The "recruit" is not stupid... the JWs in large numbers have the power to sway a smart person into thinking that the JWs are right – despite the actual "beliefs" being too far fetched to even have a shred of credibility)

"The Perfect Storm" To Be A Jehovah's Witness

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