I've lurked a long time: JW's produce some of the most paranoid humans (page 7)

Franklin Massey

...right into my arms, where I scooped her up and ran like hell.

Beautiful.

You have a PM.

jonathan dough

Pffft!@ Jonathan Dough

The resident Jehovah's Witness apologist has arrived...

You must have me confused with someone else. Far from a JW apologist, I'm one of the Society's most ardent critics and have devoted years of research and writing to expose their false teachings. It's all right here: http://www.144000.110mb.com/

cofty

Unlearn I am so happy for you and your wife. There is nothing more precious than freedom and you have claimed yours before its too late to enjoy it.

I remember it as exhilirating and terrifying all at the same time. Welcome to JWN.

ziddina

"You must have me confused with someone else. Far from a JW apologist, I'm one of the Society's most ardent critics ..."

Whoops...

You're right...

However, since your stance appears to be fundamentalist and literalist, the effect comes uncomfortably close to the Jehovah's Witness' tendency to 'cluck their tongues' at any non-biblical stance...

Violia

Welcome to our motley crew. :)>

Oh, and Bless you for all the jws you gave a "pass" .

It was 2 elders I knew well that told me they did not really believe what the Org. taught that contributed to me finally walking away. It was the unbelievable lack of love and showing of partiality that helped me realize that indeed God's spirit could not be directing this Org. I can't believe that I truly believed that God would make sure the elders did the right thing.

Unlearn

Again, so thankful for the good wishes and welcomes.
My wife loves reading them as well: we feel like we know you all quite well already.
You just don't know: we've lurked here so long.

@Viola - Yes, several people got 'passes' in my last year of serving. There was one exception: a young brother who had an issue that I could've let go, but pointing it out kept him from advancing further 'up the ladder'. Believe me, I did it for his own good. To keep him from reaching out. He was 'right there'...almost thinking for himself. 'Advancement' wouldv'e instantly appealed to his hungry ego...the ego of a young man who was never offered the chance to be great, successful, secularly respected, important, or anything else that really mattered in the real world. Young men in that congregation have only these 'privileges' to satisfy the natural urges to establish some sort of hard-fought identity. So, they fight over the next rung on the christian 'ladder'. These little bits of worthless cheese that are handed out are what keep all the mice 'in line'. Then, they only have to deal with the RATS, like us.
That final year of exericising alarmingly 'human' flexibility in elder's matters will do very little to quell the bitter thing I carry in my gut...the many people who I brought heartache to over the years by enforcing WT law. I remember a young woman who came to me years ago, in secret. She was in her early 20's and came to me in what she thought would be eternal confidence. She confessed that, although she believed in jesus, she did NOT believe that WT was the channel god was using. She laid it all out very convincingly, all of her evidence. Then, she asked me what I though. In a way, I still don't know what she really was asking me for....maybe to give her some nugget of godly wisdom that would 'turn her around'...or perhaps some validation (I was always the 'young people' elder...know what i mean?). In the end, it came out that she was sharing this information with others...many others...and I dimed her out. I caused her a lot of heartache, I'm sure. At this point, though, I was 'all in'.
But remember this: in your congregations, there are elders who are aware. They DO NOT believe. They are scared...and stressed out...and worried that someone might find out their horrible secret. They've learned through trial, error, and observing from the eye of the storm, that you can't trust ANYBODY in that org. NO ONE. Don't be fooled. They will turn on you viciously...in an instant...because they love you. And for that reason, combined with the fact that they feel they are following orders from GOD, they will do very mean and ugly things...with a vim and vigor that surrounds someone who is SURE they are righteous. So, these elders never come out. They're entire lives are built around this religion. All their friends and many relatives. Their wives and children are rooted. They've avoided ANY secular foundation and security: there's no 'safety raft' waiting overboard. I remember thinking that, if I stayed in the org, I was going to really go places. BIG places, according to the org. Did I really want to leave this? Understand, this is AFTER I knew it was all bullshit...and I still felt this little pull of 'status' and 'position'. It demonstrated a weakness in me which had been bred by an organization that rewards obedience with 'prominence'. How awful it must be for the women who slave away in that mess...some of them leaders by NATURE, all of them human beings with the natural urge to be seen and heard and felt and listened to. They have ZERO prospects in the org....other than pioneer...or marrying some brother on the come up. It's sick...the demeaning of a human spirit. It's a damn shame.
But you who are still in, pay attention (if you can) to the talks the elders give. Some of them are free inside...and if you listen closely, you may even hear it. They'll let bits of themselves bleed into their parts. It may just be a little spark...but you'll hear it...every so often.
And those folks at Brooklyn KNOW it. Some of the elders/ex-elders here will testify to all of the letters we get when the C.O. visits and has his meetings with the elders. They are very paranoid about apostasy...and will actually appeal to any brothers feeling apostate feelings to turn themselves in. I remember back in 2004 or so, they sent out a part with the C.O. for meetings with the elders: it basically was begging ANY elder who had looked at pornography to just confess. Right away. They KNEW it was an issue. They harped on this over and over for a while after that...but soon, at least in my area, this focus was replaced with 'apostasy'.

At this point, Im rambling. So much I've wanted to say in this forum for so long. But rambles are just rambles...so I'll hush up now. ;)

Violia

Ramble on, everyone here has done it at one time or another. FYI, if you get Pm's asking for your real name and other identifying info- be very sure who you are giving it to. As you have been a lurker for a while I'm sure you know we have moles here. ( as the WTS knows very well they have moles too and some of them are elders )

I've lurked a long time: JW's produce some of the most paranoid humans

Franklin Massey

jonathan dough

cofty

ziddina

Violia

Unlearn

Violia

jay88

cantleave

Found Sheep

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