Doctrine or HIgh Mind Control as the Last Straw

by Band on the Run 19 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Band on the Run

  I am curious as to whether the final gut deciding factor to leave was inappropriate doctrine or the overly intrusive control of the WT. Reading the Bible normally opened my eyes. I was born-in and never suspected that they were skewing the Bible in such a ridiculous manner or misquoting secular sources. I do know more Bible stories than the average person. So I thought the doctrines were bizarre and that deceit was involved.

  Reading the posts here, though, I have changed my perspective. The doctrines I currently believe can be considered odd by most of the inhabitants of the world. The total control of the Society is what chills me. This site has been a powerful affirmation that others detested KH meetings and FS, lack of holidays and natural affections. I thought I was just odd. Maybe I am wrong but I can see all their present doctrines without an overwhelming monitoring of itsy, bitsy nonBiblical details. If I discuss the Witnesses now, I say that their doctrines are far out from the overwhelming majority of religions that terms themselves Christian. I mention that Jesus is very demoted. They are Jehovists. After that, I stress the cult like aspects much more than doctrine. People are shocked when I tell them about oral sex, colored shirts, etc. They have no clue unless a friend or relative became involved.

  There is such a cross section of experiences on this board. Yet when peoople discuss everyday JW business, the experience seems to be almost universal. It leads me to wonder if all those people who just adore KH meetings and serving the Society (not Jesus) are faking it, too. I said it was good b/c I did not want to be rejected. What if everyone is in agony?
• 

  designs

  Band-

  They are so interlinked its hard to seperate. The last straw was the 1995 Generation change which now was Official Doctrine, try holding the old view or any view contrary and it was a trip to the back room.
• 

  Morbidzbaby

  For me, it started off with questions here and there...things that weren't adding up. Then as I learned more, I was pissed off at the control and the political nature of the organization (Shunning, organizational espionage, Governing Body votes, Elder votes, etc...decisions aren't made by Holy Spirit, as they claim).

  Eventually, the organization became like an old sweater to me...pull one string and the whole illusion unravels. When I read books by ex-JW's, as well as Steve Hassan's Combatting Cult Mind Control, that completely clinched it. Some here also brought up the points about hypnosis, why people get tired or fall asleep during meetings and assemblies, etc. Then reading their literature without the Watchtower goggles on... The more I see, the more sure I am.

  I, too, address the control issues more than the doctrine. Most people aren't aware of their beliefs (Pah! Locusts, indeed!), so addressing their rules and regulations and ridiculous edicts is enough to turn anyone off from wanting to know more about them.
• 

  wobble

  The thing that made me stop preaching was realising that the 1914 doctrine was total bullscrap.

  The thing that made me leave was the Governing Bodies demands for "loyalty" etc which amount to worship of them.

  After I left and deconstucted it all I became much more aware of the mind control techniques they use.
• 

  Paralipomenon

  For me, it was old doctrine. Things like the ban on aluminum, miracle wheat, pyramid calculations, Beth Sarim and so forth. Things that couldn't be explained by "new light". These were just crazy doctrines that were swept under the rug and forgotten.

  After seeing those, I was able to take a more critical examinization of the religion's chronology and realize that it they were started on some pretty crazy stuff and today teachings were just refinment of insanity.

  The control didn't bother me as much because I didn't allow them that much control in my life.
• 

  breakfast of champions

  The overlapping generation doctrine started me questioning the validity of 1914, 607 and so forth. Doctrine was the main problem.

  But one thing that always did perplex me was Why, if we had THE TRUTH, would we not even LOOK AT literature from a householder that questioned our own beliefs, when this was EXACTLY what we were asking the householder to do? It seemed hypocritical to expect someone else to reexamine their beliefs while never questioning our own. Now knowing this is all part of a "mind control" tactic, I realize why I felt that way.
• 

  OUTLAW

  It leads me to wonder if all those people who just adore KH meetings and serving the Society (not Jesus) are faking it, too.

  I said it was good b/c I did not want to be rejected. What if everyone is in agony?.....BOTR

  Most JW`s will tell you they know there are Problems in the WBT$ Organization..

  Being Miserable is part of life in Watchtower World..

  Where else would they go?..

  ........................ ...OUTLAW
• 

  yourmomma

  my awakening was due to the lack of docterine in the watchtower and during meetings because i enjoyed stuff like the revelation book. (i say enjoyed past tense, as now i realize that book is as much of a work of fiction as the 3 little pigs) all they talked about was entertainment, not working too much, pioneering, entertainment, alcohol in moderation, entertainment, pioneering, etc. then there just went hard on the whole "you are not doing enough", even going as far as at a convention demonstration putting on this part where i young man was talking to himself, and in a nut shell, he made all the meetings, went out in service every saturday and sunday, was on the school, did the mics, did literature, led a clean life, yet it was not nearly enough, plus he had a big problem. you know what that problem was? he liked to watch an hour of tv on his new dvr before bed after a long day of theocratic activity, and he was working full time and not pioneering. that was of course wrong. that demonstation had my mouth on the floor, and it was shortly after that, the phrase that rung my bell was stated. it was at the next years convention, i believe in 2007, when they said "Why should be trust the faithful slave? Because Jehovah and Jesus trust the faithful slave!"

  I near fell out of my seat, you mean to tell me, God, the most powerful being in the universe and his son, the 2nd most powerful being in the universe put THEIR TRUST in MEN?!?! MEN?!??!! WTMF?!?!?

  LOL

  I drove home, and i could sense there was something very wrong with this religion, but I couldnt put my finger on it. Then I went on google, and boom, its a cult, thats whats wrong with this religion. HAHA!

  But this brings up something, it seems like the watchtower is putting docterine in the back seat for more control. All the watchtower study editions are about is control, control over every decision you make, down from if you go to the bathroom during the meeting, and that even had a picture. LOL

  I was a loyal JW, but it just got to the point where I started to smell something rotten, and more and more people are waking up because of the tactics they are using, and I have to wonder if that new watchtower about the abuse victim not being christian enough because she felt sorry for herself is going to strike a cord with more people.
• 

  take me higher

  Even though I faded away a long time ago, it wasn't until over the summer when I started getting on the internet to read up on things about the witnesses that made me realize how crazy it all is. And even when I started getting on those websites I was scared to death because of what I had been told about them for so long, didn't take me long to get over it though the more stuff I read. I think what really got to me was reading about Judge Rutherford and things like Beth Sarim, the man was crazy. Even though it was a long time ago doesn't really matter to me, he changed everything that Russell started with the bible students. And it seems like the witnesses today still follow the majority of his teachings. So to me it doesn't seem like they are following the word of God but word of an alcoholic depressive hateful man. Granted, I believe that most witnesses are good people with good intentions, just that they have been misguided. It's just been upsetting to find out the real history of it, and not the sugar coated version that the society puts out on dvd and the like.
• 

  Band on the Run

  The first church I ever entered was St. Patrick's Cathedral in NY. My mission was not to attend church but to join tourists. So many people constantly come and go, just walk around. Altho I no longer believed JWs I knew no other world. My heart pounded so hard. I forced myself in and out of the corner of my eye,I saw a wax figure of the prior Pope in vestments. It looked like a corpse! I just got an awful glimpse. My response was to screech loudly. The building seem to come down on me. It was embarassing. The physical m anifestations of deep fear were incredible. I felt the big A., might have been triggered by my taking a few steps inside. Now I go to churches for comfort. Fear and terror are not love and discipline.