Yeah, it's a fucking chess game!
It`s not much of a Chess game..
We already know what the opponents moves are..
...OUTLAW
the elders want to meet with me tomorrow
by wannabefree 146 Replies latest members private
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wannabefree
Ask yourself, "Why do I feel guilty? What wrong have I done?"
Yes, I have read Hassan's books, R. Franz's books, Cameron's book ... I am currently reading E. de Bono's "Teach Your Child How to Think" suggested many times on this site.
The only personal guilt or wrong I feel is indoctrinating my children into this mind control.
The other guilt that may have motivated my actions/reactions is knowing that I don't believe, wondering "is it obvious ... can they tell" ... I am guilty of being an apostate in the Watchtower sense of the term, which is meaningless other than the control they have on me because I have given them my family as hostages.
Early on I was bothered by the thought of losing friends, this reality is acceptable to me now, fortunately I am not from a Witness family so no loss there ... it is really all about my kids now.
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curiouscynic
I subjected my kid to WTS dogma as well. He was very little when he got it from me, but I allowed my parents to study with him until recently. Honestly, if you don't want your kid to ever get sucked into this sort of nonsense, not just JW nonsense but the Joel Osteen types too, I think some exposure to JWs is good. My son would visit my folks, get his lesson and then come home and we would talk about it rationally. I would reason with him, "THis is why Nini and Papa feel that way, here's their evidence. Here's what Daddy thinks, here's his evidence. Which makes more sense to you?" Now, at 14, I think my kid is a healthy skeptic and hopefully impervious to religious psychobabble. So don't beat yourself up too much.
Strive to maintain that close relationship with your girls. I would encourage you to not attack JWs directly or engage in some of the more... sensational accusations that so many XJWs seem to relish. Appeal to their common sense and love for their father. You can't let them see you as detrimental to their spiritual well-being. At least... that's my .02
I think I said it before, but I was, by the definition offered above, "investigated" for apostasy on 2 separate occasions. One of which, 2 elders came to my home with printouts of a blog in which I directly questioned JW teachings specifically and by name. I told them that I was rash in posting those things online, that I would take down the blogs that specifically mentioned the organization, that I wanted to be left alone. I wasn't DF'd. That was about 7 or 8 years ago. Just saying... I don't think it's an immediate death sentence to meet with them. You just have to be smart about it.
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thetrueone
People who have been mentally indoctrinated into something can also be un-indoctrinated, by using balanced rationalized
reasoning with knowledge, even children .
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3rdgen
To Curious, With all due respect, 7 or 8 years ago the WTBTS's policy on "fading" was different than today. This past summer at least 2 WT study articles disclosed the new attitude toward "apostates". I'm sorry I don't have the dates for you but they are posted and discussed at length on this board. In a few words, one article stated that apostates are "mentally diseased" along with other inflamitory statements. A follow up article praised (OT) Jehu "who SLAYED the apostates". It went on to imply they wish they would be allowed to do the same. In any case, the GB is aware there are many in their midst who have serious doubts. They have made it CLEAR this summer that if a person does not believe that the GB/FDS is GODS channel on earth, he to be removed.
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curiouscynic
3rdgen-- I understand. I've been gone for a long time and I'm sure that the light has gotten ever brighter in my absence. That sucks. When I was in, no one ever talked about the GB and I'm fascinated by the abundance of GB talk on this board. That's new to me.
Even so... I'm a fan of meeting challenges head on, so maybe that taints my opinion. I do believe, even in light of the new information that you've presented, 3rdgen, that in Wannabe's situation he needs to speak for himself to prevent his family from feeling forced to speak for him. Does that not make sense?
That said... I haven't read any WTS literature in roughly 10 years. I haven't had that software on one of my computers... I'm quite disconnected. I read what appears to be panic and sensationalism from many, but perhaps I should defer to you with more recent experience.
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wheres caleb?
@ 3rdgen, I understand your concerns. The only ones that are 'mentally diseased' are the JWs. They have always gone through periods of tough talk. Everyone is charged up, then it subsides.
If you are an opposer, then they can come after you. If you are a doubter, any elder that thinks he can call you an apostate is definitely 'mentally diseased'.
@curiouscynic, you wrote that you haven't read any WTS literature in roughly 10 years. I just wanted to let you know that you haven't missed anything.
A good read would be the WTS admitting that they were wrong about so many things and being truly repentant for misleading so many people that chose to accept them as GODS sole channel on earth.