Copping Out?

IslandWoman

Are we copping out if we blame the Watchtower for almost everything that went wrong in our Watchtower life?

Most of us knew the rules. Most of us had the opportunity to read and study their publications and the Bible. Most of us gladly accepted baptism. Most of us believed just as the others believed.

I'm just troubled by the fact that we or really I, am as much responsible for my own "closed eyes" and my own eagerness to believe as much as everyone there is. Why should I continue to vilify them?

In addition of late we have seen that a lack of good "people skills" is just as much a problem here among ourselves as it was in the Org. Maybe what we saw there is just ordinary human behavior which included the same broad spectrum that we see here, but mixed in with religion! A Molotov Cocktail for sure!

IW

Celtic

Excellent posting!! I too have had this thought occur to me on a number of occasions.

The fact is, we are all now freed as it were from the WT, so what is our excuse for not taking the nessarsary responsibility for our own actions? Could it be that some of us are just too darn lazy and therefore seek to blame others rather than facing upto our own demons within our own individual characters?

To all those that are drilling through the 'prison walls', facing up to themselves, give yourself from time to time a congratulatory pat on the back for the exceeding amount of courage you are now demonstrating. In the long run, though you might not feel like it at times, the effort put in, is eventually well worth the struggle as you develop your own personal unique characteristics.

Looking forward to getting to know you all the better.

Kindest regards and peace

Mark

RunningMan

Well, here are a couple of comments.

Our experiences in the organization go well beyond poor "people skills". The borg uses sophisticated psychological techniques to control and manipulate their members. Many of their policies (ie. blood, disfellowshipping) are abusive and dangerous. And, their primary concern for their own interests have destroyed lives and families.

Everyone here has suffered to some extent from this misuse of power. Some people blame the Society for everything that has gone wrong in their life, and some people are a little more balanced. On the other hand, the damage suffered at the hands of the Society differs from person to person. Consider the father in Calgary who is being shunned for saving his daughter's life. Now, there is a man who has a legitimate beef with the Society.

As for knowing the rules before we joined, many of us were born into it, and indoctrinated "from infancy". Numerous options were not open to us. We may have been baptized as children or teenagers, not fully understanding the committment, or being aware of any options.

I suppose that some people might use this as a cop out. But, in my mind, the Society has a lot to answer for.

Celtic

To true too, sometimes I forget these days how bad it was. I guess smashing your head against brick walls to knock yourself out of the pain at 14 years old is pretty bad, aye, the society certainly does have a lot to answer for in their psychological manipulations of even 'worldly' wisdom. In comparison to the 'world', from my personal experiences, the WT indoctrinations are incredibly crap, when the exact opposite would be true, or at least you would have thought so.

Take care & all the best!!

Mark

IslandWoman

Celtic,

Thanks for your comments, I too look forward to getting to know many here much better.

Runningman,

Our experiences in the organization go well beyond poor "people skills". The borg uses sophisticated psychological techniques to control and manipulate their members. Many of their policies (ie. blood, disfellowshipping) are abusive and dangerous.

Much of this is due to their strict interpretation of the Bible and to their very human failing of thinking they are right!

the damage suffered at the hands of the Society differs from person to person. Consider the father in Calgary who is being shunned for saving his daughter's life. Now, there is a man who has a legitimate beef with the Society.

No, he knew the consequences and he courageously went ahead. He knew just as we all knew the Society's stand on blood!

As for knowing the rules before we joined, many of us were born into it, and indoctrinated "from infancy". Numerous options were not open to us. We may have been baptized as children or teenagers, not fully understanding the committment, or being aware of any options.

True, please note my use of the word "most"!

I suppose that some people might use this as a cop out. But, in my mind, the Society has a lot to answer for.

Sure they do, but no more than any other misled group of people.

IW

Amazing

Bravo IW! I think had the Watchtower fully disclosed to us is flaws, similar to the way homeowners are required by law to disclose material defects to prospective buyers, then we may have made a different decision. So, in that respect, there was a measure of misrepresentation on the part of the Watchtower - to put it nicely - and in that respect, many may feel very cheated. But, freedom of religion does have a price, a downside along with the good side.

And armed with the facts, though many years later, we finally did change our decision to be a part of the religion, to our individual and collective credit.

Your point about not blaming everything negative in our lives on the Watchtower is very well taken. I wonder if our being JWs caused us not to deal with life as it is, and upon leaving it, we are forced to face realities ... and this new environment makes it appear that somehow the problems origniated with the religion, when it was more of a denial due to being JWs ... I hope that coems across well ... I can't think of a specific example, except maybe in parenting ... where we applied Watchtower family guidelines and caused hurt to our children, whereas, without those guidelines in place, we are forced to deal with our children in new ways ... as they really are ... and as such, we find issues remaining to be addressed with them that went unattended due to our being JWs.

Thanks again for making excellent points.

Solace

many of us did not have a choice.
I was raised a J.W.
I dont remember having a choice when I was forced to go
out in service, to the kingdom hall, to assemblies, to bookstudies. I was without a father because the society told my mother she couldnt remarry because my father abandoning us wasnt enough grounds for her to be scriptually free. If she did, death would result.
I am without a grandfather because the society told him it was not permitted, according to the bible, to accept a blood transfusion.
Many trusting people have lost their lives or loved ones due to the W.T.S taking it upon themselves to control people by knowingly altering the bible and its message.
Yes, we do have a choice as adults but that doesnt excuse the W.T.S or any organization from false prophecying, condemning of innocent people and children or using the bible for controlling purposes.

anglise

I have to disagree about the point that we "knew the rules" before we came into the org.
That simply isnt true.
Have you ever looked at how much space is given in any of the older 192 page books or the PE book or even the Knowledge book to subjects such as shunning, blood, disfellowshipping or what happens if you just change your mind or dont want to go on the work or similar.
As regards DF and DA issues as far as it was explained to us it was something that happened to really evil people the hitlers of this world,not your son or daughter who chose to go to another church or something equally innocent.
That is why they do a very good job of not letting any in the da or df situation ever make contact with those who are studying.
Most things are put across as optional - field service, ministry school etc, it is only after baptism that the pressure is slowly applied and the screws turned.
It is a very clever and evil cult with those who do the most to spread its doctrines in an ignorant state about its real credentials.
I should know, I came in at about 24 and left at 42 approx. Other half was an elder and sec for a good number of those years and we where involved with KH maintenance in the local circuit so saw and learned a fair bit about the internal politics.

ISP

I think its fair to lay a great deal of blame at the feet of the WTS. It has wrecked many peoples lives. When they wake up and look around ......its too late to have a family...get an education etc. I've known 2 people kill themselves over these type of issues. There are countless others on anti-depressants...many still in the Org.

ISP

PopeOfEruke

I'm with Heaven 100% here.

What choice does a 3 or 4 year old have when being indoctrinated, and having parental love being made conditional or at the least mixed in/with the WT ideology.

I hated school as a young child, and was told not to worry as I never would have to go to High School because Armageddon was coming.

My father was "not in the truth" and every effort was made by my mother and other JW's to turn me against him.

And this from BIRTH!

I had no choice till reaching adulthood and for that I am very angry.

My only hope is that the Society and the "False Prophet" burning in Gehenna (in Revelation) are one and the same.

The Pope

Copping Out?

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