The only thing a JW needs to know to be set free from their religion

by yadda yadda 2 24 Replies latest jw friends

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  sillygirl2013

  When Guy Pierce was visiting our cong, I happened to be at one of the AP meetings he presided over. Everybody was fawning all over him when someone raised the very same question (I lived in a predominantly muslim country where we've been warned against talking to the local population)

  He said something like Noah didn't question what would happen to people before he got onto that ark. He did what he had to do then he left. Noah set the pattern for us.

  Everyone oohed and aahed and that was the end of that.
• 

  AndDontCallMeShirley

  "I would simply say, "The WatchTower apostasized from God before, during, and after 1919 through false prophecies. They are not God's chosen organization."

  Actually, the WT has not "apostasized" because it never had the truth to begin with.

  The false prophecies and absurd doctrines/teachings began with Russell. He taught:

  The last days began in 1799

  Jesus returned in 1874

  Jesus began ruling in 1878

  the entire number of 144,000 anointed was sealed by 1889

  Armageddon was due in 1914

  When all of these things failed, these same WT teachings were simply shifted to later dates (1919, etc.) and the false prophecies continued unaffected.
• 

  laverite

  Tortured mental acrobatics can provide an "answer" to any objection or question one might have. The real truth just doesn't matter one little iota to the overwhelming vast majority of Dubbies.
• 

  laverite

  And when someone makes a claim that they have "The only thing a JW needs to know to be set free from their religion" I immediatley ask: "Has this person ever met a JW? Like EVER?
• 

  AndDontCallMeShirley

  "The brainwashing is too well done. In general, JW's can turn off feelings as well as logic better than anyone else."

  Generally this is true. The majority of JWs will always go along with WT doctrines- no matter how illogical and untenable they may be.

  However, from personal experience I've had lately I think there's a minority of JWs that are waking up amd are no longer willing to accept everything WT promotes. They are no longer willing to ignore reason and their conscience.

  If there was freedom withing the Org. to express opinions and openly disagree with WT without punishment, I think you'd see a very different organization.

  As it is, a JW cannot disagree with WT openly, even amongst friends, so the facade is that 100% of JWs have fully bought into the program. WT, I think, knows this- and that's why they have become even more hostile toward any dissent, doing research on the Internet, and associating with disfellowshipped relatives.

  Fear is what keeps JWs in line- not logic- or, even agreement with/acceptance of, all the religion's opinions.
• 

  Vidiot

  AndDontCallMeShirley - "...from personal experience I've had lately I think there's a minority of JWs that are waking up amd are no longer willing to accept everything WT promotes. They are no longer willing to ignore reason and their conscience..."

  I suspect it's a rather sizeable minority.

  AndDontCallMeShirley - "...If there was freedom withing the Org. to express opinions and openly disagree with WT without punishment, I think you'd see a very different organization."

  That same freedom would allow conscious-classers, closet "apostates", and passive faders to walk away without losing friends and family; the aftermath would leave the WTS considerably smaller and very, very embarassed, and if there's one thing authoritarian high-control groups absolutely hate, it's being embarrassed.

  You're right, though: if the WTS implemented the kind of progressive reform you're describing, we'd definately see a very different organization; so different, in fact, that I'd go so far as to suggest they'd no longer even be the WTS.
• 

  Tater-T

  the only thing is ..is JWs do know this, but it doesn't mean that it will set them free.. they think they are free...
• 

  problemaddict

  2 things are true. JW's in general do NOT think that you are only going to survive Armageddon if you are a baptized JW. The "heart reading" defense. To take it a step further and in a much more dangerous direction, many more JW's DENY THAT THIS IS EVEN TAUGHT OR A MATTER OF OFFICIAL DOCTRINE. There is where the real problem is.

  The second thing that is true, is that in my opinion almost none of the problems that exist doctrinally and socially for the religion would exist, if they did not enforce doctrine through disfellowshipping and shunning. If you were free to dissent, free to discuss, free to take blood, free to use your conscience, there would be alot more JW's in my opinion. Not less.
• 

  Emery

  @ADCMS, oh I know :)
• 

  BluesBrother

  I have encountered two schools of thought 1) that those not "in" will deserve to die because of community responsibility or a wicked heart. 2) There are others who say that God will preserve the goodhearted, whether that they be in or out at the end.

  Of course the latter ones do not say so at the meetings , they confide quietly even denying that the WT actually says the opposite. They can be slippery when cornered