For lurkers and newbies who think Jehovah`s Witnesses are better people than most

by smiddy 33 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Jeffro

  joe134cd:

  I know for a fact all they have no more success in marriage than the general population.

  It's often claimed that 'half of all marriages end in divorce'. However, this claim is usually based on the number of marriages in a particular year compared with the number of divorces in the same year. Whilst that ratio is about 50% in many countries in the developed world, it does not properly account for the period of time between any particular marriage and subsequent divorce. That said, one study I've read about indicates that divorces are more common among people who are less educated and who marry young, both of which are common factors among JWs.
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  BackseatDevil

  This is just what I have seen personally, nothing more:

  Are Jws bad people? Not really. They are certainly not good people either... or I should say they are not without their faults. Their paradox of pretending to be better than they actually are is no different than that of other cults like the Mormons, or any strong fundamentalist Christian group. They all have about the same ratio of deceptive “goodness” to actual real decency. They all have the same hypocrisy, and they all have the same desire to cover over the sins of the church while still thinking that they are FAR BETTER than the next religious group.

  It's all the f'n same.

  The reason why the numbers may be higher than the 'average person' (and I can't verify that right now, so I can't say that is true information, but if it were it) would only come from religion being such a heavy motivator to maintain appearance over continuity. And per human nature (or child's behavior) once we know we can get away with something, we then do it again... and again... until it becomes routine. And if 'God' doesn't strike us down... we keep on going.

  A person without this weight (whether or not they claim to have religion or not) doesn't act out of this 'fear' or need to deceive... there is Walter White impulse to justify the gap between what they should do and what they want to do. They just do. There is not this trail of guilt or compulsion to hide/lie/justify.

  Take for example drinking. If a 'worldly' guy likes to drink he says “I'm a drinker.” He knows what's up. We can either join or avoid... whatever. Life goes on. If a Christian fundamentalist or cult member likes to drink, then it comes with a plethora of excuses: “I had a tough week,” “My [relative] has been ill,” “You know two glasses an evening is considered healthy,” etc. etc. and more etc. And when they are drunk they then have to excuse ALL the things that come with it. This is A LOT of weight on a person who should just admit they like to drink, put some bumper stoppers in place, warn those around you, and move on with life.

  That hypocrisy is why we (on the outside or those who have left) always think that whatever cult we exited from is worse... but it only seems that way because we have first hand experience with the lies and hypocrisy (and in my case, child abuse). But JWs are no different than any other moronic delusional religious group who's heads are so far up each other's ass they're nostrils are caked with s**t while they are calling it the 'fresh air of Jehovah.'

  But by comparison, they are just like all the other cheap reproductions of something that never even existed. Different lies, different wardrobe, same end result. No better, and no worse then their contemporaries. And they are all f'n liars.
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  LisaRose

  Most JWs are not bad people, as many have said, no worse, no better than any one else, despite their claims. But you have to ask yourself, are they better for being dubs, or worse? I think they are worse. While the dubs do TRY to adhere to the rules of the Watchtower, that is nearly impossible to do. With strict requirements for meetings, study, field service and rules about everything from holidays to personal music selections, I think it sets people up for failure, followed by feelings of guilt. This is not a healthy dynamic, it almost forces people to be hypocrites

  Most churches have some rules, but allowances are given and the more positive aspects of Christian forgiveness is emphasized. People are not shunned because they had a human failing and didn't act as contrite as three men thought they should. It's impossible to quantify, all we have here is anecdotal accounts of elders gone amuk, pedophiles, and lots of heavy drinking and other things. Does anyone have statistics on dub crime statistics?
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  prologos

  In public opinion the worst reputation among JWs is reserved for the GB F&DS. example:

  In school, JW students are now taunted by classmates that are internet/media savy and have the "false prophesy" stuff/dates at their fingertips.

  and are using it.