by Julia Orwell 38 Replies latest jw friends
Tornapart said-
It is lovely to see the unravelling going on, like seeing blossoms opening on a flower and all the feelings of guilt for 'not doing enough' dropping away.
That's a great metaphor, since blossoms have to open on their own power and at their own pace, and no one can force it to happen or even accelerate the process without destroying a few pedals.
Adam
Thanks all for your support! I honestly thought I'd get shouted down for what I posted, but I'm pleasantly surprised. As for the jws who really are nasty, like the career CO someone mentioned, yep, I know the type well enough. My op wasn't referring to them. Give em hell for hurting people and trampling the nice jws! I don't feel sorry for the self righteous career jws. I generally kept away from them when I was in. I thought they were asses.
Goody Procter is a character from The Crucible. I was referencing that text in my op. It's to do with denouncing innocent people for your own gain and the whole witch hunt thing.
I don't feel sorry for the self righteous career jws. I generally kept away from them when I was in. I thought they were asses.
Which type of JW do you think is more likely to become an apologist? Especially on the internet?
I honestly don't know. Most of the "Nice" JW's in my life avoid any and all discussion with a knowledgeable critic.
Most JW critics aren't like you though TD, at least off the Internet. My experience with JW critics were people who thought JWs don't believe in Jesus or were upset at JWs about the Trinity or something like that.
Some JWs thrive on those arguments. A lot of JWs never really face any serious challenges and are unduly confident.
I mean the ones who are elders at 30 and are complete company men determined to climb the ladder n rabbit on about how great they are because they pioneer too, and expect everyone to live up to their unreasonable standards and think they know everything about all the things they've never experienced, and converts who love it that they've become the big fish in the kitty pond and are the same wannabes they were before they became jws, but are now judgemental. And both of these categories are incapable of thinking a thought that's not a wt expression or bible verse.
However, I found these to be in the minority. We here were mostly, if not all of us, the type mentioned in my op. Apologists probably fall into both categories. I know I wad an apologist for jw ways to my non jw family. It is natural to defend what your life is about when you don't know it's lies.
Julia, you've expressed beautifully what I've felt for the past 14 years since leaving. Thank you.
I'm glad to read your post Julia. In the 20 years I spent as as JW I found that most were nice people sincerely trying to do what they've been conditioned to think is right. I never was seriously mistreated by an elder and I think most of them that I knew are truly caring and want to help. I left because I realized its a false organization and not because of any individuals in it. Therefore I feel sad when active JWs are disparaged on forums like this one.
I know that many exjws don't feel the same way since they had horrible experiences in the organization. I've had close friends who have gone through all kinds of abuse in the org. But to make derogatory blanket statements as if all JWs are the same is not fair.
Well said Julia, thanks for posting. I think name calling and all that jazz is counter productive.
My experience with JW critics were people who thought JWs don't believe in Jesus or were upset at JWs about the Trinity or something like that.Some JWs thrive on those arguments. A lot of JWs never really face any serious challenges and are unduly confident.
I can see that. I guess it hinges on how we define, "apologist." Most Christians in denominations that actively evangelize are expected to defend their faith.
To me, apologetics is more formal than that. It would include authoring papers, books, articles, putting up websites, formal debate before a real audience, going onto discussion forums and engaging high-profile 'Apostates', etc. It's impossible for a JW to do this without coming up against a knowledgable critic.
The problem as I see it, is that JW aplogists eventually find themselves on a knife-edge with academic honesty on their right hand and blind loyalty to their human leaders on their left and they must make a conscious choice.
Well said, Julia. Very well said.
Peace,
tammy
