"Deep down inside even they know it is BS." Discuss

by rory-ks 38 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  DesirousOfChange

  I'm not sure they know it's BS, but certainly many of them are not nearly as confident as they appear.

  I vacillate back and forth over this.

  At what level should it be apparent that this is so much BS?

  The "higher ups" surely MUST KNOW?

  Or, NOT?

  I DID NOT REALIZE IT WAS BS for many many years, and I was clearly part of their "clergy class". I bought it all. Sure there were some issues that I thought were wrong or unjust. But I blamed it on "imperfect men". I thought the GB really had special insight or special "direction". Hell, I thought the elders (when they did things by the book) had "divine direction". Yep, I believed it! And I tend to think "I'm smarter than the average bear".

  Can they really believe this and live in total denial (congnitive dissonance) at even the highest levels? I think so. I think they lack sufficient humility to question as to whether they (and those they have worshipped before them) might actually BE WRONG. It's only when the wrong becomes so obvious, such as the "generation or 1914" that they come to realize that they MUST change things because SOMETHING IS WRONG. And even then, they rationalize it as some mistake of human error by sincere, godly men.

  Doc
• 

  Xanthippe

  she just talked about all her lovely JW friends.-Xant

  You gotta face it though, many JWs especially those who have been baptised for 30/40 year plus are lovely genuine people. Sadly they are doormats, but they keep ploding along and have true love amongst themselves. - KateWild

  I hear you Kate and that is why I have not been rude to my JW friend even though she continually forces her beliefs on me. Think about it for a moment though, she knew my husband back in London when they were in their early twenties. We left in 1989 and my husband, her dear friend as she calls him, died in 2008. It has taken her until now to contact me, no message of condolence, just come back to this religion or you wont see your husband ever again. That's all I have to say.
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  KateWild

  Xant,

  Thats not loving is it? I suppose they are just in their own little fuzzy world. My sympathies go out to you. Kate xx
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  Syme

  No, I don't think that's the case, and that might be more creepy than if it were.

  When I was a devout jw, I didn't think it was BS. I may had a question here, a question there, but that was all. I was completely devoted, in heart and mind. Having attended the MTS and served in various assignments, I could see that the same applied for most of the high-up jws I had contact with. They were sure about everything they believed and practiced. I am pretty certain that that is the case for every CO and Branch committee member, and for most (if not all) the GB.

  I said that that is more frightening than if they weren't so sure: You never know at what extremes a man will go if he has absolute views. He is worse than a hypocrite. A hypocrite may be abhorrent, but he does not lack logic: he knows where to stop. A fully convinced delusional does not know limits. He will do EVERYTHING to serve his 'godly' mission. He will put in danger himself and others. He will not hesitate to sacrifice any of his followers if that's ''what it takes''.

  If that description reminds you of GB, who change back and forth their policies even though lives get in danger (mentally and physically, as in blood issue), then it rightly reminds you of it.
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  redvip2000

  he doesn't care about doctrine or morality, she wants to stay in with her friends until she dies, even if it's all BS.

  This in reality is the real issue and why it becomes hard to reason with active JWs. The doctrine, history and evolution of the organization is barely important anymore - in fact, most JWs barely know anything about it and don't care to know, and so it's a losing battle debating on those issues.

  What they know is that they belong to an organization which they perceive to be clean and loving, so how could it not be the truth?

  JWs refuse to go to war. They are the ones who are preaching the most. They are the ones who seemingly don't tolerate loose conduct inside the brotherhood. They are the only ones who don't vote, which they perceive to be bad. They are the only who use the name of Jehovah in everything they do.

  They see an organization which in their minds protects them and give them a sense of direction, and this is essential for people who have the type of personality where they have a need to be led.
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  steve2

  We attribute far too much rational-thinking to the JWs. Like most religious people, rational-minded they are not. People tend to blame themselves for their doubts - not the organization. They may waver in their faith but seldom if ever dare to face up to what is going on in the organization.

  I would place their doubt in the very same category as those who periodically wonder whether the Bible is BS. The thought can unsettle people so very powerfully that they immediately go into "shut down" mode - perhaps fearing the doubt as stemming from Satanic rumblings.

  Oh, if only people could use their brains to work themselves out for themselves...but there you go: Religious belief by definition is emotion-bound, fear in particular.
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  DesirousOfChange

  redvip, good summary.

  Doc
• 

  Giordano

  most JWs barely know anything about it and don't care to know, and so it's a losing battle debating on those issues.

  I think this is true for the most part though we do have many that tell us their awakening was because of a doctrinal change. So obviously for some they do care about what they have been taught. However the need to believe teachings that are more then questionable is open to speculation.

  The WT belief system started back in 1870's by promoting fashionable nonsense as major bible insights. Said insights coming from other start ups from that same 19th century. Except the JW's did it worse then most and unlike many others refuse to make the sweeping changes that would serve their membership in modern times.

  The WTBTS has perfected the art of explaining away mistakes in their reasoning by claiming that we just didn't understand what they told us. That buzzing you hear from time to time is your BS detector going off.

  You can't have a generational swing shift to be used to explain why that first generation has died off. You can't build a teaching around an important date (607) that can not be found.

  You can't feature a mythical paradise earth when there is no reference to it anywhere in the bible. Nor a vague resurrection with Lazarus as your poster child..............may he R.I.P.

  While other groups have evolved from such foolishness the WTBTS continues publishing their now unfashionable nonsense nonstop until all but the diehards have drifted away. Now people stay for their families, or their social circle.....or by habit. And since power lies in the hands of men........... for the ego boost that one can get.

  Let's not forget that this was your mother's religion or her grandmother's or their great great grandmother's first because Who else did the WTBTS think would be at home during the day? Women were the target of choice. It is on their backs that the WTBTS grew and it is ironic that men rule a system that does not respect women nor children. A nd that is the deep down BS I see.
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  mynameislame

  "Deep down inside even they know it is BS."

  Hey that was my commment from that thread!! How did Bungi Bill's get credit for it?

  It's ok, I'm just happy to be quoted even if it credtied to somebody else.
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  mynameislame

  I'm not sure they know it's BS, but certainly many of them are not nearly as confident as they appear.

  If you believed something with all your heart and sole you would have confidence. It would show in every aspect of your life.

  The majority are hedging their bets at best. We don’t believe in hell anymore, the morals are ok here and if it works out we get to live forever.