Change of mindset.

thedog1

I have been a Witness for a long time and still serve as an elder. There have been a lot of changes to deal with in the last six months or so since I stumbled on this site due to questions I had about all the recent changes in understanding published in the WT. Many posters here talk about a cult personality and a real personality. I'm not sure if I agree with that 100% but I can see now a predominant attitude that takes hold of your mind as a Witness. It has the effect of creating a 'them and us' viewpoint. So for the last 30 years plus I have kept those who are non-Witnesses at arms-length, physically, emotionally and psychologically.

But I have been involved in teaching for the last few years, and particularly in the last two years, through my work, I have met some wonderful young people, both young teenagers and university students. This has had the effect of breaking down some of the walls I have put up for many years, and caused me to think of long-forgotten ideals and dreams I had. Their youthful outlook on things has refreshed my jaded thinking. As humans, we crave knowledge and new things, and at the KH I'm afraid it is the same thing all over again.

NAVYTOWN

I'm glad that you are opening your mind to new information and expanded perspectives. Sounds like you are now seeing the Watchtower for what it really is.....a very closed-minded cult like belief system. And very authoritarian as well.

villagegirl

thedog1 Have you read Crisis of Conscience by Raymond Franz ?

Or his other books? He sat on the Governing Body and came to an awakening

about 1981. I was still in at that time and warned against his book.

Its time you examined the core fundamental false doctrine that is the "glue"

that keeps the leaky tower standing, and that is the interpretation of Matthew25

and the two faithful slaves, yes two, not one..read it.

From this parable the WT creates a centralized authority in the

persons of eight men who are supposed to be the"sole channel of communication"

between man and God, when in fact the only mediator is clearly and scripturally

Jesus Christ and no man can stand between him and you.The GB usurps the Christ.

The Gov Bod places themselves as the man of lawlessness, standing

in the Holy Place and replacing Christ ( after they demote him to Angel status)

They FDS takes all kinds of liberties with your life, demands obedience only due to

God himself and prevents you from participating in your own life,

or using the talents you have been given, and demand

you hide your literal and symbolic talents in the ground.

ABibleStudent

Hi thedog1, Do you mean cult and authentic persona instead of cult and real personality?

Please either read Steve Hassan's books (i.e., "Combatting Cult Mind Control", "Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves", and (his latest books) "Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults and Beliefs) or watch Steve Hassan's video Strategic Interactive Approach explained 2003 (1:23:23) to understand how BITE control technics, cognitive dissonance, hubris, and phobias can create a cult persona.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

smiddy

thedog1

I read Ray Franz`s book Crisis of Conscience when I had doubts of my own , but had not severed ties with the organisation even though I had minimal contact with them.After reading that book I still felt he could be just another disgruntled witness venting his anger at the society for disfellowshipping him .

The Malawi/ mexico issue , I treated as suspect , the same was true of the UN scandal , I had trouble coming to grips with that .How could that be !

What did open my eyes and removed the rose coloured glasses and the blinkers from my eyes was Don Camerons book " Captives of A Concept " a phrase taken from Ray Franz`s book and expanded upon .That book opened my eyes like no other .I was an active JW for 34 years .

Good luck on your journey in finding about TTATT

smiddy

disposable hero of hypocrisy

I'm with you dog man, I'm still in too, but my mind feels freer , every thought process has changed, the way I view the world and especially the people in it has changed too. I now feel a part of society and want to help it, as opposed to being part of a tiny mutual club and wanting to recruit new members .

It's been a long process for me, i guess some people just think quicker!

zebagain

see what being exposed to education does for you?

Tiktaalik

thedog1: stop being a hypocrite. Resign as an elder immediately.

You will get no kudos or respect on this site for being an elder.

Stop making other people's lives miserable.

You already know deep down that the wts is a cult, so why persist with it any longer?

ctrwtf

I had a hard time with a number of the doctrines that still exist today. (The UN attacking religion. Really?) Still, I went along with my parents because, at the time, I beleived as the saying goes, the way of the truth is the best way of living. Ugggh!

I feel for you because it's a wake up call to realize that your mindset for your entire life has been in error. Like you, one of the things that really turned the page for me was the fact that most people outside the witnesses are not the evil you've been trained to think of them as. The reality is that the majority of people I meet are interested in bettering their community and loving their families.

Enjoy your journey.

westiebilly11

the trouble with the Jw mindset is that they insist on doing nothing to help mankind positively today ..because god will help them tomorrow. If a man was starving to death they'd give him a recipe book instead of a food.........

Change of mindset.

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