by Still Totally ADD 45 Replies latest jw friends
No, it's just a FEAR tactic used over and over by the evil WTS.
Every single thing that I've done after leaving has been rewarded, not punished. They're just a bunch of liars attempting to manipulate the millions of jdubs who are only trying to do what they've been told is right.
So sad.
Nope, but I am a very pragmatic kind of person. My husband (and lots of other non JWs)has all kinds of superstitions built into faith in weird ways. . . I gently point out that no matter what understanding of God that one has, none of the superstitions are built into his religion (or any faith) but rather they are instilled by culture and individuals who for good or bad reasons, told people stuff to "inspire" them to obedience. And he (and billions) have bought into it.
That being said, I have a "lucky" number (that has never brought me any luck). I just decided it is my favorite number.
I don't think my day will be crappy if I miss a prayer and I don't think bad things that happen are from anyone giving me "the evil eye". I do think that people can deliberately sabotage others' lives and I do think that our own mind-set (OOOOH, I woke up late, God will doom my whole day!!!) can and often does influence our lives dramatically. We have to watch out for that self fulfilling prophecy stuff-THAT can bring horrible things into ones life.
Read Deuteronomy chapter 28 for some perspective. The whole thing. If god exists, (which I've found myself doubting lately), no less this specific one written about in Hebrew, then he is capable of causing to become incomprehensible cruelty. Think about what it would take for anyone to not only orchestrate and maneuver but also desire the kinds of abhorrent barbarity written about in Deuteronomy 28 and much of the bible, to be executed onto you personally. Surely a sickening thought.
Any rational person should be moved to the realization that fear and superstition no longer functions today like it did back then. Of course you won't be driven by god to eat your own children. If that happens, you are 100% to blame for choosing to do that. But please don’t, I’ll send you some animal crackers. Likewise, if something bad happens to someone who leaves the organization, it’s simply a product of chance …or a combination of chance, poor decision-making, and maybe ignorance (all likely caused by damaging psychological effects and emotional baggage, not to mention the healthy required serving of guilt).
If this god really exists and truly desires to carry out such divine punishments on petty ignorant and imperfect human beings, the universe is much bigger than it needs to be for such a tiny worldview.
Any human would consider the leader of a nation who behaved exactly as YHWH did as behaving immorally much of the time. Surely the god of the universe and his morality would supersede and be 'righter' than any human’s. Of course, it’s possible we've fallen so far from perfection that our innate sense of righteousness is so wrong that human suffering is really a universal good thing. But again, superstition holds no place here.
All that being said, it certainly isn't easy to scan those verses and not think about it, as ridiculous as it reads. Like it’s been said, the realization that I could be wrong is what educates me and I’ve found myself coming towards radically different conclusions than I ever would’ve expected as a kid or teenager. But I’m still willing to be wrong about TTATT, and maybe that’s why folks like you and I hold onto fear. I haven’t left by the way.
I used to have a "what if they're right" feeling when I first walked away. I worried that things would go wrong in my life. Instead, a bunch of unusually good things happened which made me worried that Satan may be trying to make it seem like I had done the right thing and then would trick me somehow when I least expected it.
A short time later, a plane with several JW's who were heading to serve where the need is greater, crashed and everyone perished. I decided not to be so superstitious and self absorbed so as to think my being or not being a JW made a bit of difference to anything or anyone, anywhere.
Again thanks for all the comments from everyone. Still Totally ADD
Great comments!
The situation could develop after one leaves as follows:
Due to having gone through the ordeal of "ripping off the bandages" of witness entrapment, one could be left feeling raw, vulnerable, weak etc. This could result in unwise actions or choices, or a general lack of focus due to ones whole life foundation being changed. This could result in some initial problems. BUT THIS IS NOT because of god, or satan or whatever...it is just what can happen when big life altering events unfold.
No, not at all. Horrible things happen to everybody- including JW's INSIDE a high mind control cult. In fact- I would suggest that MORE negative things happen to people in mind control cults because they do not have freedom of movement or freedom of mind to make their own choices. have found in 11 years outside of the JW cult my life has gotten BETTER and I don't have as many horrible things happen to me like I did while I was a Jehovah's Witness. Life is MUCH better ! As Steve Hassan's books on mind control say- cults like the WT Society say things will get worse for you outside their organization to SCARE people from leaving. It's indoctrination through FEAR
That's so funny because the only reason we may have problems after we leave is because of them, not because we left. It takes a while to get the cult out of you and in this process sure we may have problems.
Once you're finally free from their thinking it's all up hill, things get better and better...the real life begins:)
Nope....
I Listened.......to my conscious....
I Obeyed........
And, I've been blessed!!!
Anyone s remember the movie "the village"?
The way they kept control of the inhabitants was by spreading rumours and creating fears about what existed outside of the village walls!
"If you try and leave...bad things will surely occur"....
See the similarity??
