I am materialistic (page 2)

Thirdson

Hi Expat,

You received the typical JW response. When I told my parents that I intended to bring my non-JW girlfriend (now wife) to the UK on a visit I got the grilling about my beliefs. I received a letter (I have previously posted it on H2O) where I was accused, among other things, of being materialistic. (If you move to a different country, enjoy a good life style, are successful at work, and reap the benefits...you must be materialistic.)

The hardest thing for JW's to accept is that you can examine religion and find theirs lacking. To them, there has to be something else, materialism, sexual misconduct etc. They cannot accept that people can reject their teachings and even worse still have a faith/belief system.

Regards,

Thirdson
(South of the border but still north of you)

rollercoaster

Expat,
Don't ya just hate it? Why can't your family just love you and be proud of your accomplishments? For you to start and run a business is something that makes you think about he reality of your life.
I have 2 businesses. When I started the first one, I was attending all meetings, and still working at least 120 hours a week. I decided that the society wasn't going to give the money to support my family, so I gave up some meetings. You keep doing what you need to do to feel good about yourself and take care of yourself and family.
I know how you feel about not wanting to be found out about yet. When the time is right for you, and all of your JW friends and family start ignoring you, you will be a lot more comfortable with your decisions to be an individual.
Keep happy. Enjoy your work. Give your kids (if you have any) something to look up to you for.

RC

ZazuWitts

Hi Expat,

Larc and I received the same 'label'
when we 'saw the light' and were trying to disengage - it hurt! Funny part was larc had decided to pursue higher education, and our budget was quite 'strained.' And I can remember times when I dug deep into sofa/car recesses to find any possible loose change to buy a quart of milk or the rare treat of a pint of ice-cream.

My personal take is that they would rather put 'materialistic' as a label on you than 'disbeliever.' Sigh, it's sad for them and us.

rollercoaster

Hey Expat,
I was called materialistic because I bought a 2 door small car. Made it impossible for use in service. Cool Huh?

RC

Gopher

Zazu,

:they would rather put 'materialistic' as a label on you than 'disbeliever':

I remember it being said that when someone put ANYTHING ahead of "Kingdom Interests" (another Bible term, right?) that person could be called "Materialistic", even if they are poor!! Whatever came ahead of the Kingdom was the "Material".

Just more name-calling. They would not want to think that anyone could disbelieve their sacred beliefs!

Gopher

Edited by - Gopher on 25 March 2001 9:55:51

trevor

A good postexpatbrit,

The comments that follow your post all tell the same story so well. My parents, who no longer
speak to me, are convinced that any success I have achieved in life, is due to a pact I have
made with the Devil. I wanted to do a deal but the Devil was too busy running his Bethel homes.
You just gotta laugh - it beats crying any day!

patio34

The scary thing is I can remember thinking the same way about people who left--rationalizing it "under the influence" of the WTS AND the Bible verses they cited.
Now, the labels I've heard about, so far, is that I missed too many meetings (because of my health), and then the doubts started in.
Really, all of this speaks volumes of the "newspeak" of the org. There are some things inconceivable to them. Those labels certainly say a lot more about the jws than of us.
Patio

expatbrit

Thanks everyone, for your supportive replies.

Gopher: I'm not really sure where things go from here. Things like this make you realise how little you know about your family, after all. I've had one more phone call since, and the subject of religion wasn't raised at all! It's possible that they're hoping I'll "come to my senses" and return to the flock in time. Maybe they will let it rest until then. Trouble is, the memorial is coming up, and I'm not going.....

RN: Sorry to hear about your loss. It's incredible how JW's can completely ignore whatever you say, and go off on a totally unrelated tangent.

Rollercoaster: No kids. (another clue for the profilers in Brooklyn)
Two door car? DISGRACEFUL! Guess what? I used to drive a Satanic two-seater! Totally useless for service!

Tina: Make sure it's a dry Martini. 6 to 1. Yum.

Expatbrit.

rob

Isn't it sad how JW's must struggle to label someone rather than to
admit that it's possible that you no longer share their belief system.
I was not labeled materialistic but was called immoral(a favorite label for uppity females) even with no evidence to support it.

Carmel

Ain't it funny that people that so want to live forever as material humans on a material earth have the gol to point the finger at someone who rejects their "materialism"? What a hoot! Of course though it's understandable that if you reject that which identifies them and their reality, then they psychologically resort to a defensive mechanism of percieved projection (name calling). Not suprising, we all have our ways of protecting our psychie!

carmel

I am materialistic

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