Members of congregation know it’s not true

Mikejw

We have lonely old folks and even some not so old.

they know the GB are not who they claim to be.

but they stay in the congregation because they are lonely

I wonder what percentage of JWs this is the case, I would guess a lot

BelisemDeBelimakom

They all have something in common. All that needs to be done is for these people to come together, as often as possible!

If you can encourage (or plant the seeds in their minds) them to organize friendly meetings in such a way that elders are not alerted, they could motivate each other, share their observations, disconnect from the hypnosis and who knows, they may leave the congregation en masse.

Gorb

Local it is a social structure, and most of the humans need structure in one way of the other. For a chat, some nice attention and to be part of a group.

That the global organization for the outside world is directed by clowns is for most of the local rank and file not relevant.

Gorby

blondie

Yes, it is hard to abandon the only social group you have had for years. Hard to start new ones outside the Borg and gets worse as you get older. And being told that non-jws are a danger. Even non-jws that move away from the social group they had growing up, putting distance between old friends and family is hard on them, lacking too the skills to make a new social one. I had the problem, but I reached out to neighbors, got to know them and help them and invite them to our home for a meal, card game, etc. We have made friends in various small social groups that like the same kind of music we do. It can help if possible to show what choices they have in government agencies, especially locally.

TMS

Embarrassingly, a born-in JW for 50-something years, an "elder" for 29, I found little in common with JWs outside of the crazy religion we shared. Most JW men my age focused more on making a living while I foolishly bought into the "simple," minimalistic life of a true believer, always "pioneering" and working part-time. ( My late wife's multiple skill sets allowed us to live in a style well beyond our actual resources.)

My wife's first foray "into the world" was working with a group in the 2000 U.S. Census. Her unusual candor and facility to make any dull enterprise fun caught the attention of that group, resulting in a desire for close friendship.

Somehow, looking for some sort of advocacy group beyond JWs, we connected with others who valued our skill sets and we became entrenched in the community, promoting various causes, but also writing a daily column which ended up with millions of pageviews.

It's been an awesome post-JW life despite my wife passing away in 2018.

FragrantAddendum

i am sorry you lost your wife, @tms

but i'm glad you were able to have that happy time together

🫶

Beth Sarim

People stay in the Borg for decades due to the "sunk cost fallacy".

And probably because of the community of friends it gives them.

Rattigan350

"they know the GB are not who they claim to be.but they stay in the congregation because they are lonely"

Who does the GB claim to be?

And what the that claim have to do with the people staying in the congregation?

DesirousOfChange

And probably because of the community of friends it gives them.
Being a JW you are able to make "instant" friends by the dozens. ALL other JWs are your friends, and that's especially if you are a "prominent" brother or his wife or children. Then all the average JWs want to be in your company or presence. It helps even more if you are well-off financially.
When you leave (or are tossed out), the first thing you learn is that they all were "conditional" friends. We all quickly discovered that. Secondly, you learn that it is not that easy to make REAL friends. It's something that requires great effort. You have to be a friend too. And, you have to be a person or have something about you that attracts others to want to be in your company. It just is not "automatic".

BluesBrother

Do they really “ know “ it’s not true?

Some , perhaps but the majority of long time dubs get beyond thinking of that . After many decades and social exclusion from the real world, that is no longer an issue… it is a part of them ,they cannot imagine life without it . In a way they don’t care any more because they are so wrapped up in following the ‘slave’ that it the question no longer matters.

There was an old maxim that used to be common.. they said “ it is better to be wrong & inside the Truth than to be “right outside “ it ….

Members of congregation know it’s not true

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