Did being raised a Jehovah's Witnesses result in psychological damage? An interesting read in the New York Times.

by Balaamsass2 26 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

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  LongHairGal

  APIECEOFSH#:

  So, that elder with the job and probably a cushy life was telling YOU that you shouldn’t have one?...I despise any JW with a job/comfortable life who hypocritally preaches poverty to any young person.

  BALAAMSASS2:

  I’m glad you did the right thing and SCREW any JW who criticized you for being materialistic, unspiritual and whatever other nasty labels... And I would have NO pity for your first wife..In fact, I have no sympathy for anybody who was not in the workforce or lived on the edge and I don’t want to know about these people.

  Even though I wasn’t raised a Witness, I had a similar experience and was treated like an outcast because of my full time job which I kept until retirement..With regard to IRAs, etc. a Witness did my taxes and they very sarcastically told me: “you’ll never see that money.” ..Well, it just so happens I am retired almost 5 years and this JW passed away years ago.

  NOW the religion is asking for money left and right and I’m sure they think they are going to target the very people they criticized - along with anybody else who looks halfway decent. I’m glad I’m not there.
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  Giordano

  Lets tell the truth about the truth. It is fundamentally a death cult. It's all about people dying who are not JW's.

  Their concept of a paradise earth is that it will be built over the bones of billions.
  

  Once again their god, a pathetic schizophrenic.......... opts for the death of billions of innocent men, women and children just like in the great flood where humans were drowned....... even the unborn babies.....that's Jehovah folks....... one sick puppy.

  What makes the JW's and most every other disgusting murderous religion a death cult is their indifference to the living. If your not one of them your nothing.

  In the JW world they don't give a shit about their country, city, town or local community.

  One could say the same for a number of other religions. The kind that creep you out when you read about them.

  In the JW world being selfish is acceptable. That's why they can abandon you when you step away.

  Of course none of this is real it's just another bad Translation of a god that mumbles a lot.
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  eyeuse2badub

  Being raised in any cult is bound to affect a persons later life!

  just saying!
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  tiki

  Balaamsass said it all....unless you've been there and lived it, you just don't get it. Even my husband who got dunked at 40 (and never really drank the koolaid) couldn't get some of my warps from born in 3rd gen....your brain and psyche are molded and set by childhood experiences and altering some circuits is .....I'd like to say virtually impossible.....some damage may never be undone.
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  Deltron3030

  I've heard from family members and friends that were raised JW that the constant feeling of guilt, and the feeling that your every action, and every thought is being analyzed can be difficult. I guess it would be similar to any religious rules you are trying to completely adhere to. I think people are scarred by ALL strict religious beliefs, because being burned in eternal flames for your sins, as in the case of catholicism, is just as bad as any JW scare tactic. Name any religion, and then research their beliefs, and you'll see my point. I think it's all a racket. I don't think anybody is listening to any prayers anywhere. It's just a way for people to find comfort in regards to death and the death of loved ones. Thinking that you, or family members and loved ones are going somewhere else after death is a way to escape the sting. Things have, and always will be the same way. You live for X amount of years then die. The End.
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  flipper

  BALAAMSASS- Excellent article ! Thanks for posting.I was in it from birth, exited 16 years ago , and it takes enormous effort through re-educating oneself to build back up our self esteem as human beings. I think many of us, including myself will be working on getting our real selves back for the rest of our lives.

  One thing that really helped me after I left was not using the JW language and lingo like refusing to say " the truth ", or " brothers & sisters " , or " the friends " or " light gets brighter " - any of that stuff mentally puts those images back in our heads. Thus the extreme importance of newly exiting JW's to STOP attending meetings as soon as possible. So these phrases won't trigger our former cult mentality as much.

  Because physiologically the brain neurotransmitters are used to being hit with these common JW images, and once those images aren't engaged anymore, and replaced with other ideas and research or hobbies like researching ancestry, golfing, shopping, studying secular history, anything informative and interesting, it can help.

  It still takes time, but it can engage our minds in a different direction. Thanks for sharing this my friend, we are all working on it, especially if we were in it from birth. Take care, Peace out, Mr. Flipper
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  The Bethelite

  For me the the last line in the movie Platoon as the wounded Chris is air vac out of the hell of Vietnam said it all. He is looking down at the carnage and death below him he thinks....

  "I think now, looking back, we did not fight the enemy, we fought ourselves, and the enemy was in us. The war is over for me now, but it will always be there, the rest of my days. But be that as it may, those who did make it have an obligation to build again. To teach to others what we know, and to try with whats left of our lives to find a goodness and a meaning to this life."

  Chris Taylor
  
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  rockemsockem

  Its not even a question. Its a fact. If you were raised in the cult you have Trauma baggage to one deg or another. Anyone in the cult more than a year or two that says they don't is lying or just can not see the Forest through the trees.
  
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  DesirousOfChange

  We just had this very discussion last night!!!!

  3rdgen, I can only give you 1 "like". Your comment is sooooo spot on!! You, Balaamsass, New Boy -- your comments zero in on the most widespread abuse there is committed to JW's. (It may not be as nefarious as the child abuse, but it's a lot more commonplace!) Further, I believe it is intentional. The WTS/GB want the "sheep" to be stupid and helpless so they desperately need Joe Hoover's promises of better things to come (which will never happen).

  Addicted to False Hope.
  
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  Xanthippe

  

  Diogenesister13 hours ago

  For these children, there is no obvious forfeiture of common sense or flight from existential chaos that informs adult conversion.

  She's a real blue stocking, is Amber, but can someone smarter than me explain this sentence please??! 😜 (genuine question

  Diog I think she means cult raised kids don't go through existential crises, worrying what the point of life is and fearing death.

  Rather they don't even get that far. They don't fear death or worry what's the point of life because of the cult teachings, until they leave and reprogram their minds. Which is why it's so devastating for ex-jws.

  It's normal to have doubts about life and wonder what it's all about. It's not normal to have all the answers to the big questions at a young age ...... or ever!

  Some struggle with concepts of reality and existential angst is the normal human condition.