Through everything... do you feel that you learned soemthing? (page 2)

berylblue

Yes, I actually read some of the Bible. As a former Catholic, I had never done this before.

But I have to be honest: I don't think I got much else out of my experience. I've seen more love displayed at an AA meeting than at the KH.

Rosemarie

Oh, and I "met" Jehovah. Now that was something precious and important. But I'm not at all sure my understanding of God is what he really is all about...I think the Witnesses pervert his personality in order to put fear into people. Too much emphasis on how he's going to destroy billions at Armegeddon.

Rosemarie

berylblue

Oh, and welcome.

Goshawk

Primary lesson learned:

Do NOT let others do the thinking for you. But, if you do then don't whine when you are enslaved to whatever is the current "guiding light" of the day.

Goshawk

Maverick

This is a fair question, and welcome. One of the lines of reasoning the J-dud use is, who taught you all these things? We did! But, that presupposes that what you have been taught is right. And is it? They claim "all" their teaching is right and has Gods approval. There is some truth in all the doctrines published in the world. And there is a lot of crap. The J-dud fall in this same arena. And doctrine is just a part of the picture. They leave out the social and emotional controls that this closed society enforce within the membership. They require that you buy the whole program. Leave your brain at the door. If you are happy with the duds, good for you. The very though of sitting in a Kingdumb Hall and listening to their drivel makes me weary. Maverick

IslandWoman

Hi Anotheropenviewpoint,

Welcome!

You asked, "Through everything....do you feel that you learned something?" Yes, I do.

I learned many good things as a JW, I have learned many goods as an exJW also.

I have also learned that both JWs and exJWs are subject to all the strengths and weaknesses known to man and that many on both sides are sincere and loving people.

I have also learned that when power is placed in the hands of men who worship a cause or corporation more than they fear God or love their fellows, wicked and vicious acts become nothing more than a means to an end. This I have also seen for myself, in both groups.

The Watchtower has its cause, exJWs have theirs, and I have mine. I do not really fit in either group, but I would not trade either experience for all the tea in China.

If you sincerely feel the JW religion is for you then I suggest that you do not frequent this DB too much, it will sooner or later cause you to leave the JWs. If though you feel comfortable here and want to learn more then by all means stay. There are many fine people here. People with a broad knowledge of Watchtower history and doctrine but also and sometimes I think more importantly there are people here who have much love and compassion and will do what they can to help you along the way.

I hope whichever road you choose that your life will be a happy one and one in which you find peace and fulfillment.

IW

Lady Lee

Well yes I learned some things but I think I learned more after I left. More about myself and more about people and more about God.

You said something interesting

and an utter calm came over me, as if my father was holding me and I was a little child. This peace, calm, or maybe even disallussion was unmistakable.

I felt this too at meetings. What I learned for me about this feeling is that I am very comfortable around dysfunction. I grew up in a terribly dyfunctional controlling manipulative home. Both parents lied and hurt the very people they were supposed to love and protect. As I went through therapy and learned about emotional and spiritual abuse I learned that I was comfortable with the JWs because they used the same controls and manipulations that I grew up with. The combination almost drove me to suicide.

Abusive family have a code of silence that stops you from telling what goes on in the home to outsiders. So do abusive religions.

Abusive families control what you wear, how you talk, what you do, who your friends are, what you think, everything. So do abusive religions.

Abusive families use the family members to get their own needs met at the expense of those they are supposed to care for. So do abusive religions.

Abusive families resort to all kinds of tactics to stop people from feeling what they feel. Only one kind of feeling is allowed especially to outsiders. So do abusive religions.

The parallels stopped me dead in my tracks.

I no longer have any contact with my abusive family.

I no longer want any contact with that abusive "religion"

I learned I am happier without that "comfort" level

Francois

Yes, do not talk to strangers.

logansrun

From a psychological point of view, it would be quite natural for you to "feel at home" where you were raised. I don't see a metaphysical shred in anything you have said. It's all psychological.

Yes, I learned some good things as a JW. But I learned some false and some pretty stupid and perverse things as well (ie, that God will destroy 6 billion people in the near future). Maybe you went "over the top" when you left the JWs but my life has been A-okay. I don't smoke and am healthier pysically, emotionally and intellectually since I have been gone. I have absoultuely no desire to re-enter that quagmire.

Bradley

Makena1

If you get the warm fuzzies by going back - more power to you. I have nothing to offer to replace what you have returned to.

Believe it or not, not all people turn into degenerates when they leave the borg as you admitted.

I particularly liked this statement:

I am new to the board and have read countless gripes and pokes at "the organization" but I fail to find one interesting question.

In my opinion, you have not read this board as deeply as you should. There are some real scholars on this board - you must have missed their posts. (I do not include myself in their number).

Perhaps by coming here AND returning to the borg, you have raised the IQ level of both places as you sit in judgment?

Pardon the sarcasm, and welcome I guess.

Through everything... do you feel that you learned soemthing?

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