A cult is a cult anyway you look at it

by wannaexit 8 Replies latest jw friends

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  wannaexit

  The mention of the word "CULT" may bring to mind Jim Jones of the People's temple and the mass suicide of over 900 innocent lives or David Koresh of the "branch Dividian and the massacre of innocent lives in Waco.

  The Watchtower may not be a cult of that extreme calibre, but it is without a doubt a cult.

  To those of you that may think that the Watchtower is not a cult please consider this quote from the book "Seductive poison" ( this is the biography of Deborah Layton who managed to escape Jonestown)

  The quote reads as follows:

  "When our own thoughts are forbidden, when our questions are not allowed and our doubts are punished, when contacts and friendships outside of the organization are censored, we are being abused for an end that never justifies its means. When our heart aches knowing we have made friendships and secret attachments that will be forever forbidden if we leave, we are in danger. When we consider staying in a group because we cannot bear the loss, disappointment, and sorrow our leaving will cause for ourselves and those we have come to love, WE ARE IN A CULT."
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  ISP

  Suicide is the only way out for some dubs it is sad to say. I wish we had accurate info on this. I am sure the picture would be very worrying.

  ISP
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  libra_spirit

  wannaexit,

  This is so true. Well said. The JWs are as cultish as they get in my opinion!

  When the only way to have my family back, my roots of 3 generations, is to return to the false teachings of fear and control, then this is a very evil cult indeed. If I would kill myself would anyone even notice? They would simply put me out of mind saying see... that is what happens when you leave the truth. We must somehow start over completely. I can not deny my roots, my family has been faithfully following this Organization for decades and my children still can see nothing else! I am alone, even my brother who has also left wants little to do with me as the sad memories flood into his mind when I am around. This religion causes mental distress, it is the strongest negative influence in my life 20 years after my own exit. If you have never been touched by this then count your blessings, if you have been then you may understand my feelings. Your post brings me to tears because it is true.
• 

  rocketman

  When our own thoughts are forbidden, when our questions are not allowed and our doubts are punished, when contacts and friendships outside of the organization are censored, we are being abused for an end that never justifies its means. When our heart aches knowing we have made friendships and secret attachments that will be forever forbidden if we leave, we are in danger. When we consider staying in a group because we cannot bear the loss, disappointment, and sorrow our leaving will cause for ourselves and those we have come to love, WE ARE IN A CULT."

  wanna, if I would have seen this quote without knowing who it was from, I would have thought a jw or ex-jw wrote it. Excellent quote!
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  seedy3

  It's really sad, when from the outside looking in we see what it is, as stated in the qoute posted. But when you tell a JW that is the way it is I mean "Just look at yourself you cannot question the docrines and rules, you are not allowed to look at information against the WTS, if you try to leave you are shunned and treated as if you are dead, you cannot think independently". These people REALLY don't think it is that way, I have made that statement to many JW's and their reply is always the same, they feel they are not controlled, they are able to look at information about the WTS, they can question the Doctrine and rules, they can think independently and they can leave if they ever wanted to, but that is simply not the case.

  For example If a JW goes to an elder and questions something say like the UN fiasco, The JW is counsled and given an answer that they have to accept, they don't realize it is not just the ability to question the WTS, but it is the ability to question their answers, sure you can question, but don't question the answer, "Jehovah will resolve it all in his due time". They feel to question is to not understand, that is not questioning, it is "not understanding", Questioning is having doubts, and when you have doubts you are then weak and possibly turning apostate and heaven forbid that!

  It is a cult when you cannot question and cannot leave freely

  Seedy
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  wannaexit

  ISP,

  I can only recall 2 suicides. But I know for a fact that there are an awful lot of mentally troubled indivduals among the ranks of Jw.

  LIBRA-SPIRIT

  I hope that you find solace among friends on this board. The watchtower has scarred many of us. I hope that God will hold them accountable.
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  shamus

  Libraspirit,

  I am sorry that things are rough even at this stage for you. 20 years and still going through the b.s.
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  blondie

  People need to be inoculated (educated) against cults.

  Former Jim Jones disciple Deborah Layton puts it eloquently:
  

  There are essential warning signs early on. Our alarm signals ought to go off as soon as someone tells us their way is the only right way.

  When our own thoughts are forbidden, when our questions are not allowed and our doubts are punished, when contacts and friendships outside the organization are censored, we are being abused for an end that never justifies its means. When our heart aches knowing we have made friendships and secret attachments that will be forever forbidden if we leave, we are in danger. When we consider staying in a group because we cannot bear the loss, disappointment, and sorrow our leaving will cause for ourselves and those we have come to love, we are in a cult.

  If there is any lesson to be learned it is that an ideal can never be brought about by fear, abuse, and the threat of retribution. When family and friends are used as a weapon in order to force us to stay in an organization, something has gone terribly wrong. If I, as a young woman, had had someone explain to me what cults are and how indoctrination works, my story might not have been the same. (13)

  http://www.rightcyberup.org/apology.html
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  seedy3

  From the site blondie posted:

  Langone’s study finds additional evidence of psychological or physical isolation of ICC members from the rest of society:

  95% said that people outside the group are regarded as “worldly” or “influenced by Satan” or “enemies of God”

  90% said members are told that there are no other Christian churches outside the movement where salvation can be found

  73% said members are strongly encouraged to move out of old living situations in order to live with members

  73% said members are told that going home to visit family or spending time with friends outside the group could cause Satan to get a foothold, and 88% said that spending time with them outside recruiting efforts is not “seeking the Kingdom first”

  55% said members are told that they shouldn’t read or watch media coverage of the group

  80% said members are told they shouldn’t speak with former members (5)

  (figures rounded to nearest whole percent)

  Wow who does that sound like??

  Seedy