Is the Watchtower a form of addiction?

expatbrit

Hello.

This morning I glanced at the JW calendar for this month. It has one of those spreads about how becoming a JW improves your life. You know the type of thing: "when I learned from the JW's I was able to give up smoking/boozing/drugs/coffee/chocolate/naked bungee jumping etc etc".

I wonder if maybe the reason some people have these experiences is because, by becoming a JW, they simply replace one addiction with another?

On the face of it, the JW life does share some characteristics with other addictions. The constant and regular fixes, for instance. or withdrawal symptoms if the drug is not supplied regularly. This would make the GB the equivalent of pushers, and there again there are some similarities.

Anyway, it's just a thought. Are there any online references on the subject of addictive personalities and the characteristics of addictions that a layman can read and understand?

If the Watchtower is an addiction, perhaps methods of treatment for other addictions can be tailored effectively for use on JW's.

Expatbrit

garybuss

Hi xpat, An addiction can be reduced by definition, to a dependency on a substance or a behavior. Do you know any JW's dependant on a behavior? GaryB

run dont walk

interesting way to put it.

How many go for social contact or stature ???

How many force it on their family ???

How many have trouble functioning in life after they leave or are df'd. Cannot function properly almost like a junkie.

maybe more like obsessive, but addiction is a good characterization too.

Scully

If you get a chance to read "When God Becomes a Drug" by L. Booth, there are a lot of addictive qualities to many different religions. It might be available in the library, that's where I found it.

Love, Scully

xjw_b12

I think some people just need to be controlled. They have been out of control for so long, they need someone or something to dictate to them how to act.

xjw_b12 of the "never had any withdrawal symptoms" class

oldcrowwoman

Those who have addictive personality has a tendency to glum on to religious structures to be in or have control over their lives. And to be in a place where one does'nt deal with their feelings. Its all mapped out for that person.

I do have a addictive personality have been through the chain alcohol, drugs, and the last addiction cigarettes. I hit bottom with the smokes (3 pks). It boiled down in not wanting to deal with my feelings.

And using a religious structure is no different. I've seen that with people who I have been in recovery and needing to fill that void.

I don't see myself falling into another structure I was badly burned by the org. If it had been otherwise so engrained with that system. That I possibly be prone to enter another structure. So I would not have to take care of myself.

I think the whole issue is pretty complex. I know enough to know I don't want to go there.

Piph

I wonder if maybe the reason some people have these experiences is because, by becoming a JW, they simply replace one addiction with another?

Totally makes sense to me. Although I've never had any substance addictions, I've been struggling with codependency issues for some time, and recognize I have an 'addictive personality'. I always wondered about those experiences where people were able to give up all that stuff for the 'truth'. If they could do it, why couldn't I give up my addictions, even though I was part of the organization? They made it sound like the Bible had some kind of magical effect on people or something. Your explanation makes much more sense.

jws

On the face of it, the JW life does share some characteristics with other addictions. The constant and regular fixes, for instance. or withdrawal symptoms if the drug is not supplied regularly. This would make the GB the equivalent of pushers, and there again there are some similarities.

I always thought a lot of JWs were like me. Believing it, but pushing themselves to go through all the motions. An addiction, in my opinion, doesn't need any pushing. It's more like you can't stop. In the JWs I had to work so as not to stop. And I mostly used things like fear of dying an eternal death to motivate me on.

But there were others who gladly went along with everything. Some seemed to have something missing in their lives (friends, purpose, etc) and the JWs filled that. So, in a way, they may have been addicted to the community and orders given to them.

Alf3831

Totally makes sense to me. Although I've never had any substance addictions, I've been struggling with codependency issues for some time, and recognize I have an 'addictive personality'. I always wondered about those experiences where people were able to give up all that stuff for the 'truth'. If they could do it, why couldn't I give up my addictions, even though I was part of the organization? They made it sound like the Bible had some kind of magical effect on people or something. Your explanation makes much more sense.

At one time I was conducting a study of the personality/traits of ex-jehovah's witnesses. It seemed rather odd to me for a group of people to hate the organization, its leaders, what it represents and even some of the rank-and-file involved, yet at the same time feel a need to be informed about that same group, talk about their activities and connect with others who had the same co-dependency addiction to the org.

It is rather obvious that this addiction stems from ones association with the organization, because no matter where you were in the hierarchy of this system, your life revolved around this religion and its activities. It affected what you ate (no blood sausage), what you read (nothing but watchtower materials), whom you spent time with (JW's only), and your choice of careers (pioneering is the way to go). This inevitably instills a sense of need to the average JW. There life has no seperation with their religious affiliation. This often continues for many after they leave the organization, and many have difficulty simply moving on with their life. I believe that even in some sense the addiction/co-dependency intensifies because one has hate for the organization, and becomes very passionate about their dislikes for the society. This seems to fuel their addiction. IMHO, It is a sad way to live.

Alf3831

RAYZORBLADE

Expatbrit, I have thought similarly.

It's peculiar, but it does become an addiction.

Once it (WTS) has taken over your life, you cannot live without it.

Similar to any other addiction, be it something physical or mental. The affects are astounding!

I call it, being a: God Junkie.

It's not necessarily unique to the Jehovah's Witnesses, but they're an excellent example of it. But most fundamentalist religions have that underlying tone to it.

It's nice when you've KICKED the habit. What a relief!

Is the Watchtower a form of addiction?

Share this