Did You Refuse To See A Doctor Or Therapist Because You Were A Witness?

by minimus 27 Replies latest jw friends

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  DFWnonJW

  12/15/94 WT p 19 A Health Test for You?

  The Watch Tower Society does not make recommendations or decisions for individuals on medical and diagnostic practices.

  ...and the next Local Needs Talk™ just happened to be about how some in the congregation "use depression as a crutch to avoid going to meetings or engage in the preaching work", and that going to 'worldly counsellors' instead of to the elders showed a lack of trust and faith in Jehovah's provisions. Just another shining example of what the WT publishes as opposed to what they actually teach. There's a word for it I think...starts with a huge capital H
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  Pyrohectic

  [quote] I'm curious how many put off seeing a doctor or some other "worldly" professional because you didn't want to bring "reproach upon Jehovah's name" or were counseled against it. [/quote] Um, can't say I ever heard of someone doing that. Both of my parents encouraged me to get help for my depression and see a therapist, and I know quite a few brothers and sisters who are being treated(one even bi-polar).
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  Special K

  minimus

  Your niece was "told she had to protect Gods name from reproach" !!

  That was one of the things, that they used to say to me... It really bothered me, when I was a J.W., that the elders kept telling me that .. I had to protect Jehovah God and HIS organization. AND KEEP MY MOUTH QUIET!! and do exactly what they say.

  It was the beginning of me falling away.Because I thought.. "I don't get it... I have to protect Jehovah and he is the most almighty GOD... wHY CAN'T He can protect himself..

  scully

  You suffered a form of emotional abuse in that congregation you were in. You were made to feel ashamed around all your J.W. friends and peers in a public setting .. the Kingdom Hall.

  I get so upset at this kind of thing.. when they feel they have the right to hurt and undermine someone like this.

  I'm GLAD you got away from them

  SPECIAL K
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  minimus

  There was a time in this organization when a number of persons that NEEDED professional help were told to just go and pray and maybe see if you have anything demonized in your house that may be affecting you. The "untrained volunteers", the "older men", the "shepherds", regularly gave this counsel until one day the "slave" put out a Watchtower saying it might not be so wrong to go to "worldly" counselors after all, since the "untrained volunteers" were by no means doctors or qualified to care for sick people. Once this "new lite" came out, PRESTO, just like that JW's started taking medicine and seeing every type of doctor or therapist for their maladies. How thankful we can be for the "slave".
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  Swan

  I remember those days, Minimus. Back in the 60's and 70's psychiatrists were taboo and equated with Satanic methods such as hypnosis.

  Tammy
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  minimus

  Yet, the Society seemed to be fascinated by occult-like methods to cure illnesses. They HATED doctors and they recommended alternative medicine over established doctors. They hated the AMA.......And they were expressing Jehovah God's sentiments.
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  Inquiry

  Hey Scully....

  When I went back to school, there were a few talks about using time outside of watchtower interests... but one talk the elder had to nerve to look right at me through almost the whole thing. After my eyebrows raised and he nodded his head at me, I got up, and left the room until the talk was over. I gave him the dirtiest look when I came back in. He came over after the meeting and tried to talk. I told him next time he had something to say to me, he could deal with me in a private conversation. I told him I didn't appreciate his attempt to manipulate me out of my decisions. He was quite flustered after that.

  After I did an interview on Television, it was that same elder who asked me to walk away from my "integrity" to come back to the hall.... Yep... real winner....

  I was always a bit of a handful anyways... A female head of the household is an elder's worst nightmare... especially one who is good at being the head of the family....

  Inq
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  minimus

  When the elder looks straight at you during the talk, all he's trying to do is intimidate you. That's what lovinh shepherds are supposed to do.
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  Big Tex

  Bless your heart Scully. That's terrible. I probably would have slowly scratched an itch on my forehead ... with only my middle finger.

  My family gave me hell for seeing a psychologist and they went nuclear when I was in a psych hospital for suicidal thoughts. Of course these are the same people that thought nothing of consulting a dog psychologist to discover why their shi-zhu was widdling on the carpet.

  Now there's some people who have their priorities straight. And that's why they will be Witnesses till the day they die, and I'm here with all you fine folks.
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  minimus

  Big Tex, was your family embarrassed that you needed to be hospitalized?.......Hope you're feeling better, bud.