by Lee Elder 36 Replies latest jw experiences
I personally took it to heart about separating oneself from false prophets as instructed by Jesus himself so I did.
What the WTS does do proficiently is how its structured doctrines lure people into the organization to only eventually be exploited and manipulated to support the organization and the ongoing continuing proliferation of its published literature.
Jonestown hardened my attitude towards the Society and the JW's that followed and obeyed.
I stopped giving a crap that some were 'nice' and cared about the friends. Those same people were 'nice' to the poor witness who had to give up a life saving transfusion.
The same thing at Jonestown some even most of them were 'nice' ......true believers and they certainly loved their families but based on the results....just not enough.
That the friends went along wholeheartedly with the Ban on blood passed up vaccinations and transplants until the Society said it was ok. They too loved their families but....just not enough.
Too many died at Jonestown. Too many JW's die each and every year because they drink the Societies own version of the Kool Aid. The flavor may change but it's still poison.
The only victims I saw when I looked at the photo's of the aftermath of Jonestown........ looked at the hundreds of bodies laying out in the fields ........ were the little children. Everyone else was complicit in those deaths by their on going continuous support.
Coming to terms with our experiences as a Jehovah's Witnesses could be like the five stages of grief.
Denial, anger, bargaining, depression and finally acceptance.
We have learned that it's not always just like that, nice and neat, even with typical loss of a loved one, so it won't be just like that with discovering and accepting the reality of our JW experience. But it may be a process similar to that. Most of us were long in the denial process before coming to this forum and probably already moved past it. Bargaining, if at all, probably came before anger or depression. Acceptance doesn't mean that all the anger or depression is gone, especially since most have loved ones still captive to the cult.
I am past most of the anger and most of the depression, but there are triggers here and there.
Interesting comments. I think a few of you are misunderstanding what I was saying. When someone does something wrong or evil, they are damaging their soul or person. They may not realize it at the time, but its nonetheless true. Ray was guilty of this, I was guilty of this, and probably many of you were as well.
Are there some in the Watchtower who are aware that they are damaging others with their actions, speech, policy, etc? Yes, I am certain there are. Do some of these individuals know the truth about the truth? I would say yes. Are they motivated by a lust for power? Almost certainly.
My sense is that Ray Franz was a true believer for most of his time as a Jehovah's Witness. I know I certainly was. There is little question in my mind that there are others, perhaps a significant majority of the leadership who are true believers. That doesn't change the effect of what they are doing, only changes the context. Its the kind of factor that comes into play at the sentencing level in criminal cases. They've victimized others and they have also been victims.
As for anyone who aware of the history of the organization, and the level of damage that its doing, and chooses to stay and support it, and go so far as to lust for power and prestige (at any level of the organization), that is a special kind of evil. They've been damaged and victimized by the process of growing up, and chosen to continue the cycle despite having knowledge. I think this is a very small group of narcissists and sociopaths. How many of the governing boy would fit this description I can't say.
My post was simply about how I try to come to terms with my experience. I've been out for nearly twenty years now. I didn't have to go to jail like Dalton Trumbo did. However, there are quite a few similarities in the experiences, and I found some peace from reflecting on his words. I hope you did as well.
Great thread. The talking about psycopaths reminded me of this qurky but intellegent documentry a few years ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB0k7wBzXPY
HBH
I guess I see LeeElders point sorta....
A child of physical abuse is a victim. He/she grows up to be an abuser and is now a victim/victimizer. He/she was a victim of circumstance and will always be considered a victim of sorts when discussing what happened to him/her as a child and as a result of that becomes the thing he/she hated most, abusive. Some people that were abused physically don't repeat the cycle but many do, thus they are still a victim by virtue of the horrid way they were brought up and now a victimizer by repeating the abusive behavior.
As for jws and gb...I feel every single one of us was/is a victim. A victim of a belief system that turned out to be bunk. Some are able to recognize the fallacy, some still cling to the beliefs, some don't believe but hang on anyway hoping beyond all hope it could be true, some fake to keep family relationships, some are struck by all the "power". In my opinion they are victims. Victims of a belief system that basically traps most into staying.
This is my first post so be easy on me. I'm certainly not defending anyone. I just think everyone starts out a victim.
I often think of the many many studies and rv's I had (former regular pioneer here) where I talked about "what a better way for satan to blind their eyes by making them think they were worshiping god". I truly think most of the ones still in really truly are blinded and believe. The gb believe their own bs I think. But thats me wanting to give the benefit of the doubt to anyone and everyone. Its to hard to believe that the gb would on purpose cause so much heartache. I think they are truly blinded along with being drunk on their power.
Since this is my first post (lurker for maybe 6-8 months) let me say I've faded over the last year after many years of doubts, even during my pioneer days. I've gone through the cycle of sadness, anger and am now in the "what the hell do I believe now" mode. I am not an apologist but I have many many family and friends that are still in and I love and adore them and I see them as well as myself as a victim. Oddly enough I also see my self as a victimizer because I helped several into the "truth".
Welcome To the Forum FaithNoMore
I will be sending you a Personal message something I was just writing concerning the question you raised.....What do I believe now?
