by stuckinarut2 44 Replies latest jw experiences
Yes, I too have experienced this behavior from JWs. Lots of confidence and self rightousness when they first engage you on the bible and Jehovah.
When I became educated about the JW faith and would poke holes in their doctrine, the smug arrogance would turn on a dime into meek humility.
And sometimes lip service was given to "we are not better" than non-JWs, but...
It was classic doublethink.
All you have to do is listen to Anthony Morris. You talk about smug and arrogant! Not a humble bone in his body. The zone meeting a year and a half ago really put the nail in the coffin for us. The part about 23 year old men who are not MS's. He stated that these men are not good marriage material. Why would anyone stick around where they are not wanted. That is just one of the many things that prompted our fade.
One thing that we have noticed with some JW's. They do think that they are better than the average "worldly" person BUT if some find out they have money or something that will benefit THEM, then they will make some concessions. So many "gypsies" in the cult. These ones are looking for the next person who can put money in their pocket, provide housing or a job. These "gypsies" are typically need greaters, pioneers or Bethelites.
They think they are better because they have been "chosen" by Jehovah (hand picked) to be his witnesses. There is even a scripture they apply to this.
Doc
Londo nailed it.
WT has the market cornered not on smugness, but on the doublethink in regards to smugness. On one hand.....be smug as hell. On the other, act pious. that way you can have your smug and eat it too.
I was once like this if I am being honest with myself. Not that much.....but it was there.
Yes, well said londo and problemaddict 2!
It is the hypocrisy of being smug, yet saying they are not that stands out...
I 'm shocked JWs...smug? ...arrogant?....special???
Well they are chosen by the most high himself and will live on in a paradise earth while everyone else (including gay people) die horribly and will not be mourned or buried.
C'moooon, if you can't do the happy-smug-arrogant dance over that then when can ya!! Give JWs a break already!
(Joke)
I think it comes from constantly being told to dislike or hate "the world" everything and just about everyone in it. Keep your kids away from non JW kids or "bad influence". Don't look for higher education or "bad decision, waste of time". Higher paying job? Bad, money loving materialistic "weak" one!
It's all bad and below "our" standards. So sure, most are gonna think they're better than "worldly" people because those people are said over and over again to be "below standards".
Internally, I think it comes from the same thing. 'We were picked to be elders because we're above average and the others are only average.' They're told they are "more qualified" than the others among us. It's an "I'm not the one being decided on, I'm the one doing the deciding" thought process. Plus that whole, I know stuff you'll never get to know attitude that adds a level of arrogance.
A few years ago a c.o. gave an illustration about how worldly people hang on their walls photographs of what they consider the most important moments of their life, like their wedding or university graduation. He said really they should have a photograph of the last time a jw knocked on their door as that was the most important thing that had ever happened to them.
At the time I thought it was a brilliant illustration, now I think what a load of shit.
