Did you leave the JW RECENTLY? Really? Recently? WTF were you thinking? (page 4)

shepherdless

For a long while, I could not make sense of why any moderately intelligent person could be a JW. I just did not understand human psychology. I suggest the o.p. watch the following video:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?t=247s&v=IaUhR-tRkHY

Xanthippe

Edward Gentry I guess you haven't read How to win friends and influence people.

Stealth

Edward Gentry, I remember that name. Didn't you post here like 15 years ago under another name?

Not to be overly harsh...but if you recently insulted a large number of people on a forum where they go for help, what the hell were you thinking? Between 1995 and now, you never figured out that it's a mind-control cult and intelligence and access to the internet had little to do with people staying.

slimboyfat

I can sympathise with the question.

When I first got on the Internet in 1999 "Jehovah's witnesses" was the first thing I googled and I read absolutely everything I could find. At first I believed JWs had the truth and nothing I could read would contradict that.

I just assumed all JWs would do the same.

It's been a long strange process of realisation for me: that all (or most) of the JWs I knew, and who said they were interested in "the truth", and claimed to believe the facts were on their side... when it comes down to it, are either afraid or are not interested in challenging their beliefs.

Some of them seem to lack basic curiousoty about the belief system which has dominated their lives. I'll never understand that.

Chook

Dear Edward , we weren’t blessed with as much grey matter as you, our intelligence was slower at processing lies and deception as you dear Edward. We were all thinking how lucky we are to get out of the cult even if it took us longer then you. We are just glad we can have such bright sparks on this forum as yourself to remind us what dumb shits we were or are. May your life be enriched hanging around us.

The Real Edward Gentry

Thank You, Chook.

Sugar Shane

I've often wondered the same thing, but couldn't bring myself to put it so bluntly, to an ex-JW. As a few members of my extended family got involved with the JWs, in the early 90s, I never became drawn to it. For me, it came down to always having a skeptical mind, thanks in part to my dad & brother. They turned me on to books by Tom Wolfe, Kurt Vonnegut and George Orwell, while in my teens. In college, I ran across the book, "The Four Major Cults," by Hoekema. That led me down the path to discover the 1975 debacle, Russell's obsession with pyramids, and Rutherford's booze intake and his authoritarian style. This all spelled CULT to me, in huge neon, capital letters, before the internet even existed. Had I NOT had an upbringing which encouraged critical thinking & the questioning of authority (when appropriate), and had I NOT gone to college, would I have been more susceptible to joining a group such as the JWs? I dunno. But, I could see how a lack of such an upbringing could make one more vuberable, I suppose. That's especially so for the ones 'born-in' to the cult.

I wasted alot of breath in the 90s, trying to convince some in my family as to the history of their organization. All the flip-flops, the failed prophecies, the fall of Babylon date, and the encyopedia references which were taken completely out-of-context, and flat-out LIED about in their publications. I even pointed out contradictions in their OWN fucking MAGAZINES, and they still DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG!! It drove me nucking futs to say the least. To this day, I don't fully understand how a mind can go into 'lock down' mode like that. Steven Hassan's books have shed some light for me, but I guess I'll never fully understand what it's like, since I've never actually 'been there' myself. I try to understand, and my hat goes off to those who do manage to wake-up and find they've been duped. I don't know how I'd feel...probably a mix of sadness and anger, but eventually a sense of pride in finding my own way in life. It'd be a tough pill to swallow, for sure.

I think that many who never became JWs, and stayed 'on the outside, looking in,' probably have the same "WTF were you THINKING," response as Edward Gentry. Again, personal circumstances, upbringing & family involvement in the religion are key factors, IMO.

Still Totally ADD

Edward Gentry, everyone is different in why and when or how we woke up and left this cult. Many of us here did not have home computers or Internet when we was 18. That was all science fiction to us. Biggest technology break was the 8 track music machine for our cars. When computers and Internet became popular many of us was in the middle of raising children. Also I was very apprehensive in using them.

If you are young you was born into the information age I was not. So for someone like myself even if I had doubts I had very few options to research it. I woke up in my mid 50's and severing as a elder. What was i thinking? I was thinking of how could I keep my head above water with working and all the busy work the cult threw at you. Be happy at a young age you woke up. Use your time on this earth for the good. Take care and have a good life. Still Totally ADD

Did you leave the JW RECENTLY? Really? Recently? WTF were you thinking?

cofty