Are you more intelligent since you left? (page 2)

new light

I am very inclined to agree with you, SAJWEE, but this event really has me puzzled. I really doubt that my actual IQ rose (but maybe it did), but it at least feels like my brain got a major tune-up. Seriously, there are times I am genuinely surprised at the positive changes, like I'm thinking with someone else's brain.

nobody told me

HEY SJW IT IS A JUDICAL MATTER TO TALK TO APOSTATES. YOU BETTER TURN YOURSELF IN. ANYWAYS, YOU'LL BE GONE SOON.

MIGHT NOT BE MORE INTELLIGENT , BUT HAPPIER

Nosferatu

I am more intelligent since I refuted what apostates say

Apples are blue, not red.

SpunkyChick

I think I am wiser and have a strong distaste for organized religion! I definitely feel like I've grown from my past JW experiences...

SheilaM

I believe that I was always intelligent, I just saw my intelligence as a hinderance. As a woman and a dub being intelligent is not a good thing well for me it was I was smart enough to leave LOL

Gopher

I think those inside the organization often subject themselves to the thinking and the controlling techniques of the leaders. The decisions are made for them -- if in doubt about what to do, you consult an elder or look in the "publication index" and learn what to do.

And the meetings seem to be almost an exercise in mass hypnosis. When the last song is announced, the group actually awakens from the hypnosis, stands sings and gets ready to go home.

When outside the organization, you are more likely to consider different options and actually have to exercise judgment, and these things increase your mental sharpness.

So by the definitions of "mentally acute" and "showing sound judgment or rationality", those who are out from under the organization's control have OPPORTUNITY to act more intelligently. It doesn't mean that they will. It's up to each one.

Steve Lowry

Wiser to be sure. I'm not so sure that one becomes more intellegernt due to external circumstances.

Not to split hairs with you, but intelligent is more like aptitude. You have what you got, kinda like I.Q. Wisdom is the growing ability to make sense of what you continue to go through in life (the ability to learn from your experiences). That should always be changing, cuz life doesn?t remain static. If I have to depend on my intelligence growing, then I?m in a bad way. :-)

Steve

dustyb

not more intelligent, but more aware of the surroundings. i remember they portray the world as a very very bad place, and that worldy medicine and such is very very bad. but in reality, if you know what you are doing, you'll operate around the world just fine. kinda like a CSI episode i seen the other day, a mother homeschooled her two younger children, but her oldest child left quite awhile ago and went to a foster home. the mom told the younger children that the eldest was raped and murdered by his foster parents and the world was a very very bad place. so the middle child shot and killed the younger child because the state was about to take their children away from them. in the end, the middle child found out that his mother lied to him the whole time. it was an epiphany from god =D

Special K

I didn't think I was dumb when I was in the religion.

Misguided ,, but not less intelligent.

I've certainly enlarged my reading by leaps and bounds since I left the J.W.

So.. I feel more knowledgeable on a great many more things,

sincerely

Special K

Phantom Stranger

I'm not any more intelligent in the measurable sense (I.Q. hasn't changed, still hoping to break 100 someday:) but my ability to learn has improved, and that seems to be what you are talking about, Nos.

Daniel Goleman is only one of many who have pointed out that our emotional outlook governs how effective we are at many things, including learning.

There is a Zen saying about adding tea to a cup that is already full... before more can be added, some must be poured out. JW's are trained to be already full, so learning is hard.

My 7th grade English teacher told us that if someone hadn't changed any opinions in 20 years, they were dead - even if they were still walking around. Guy did me a great service, tell you that.

Are you more intelligent since you left?

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