Does the averageJW really believe it is the truth?

by whatistruth 36 Replies latest jw friends

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  whatistruth

  I ask this question because the average jw does not show true love though they are commanded to do so. The average jw often confesses that the meetings are quite boring. The average jw complains about almost everything within the org. but still stay. The average jw does not have a deep seated zeal that one should have if they really believed everything they taught was the truth. The average jw in all honesty does not look forward to the conventions.

  So, do they within their heart believe it is the truth or does the average jw only do it because in reality they are held prisoner to their peers and families?
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  Satanus

  Yes, the average dub does believe it. That's based on my life of 40 yrs in it from 4yrs old. Belief is a reaction against fear. That fear can be from an aversion to relaity. Belief, as in faith is overrated, imo.

  Can love be commanded? I think that answers one of your questions.

  S
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  lazyslob

  They are the only ones believing it.
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  whatistruth

  Your correct love cannot be commanded, it is an emotion. But, I have found with expception of a few that the average jw hardly puts forth an effort to try and love their brother or neighbour, yet it is what has to be done to be saved from god's wrath.

  If someone really believed it in the deepest regions of their heart I would think a much larger effort would be made to help and love.
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  Balsam

  I lived by it to the best of my abilities for about 25 years. Then I began to have doubts. I think you have to realize that people can believe something completely but still have a hard time doing it all. I know I did. My physical limitations probited physically engaging in preachings as much as I wanted too. Or I had family responsiblities that kept me from meetings. I never missed a convention though each year. I fully believed it otherwise I would have never raised my kids in it. Because of that religion it has caused much pain.

  My 17 year old son is sitting here, he was raised in the witnesses, but has left. He said he did what he was told because we told him it was the truth without ever thinking about it until I left the religion. So our kids who were raised it may have never made it their own as they often said at the meetings.

  Balsam
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  codeblue

  I really "believed it"..........for years....

  Until I saw the lack of love shown repeatedly........

  And I saw the Dateline Special May 2002.........You see, even though raised as a JW...I believed that we should examine our religion...put it to the test according to WTBS standard.........They failed......

  CodeBlue
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  onintwo

  Let's take this apart.

  The average JW was "born" into the truth and consequently never made a choice, or chose the mantle he/she now bears. Of course this breeds resentment. They know they are trapped.

  The average JW does not truly love his fellow man. The mind cannot hold two diverse opinions. When you are listening to a steady drumbeat 5 meetings a week about how "wicked" the world is, and all those in it, it just numbs you. You tend to view them as "lost", "unwashed", "deserving of death", etc.

  The average JW would not stay in the "truth" if it were announced tomorrow that the promised New System is not coming in our life time. There would be a mass exodus. So much for believing it to be the truth of God. There only in it for the short haul, with the reward right around the corner.

  The average JW only hopes against hope that somehow this "roll of the dice" will turn out to be correct. As such, their belief is shallow and quite unfounded.

  Onintwo
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  whatistruth

  The average JW only hopes against hope that somehow this "roll of the dice" will turn out to be correct.

  I have heard this said on many occasions and it was only from the ones that were honest with themselves, which is very rare indeed. That goes to show me that even though they call their religion "the truth" many when reality hits have to conceed that there is a chance that it might not be. I mean what really is truth? No one really knows.
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  Satanus

  Except towards the end, when i was a sinking ship, i really believed it. What helped establish that belief was the yr or so when i drifted away, as a teenager. At that time, i tried what i thought was the 'worldly' way to happiness: partying and stuff like that. The trouble i ended up in convinced me that the wt was correct, and so i returned and followed it's directions to the utmost of my abilities. I don't know if i really loved people, but i was kind, helpful and cooperative.

  S
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  onintwo

  Hey, What is, hang in there! Your search for truth, meaning, etc. is going to be a rather convoluted journey. I now know that things I always considered "absolutes" aren't. Between two distant poles of Black and White, there exists a great deal of Grey. Scruples game, anyone?

  Oh, and welcome to this Board.

  Onintwo