The actual turning point -- where you regain your own power

by JustTickledPink 9 Replies latest jw friends

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  JustTickledPink

  I have done a lot of thinking about what it's like to actually BELIEVE the WTS has "the truth" and what it felt like to be immersed in the religion and I finally figured out the exact turning point a person has to get to, that allows a person to let go of it all.

  It doesn't matter what scandals you read about, what sort of a victim you were to the Society, it doesn't even matter if you quit attending meetings years ago. There comes a day when you finally realize inside your heart and throughout your mind that it's JUST A RELIGION. That's all. Not "the truth," not "inspired by Jehovah God," but in fact JUST A RELIGION.

  I started thinking about it in terms of a profession. There are men that are 3rd generation Marines, there are men that are 3rd generation steel mill workers, if the 4th generation son comes along and says "hey I appreciate the career choices you made, but I have decided to become a chef, or an auto mechanic, or a fireman" than the his Dad, grandfather, maybe even uncles who are in the 'family business' will be dissapointed but who DISOWNS his child because he chose a different career path?

  When you relate being a Witness to a career, yes those before you may love being a steel mill worker and take pride in it, but I choose to be a chef because creating food is my passion, you can actually equate a carreer choice to a religious choice. YET, we were all taught that it's NOT a religion, it's not even a church, it's a way of life, it's "the truth" but in all actuality, IT'S JUST ANOTHER RELIGION. Bottom line. It's a publishing company that uses the Bible and a lot of buzz words to get people indoctrinated but it's just the same as the rest of them.

  Once you give up believing they have something special is the day you regain your own power. Your freedom of choice, your freedom of expression, your freedom of thought. When that day comes everything changes.

  I realize that happened to me 5 years after I left, it took me that many years to face it.
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  AK - Jeff

  JTP

  Funny how long it takes for some to come to that thought. But I think you are definately on point.

  Four of five months after reading CoC, I was emailing a former witness who used those exact words - the he had realized it was Just Another Religion. That was the first time I really thought of it in those terms, and it did get me moving in the right way.

  Good point. We should use that term more on the forum, it does change the mindset.

  Jeff
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  Gill

  JTP

  I don't even think of it as a religion!

  I think of it as a book selling company that has a bunch of mind control idiots in its sales force!

  I wish I could let go of the really bad anger problem I have with the JW cult at the moment though. I just think of them and want to ......scream!

  Will that get better?
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  JustTickledPink

  The longer you are angry and the longer you obsess over the WTS, the longer they are still a controlling force in your life. I have thought about this a lot. Once you realize that their power is all fake, their elders have NO real authority, once you wake up to the idea that the organization only can control the people who surrender their own power over to them, you can take back your own life. It's healthier to let go of it.
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  rebel8

  YET, we were all taught that it's NOT a religion, it's not even a church, it's a way of life, it's "the truth" but in all actuality, IT'S JUST ANOTHER RELIGION. Bottom line. It's a publishing company that uses the Bible and a lot of buzz words to get people indoctrinated but it's just the same as the rest of them.

  JTP, You made some very good points. I agree with everything except the above quote. I think what you were trying to get at is to say that JWs are no better than any other religion, but....

  ...mainstream religions do not consume people's every waking hour like the dubs do. I cannot compare it to any mainstream religion. Being a dub, if you are active in it, is a career. If you changed it as follows, IMO, it would be more accurate:

  IT'S JUST ANOTHER RELIGION CULT. Bottom line. It's a publishing company that uses the Bible and a lot of buzz words to get people indoctrinated but it's just the same as the rest of them other cults.
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  JustTickledPink

  True, it is another cult. The point though is the same, they aren't Divine are we were indoctrinated to believe.
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  Gill

  JTP you're right about letting go the anger. However, I have all my relatives just about, are still JWs so I have to listen to crap from my parents. I now get very cross with them and let rip when they start talking about their cult teachings. Though I feel angry, I feel I am saying what I should have been saying to them all these years!
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  JustTickledPink

  Barney, How does freedom of thought, choice, religion make us powerless?

  If you are following the leader, he is in control, has the power. If you decide to make a decision for yourself instead of following the leader, you have taken control of your life and hold your own power for yourself. It's back to the idea that you are responsible for every action you take in life.
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  trevor

  I think Barney is making a distinction between being powerful within ourselves and having power over others. The power we think we have over others is an illusion. To be truly free we need to surrender the mistaken idea that having power over others makes us powerful. We become powerful when we are humble and work from our own centre. The actions of others then become unimportant to us.
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  diamondblue1974

  Those who think they have power are the ones who eventually lord it over others in some way. Those who realize they are powerless and strive to remain that way in all their thoughts and intentions are usually the ones who allow the rest of the world to walk all over them.

  Barney whilst I respect your point here its a little too cynical.

  I think trevor has the right idea here.

  Power isnt negative but the abuse of power is, when you use the power to the expense of other people this is when the positive becomes negated by all that is rotten. Using your own power to achieve positive results for yourself and others is to be encouraged and advocated but in all honesty the whole idea that power corrupts everything it comes into contact with is somewhat shortsighted.