Did we become JW because we wanted someone else to do our thinking for us? (page 2)

Daunt

I can honestly say I never liked anybody to control my mind. Kind of identified the control early on but still had mental anguish from all the pressure. Just couldn't imagine my best friends dieing.

bisous

Actually if you were an adult when you became a JW then it was because you let someone else do your thinking for you.

IMO, of course.

Good for your Daunt!!!

It took me until almost 20 or 21 to finally realize it was BUNK!!! But I was still closed minded and judgemental. The worst attributes about myself I have worked hard to get rid of. 15 years of studious work on eliminating this trait has been pretty sucessful :)

silentWatcher

I was raised in the Borg (daddy an elder since the arrangement started in '71), so I had a distinct disadvantage. :-(
You trust your parents. Unfortunately, now I cannot.

Asking this question, I take it you became a JW as an adult. Even when "in", never understood why an adult who had a CHOICE would come into the org. Then again, I'm now OUT, so perhaps I am biased.

-silent

wanderlustguy

It is the path of least resistance to follow. Look at what you lose, especially if you are raised in the org.

I am soon to be "no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses" because I think for myself now.

steve2

I was raised in the religion and was 27 when I finally realised that I did not believe it. I think I would have left earlier than that if the earlier ex-Jw literature had been accurate about the JWs.

Before I left, I had read a lot of anti-JW stuff written by evangelical Christians. Trouble was, a lot of it was written by people who used almost anything to "prove" the JWs were demonic, mixing hype with hysteria.

Only when the likes of Ray Franz got kicked out in the early 1980s did the expose-type literature on the JWs accurately and empathically convey what it was like in the religion.

Markfromcali

Ask yourself the question "Do I have the kind of personality that is attracted to a strong person or entity that speaks with authority, and is very assertive?"

But... Since when are JWs strong and speak with authority? LOL Assertive maybe, but when you take the other stuff out of the equation being assertive by itself just doesn't go very far. Of course I guess it's all relative, but I mean come on, really... Atleast in hindsight..

"We're all out of powdered toast!" - Ren & Stimpy pleading to Powdered Toast Man

Black Sheep

I have never felt the need for a 'Leader', which could help explain why I drifted out without taking a WT bath.

I certainly didn't want one that wanted to control so many aspects of my life.

diamondblue1974

I was brought up as a JW so had no choice but the amount of people that turned to the Dubs when they were vulnerable is alarming; I dont anybody wants anyone to do their thinking for them if they were asked but that is the end result with JW's and you are brainwashed into accepting this as normal.

DB74

tetrapod.sapien

wanderlustguy:I am soon to be "no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses" because I think for myself now.

good for you man!

the age i was when i "came into the truth" was an age that i lacked critical thinking capacity at. therefore it was never cultivated, and i always relied on others to think for me on a certain level. i can see now, however, that there was always a subconcious part of me that fought against that. and that was what ultimately started the abiogenesis of critical thinking in my mind. perhaps if i was a natural R & F personality type like my wife, i would still be in! eeek.

Did we become JW because we wanted someone else to do our thinking for us?