hello everyone! i am not a JW but....... when i was a child my mother was a "searcher". she was involved with Armstrongism, some other cult i cant remember the name, and finally JWs. She would take me with her to "bible studies" and I would listen. I recieved a copy of "My book of bible stories" at about 8 or 9 years old. She as well as my older brother were heavily into these bible studies for some time. I dont think they were ever baptized, probably because of their thinking for themselves and questioning some of their teachings. When I was about 11 or 12, my mother started talknig to some people from a baptist church. I know that for a while there she was really buying into what they were saying but i dont know if she was being "mind controlled" , i think it was more of being decieved and beleiving in the lies. Her and my grandmother argued about celebrateing christmas and i believe that she destoyed a cross she had had. Anyway, when she talked to these other folks, she still wanted to go to kingdom hall, and made arrangements for one of them to pick her up. by this time, she had been diagnosed with ovearian cancer and had dire spiritual needs. She waited for them outside on the sidewalk and they never showed up. She studied with them again after that. Im not sure if she ever really got over the damage done by the watchtower or not, she died when i was 14. she was baptized at a baptist church and i was also at the same time ( i was 12, and turned away quickly after that) I do know t
hat before she died she asked one of the jw ladies to "watch over" my brother. hed studied with them for a while afterwards, secretly because dad and grandma did not approve after how they snubbed mom. He did get out. I on the other hand wouldnt even talk to them. Some of it is blurry, between trying to block it out and the substances i was consuming.......... I turned away from God, any God, for many years. When I was grown i started studying Wicca but then came to know the love of Christ.
So anyway, this is part of my childhood experience. I was indoctrinated as a child by the jws and that book, that bible story book, scared me as a kid. I still own this book and my moms old watchtower pubs and books and am sure to keep it up high that my own kids wont see it. I still am not fully clear on what psych scars i carry because of my experience
I dont know much about "mind control" but what is clear to me is that the way they shun people is not christian like and their doctrine is not in agreement with scripture. I saw not too long ago another death because someone believed in these untrue and harmful doctrines. It breaks my heart that there are others out there like mom, honest seekers trying to find meaning, that get wrapped up in this destructive organization that turns their backs on the very ones that need the most.
I attend a baptist church, and i know when i go there its ok to disagree and speak out of turn. one lady said to me, " we are in the forgiveness business" and i like that. forgiving people for being......human! what a concept. Sometimes i dont feel like going to church, i want to stay home and be with my husband, and thats just fine. I dont think i have to go there to be with God, he is always right here wherever we are. Sometimes I feel closest to Him when I am playing with my kids or just appreciating the beauty of nature and His creation. In Christ there is freedom, not bondage, and he loves us as we are not as some other person expects us to be.
I saw an old friend of mine a while back, just before I accepted the Lord, and he is involved with the JWs. we talked a little bit , and i could just sense something about him..... like he was working and trying so hard........ I wish i had been able to say something more to him......... he reminded me of an animal in a cage the look in his eyes.... going on about how hard it is to do gods will, reaching,searching, trying. I hope i have the right words to say if i see him again. okay well anyway thats my story.
i remembered the name ........ Christadelphians. does anyone know anything about this group?