I went to college and finished just as they started ramping back up on the anti-education rhetoric so I didn't get much condemnation at the time. Afterwards, though, anytime someone asked me what I did for work I could hear the disgust dropping off their tongue as their inevitable response was "oh did you have to go to school for that" "was that a 4-year degree?" Ugh. Other than the cult, though, college was probably the best thing I ever did.
OneEyedJoe
JoinedPosts by OneEyedJoe
-
55
"High" education
by Esmeralda001 indid any of you guys disregard the wt recommendations and pursue a career.
if you answer "yes": was your journey easy?
are you happy with the end result?
-
-
-
45
Closest to the truth?
by punkofnice ini know many jws that state that the watchtower corporation is the 'closest to the truth'.
thus they quiet their cognitive dissonance.. i don't have access to a corporation library any more.
is this a stance that the watchtower corporation has actually claimed?.
-
-
OneEyedJoe
I don't recall them ever using that phrase or anything like it, but I used that same thinking for years while I struggled with doubts. For me, what was going on in my head was this: There are obviously some problems with the doctrine, but Christendom is so much worse (a determination based solely on the cult indoctrination) so where else would I go? Since I was working from the base assumption that the WTS was made up of well-meaning people that hadn't lied to me and were chosen by god, the only conclusion that I could come to was that they were far better than other religions, even if they still had things wrong.
-
16
Even Now, You Haunt Me...
by Garrett ineven after leaving the organization, it still lurks in the background like a shadow.. as some of you know, i met a wonderful girl a while ago (which i'm going to need your help with).
she is a catholic and i am open and very respectful of her beliefs.
however, i know there will be a time where i will have to tell her that i once was a witness... and to be honest, i'm quite scared of that.. i don't want things to be ruined between us because of a disgusting cult that i was in.
-
-
OneEyedJoe
I've told two people about my cult past and though I'm not dating either, they only cared to the extent that they're interested in me personally, and there's some curiosity related to cult stuff in general. So far as I can tell it hasn't made either of them think less of me in any way. Try not to get yourself too worried about how "worldly" people will treat you or react to things... They're generally more understanding than JWs, in my experience. -
46
"Why don't you just call yourself an atheist?"
by slimboyfat inthe best answer to this question ever.
i don't tire listening to it.
"i am not, i am not simply the one who says 'i'" .
-
-
OneEyedJoe
I don't get what everyone's problem is with "labels." That's what words are for, they label things.
We don't have labels for people who don't believe in unicorns.
This is a false equivalency, because to my knowledge there is no label for someone who believes in unicorns. There are general terms like delusional or insane for instance, but if you want to use that as a label for unicorn believers then one might argue that a label for people who don't believe in unicorns is simply "sane." We live in a world where there are names for people who believe in one or more deities, so why wouldn't there be a word for those who don't? If we frequently encountered people who believed in unicorns we'd likely have a word for it and a word for those who don't believe.
It doesn't seem ridiculous or oppressive or whatever that I be expected to indicate that I'm an atheist when discussing related topics with someone - it's a quick, simple way to give a general idea of my stance. If someone then makes assumptions that are not supported by that broad description, what do I care? If they don't want to be wrong, they'll ask for clarification. If they don't mind being wrong then they'll probably live by their assumptions and I'm no worse off for it. Everyone thinks they're a rational thinker or a skeptic or whatever. So saying that doesn't necessarily tell someone much about you. Saying you're an atheist indicates much more in this case.
In short - I just don't get the fuss about labels, maybe someone can explain it to me. I get why someone might avoid labels that are of insufficient resolution to meaningfully capture some aspect of yourself (i.e. if someone who is a transgender female is attracted to other females, I can understand a hesitancy to identify as either gay or straight) but the label "atheist" is pretty straight forward especially in the context that it takes for most of us here. And, indeed, there are many other words to describe succinctly what one's theistic leanings are that one doesn't have to rely on either being labeled atheist or theist.
-
46
The Elders are Coming Help!
by LaurenM inso the elders keep bugging me and pestering me about having a meeting with them to "introduce me to my new congregation" for some reason (do any ex elders know what that even means??).
i keep postponing and making excuses and they are getting more and more aggressive.
i finally agreed for them to come over today, but really don't want to..should i hide from them again?
-
-
OneEyedJoe
They have no power over you, and you don't owe them anything. If they ask you a question, "I don't want to talk about it" is a perfectly valid response. Tell them you appreciate their concern, but that it's unfounded. If you need anything from, you'll let them know. -
24
Simple, yet very effective way, for ALL to spread the TTATT to current JW family and friends, possible GAME CHANGER.
by Dunedain ini am sure this has probably been thought about, and maybe others have mentioned it already.
in fact, i cant even take credit for this brilliant idea.
it is a "tactic" that my father uses, to great effect, and he is a current jw.. as we all know, there is a wealth of info on the internet, and many other sources, that clearly exposes the many lies of the wts.
-
-
OneEyedJoe
Reminds me of a post by billy the ex bethelite:
-
9
Is it just me??? or WHAT, our latest Book study book Imitate their Faith
by dugout inis it just me or as my wife says it doesn't matter.
just curious.
need your thoughts please.
-
-
OneEyedJoe
Look at the governing body and co. and you might see how this could happen. While the membership is mixed race, the JW leadership is predominantly old white dudes. -
20
Just put on ARC website: submissions of senior counsel
by Tornintwo inhttp://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/downloadfile.ashx?guid=359d7249-0d4f-4c51-9265-1c40aa6b3b21&type=transcriptpdf&filename=submissions-of-senior-counsel-assisting-the-royal-commission&fileextension=pdf.
just having a quick read through, the findings are damning.
mr toole is being reported to the law society of australia.... a few highlights so far:.
-
-
OneEyedJoe
Thus the Governing Body is believed by Jehovah’s Witnesses to be the ‘channel’ by which Jehovah’s will is communicated to the ‘Christian’ congregation
For some reason I'm really tickled by the fact that they saw fit to put the word "Christian" in quotes when referring to JWs. It's a small thing but makes a good point all its own.
-
77
Feeling rejected
by Esmeralda001 injust a little disclaimer: english isn't my first language (i'm from france) thus the poor writing skills.here is the situation: i'm not a jw.
however, i'm in the process of becoming one.
in fact, i'm studying with the jw's, and i'll proceed to become an unbaptized publisher as soon as i finish the first book.to make a long story short i was introduced to the truth when i was 18een.
-
-
OneEyedJoe
Take it slow and don't hurry to join any group. Examine things for yourself and don't let anyone presume to tell you what is truth and what is not. If you trust in the god of the bible, and you believe the new-testament version of god, then he is all-loving, just, and can read your heart. In spite of what the JWs teach, a god with such qualities would never punish you for taking your time in order to be certain of how best to worship, if that is indeed what you decide to do. -
8
Figured out why I woke up from all this
by bradford ini have always thought that i figured things out when i decided to research the generation, 607, 1914, etc.. i had an epiphany and realized it was triggered much earlier.
about 2 years ago for some odd reason, while i was a very solid witness, i started reading the news, landed on a random article about scientology, and eventually a book written by jenna miscavige called beyond belief.
she writes about growing up in the religion, the leaders who she was related to, and how she left.
-
-
OneEyedJoe
One early influence I had was reading an article that posited that AA was cult-like. Several of the criteria for judging a guilt that they listed cited JWs as an example of a cult. While I initially rejected the thought, it lingered and I began to see things through that lens from time to time. That definitely helped me approach the idea that I was in a cult.