If every organization that used mind control was considered a cult then in essence EVERY single organized religious group is actually a cult. Religion itself, whether it be JW, Mormon, Catholic, Baptist...whatever the case may be, has some sort of fear. Life itself would be cultish. Parents, even those who are agnostic or athiest, use fear to get their children to mind. "If you dont stop that I will ground you" That is fear. Fear of getting punished for something the child does wrong. This is my issue with organized religion. They all use some sense of fear - whether it be disappointing God, going to "hell", not getting into heaven, not getting a good life in the next one (reincarnation), not getting into a good level of heaven, etc etc...to further their own purpose. Its called discipline-and religion twists it to manipulate their followers into giving more money or adding to their statistics. But as I said before, some people actually need this sort of discipline in order to find their way to God.
I myself believe there is a reaction for every action....karma baby, karma. If i send out negative energy I'm bound to get some back. If I hurt someone, I'm going to be hurt. So, I give what I want to get. I find that makes life more easy to deal with and I'm a far happier person for it.
This forum makes up a group AND they try to control posters. Look how they are trying to hammer P-Liz. As I mentioned before they use ridicule NOT fact to keep you in line.
Perhaps I'm naive, or maybe I'm just mature and intelligent enough to not care, but I haven't felt like I was being hammered. No one, from what I read, has ridiculed (well maybe Carmel but I would prefer to think I'm just not understanding him). The fact of the matter is - with me anyway- people can discuss what they wish, voice their opinions, etc etc (which is why i'm here after all) but it is MY choice whether or not to change my own view on the matter. I've lived without hatred or ill will towards the WTS since I left it and have no intention of changing my mind. Yes the majority posting here have obviously had some very bad experiences within the organization, but I haven't forgotten the good that it has done. Thus neutrality- perfect balance. In life you get the good and the bad. You cherish the good, you learn from the bad. I disagree that our minds were made to be controlled. I believe our minds were made to hold knowledge and to control ourselves and energies by utilizing that knowledge (some of it just comes naturally too.. of course i'm also a big bad witch who believes and practices magic and the brain is what controls that)
Casie I believe it was you who said that some were forced to stay in the truth until they were 18. I stand corrected by your statement because you are absolutely correct. Children must do what their parents tell them to do until they are of age to make their own decisions. But on the same token, children are forced to clean house, do chores, follow curfew, and abide by their parents rules until they are of age as well. To me, it is one in the same. If the parents are in the truth and force their children to go it is the parents fault. My child goes to meetings with my mom by choice. She is also being taught what I believe. (poor mixed up child being told witches are evil and at the same time being taught the ways of a witch. Talk about confusion) It is her choice which path she will choose when she is ready. I am just liberal enough that I will allow her to do that at an earlier age. I remember hearing a talk once when I was about 20 years old at a convention. I remember this because I shot my mother an "I told you so look" because the brother had said "we cannot make the choices for our children, but we can teach them and guide them as best we can. In the long run, they will do what they want. Our jobs as parents are to give them the basics morals and foundations in which to make a proper choice" (that may not be word for word but I do believe it is very very close). My best friend was forced to go to Catholic School and to Sunday School and Mass when she was growing up and she never believed a word that was being spoken. JW's are NOT the only religion to do this to children and they certainly wont be the last.
I still cringe when looking at that picture of the little girl with her dolly going down into the crevice at armageddon in the Paradise Book.
I remember that and I agree wholeheartedly. I was so angry to think that Jehovah would kill an innocent child simply because their parents deserved it. This too is something I do not agree with, and this too is something all religions use- most say if the baby is not baptised they cant go to heaven so off the baby goes to get baptized and add another notch on the organizations bedpost (so to speak). Children cannot make a conscious decision as to which religion they wish to follow and so that right is taken from them when they are born. Really, everyone on this forum who has been either DF'd or DA'd when they dont really want to be a JW should count their blessings (in my opinion-OPINION). Sometimes when we're pushed onto a path that we didn't know we should be taking, we fall down and scrape our knee. It hurts, sure. We tend the wound-wash it, put on a bandaid (I like the clear ones myself but my child leans more towards Spongebob Squarepants Bandaids) and we venture down the new path to see where it will take us. Being DF'd or DAd was that push. Welcome to your new destiny (so to speak). Enjoy it- not everyone is lucky enough to discover theirs. Does that mean we cant take with us the knowledge that we were taught on the old path? Not at all. Look at me for Goddess sake. I believe Jehovah is God, I believe in heaven, I believe in Satan (most pagans/wiccans dont), I believe I am not going to heaven as I am not 144,000. I believe Jesus was God's son and lived on this earth and taught many people many valuable things....ah but here's the twist...I think the miracles were actually magic. I think he and Mary Magdalene were in love and married and had children. (there are YEARS missing about his life in the bible and several chapters that were deliberately omitted from the book by the catholic church-who at the same time was squashing out all faiths that turned to a female deity instead introducing the Virgin Mary as her replacement and christian holidays replacing those of the old religion) maybe it was Jesus' account of learning magic, his time talking about the Goddess, his love life with Mary, who knows- thats the thing with faith. No one REALLY knows what happened so you pick and choose what is right for you). But you see, I took the teachings from the JWs that made sense to me, that felt right, and still utilize it today. I've just added to it with new knowledge. (Not that I'm perfect and everyone should follow my example...was simply using myself as an example that it could be done). I just dont want anyone to feel ashamed for having a belief system, for taking teachings from their youth and instilling it in their day to day lives. There is nothing wrong with that. That's how we become adults. The important part is that we do make those choices and those decisions ourselves and not allow others to choose for us. (hence, when we turn 18 we decide if we want to stay or go).
Going to bed now-and hopefully I wont have insomnia like last night and post endless thoughts in here. *waves*
