I compared the spirit displayed here and on other Boards, and realized it is heightening my bond and respect for my Brotherhood!
After seeing the Hateful and obscene pretense at Faith by many- I am now starting to think FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME that it just might be true!
On first glance, the JW 'brotherhood' may seem comfortably friendly and united, smiling and loving and nonthreatening, while forums like this may at times come across as harsh, bewildered, misguided, hateful, etc. The reason is that this place (and others) is the starting point for many after leaving the JWs. Some are angry at the organization, some have come to hate the God of the Bible, some don't believe at all anymore, some don't know what to think or do, some are a little 'giddy' at the thought of being absolutely free to post whatever they like now, and may go overboard with it. No one here claims to have the Truth that all the others should follow as well, so there won't be much unity in that sense.
Everyone here is free to make up their own mind. There are no ready-made Answers. This can be seen as bewilderment, disunity, and people being misguided, when you're still a JW. The love, togetherness, unity and comfort of the 'brotherhood' is superficial, though. It lasts for just as long as you don't ask questions there aren't answers to, or at least don't ask them in public. This creates the apparent 'unity' of 'brothers'. This also creates a 'brotherhood' of people who are trapped into thinking exactly the same as all the others. It's all fun and games until it happens to you; suddenly you have a question you can't find an answer to (within the org.). When one has believed for a long time that there are absolute Answers and Truth, and that it can be had from one group only, it's easy to think of going back there - it's a comforting thought. "Wow - when I was there, everything was so simple, I had all the answers. Out here, there's just confusion." You played the 'What if' game. -What if there are no Absolute Answers? No Absolute Truth? It's a scary thought at first.
To quote Awake!:
Do Not Be a Victim of Propaganda!
"A fool will believe anything." —PROVERBS
14:15, TODAY'S ENGLISH
VERSION.
THERE is a difference - a big difference - between education and
propaganda. Education shows you how to think. Propaganda tells
you what to think. Good educators present all sides of an issue and
encourage discussion. Propagandists relentlessly force you to hear
their view and discourage discussion. Often their real motives are
not apparent. They sift the facts, exploiting the useful ones and
concealing the others. They also distort and twist facts, specializing
in lies and half-truths. Your emotions, not your logical thinking
abilities, are their target.
The propagandist makes sure that his message appears to be the
right and moral one and that it gives you a sense of importance and
belonging if you follow it. You are one of the smart ones, you are
not alone, you are comfortable and secure—so they say.
Compare that to for instance the KM September QB.
If you believe the WTS to have the Truth, you should in stead help the rest of us while you're here, and refute all the stupid things we say.