looloo - I am so sorry to hear what happened to you and nothing can undo that We can help make sure that others learn about the reasons that lure people into cults which is what sites like JWD do. I wish you peace.
Maddie
Posts by Maddie
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24WHY DO PEOPLE JOIN CULTS?
by Maddie ini have become aware since being on jwd that many of us who converted to jw's as adults suffer from feelings of guilt and self-recrimination for being so badly deceived.
i for one sometimes have the desire to punish myself for becoming a jw, being instrumental in my son being in their clutches, and the pain that is caused by it all.
i have started to read "releasing the bonds" by steven hassan and i hope and pray that in time i will be more able to help my family leave the jw cult.
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24
WHY DO PEOPLE JOIN CULTS?
by Maddie ini have become aware since being on jwd that many of us who converted to jw's as adults suffer from feelings of guilt and self-recrimination for being so badly deceived.
i for one sometimes have the desire to punish myself for becoming a jw, being instrumental in my son being in their clutches, and the pain that is caused by it all.
i have started to read "releasing the bonds" by steven hassan and i hope and pray that in time i will be more able to help my family leave the jw cult.
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Maddie
The biggest influence is fear of the after life and fear of teh present by forces who you think know more than you do!
R Crusoe - The JW's is certainly a fear based cult and I became frightened of more and more the longer I was in it; in turn keeping me in it. I think that what made me join the most were the other factors though. I had suffered a disfunctional childhood, lost my parents, felt alone and unhappy in my first marriage. They seemed to offer me all I had lost - a loving family.
Maddie
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24
WHY DO PEOPLE JOIN CULTS?
by Maddie ini have become aware since being on jwd that many of us who converted to jw's as adults suffer from feelings of guilt and self-recrimination for being so badly deceived.
i for one sometimes have the desire to punish myself for becoming a jw, being instrumental in my son being in their clutches, and the pain that is caused by it all.
i have started to read "releasing the bonds" by steven hassan and i hope and pray that in time i will be more able to help my family leave the jw cult.
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Maddie
I can't be the only poster who has felt bad about being deceived by the JW's can I? I'm starting to feel isolated again now
Maddie
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30
greetings from a long time lurker
by nondescriptex inlong time lurker, first time poster.
i won't be able to say much... you understand why some of us can't risk identification... a lot to lose.
and i might not be able to post very often.
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Maddie
Welcome to JWD nondescriptex
When you feel unable to talk about your feelings to anyone it is awful but you can let it all out here.
Maddie
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22
You have a favorite coffee/tea/beer cup or mug?
by TJ - iAmCleared2Land inyou have one you use all the time?
despite a cupboard full of cups, there's one or two you always reach for?
i have two in my house that i use most often.
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23
What'BaadSmells'DoYouLike?
by R.Crusoe inthis maybe a short thread!.
some smells are frowned upon.. which secretly do you like?.
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Maddie
I guessed Maddie was havin a good time till I got to the third word! R.Crusoe - Its not what you think Maddie
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67
Anyone who joined here in the last 6 months post here
by WT=watchtrouble ini thought it would be interesting to see just how many people have climbed aboard jwd within the last 6 months.
it will give us an indication on how many people are actually coming away from the borg.. i may not be replying all the time but will pop in every day of so.. lets keep this thread going and use it to welcome new ones.
may i be the first to say welcome.
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Maddie
I started in Sept 07, I don't post a lot, still find posting on here a bit scary to be honest.
destructo-girl - Welcome and don't be scared, we are all in the same boat
Maddie
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24
WHY DO PEOPLE JOIN CULTS?
by Maddie ini have become aware since being on jwd that many of us who converted to jw's as adults suffer from feelings of guilt and self-recrimination for being so badly deceived.
i for one sometimes have the desire to punish myself for becoming a jw, being instrumental in my son being in their clutches, and the pain that is caused by it all.
i have started to read "releasing the bonds" by steven hassan and i hope and pray that in time i will be more able to help my family leave the jw cult.
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Maddie
Let's see. Ihad:
a pervasive lack of awareness about cults and mind control.
parents who have divorced and a desire for "one big happy family".
drug or alcohol problems.
other unresoved traumatic issuesOTWO - Thank you for the identification. I can say exactly the same as you except my parents didn't divorce but both died by my 15th Birthday. Plus I had a tendency (still do sometimes) to think in the realms of magical or fantasy. I also am a good candidate for hypnosis!!
Maddie
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24
WHY DO PEOPLE JOIN CULTS?
by Maddie ini have become aware since being on jwd that many of us who converted to jw's as adults suffer from feelings of guilt and self-recrimination for being so badly deceived.
i for one sometimes have the desire to punish myself for becoming a jw, being instrumental in my son being in their clutches, and the pain that is caused by it all.
i have started to read "releasing the bonds" by steven hassan and i hope and pray that in time i will be more able to help my family leave the jw cult.
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Maddie
I have become aware since being on JWD that many of us who converted to JW's as adults suffer from feelings of guilt and self-recrimination for being so badly deceived. I for one sometimes have the desire to punish myself for becoming a JW, being instrumental in my son being in their clutches, and the pain that is caused by it all.
I have started to read "Releasing The Bonds" by Steven Hassan and I hope and pray that in time I will be more able to help my family leave the JW cult. There is a section in the book about understanding the cult member which I hope will help me to understand myself, as well as my family and hopefully not beat myself up so much in the future. Here is a little of what it says:-
"Most people would like to believe that they are in complete control of their mind at all times. It is easier to assume that reational thinking makes us invulnerable than to admit that we are all susceptible to mind control. But it is precisely this belief in our own vulnerability that allows cults to entrap unsuspecting recruits.
There are three primary reasons why intelligent, educated people with stable backgrounds can be drawn into cults. 1) A pervasive lack of awareness about cults and mind control 2) Many situations make people more vulnerable to recruitment e.g. a person whose parents have separated or divorced will be more likely to listen to a recruiter who describes his group as "one big happy family". Also someone whose marriage or romance has just ended will be more susceptible to come-ons by an attractive person. 3) Other common situational variables are bereavement, illness, loss of job, moving to new location (city, country).
Some people have psychological profiles that make recruitment easier for cults. In general people who have difficulty thinking critically will be easier targets. For example people who think in terms of magical or predestined events will be more easily swayed by a cult leaders' prophecies or events if they apear to be synchronistic. People-pleasers, who seek the approval of their peer group out of insecurity, and people with low self-esteem are vulnerable.
People who engage excessively in hypnosis, meditation, and other activities that can induce an "altered state of consciousness" (television, reading, sports, music, video and computer games) are more susceptible.
People with learning disorders, drug or alcohol problems, unresolved sexual issues, pre-existing phobias, and other unresoved traumatic issues will be easier targets.
Cults seek out vulnerabilities and use them against recruits. People who have not achieved a happy, secure sense of self can be more easily drawn in. On the other hand, cults tend to avoid people who are seriously illor, in some way, physically or mentally challenged. They want people who will be an asset, not a liability.
I hope this will helps other posters who feel bad about becoming part of the JW cult, to know that we were very much victims too.
Maddie
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23
What'BaadSmells'DoYouLike?
by R.Crusoe inthis maybe a short thread!.
some smells are frowned upon.. which secretly do you like?.
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Maddie
Freshly laid tar, petrol, nail varnish
Maddie
