I think education can be synonomous with 'outgrowing' the JW phenomenon. When I started college after being df'd I realized how many lies were told to me and how I was raised to believe that questioning what you are told is sinful and 'apostate'.
milligal
JoinedPosts by milligal
-
7
changing
by lancelink ini have realized lately that i have come to terms in a way regarding the beliefs of the jw's.
for over thirty years, i did my best to be a productive, supporting member of the congregation.
within the last three years there have been a number of deaths in my family.
-
-
-
25
Letter of Disassociation
by Maryjane ini walked away from the jw religion nearly 9 years ago after "waking up" to the lies & mind games.
since then i've learned the full extent of the manipulation (thanks to websites such as this & the coc book)and have successfully overcome the emotional & spiritual crisis that i experienced the first few years after my departure.
i can say that i am at a place in my life now where i am happy, spiritually fulfilled and religion-free!
-
-
milligal
I had one thought to share with you about this: have you thought about writing the letter and sending it directly to the people you care about knowing your thoughts (whether that's the elders or not) ? Maybe directly to your aunt and other ex-friends?
In my opinion writing a letter is a great way to get your feelings off your chest, you can't guess who will read it or who will think about it, BUT if you send it to the elders they will for sure not pass it on. I recently wrote a letter to my family and purposely left out doctrinal issues because I knew they would immediately shut down (an apostate!!!) I focused on the behaviors I saw that were not christian even by their own standards....I haven't sent it yet though so I can't let you know how it turned out : ) Good luck!
-
11
Proof that the WTS is correct on the blood issue.
by whereami inat least acording to the email going around.. http://www.jg-teksten.nl/noblood.html.
-
-
milligal
One hospital has started no-blood surgeries because of a blood shortage and they are saying it's safer and cheaper....let's wait and see the results. If they truly went this route because of a blood shortage, has it occurred to you that they need to do some PR? Instead of saying 'we ran out of blood, so this is all we can offer you...' they are saying 'hey this is newer and better...'
You should not believe everything you see on tv or read in your email, the PROOF is in the pudding-wait and see how many 'successful' surgeries they have compared to a regular hospital, wait and see what patients and insurance companies are actually billed compared to a regular surgery...compare the actual data and THEN you MIGHT have proof depending on the factual outcome. Think critically and you will find the 'truth'.
-
15
-Are "apostates" more strict on WBTS doctrine than active Witnesses?
by Awakened07 inor: "common responses to criticism, by active jehovah's witnesses", which i could also have called this topic.. .
-a video i just saw on youtube made by an active witness took me down memory lane a bit, and reminded me of how i used to think and respond to some common criticisms of the jws.
as i started writing this post, i had planned to put this person's thoughts point-by-point, but it turned out he was pretty much only covering one common critisism.
-
-
milligal
mid west JW's are, for lack of a better term 'orthodox' on how they strictly adhere to GB standards. No short skirts, bikinis, rated R movies-and even the history channel was looked down on because of documentaries on christian based topics. No facial hair on men, hair below the ears, and don't let's catch two people of the opposite sex together alone for any reason.
I've heard other stories about California and some more liberal areas but can't attest personally to that. I think some of it is the sub culture you are associated with whether you are JW or 'apostate'.
-
20
Education and apostasy are the same, right?
by easyreader1970 inover the past year or so, i have noticed that the watchtower has been jumping all over two "threats" to the organization: higher education and apostasy.
many times they speak about them in the same article.
they also have been focusing on them in the assemblies and conventions.
-
-
milligal
Well it's much harder to convince women they need to be in subjection, stay at home and do whatever their husband wants them to do when they are educated. Not to mention young adults, well people in general are harder to manipulate and control when they are educated. This is the point isn't it? I mean it's not so much the theology and philosophy which plenty of IT majors have completely circumvented but it's the idea that with education comes independance THAT'S the real danger.
Just like the Jdubs to demonize anything (or anyone) who poses a threat to their ideals.
-
45
What are you doing to save money on groceries and gas?
by milligal ini'm looking for tips.
i usually shop at a commissary on a military post, the other day i went to a civillian store and found eggs for $3/dozen, milk $5/gallon and bread $3/loaf!
well even on post it's still expensive.
-
-
milligal
Purza-thanks for the bread recipe. My husband tried a foodnetwork recipe for bread dough today actually and, well it didn't turn out. I tried to pretend it did, while I was telling him it was good, dried peices of bread were flying out of my mouth. he said 'you're lying to me, that Mario Batalli is a jerk!'
So we're back to the cutting board on the bread. I think I'll pass your recipe along to my hubby
-
53
The Friends Ain't So Friendly
by StAnn ini've been thinking.
a lot of posts i read here say things about how the jws are all victims; how people feel so sorry for them; how people believe that the jws they know are really good people who are trapped in a lie.
then i read a lot of other posts about the cruel things the jws do, like shunning, ignoring df'd people on the side of the road with a flat tire, refusing to be charitable to their fellow humans, delighting at the impending deaths of millions of people, and blaming all of their coldness and heartlessness on the fact that they're just following orders from the gb.
-
-
milligal
onthewayout-interestingly my ex husband and I studied with a man who was a former nazi. The way he explained it, was that he was raised without religion or even bibles and he was forced into Hitler's youth group-attendance was mandatory. If he missed a meeting SS would show up at his parents house. Hmmmm that sounds an awful lot like...
Anyway point being, this former Nazi felt totally like he had no choice and was programmed from an early age. So where do we draw the line here? At what point do we excuse and at what point to we hold accountable?
-
6
The Blood Situation and you (ex-JWs, DAd, DFd and Faders)
by Layla33 ini am curious how people that still have most family in the jw religion or spouses deal with the blood situation?
this was not something i had thought about for many years, as i was married and with the same man for over eight years.
however, being divorced now, all my immediate family is still in the religion.
-
-
milligal
When I was still married to my witness ex our son was born premature and the Dr spoke of a blood transfusion. My ex told him no-way. Right then-pioneering and all I would have given my right arm PLUS a blood transfusion if my baby needed it. I left my ex and the 'truth' a year later (son is fine by the way!) My second pregnancy with my current hubby (I feel funny saying 'current' I do plan on staying with him!) I had HELLP Syndrome, a rare and dangerous disease that can cause spontaneous bleeding out of all orifices. If that happened there's not much that could be done for you, but I told my hubby and the Dr's to give me blood if needed.
With my third and final (thank God) pregnancy I had less trouble but made sure in my birthing plan that it was known that my baby or I would take blood if medically neccessary.
I think that tis really becomes an issue (as with so many other things) when you are in a situation where you need to address it. If you are single, or you think whoever is in your life may not respect your wishes, you might consider orders for your medical community -which most hospitals will provide/with an actual document on the front desk of the ER or check in station. That way you ensure your wishes are taken seriously.
-
45
What are you doing to save money on groceries and gas?
by milligal ini'm looking for tips.
i usually shop at a commissary on a military post, the other day i went to a civillian store and found eggs for $3/dozen, milk $5/gallon and bread $3/loaf!
well even on post it's still expensive.
-
-
milligal
hmmm that's all good stuff; anyone make their own bread, buy chickens or fashion soap out of beaswax? I'm kidding. Actually we are trying to make our own bread-just to see how it goes. I'm really searching myself to see what else I could do.....back in the '90's when I was still a witness and hanging out with a bunch of ex-hippy witness gals who had nothing to do with their days but service, we used to try making soap at home, and one sister even tapped maple trees for syrup. It was not due to financial need-more just to fill time but now I am really thinking about these 'hobbies'.
car pooling is a good idea too, lots of soldiers arounf here; all going to the same spot....
-
53
The Friends Ain't So Friendly
by StAnn ini've been thinking.
a lot of posts i read here say things about how the jws are all victims; how people feel so sorry for them; how people believe that the jws they know are really good people who are trapped in a lie.
then i read a lot of other posts about the cruel things the jws do, like shunning, ignoring df'd people on the side of the road with a flat tire, refusing to be charitable to their fellow humans, delighting at the impending deaths of millions of people, and blaming all of their coldness and heartlessness on the fact that they're just following orders from the gb.
-
-
milligal
Layla-I get what you are saying. I am a psych major but pre-law so I am not looking to practice psychology. A lot of what you are saying is dead on with what I have studied also. I have not yet taken religious psychology but I believe you are correct that what is haapening among the JW community has to be identified and labled. It's not okay, and there are those that have a kind bone in their bodies, but there are more who don't. Good post.