Posts by hybridous

22

Parents who try to make you feel guilty.

by NJ501 in

when parents say all the things we've done for you and your not doing anything for us in return like going to meetings, witnessing, answering up etc... how do you respond to parents?.

hybridous

Sorry to hear about the situation. Yes, they will try any angle to strong-arm you back into the 'religion'. That's how I knew it was the right choice to leave. The religion is so wonderful for you, it must be shoved down your throat.

When met with similar tactics, I said (to paraphrase), 'I simply don't believe (some/all) of the doctrines. What would you have me do? Profess belief in things I don't believe? I could lie to the elders and the congregation; I could fool them. Shall I lie to Jehovah? Fool Him?'

(Silence)

It is simply amazing just how little critical thought and analysis goes into a thing that wields so much control over their lives.

34

Thinking about the end of the Watchtower

by JeffT in

jw
friends

first, a word about the watchtower’s financial position: nobody (outside the watchtower organization) knows.

the wtbs is not required to disclose its finances, and doesn’t.

we can speculate, but that is all we are doing.

hybridous

I wonder if the EOTWT speculation is, at least in part, fueled by that which us 'disaffected' or former JWs hope to gain by such a scenario.

In my own case, I find myself hoping for a future where former relationships with family and friends are restored...except this time we're all rational and carry on with an understanding that there was a high-control cult formerly running/ruining our lives. la-dee-da. I am a dolt for indulging this stuff.

I think the OP is astute in pointing out the real costs; the likelihood that any EOTWT scenario (while applauded near & far) will have a catastrophic psychological/emotional fallout on these very same people that I am hoping to reunite with! There is simply no 'End of WT' scenario that would leave these true-believers intact as the people I remember them to be.

This is a done deal. Even if the WT closes shop tomorrow, the costs are sunk. I (we) will likely never have our relationships back with the WTs adherents, even after the master is gone.

Perhaps it's better to root for EOTWT, not on the basis of a past that cannot be recovered, but on the basis of the future, where this garbage isn't out there, lurking, waiting to ruin lives and inflict pain on all it can touch.

34

Will Watchtower target the inactive?

by ToesUp in

jw
friends

if watchtower has no reason to df ones.

they have just become inactive.

do you all think wt will begin a witch hunt (df'ing) for these inactive ones?

hybridous

I don't think it's necessary for them to go after "inactive" JWs. The cult mind control is so strong that indoctrinated JWs pre-emptively shun any who are less "spiritual" than they are, even if there was no announcement.

Yes, this is a good observation. The JWs 'shoot their wounded'...the attrition losses must be staggering. How long could this go on?

40

How Many Here EVER Considered Going Back To Meetings?

by minimus in

jw
friends

once i left ,i was done.

in over 10 years i didn't return except for my mother's funeral.

did you ever re enter the kh after you left?.

hybridous

I tried a couple of memorials and assemblies after I formally 'left'. I'm sure I only did so because it made people happy to hold onto 'hope' for me.

When I realized that I really didn't believe any of this shit, it was just impossible to sit there anymore.

After all, why should I bear the burden of living a lie just to make people happy...when these people didn't really give a toss about me (apart of me being a witness)?

I know there are folks mentally 'out' but physically 'in', and I offer no judgement of the decisions of anyone else...but when I realized that I had no meaningful relationships within the cult that could stand on their own, well then, I guess my happiness and my life are too valuable to squander for the sake of someone else's delusions...

The years have gone by, and only verified my decision to break cleanly from the cult.

12

What is the watchtower going to do when

by pepperheart in

all the old magazines that are on the carts now have gone ?.

hybridous

I would imagine that, before too long, more 'new' magazines, tracts, whatever...will be there...

Printed out at the 'publishers' expense...

7

What could Jw church do to enhance their shunning regime?

by Chook in

if they controlled a nation they would stone their kids to death , which seems harsh but its nothing compared to the solitary confinement they emotionally and physically bestow on their own children.

i think they have ticked every box as to the rejection of their children except killing them, they leave that for god ..

hybridous

Even that last part they leave to God...begrudgingly.

They're screwing themselves, though it will take a long time to bear itself out.

So we know that the majority of kids raised in the cult eventually leave (I've heard anywhere from 2/3 to 80% - but the precise number doesn't matter, only that it's LARGE!)

Many dubs have meager educations, meager careers, meager earnings, and therefore meager retirement.

It'd be a real shame if the State wasn't up to the task in taking care of elderly dubs in their golden years. Further shame if these very same needy folks done chased away most of their progeny, on account of a hokey religious cult, after all...

...and spent their old age alone and in poverty of both coin and spirit...

This is the hand the JW religion is dealing out to it's strident believers.

I suppose they could further narrow the definition of 'necessary family business'...and enthusiastically enforce it. But I suppose there might be a natural limit to this approach, because it may hit home for too many families of elders and therefore be unenforceable beyond that which is done, now...

34

Just need to vent a little

by Phoebe in

jw
friends

in the last week i have had three visits from brothers.

so 6 witnesses in all as they come in pairs.

now considering i used to go to the meetings, sit by myself and literally no one talked to me - ever - why the concern all of a sudden?.

hybridous

This will ultimately be a test of your will and endurance.

If you can weather the discomfort in the short term, you will outlast them. Their 'concern' for you will prove remarkably short-lived, especially if you don't throw them a bone by expressing any interest in the religion.

If you are trying to maintain relationships with believing JWs at the same time...now that could be working against you, because you would be continuously exposing yourself to their agenda.

If someone offends you in your own home, telling them so may have a chilling effect.

16

custody orders, proving to the court why my daughters should be baptized at 18. JW OR NOT

by Gokumonkey in

hello everyone ive been posting about this situation about my daughters and their jw mom so if u want to get a back story about whats going on you can check out my previous posts.. note- daughters are only 5 months old, and i live in the united states.. right now im typing up my court orders to present to the court but ive come to a road block.

i want to add reasons to why its not a good idea to have my daughters be baptized at a young age.. here is my rough draft -.

"age appropriate baptism – i wish that my daughters to be baptized at the legal age of 18 years old.

hybridous

The longer you can hold off your kids from getting baptized the better. Statistics are on your side after that as 2/3 born into the religion will not remain as adults.

Good comment, here! The teenage JW life is so intolerably stifling and oppressive. Even if raised in the vicinity of JWs, the girls will observe their JW peers being miserable. Meanwhile, they will have an 'out' when asked why they're not baptized ('my father's strict command').

Those unbaptized teenage years are often sufficient to demonstrate to a person that they want nothing at all to do with this cult. And if they remain unbaptized, they can walk without the full repercussions.

13

Imagine If The World Was Ruled By Just One Government/Kingdom

by Brokeback Watchtower in

first off to go would be information deemed unfit for heavily indoctrinated subjects.

no rival governments less freedom granted by existing ruler, just cogs in a huge fucking wheel would humans become.. no appealing to the masses of the benefits of their government and the horrors of the opposition.

they are all this generation knows.

hybridous

No need for a huge army - but be guaranteed that one would nevertheless exist to stamp out dissent and enforce the will of the state,

13

Imagine If The World Was Ruled By Just One Government/Kingdom

by Brokeback Watchtower in

first off to go would be information deemed unfit for heavily indoctrinated subjects.

no rival governments less freedom granted by existing ruler, just cogs in a huge fucking wheel would humans become.. no appealing to the masses of the benefits of their government and the horrors of the opposition.

they are all this generation knows.

hybridous

Yes. Good thought experiment!

I would also predict a largely dysgenic effect. As humans are conditioned to abandon the use their higher, abstract powers of reasoning, I expect those abilities would wane as generations pass.

'Once we were conditioned to not ask certain questions. Later, no one even knew that those used to be questions to ask.'