Posts by sd-7

22

I nearly forgot how Jehovah's Witnesses are programmed to respond to us

by God_Delusion in

yep, that's right, i nearly forgot that jehovah's witnesses, even the young ones, are programmed with the "la la la i'm not listening" trait.. here's a brief conversation with my sixteen year old nephew, angelo:.

http://www.jehovahswitnessblog.com/cult/my-jehovahs-witness-nephew/.

let me know if you've been taken aback..... .

sd-7

Yeah, I can totally understand your nephew. At 16, I was a zealot, man. In-sane. Not 'mentally diseased', though. Now I am, but not back then. If he's a thoughtful type, he's responding with the training, but deep down, beneath the surface, well, I can speak only for myself, but I know I was terrified of the possibility someone might threaten my faith. I assumed it was the only thing between me and a drug-filled orgy after which I would either die immediately in a car accident or slowly and painfully with AIDS. So...yeah.

Criticizing the beliefs gets this response. I admit I sometimes pretend to still believe in the Bible for the sake of conversation, sort of an 'all things to all people' kind of approach, though it's mainly to avert conflict more than anything else. Hmm.

Also, really like your site--I got a laugh out of that logo! It must scare the heck out of visiting JWs. A burning Watchtower???!! Shut down the Internet browser! Quickly!

Sorry about your dog, though. Not an animal person, yet I've grieved at the death of nearly every animal I've grown up with. So I get the pain of it for someone who cares far more would be far greater.

--sd-7

36

2013 Sept WT out

by Gayle in

could only just quickly scan it.

still trying to 'duck' out of 1914.. in a similar way, at the beginning.

of the 20th century, there were a number.

sd-7

Wow, I feel like I'm talking to myself. Or blogging to myself. It's nice. By the way, I'm so glad you're not a door mat anymore. Now you're an evil boy dressed in green, holding up a demonic, magical relic in worshipful devotion. Congratulations! You're making such unspiritual progress! Does that make Satan happy, or sad? ...Happy. That's right! I'm so PROUD of you for DISOBEYING. Now, you know what I want to do now? Go bike-riding! Now, where's you're yellow plane? Let's go!

--sd-7

36

2013 Sept WT out

by Gayle in

could only just quickly scan it.

still trying to 'duck' out of 1914.. in a similar way, at the beginning.

of the 20th century, there were a number.

sd-7

Well, who suggested it would indicate that? Apparently there must actually be some JWs who feel that grieving over the dead means you lack faith, so they have to be reminded that it's normal.

I forgot, there might be some JWs who take an extreme interpretation of Paul's words about 'not grieving as the nations do who have no hope'. So they see someone really upset about a death and accuse them of lacking faith, thus adding guilt to their grief. I can completely see some JWs doing just that.

--sd-7

36

2013 Sept WT out

by Gayle in

could only just quickly scan it.

still trying to 'duck' out of 1914.. in a similar way, at the beginning.

of the 20th century, there were a number.

sd-7

And we wrap it up with a Questions From Readers on p. 32 about why Jesus cried after Lazarus died. To show just how in touch with human emotion the Watchtower is, a few thoughts:

"Another lesson we can learn from this account is that we should have compassion for those who are grieving over the death of their loved ones."

So...did we need the Watchtower to tell us we should feel compassion for those who grieve over dead relatives or friends? Apparently so. "Expressing such grief does not indicate that a person lacks faith in the resurrection hope." Really? Well, who suggested it would indicate that? Apparently there must actually be some JWs who feel that grieving over the dead means you lack faith, so they have to be reminded that it's normal. I may be wrong.

Well, that's it for my analysis. Plenty of other fear, guilt and shame stuff. See p. 30, par. 13, for guilting pioneers who come home and check their e-mail and then go on eBay.

Or p. 13, par. 8, if you say the same things in your prayers, Jehovah might stop listening. Oh, nooo, of course not--he always lovingly listens to your prayers! Don't cry! But don't say the same things in your prayers over and over. We mean it.

Or p. 23, par. 5: "We must admit that none of us are born with a perfectly sound mind." So maybe we're all "mentally diseased", well, except the writers of the Watchtower and/or the Governing Body, whose minds are apparently so sound that their thoughts and recommendations for even our most personal decisions are infallibly accurate.

Then there's "Curt" on p. 30, par. 10, who has enough gas to get to his circuit overseer assignment, but not enough to get back. Just before he leaves, someone conveniently gives him just enough money, the "exact amount", to get back! So apparently, someone just said, you know, I think I'll just give "Curt" $31.47, precisely, just out of the kindness of my heart and because I want to get rid of this extra dollar and 47 cents. Somehow, I'm guessing they probably got $40 and maybe got gas and a couple of burgers on the way back, so it worked out "exactly".

Ah, okay, I digress. Guess I'll stop now.

--sd-7

36

2013 Sept WT out

by Gayle in

could only just quickly scan it.

still trying to 'duck' out of 1914.. in a similar way, at the beginning.

of the 20th century, there were a number.

sd-7

Jumping back to p. 28, par. 4: "Seeing the spiritually destitute condition of those to whom we preach deepens our appreciation for the truth. People in the world have no reliable guidance to help them achieve success and happiness. Most worry about the future and have no hope. They search for the meaning of life. Even most who are religious have little knowledge of the Scriptures."

Why does this sound familiar? Oh. John 7:49: "But this crowd that does not know the Law are accursed people."

--sd-7

36

2013 Sept WT out

by Gayle in

could only just quickly scan it.

still trying to 'duck' out of 1914.. in a similar way, at the beginning.

of the 20th century, there were a number.

sd-7

p. 29, par. 8: "A pioneer named Lisa observes: 'In the workplace, there is often a spirit of competition and jealousy. Daily you are subjected to gossip and vulgar language. It's all about getting ahead at any cost. At times, you are ridiculed or mocked because of your Christian conduct. However, working in the ministry with fellow Christians is truly upbuilding. At the end of the day, I come home refreshed, no matter how tired I am."

Seems to me that the pioneers always seem to know the most gossip about any and everyone, and have no problem passing it on during the ministry. You learn everybody's secrets during streetwork or return visits...and certainly there's no competition when the person who earns 50-70 hours has their name announced from the platform. Right? They still do that, yes?

--sd-7

36

2013 Sept WT out

by Gayle in

could only just quickly scan it.

still trying to 'duck' out of 1914.. in a similar way, at the beginning.

of the 20th century, there were a number.

sd-7

p. 18, par. 8: "Like the Roman world, the world today is also a threat to dedicated Christians. Why is that so? Because the spirit of the world is manifest in many ways. (Read Ephesians 2:2, 3; 1 John 2:16.) Exposed to the world's desires, thinking, values, and morals day in and day out, we are in constant danger of being absorbed by the world."

Talk about paranoia, us-vs.-them, black-and-white reasoning. No wonder I was so scared of everyone on the outside all the time!

--sd-7

36

2013 Sept WT out

by Gayle in

could only just quickly scan it.

still trying to 'duck' out of 1914.. in a similar way, at the beginning.

of the 20th century, there were a number.

sd-7

p. 14, par. 14: "For instance, in the year 1914, some thought that their being taken to heaven was imminent. When their hopes were not immediately realized [not realized at all], an earnest reexamination of the Scriptures brought into focus that [an activity that could reduce the massive amounts of cognitive dissonance over a false prophecy was greatly needed] a great preaching campaign lay ahead."

--sd-7

36

2013 Sept WT out

by Gayle in

could only just quickly scan it.

still trying to 'duck' out of 1914.. in a similar way, at the beginning.

of the 20th century, there were a number.

sd-7

p. 12, par. 1, "A reminder from someone in authority may be accepted graciously, while counsel from a peer or a subordinate may be rejected outright."

Sounds like they've outlined how they operate...yet paradoxically, paragraph 2: "True Christians, on the other hand, appreciate helpful advice, especially when it is based on God's Word." It's only to be appreciated if it's Watchtower-based advice, in other words, from the Watchtower to "a subordinate". If a "subordinate" offers helpful advice even if it is based on the Bible, it'll be "rejected outright".

--sd-7

36

2013 Sept WT out

by Gayle in

could only just quickly scan it.

still trying to 'duck' out of 1914.. in a similar way, at the beginning.

of the 20th century, there were a number.

sd-7

Picture on page 10 of two JW men shoveling snow, with caption: "Applying Jehovah's reminders helps us to keep our Kingdom Halls safe and accessible [and cuts down on legal liability if someone slips and falls in the snow on Watchtower property]".

--sd-7