Posts by Reopened Mind

Sorry Honey, I didn't realize you were feeling low today. You've been busy making our new house into a unique and beautiful home. I thought that made you happy. I know you feel lost as this is only the third birthday you've celebrated. Things will get better. I promise. Wink. Wink.

Your Loving Wife,

Reopened Mind

20

Every study article is an exercise in the BITE method

by Mickey mouse in

10-20 years ago you would get a mix of different types of wt study articles.

they generally fell into one of a number of categories: prophecy, bible characters, facets of the fruitages of the holy spirit, aspects of jehovah's personality, creation, the new system etc.. now it goes like this:.

obey the faithful slave, stay of the internet, do more, obey the faithful slave, stay of the internet, do more.....rinse and repeat.. it's no wonder the dubs have all become brain dead.

Reopened Mind

May I elaborate on Snowbird's comments?

BEHAVIOR CONTROL: Go to all the meetings. Spend rest of time in field service.

INFORMATION CONTROL: Read only WT literature. Don't listen to "worldly people".

THOUGHT CONTROL: You must have a Bible-trained WT conscience.

EMOTIONAL CONTROL: Fear the true God governing body. You MUST be happy because we worship the happy God.

Reopened Mind

24

Newbie here

by aristeas in

jw
friends

some forums/boards have a greetings section for newbies, but i couldn't find one here, so i guess i should post here.. i was an active witness in the 70s and 80s but decided i couldn't conscientiously continue participating so i just dropped out.

unlke many others, i don't have witness family.

thus it was easy to just move & drop out.

Reopened Mind

Welcome aristeas and drummer4scr. Many new ones are signing up here it is hard to keep up. Very Telling!! I, too, appreciate Barb Anderson's insights. You can read more from her on freeminds.org.

Crisis of Conscience by Ray Franz, a former member of the governing body, will give you a peek into the inner workings of the governing body.

I am eagerly awaiting to hear more from both of you.

Reopened Mind

43

Astounded Newbie Here...Waves Hello

by mummatron in

jw
friends

all i can say is "wow!

" in the 10 years i've been out i had no idea that forums like this existed.

a tad naive-sounding for someone with a background in it, i know, but it's taken me this long just to feel comfortable enough to type 'jw' into google.

Reopened Mind

Welcome mummatron and WOW! Another born-in story of abuse by parents and WT. So so sad but glad to see you have gotten out at an early age, hopefully to give you time to completely heal as well as give your children a chance at a fulfilling life. You are so blessed to have a husband who loves and supports you even thoough he cannot possibly comprehend what you have been through. I am a convert myself but my husband, TotallyADD, is a born-in like yourself. Stories like yours help me and others to understand how deeply the web of mind control reaches into someone's very being.

Best of luck to you on your new journey.

Reopened Mind

13

Questions from the Essay "Self-Identity and Growing Up in the Jehovah's Witnesses

by Reopened Mind in

jw
friends

the essay "self-identity and growing up in the jehovah's witnesses" by marcela sherwin was an interesting commentary on how being brought up as one of jehovah's witnesses affects one as an adult after they leave the cult.

only a small sample of ten adult xjws participated in the survey.

i thought it would be interesting to read the answers all of you would give to the same questions.

Reopened Mind

lisaBObeesa,

I just had a chance to go back and read your thread you referenced. Very enlightening! I especially liked the explanation of why the WT isn't interested in retaining teenagers because their natural inclination is to question everything---just the opposite of the Watchtower's herd mentality. Therefore I bumped it because I think it is a worthwhile read. I hadn't read this before because it was posted long before I began lurking.

Reopened Mind

13

Questions from the Essay "Self-Identity and Growing Up in the Jehovah's Witnesses

by Reopened Mind in

jw
friends

the essay "self-identity and growing up in the jehovah's witnesses" by marcela sherwin was an interesting commentary on how being brought up as one of jehovah's witnesses affects one as an adult after they leave the cult.

only a small sample of ten adult xjws participated in the survey.

i thought it would be interesting to read the answers all of you would give to the same questions.

Reopened Mind

As promised here are TotallyADD's responses to the questions:

1. Were you allowed to make choices for yourself when you were a teenager? If so were your choices restricted to those approved by the WT? Yes and yes

2. As a child did you fit in with the in-group at the Kingdom Hall? No

3. Were you part of a school team, yearbook, multi-cultural club or other extracurricular activities? Yes, DCT in high school. It was likebusiness school so I could run a business when I got out of school.

4. Have you struggled with adjusting to the social norms and values of society after departing from the WT in your adult life? No

5. Have you struggled with making friends in your adult life? As an adult Witness I had trouble making friends, but since leaving I have notfound it difficult.

6. Have you attended counseling after departing from the WT? I had counseling vefore leaving the WT. It cleared my mind so I could seethrough the WT.

7. What effect has your Witness upbringing had on you, positive, negative, or a combination? Negative, without hesitation.

Reopened Mind

29

Raising Kids to be Cult Members!!!

by lisaBObeesa in

jw
friends

in another thread, there is a discussion about young people leaving the jws at a rate of something like 88%.

we see the rules given to the sheep for raising their children and we shake our heads saying, dont they get it?

what is wrong with the org that it cant see how they are treating the youth?

Reopened Mind

lisaBObeesa,

This is an excellent thread and deserves to be bumped. Thanks for putting a link to it in my thread.

Reopened Mind

13

Questions from the Essay "Self-Identity and Growing Up in the Jehovah's Witnesses

by Reopened Mind in

jw
friends

the essay "self-identity and growing up in the jehovah's witnesses" by marcela sherwin was an interesting commentary on how being brought up as one of jehovah's witnesses affects one as an adult after they leave the cult.

only a small sample of ten adult xjws participated in the survey.

i thought it would be interesting to read the answers all of you would give to the same questions.

Reopened Mind

lisaBObeesa;

You are right, choices approved by the WT are no choices at all. Everything was already decided for you within very restricted parameters. I know I raised my boys that way. Your parents at least did something for you by letting you be in band. I too find it difficult to make friends. Although not being raised in the cult I have spent my entire adult life in it until just recently. Feel free to PM me. I would welcome it.

Band on the Run;

" My father was a bodyguard to Rutherford and Knorr. My uncles also served at Bethel. Their stories were heart wrenching. They ended up unable to fully embrace the society but still eager to conform. It was all they knew." All I can say is, "How sad". Congratulations on making your way out of the ghetto of Watchtowerland. The strength of your authentic personality has taken you far. Please continue sharing with us your valuable insights.

RADHESYAM;

My husband's father was much like yours, it was his way (WT way) or the highway. TotallyADD was told one time that if he left the "truth" his dad would disown him. Sounds like you took some of the lemons the cult handed you and made lemonade.

itscrap&theyknowi!t;

You are so right. We have all suffered in MANY ways. So much potential has been totally crushed by the Watchtower. Allowing your children to live a life that they choose for themselves is the greatest gift that you can give them.

Thanks to all for your comments.

Reopened Mind

28

Update on my daughter, Ali.... the saga continues

by coffee_black in

jw
friends

ali had an appointment with her dr. yesterday.

he won't let her return to her job, due to the long hours for her position.

(45 hours minimum) and the physical lifting that her employer would require.

Reopened Mind

coffee_black Ali is truly blessed to have you for a mother.

Reopened Mind