Posts by one

78

Positive about jw

by one in

jw
friends

there are many thing i dont regret about jw

learning from jw about cristmas is one of them

the jw were very open about cristmas, going against the "system" require some strenght and that in itself attracted many to the jw org.

one

It's a very hard topic to discuss calmly on any xJW board, but I think it is worth it.

hurt feelings are hard to overcome

but if you have not been hurt personally, most likely you would come up with a positive balance for being jw, most posters here have been hurt, including me.

On the other hand we choosed the path that led to negative balance, no one can force you. We choosed not to read anyother books, including 'neutral' books..What for? wt books were much cheaper, so in many cases to save a few dollars we did no even look at them. Dont know what to say if you had a free library nearby.

BTW books about cults were rare i believe, and most of us were adapted to the religion and found no real need to look "elsewhere".

When i buy an important and expensive product and it is demostrated that it was a bad product, it is my fault for first not doing research, a consumer publication etc, (the Pinto car is cheap and can give 40 miles per galllons and there i go)

chickens, vietnam. "hell no we wont go" but the jw said that first.

i did no use any kind of drugs, why?, what were the possibilites if my famiily was Catholics?, I dont want to think about it.

78

Positive about jw

by one in

jw
friends

there are many thing i dont regret about jw

learning from jw about cristmas is one of them

the jw were very open about cristmas, going against the "system" require some strenght and that in itself attracted many to the jw org.

one

Mrsjones5,

this is not a putdown but did ya read my post honey?

i did read your post

no "putdown"?, thanks but if intented will have no effect on me.

like i said whatever positives things the jws have or do, me and mine can find elsewhere and not have to deal with the negatives exclusive to the jws.

Some time ago it was not possible or very hard to find "elsewhere". some of the positives things the jw had and did, or may still may have and do.

By contrast jw did brough positive things to the homes and teached it for free etc

If you did found the positive "elsewere" you were lucky,

can you share how you did it?

Now we have the internet where we can find and learn about the positive things we did learn form jw, but not all.

but as i said i have not seen replicated the internacional and interracial community i witnessed in the jw group and other things you can only learn or experience by association, not virtual association.

what you said above really didnt have too much to do with what i expressed.

then i take you have been a lucky one

and by the way I educated myself about the lies of the watchtower before the internet ever came my way. not a good thing to assume honey

.

i am not assuming anything about you in particular, but things about jw educated us could not be easily found "elsewhere", if you did you are an exception.

Let me repeat for "emphasis" many of the positive things about the jw were not readly available "elsewhere", free classes and inexpensive books about rethorics, public speaking, argumentation, history, religions, family relationship, social issues, how to read and write, advise about health, housekeeping, etc etc were some of them.

Due to such hard to find info that was distributed they were highly respected. As a child i remember business people accepting "literature" just because it was cheap, easy to read instructive and practical.

The only other well known was readers digest magazine, but it was merely a publication, not a org engaged in reaching people, which did not come close to the vast amount of info in wt "literature".

oh wow, all of sudden i have become a jw apologist, i better start running.

39

Education - How encouraging low self esteem creates better witnesses.

by BigG in

funny title you might think but consider this point and apologies if i am covering old ground here...its not intentional.. i was raised by my mother who was and is a devout jw and as such until i was 20 (10 years ago) i was the same...trying my best to fit into the social environment i clearly was not made for but benefiting from good wholesome association with fellow brothers and sisters (note the sarcastic tone...make what you will of it).. althought at the time i didnt realise it but i was what others consider intelligent and quite academically able; i had a mind like a sponge and would spend hours in the jw library at the kh (which surprisingly enough contained non jw literature)...it was this that i read and would digest endlessly where i could.. one of those books (why it was there i dont know), was what i later undertood to be criminal law reports concerning cases that had gone before the courts.

my childish thirst for knowledge was intrigued...(i was then about 12).

the legal arguments i hadnt a clue what they meant but the facts surrounding these crimes were good reading.. i then knew i wanted to be a lawyer and that was what i said when an elder asked me what i wanted to do when i grew up; i mentioned trusting this man that i had read a book in the kh library and found it interesting...and that i wanted to be lawyer...i remember him smiling and saying that it was better to pioneer rather than seek a highly paid job...personally i didnt know what he meant properly but i felt a bit sad...and demotivated...i later in the week went back into the library and found the book had gone...!!.

one

BigG

Has anyone else had similar experiences to the above?

yes i have expereienced the same and have read "your" experience but the names have been changed to protect the innocents.

Jw can not educated and staty jw, education and jw are mutually exclusive. If you ever see such a phenomenon.there must be a very particular explanation for it.

78

Positive about jw

by one in

jw
friends

there are many thing i dont regret about jw

learning from jw about cristmas is one of them

the jw were very open about cristmas, going against the "system" require some strenght and that in itself attracted many to the jw org.

one

Wilhorses,

if they see that someone inside has figured them out

That's the major mistake made by most exjw, including me, we showed too much when that was not the best alternative.

Even when the gov wants to destroy a criminal org they penetrate the group instead of openly fighting it

Mustang

my father was a fire-breathing, "went where the need was great",

our background is very similar.

Mulan

if I hadn't been a JW, it is unlikely I would have met and married my husband of 42 years. Two of my children wouldn't have met their mates. So, it did that for us!

btw divorced exjw find hard to find an appropiate partner, the main reason is that they are sure most of the "wordly" custom and style are BS and are not willing to put up with any of that, and they learned that as jw...

if anyone has other explanations i want to know.

mrsjones5,

the positive things about the jws I can find elsewhere

Some time ago it was not possible to find them elsewhere, readly available at you own home for free.

Now we have the internet where we can educate ourselves just about anything.

Most jw converts had not idea about the bible and were totally ignorant about history, in fact some who walked out could do better in further university studies, In too many cases, out of proportions, exjw AND jw have been the best students thanks to study habits and other free jw background period..

Blondie

"I suppose you could find something good to say about the Devil." And the sister replied, "You have to admit he is a hard worker." Don't bother laughing.

ROFL, cant help

Just because you can find something "good" they are doing does not negate the bad they have done and are still doing

hell no, my emphasis in this topic is not the contrast or final balance, which as stated could be negative or positive and

if negative, think about the "lemonade" unless you have something better to do about it.

Gill,

No there's nothing good much about the JWs except, as some others have mentioned having met our partners and had our children.

finding a good wife/husband is one the major 'acomplisment' inlife I can think about.

Finally,

the gov is not even willing to totally eliminate criminal org as they are still part of the system and the result could be worst if they do it..

15

Breaking the ice

by filip in

jw
friends

i have now for 1 or 2 years or so slowly slipping further and further away from "the truth".

for that period i've been wondering if there existed a god, and if jehovahs witness was the only "right" religion and so on.

i've really been split.

one

about baptims

tell them that you want to be totally responsible for it therefore you going to wait until you are of legal age... during the mean time you dont have to go wild to enjoy life, if you want to do something out of the ordinary find an excuse to go out town.

Usually they all know what young jw people do, but as long as they do not see it they dont care, they were young too. .

15

Breaking the ice

by filip in

jw
friends

i have now for 1 or 2 years or so slowly slipping further and further away from "the truth".

for that period i've been wondering if there existed a god, and if jehovahs witness was the only "right" religion and so on.

i've really been split.

one

WHY?

why do you need to break the ice? you may regret the consequences, specially since you are under age.

If you open your mouth your father is toast, he will most likely be deleted for no being able to restrain a minor. Dont hurt your father if there is no need to do it, if you can play the game. I dont see why you can't. It is more fun AND you are in control.

If you open your mouth it is war and who knows the consequences, some parents have trown ther children out the house for not accepting the "truth"., why complicated things

It is much better to play cool, eventually you may find ways to help your family to see have you have seen already.

Just check this website and ask question.

78

Positive about jw

by one in

jw
friends

there are many thing i dont regret about jw

learning from jw about cristmas is one of them

the jw were very open about cristmas, going against the "system" require some strenght and that in itself attracted many to the jw org.

one

Wildhorses,

dont be afraid of some here, you can continue running ahead of me

78

Positive about jw

by one in

jw
friends

there are many thing i dont regret about jw

learning from jw about cristmas is one of them

the jw were very open about cristmas, going against the "system" require some strenght and that in itself attracted many to the jw org.

one

Mustang,

Generally speaking what you mention has been said before, negative aspects about the jw, this excelletent website is full of that.

BUT my topic is trying to collect arguments in a dsffierent directions

I reseve my opinion about the 'opinion' that there is nothing positive about the jw, that is what you, outlaw and others have expresed..

You and others have gone on a tangent, nevertheless your following comment is interesting.

The child is later expected to CONFIRM his entry in the church when they reach an age where understanding of the religion is achieved.

Can you elaborate on it?, perhaps on another thread, stating what a confirmation is all about and at what age it is permitted etc

Mustang

BB's analysis only reinforces my personal statement: "There was certainly not enough positive to offset the negative."

As i implied before, that is YOUR case, other cases are different. And I suggested that the sequel of jw experience could be a "lemonade", we only hurt ourself by not doing it.

2