Posts by pale.emperor

14

We do sound like a cult

by notalone in

jw
friends

"we do sound like a cult..." so in the last few conversations i have had with my still deeply in friend she has mentioned this a couple times when lamenting things that don't seem right.

she has a relative that left and is telling everyone jw's are a cult.

she is very defensive and deeply disturbed by this accusation.

I remember i used to get really angry whenever anyone called it a cult. When i was a JW i would try and give proof that it wasn't a cult. JW's are told that a cult is a dangerous religious sect with a human leader(s). (Which funnily enough that is exactly what they are!) The word "cult" would instantly make me think the person using that word is bitter, misinformed, just looking for an argument or mocking me.

Their own rebuttal of the cult claim is here: https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/are-jehovahs-witnesses-a-cult/

Then, on a late night radio talk show, I heard the host refer to Jehovah's Witnesses as a very high-control group. It struck me as odd labeling, but it fit. The more I thought about it, the more it fit.
Cult is a trigger word for JW's. I think using the phrase 'high-control group' is a good way to avoid the JW trained defense response when you want to start realizing they are in a cult.
From 'high-control group' to 'cult' is a very short step.

I do this now too. I got it from Steve Hassans book Cult Mind Control. Even when im speaking to non JWs i refer to the cult as a "high control religion". This is so dont come across as bitter or crazy.

27

Day 1: The Night of Anger, Tears, and Pain

by Saethydd in

my freedom came with a heavy cost.

i couldn't stand the dishonesty so when my sister went out of town on a trip i told my parents that i no longer wanted to be a jw.

when my sister got back and i told her she was so angry, said she really wanted to slap me, then she ran off sobbing, a few minutes later she deposited every gift i ever gave her in front of my door.. my entire family has turned against me.

pale.emperor

"deep down I know this is the Truth."

I've had this said to me a few times by my family members. Our families just cannot fathom that, shock horror, the Watchtower society could be wrong.

I feel for you my friend. And i know, sort of, what you're experiencing. You're young, you woke up early so thats a great thing. You wont waste your youth in a cult like most of us did. Well done on making friends before exiting, that was a smart move.

We'll all support you on here, but in the meantime remember that your family think they're doing what their god wants. It's like having an old relative with dementia, they say or do some hurtful things but they dont know what they're doing. You never know, one day in the future they may wake up. I mean, the org cannot stay the way it is now, the GB will die, the prophecies will fail again, people go on the internet, less people are joining.

Well done to you and stay strong. Post here with updates because we're all thinking of you and we're here for you.

19

How do you talk to a child that believes Jehovah/Armageddon is real

by Anony Mous in

i'm having some serious issues with my child, she is now 5 and her mother is teaching her all sorts of things regards god, jehovah is real, in heaven, pray if you're scared, etc.

the problem is the kid is scared of demons at night and also conflicted that i don't believe, she also figured out jehovah doesn't actually help her not to be scared.. i've tried explaining that i'm there for her, watching over at night.

i've tried introducing her to various churches and beliefs so she understands there is a difference in believes and she likes those churches better than kingdom hall.

pale.emperor

Mine is 3yo at the moment, doesnt know about demon stories as far as i know but she is afraid of shadows at night time. What works for me is her Sully teddy from Monsters Inc. I talk to the teddy in front of her and tell it that my daughter is afraid of shadows and you'll protect her from anything scary wont you Sully? And it works.

38

Talk to my Dad about beards.

by LovingLifeNow in

jw
friends

so i spoke to my elder dad the other day, and he asked if i still am sporting a beard.

i said yes, then i said, "i thought the society said its ok to have a neat trimmed beard now?

" he said "no, no, no..if you read the article , it says in countries where it is accepted" so my response was "ummm, its pretty accepted here in america"..which he says "it reflects your spirituality" "if another wittness saw you, they would know you are weak"...i was like, "ok, i don't get it, and i follow christ/god, not men..." then he said in his hall" if a brother came in with a beard , he would not have privelages" then i just gave up, and tried to change the subject..ugggggggggg if these people would just listen to themselves , they would see the sillyness of there teachings...

pale.emperor

So according to Watchtower, the follow people are spiritually weak:

Jesus Christ

All of the apostles

All of the prophets

Charles Taze Russell

And the following people are spiritually strong:

Your dad

The governing body

Yeah, sounds legit.

14

guess what watchtower, books are making a comeback!

by nowwhat? in

now that the org.

has gone 90% digital, it would seem most people now would rather read a good old fashioned book than a tablet!.

way to show insight oh fearless leaders!.

pale.emperor

From Watchtower Online Library. Most of the links are greyed out (old light you see!). These one's were still active:

11

So we're now back to necessary business with the shunned.

by poopie in

jw
friends

new wt just came out.

about self control.

by the way looking at outlines the word disfelowshipped not in there 52 outlines.

pale.emperor

Page 6, paragraph 12 of the Sep 2017 Watchtower. Haven't read a Watchtower in over a year. I actually felt physically ill wading through it's repetitive, condescending, patronizing method of teaching.

23

How Many Here Used To Sneak Looking At "apostate" Material?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i did!

even when i was in junior high school i would go to the library and look for anything that was about charles taze russell or millenial dawn or jehovah's witnesses..... maybe i was an "apostate " in the making..

pale.emperor

I stumbled upon this site from time to time. Only when i was feeling really annoyed about the bOrg though. Every time i went away feeling a heavy weight inside me. Not anger at the apostates but because they were speaking the truth and i couldnt refute a lot of the stuff i'd read.

Eventually i used to visit JWFacts in the KH on their WiFi! - this is while i was still a JW.

Eventually the seeds took root. Thanks guys.

62

Would You EVER Go Back To Being A Jehovah's Witness?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i could never understand why some people who know the truth about the "truth" ever go back.

once you understand all the hypocrisy and negatives, i would think it's almost impossible to go back!.

pale.emperor

And die a slave? No. This exJW is cramming as much life into his life before his life ends.

7

So much time wasted!

by StephaneLaliberte in

since i have left almost 4 years ago.

i have become a green belt in karate classes.

have got permits to own guns and go hunting.

pale.emperor

Well done on your achievements since leaving.

I look back and think what those 6-8 hours a week could've been devoted to. Learning a language, learning a martial art, college etc. I plan to do all those things now that i have the freedom and time.

36

Crossing the Elders

by Cold Steel in

few things draw my interest as much as people on this board who talk about the elders, the insidious little toadies who lurk around kingdom halls, the proverbial big fish in little ponds.

it amazes me the terror and the veneration they inspire, as well as the occasional ridicule.

it makes me wonder how they're selected and whether most of them come into the position with a sense of power, entitlement, authority and control, or whether many of them are pretty nice people and that i'm just hearing about the bad apples?

pale.emperor

From all my years as a JW and having met literally hundreds of elders, i can only think of two that i absolutely trusted. Knowing that they share information and are required to report to the CO made me think twice before telling them anything. I certainly never viewed them as more knowledgeable in the scriptures than anyone else.

My mother on the other hand regards elders as "stars in the hand of Jesus Christ" and treats them like royalty. I've dated two girls who's fathers were elders and my mum would go round telling all her friends in the congregation that my girlfriends father is an elder in such and such congregation.