I would guess that it has something to do with the impossible standards that end up causing extreme guilt, which leads to depression, especially among teenagers and young adults, very few of whom can live up to the rules. Add to that the tendency among JWs to distrust and avoid mental health professionals and instead rely on "prayer" to make their problems go away and you've got a recipe for an increased suicide rate.
Saethydd
JoinedPosts by Saethydd
-
149
why jw's commit suicide?
by notalone inwe all know the rate of suicide is high among jw's.
my question is this- was there some subliminal messages that encourage this.
i was a born in and my entire life i would have these thoughts that could come out of nowhere,"kill yourself.
-
-
-
4
Is there a risk using jw library app on cellphone
by Gorbatchov inthis is a question about the use of the jw library app on your cellphone.. the app is mainly used by jw and maybe interested people.
in this world of big data, and less privacy, any government can track users of this app.. it's no problem when there is nothing at stake.. but, many governments, even the more secular like france and germany, have made restrictions for jw's.. what if you are a government official and jw?
do you want to be tracked for being one?.
-
-
Saethydd
I wouldn't be terribly concerned about it unless it becomes a crime to even read "extremist literature," as far as I know the current crime is "producing and distributing it," and if for some reason you did draw negative attention from it, you can explain that you are a former JW who now opposes the religion. Of course, if your current beliefs aren't in line with the government either then it could still be problematic.
I deleted the app from my devices because it was full of what is, in my opinion, useless drivel.
-
18
Where is the proof?
by stuckinarut2 inwe all know that the governing body claim to be "god's representatives" and the "faithful and discreet slave" that dispenses spiritual food..... but where is the proof?.
according to the bible (if we just for a moment take it as a reliable source), all of god's representatives in the past furnished proof of their appointment - not just self referential claims or statements.. for instance, moses and aaron performed miracles before pharaoh (such as the snake staffs.).
other prophets performed signs and miracles such as making the sun stand still, healing sick people, making walls fall down, etc etc.... even jesus performed miracles as proof of his divine appointment!.
-
-
Saethydd
When I asked my parents this question they pointed to the "goodness" of the organization as proof of its divine backing. They believe that the "love" of the GB and other Witnesses proves that it is God's one and only organization. They didn't seem terribly bothered by the subjectivity of such claims or that the subjectivity of those metrics don't really allow them to be tested against other religions and organizations in any sort of rigorous comprehensive way to prove that it is the "one and only."
Unfortunately, I was not able to convince them that those things really matter in figuring out the truth of a subject.
-
12
What a beautiful day for service!
by StephaneLaliberte ini heard this expression very often and even said it often myself.
now that i am out, i realize this isn't always the case.
there were many times i was going out in service saturday morning and couldn't wait for 12:00 to come along so that we could go swimming, bicycling, play basket ball, go to the beach... .
-
-
Saethydd
I'm an introvert, so going door to door to discuss something that didn't really interest me with complete strangers that would most likely provoke a negative reaction was never something I truly enjoyed. Though, I certainly tried to because I thought God wanted me to enjoy it.
-
40
Some Good News About Me (Although Anthony Morris Will Be Furious)
by pale.emperor injust wanted to share with you some good news i'm really excited about.
i have been accepted for university to study psychology and counseling.
my goal is to become a counselor and, in time, to specialize on treating those who have left high control relationships/groups like we all did.. it'll take a few years before im qualified but studying in university has been a dream of mine since i was 12, which was systematically dashed to pieces by watchtower.. .
-
-
Saethydd
Congratulations, and I'm sure that all the people you help in the future will be very appreciative. I imagine that fellow ex-JWs will be especially happy to find a counselor that truly understands.
-
34
I've Just Noticed Something About The "Remember The Wife Of Lot" Video
by pale.emperor inmaybe you guys got on to this right away, but i've just noticed something about the remember the wife of lot video.. we all know the scene where the judgmental jw dad gives that disapproving look to the girl who has lesbian parents:.
this look actually appears again throughout the video - but on other jws.
in the scene where the new brother is out in service with the former co. look at the new brothers reaction to when a "worldly" person knows the former co from work:.
-
-
Saethydd
@Reazon22 They don't really do any of the type/anti-type crap anymore. Probably can't fit it into the tiny shallow articles they produce that are basically just rehashes of older articles.
-
12
Recovery From The Jehovah's Witnesses - A Guide
by pale.emperor inhey guys.
a friend online asked me about my recovery and how i managed to recover relatively easily from watchtower indoctrination.
although i think a major part of it is acquainting oneself with information about the watchtower and it's history, a lot of it (for me at least) was an inner game.
-
-
Saethydd
That is beautifully written, I'm gonna bookmark this.
-
21
Help/Advice on Birthday Present
by Phizzy ini have a very xjw type problem, i am invited to my cousin's 70th birthday party, and really don't know what to buy him.. i only met him a couple of months ago, as my jw parents never encouraged the non-jw side of the family, so i don't know much about him, except that he is retired and his hobby is sailing his boat.. i don't have contact details for his kids etc to ask them for ideas, so could you come up with something please ?
not too extravagant, i am a poor pensioner !
but, it is his 70th.. thanks in advance for any tips !.
-
-
Saethydd
Some people who like boats also appreciate a nice ship in a bottle. Not a very personal gift, but it doesn't sound like you know them that well so it might be appropriate.
-
15
Lack of open-mindedness
by ilikecheese ina lot of religious folks can have an open-minded discussion about their beliefs without getting defensive.
some can actually consider things from another point of view and point out the validity in the other person's point.
obviously, a lot of jws may just be scared to think/speak in a semi-detrimental way about their religion.
-
-
Saethydd
I personally feel that the key to open-mindedness is to recognize that your beliefs shouldn't be concrete certainties, rather they need to be probabilities that are based on all the available data and evidence that you have access to, and these should shift as new data is acquired or debunked. Otherwise, you can simply ignore all evidence that contradicts your viewpoint creating an unhealthy confirmation bias.
Most JWs don't view things in this manner, they KNOW (or at least feel pressured to openly claim that they know) that they alone have God's backing. Or more accurately, the organization they are a part of has His backing. It's very common for a conversation with a Witness to lead them talking about how "glad they are to be in the Truth," or how they can't wait for some promise that they read in the Watchtower to be fulfilled in the "new system." And if one has doubts about those things and openly expresses them, they are held to be "spiritually weak" which is the greatest of sins in JW Land. Even genuinely agreeing with someone else about the uncertainty of your own beliefs is considered spiritually weak, which, to the indoctrinated, makes them feel guilty themselves even if no other JWs are present to make them feel that way.
-
81
Gerrit Losch Claims JW's Attending College Are Spiritually Weak
by pale.emperor inhttps://www.facebook.com/jw.0027/videos/799049613609936/.
the video was posted directly to a pro-jw facebook page.
i cant believe what i'm hearing... actually, nothing surprises be about this cult anymore.. didn't they say to the judge in the arc that they dont discourage college?.
-
-
Saethydd
And those who buy into the ridiculous arguments presented in the video are mentally or emotionally weak. Many of them trained to be that way by their "spiritual education."