john.prestor

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Posts by john.prestor

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  18

  The Repression and Expression of Anger Among Jehovah's Witnesses

  by john.prestor in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  something which i always found surprising when i attended the kingdom halls i studied was how angry, even vicious, many jehovah's witnesses could become when a watchtower study featured some persons and/or institutions the organization disapproved of, say, higher education and educators, christendom and its clergy, apostates, etc.

  many seemed to sadistically enjoy denigrating these persons or institutions when the watchtower study conductor called on them and they were handed a microphone.

  i wondered for a long time where this anger came from, and i've developed a hypothesis for explaining this.. according to a book i'm reading by alice miller called "for your own good: hidden cruelty in child-rearing and the roots of violence," children who are strictly controlled and abused (whether emotionally or physically) typically go on to unleash the anger they inevitably felt at their parents, but were never allowed to express, at their children or those around them.

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  john.prestor

  That thought certainly came to mind, Vidiot. Two Minutes Hate, anyone?
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  18

  The Repression and Expression of Anger Among Jehovah's Witnesses

  by john.prestor in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  something which i always found surprising when i attended the kingdom halls i studied was how angry, even vicious, many jehovah's witnesses could become when a watchtower study featured some persons and/or institutions the organization disapproved of, say, higher education and educators, christendom and its clergy, apostates, etc.

  many seemed to sadistically enjoy denigrating these persons or institutions when the watchtower study conductor called on them and they were handed a microphone.

  i wondered for a long time where this anger came from, and i've developed a hypothesis for explaining this.. according to a book i'm reading by alice miller called "for your own good: hidden cruelty in child-rearing and the roots of violence," children who are strictly controlled and abused (whether emotionally or physically) typically go on to unleash the anger they inevitably felt at their parents, but were never allowed to express, at their children or those around them.

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  john.prestor

  Something which I always found surprising when I attended the Kingdom Halls I studied was how angry, even vicious, many Jehovah's Witnesses could become when a Watchtower Study featured some persons and/or institutions the organization disapproved of, say, higher education and educators, Christendom and its clergy, apostates, etc. Many seemed to sadistically enjoy denigrating these persons or institutions when the Watchtower Study Conductor called on them and they were handed a microphone. I wondered for a long time where this anger came from, and I've developed a hypothesis for explaining this.

  According to a book I'm reading by Alice Miller called "For Your Own Good: Hidden Cruelty in Child-Rearing and the Roots of Violence," children who are strictly controlled and abused (whether emotionally or physically) typically go on to unleash the anger they inevitably felt at their parents, but were never allowed to express, at their children or those around them. In part children cannot express this anger and it remains unconscious because they were taught to perceive their parents as "loving" and as such it was unthinkable to become angry at their parents no matter what cruelty they inflicted upon them. Adults, she argues, have a greater capacity to feel and/or express anger at those who abuse them because, being adults, they can more easily resist or process what's being done to them and deem it or the persons responsible wrong, evil, unethical, etc.

  Consider this: although many Jehovah's Witnesses are in fact adults, like children, Jehovah's Witnesses are not permitted to question the Governing Body and its pervasive attempts to micro-manage their lives and deny them natural pleasures (sex, relaxation, interpersonal connection, love, acceptance, respect, community). Instead, the organization tells Jehovah's Witnesses that the Governing Body is composed of "loving," well-intentioned men who want nothing but the best for them. Jehovah's Witnesses are certainly not allowed to criticize the Governing Body and, if such criticism is detected whether in the public or private sphere, the organization instructs Jehovah's Witnesses to shun and shame them. As such, I propose that many Jehovah's Witnesses will unconsciously experience anger at the Governing Body's micro-management and rather disturbing efforts to control and corral them but will not be able to experience their anger and direct it at the true source of their pain and suffering: the Governing Body, not Christendom, not educators, not apostates. But, of course, these entities make excellent scapegoats upon which Jehovah's Witnesses heap the anger they should feel towards the Governing Body. My conclusions seem confirmed by the fact that many ex-Witnesses on this site express or have expressed, quite naturally and understandably, anger at the Governing Body.
  

  My hypothesis, then, is this: I believe the anger and viciousness I saw Jehovah's Witnesses express in many Watchtower Studies were expressions of the unconscious anger many inevitably felt and doubtlessly still feel about being denied what they naturally want by the Governing Body, what they ought and deserve to have: love, respect, acceptance, sexual pleasure, community, and so much more.
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  15

  2018 convention

  by Akid48 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  sorry i forgot to update when i was there.. the only things i want to talk about is how they would tell young ones to tell every body in school that their a jw.i hate when this happens this will not go well for all.they had one random video about some kid,the kid said the teacher would make fun of him,but one day the teacher let him talk about being a jw (this parts bs)then some random teachers and the principal walked in for no reason,and he got to talk about to most of the school wtf.. i hate the fact they tell kids to tell every body their a jw once again this will not go well for all..

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  john.prestor

  It's difficult to believe that the Governing Body doesn't know that they're sending children out to alienate and humiliate themselves, and at some level it certainly feels deliberate. I see intentionality in the fact that the Governing Body acknowledges that children may face bullying at school for their beliefs; that is, they are not ignorant of the potential if not probable results of Jehovah's Witness children outing themselves.
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  15

  2018 convention

  by Akid48 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  sorry i forgot to update when i was there.. the only things i want to talk about is how they would tell young ones to tell every body in school that their a jw.i hate when this happens this will not go well for all.they had one random video about some kid,the kid said the teacher would make fun of him,but one day the teacher let him talk about being a jw (this parts bs)then some random teachers and the principal walked in for no reason,and he got to talk about to most of the school wtf.. i hate the fact they tell kids to tell every body their a jw once again this will not go well for all..

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  john.prestor

  It really is setting children up to be ostracized if not mocked. I was raised in a faith which encouraged me to do much the same, and it always went badly.
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  19

  Lengthy letter re: End Time Events / read ONLY if you still believe in God.

  by mother Teresa in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  shalom,.

  my mom's family is mostly jws.

  during her second marriage, i attended the weekly meeting and sunday meetings (by my own choice) with a family in the very small town we lived, since my mom didn’t attend.

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  john.prestor

  You can't expect someone to read through that, you've practically posted an essay.
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  32

  Blade Runner mentioned in the Watchtower

  by ThomasCovenant in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  can anyone remember or point me to a quote in either the watchtower or awake where they spoke adversely about some of the violent scenes in the original blade runner film.

  .

  thanks.

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  john.prestor

  jp1962, I'm particularly "fond" of an illustration I saw in one Watchtower Study Edition magazine that was blatantly Master Chief and the Arbiter from the Halo franchise, except instead of the Arbiter holding a sword, his arm was a sword...
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  7

  The transition from Faithful Slave to Governing Body

  by john.prestor in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  what i'm about to describe may have some bearing on the question of motives in the organization and the degree to which the governing body or the high-ranking men beneath them are self-aware.

  a few months before the organization began teaching that the faithful slave meant the governing body and not the 144,000, so around early 2013, a circuit overseer visited one of the congregations where i was gathering data.

  he introduced this teaching subtly in two of his three talks (the extra midweek meeting, the midweek meeting, and the weekend meeting).

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  john.prestor

  What I'm about to describe may have some bearing on the question of motives in the organization and the degree to which the Governing Body or the high-ranking men beneath them are self-aware.

  A few months before the organization began teaching that the Faithful Slave meant the Governing Body and not the 144,000, so around early 2013, a Circuit Overseer visited one of the congregations where I was gathering data. He introduced this teaching subtly in two of his three talks (the extra midweek meeting, the midweek meeting, and the weekend meeting). I wrote down one of these remarks word-for-word and the other I remember well enough to repeat it:

  1. "Jehovah uses Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to direct this preaching work, of course their method of communication has changed, Jehovah still uses Jesus and still uses the Holy Spirit but now he directs that Faithful Slave class as its termed in the scriptures, a group of overseers and they through the Branch offices and traveling overseers and local Elders convey the direction..."

  2. "Jehovah, Jesus, and the Faithful Slave want us to _________..." A minute or two later he said, "Jehovah, Jesus, and the Governing Body want us to _________..."

  What do you make of this? It seems like he's subtly preparing the congregation for the doctrinal shift. It feels intentional, in other words. He doesn't say that the Governing Body is the Faithful Slave, but he implies it very strongly. Perhaps these remarks came from an outline, in which case, perhaps he was only repeating remarks word for word. But I welcome your thoughts.
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  16

  Dutch Branch office response to the motion accepted by Parliament: "an investigation is shooting with a cannon on a mosquito"

  by jochie in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  today a large article was published in a dutch newspaper 'dagblad van het noorden'.

  it is about frank huiting, the reclaimed voices foundation and the adopted motion in parliament.

  the branch office has given a reaction:.

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  john.prestor

  This man should be ashamed of himself. No one is saying that Jehovah's Witnesses have more child abuse than anyone else; this is either a deliberate "misunderstanding" a la Geoffrey Jackson before the ARC or it just demonstrates again that Jehovah's Witnesses think in comparative terms. But even 301 cases of whatever kind of abuse, waton, need to be investigated (and I doubt that most are statutory rape or voyeurism).

  Other organizations have been willing, with or without government pressure, to reexamine their policies and practices and make major to minor adjustments. Jehovah's Witnesses unwillingness to do the same speaks volumes.

  "The phase of constructive consultation has long since ended"? When did it begin?
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  29

  Kids in my kingdom hall

  by Akid48 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i think my last post i said i went to a new congregation,i'm going to just talk about some of the shit i have seen in my congregation.. there was a kid trying to talk to a adult next to him i think it was his dad,the kid just started taping him because he wanted to tell him something and the dad gets mad then boom the kid gets elbowed.i look around to see if anyone saw him do that to his kid and nope or they didn't want to say anything about it and just like wtf.. in my old congregation,the younger kids would do random stuff in the middle of the meeting to not get board.

  when the mom or dad got mad i would see then get dragged to the back of the kingdom hall and hear them start crying.when i was still mentally in i just didnt think about it at all when it would happen but when i woke up im just like thats fucked up..

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  john.prestor

  The sad truth is this: children are a threat to the organization's attempts at control. It's kinda like Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events where the children always perceive the situation better than the adults. The kids are bored, and so are the adults, but the adults are polite enough, and yes Dunedain, career-oriented enough to stay quiet about it. The kids won't, they're bored and they express it vocally, so they have to be disciplined into silence.
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  27

  If the Gov. where you live outlawed the JWs would you turn in your family?

  by blownaway in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i guess it would depend for me.

  some of my family i would take out bill boards pointing to them.

  many of the elders it would be he is over there and set off a neon sign.

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  john.prestor

  Never.