Posts by scratchme1010

Interesting thoughts, video and topic. I think that either extreme is unhealthy. I try to make a compromise between my own norm and respecting other people's norm and values. Sometimes it is in my best interest to not give priority and conform, since sometimes that is the means to an end.

My current supervisor behaves exactly the way many of the brainwashed women in the congregation did. However, she is my supervisor, so it's in my best interest to feed to her nonsense regardless of me knowing better.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this.

10

CounselIling for Ex Cult Members

by Disassociated Lady 2 in

i wanted to ask those of you who were born into the jws and eventually left as an adult, whether any of you have had any counselling?

i know from experience that being programmed by a cult since birth does not give us the social skills and knowledge to function and interact with people in the outside world as we were taught to avoid it.

those of you that have had counselling, do you feel that it has helped you?

scratchme1010

Those of you that have had counselling, do you feel that it has helped you? Can a counsellor actually "de-program" your mind so that you can live a successful life?

Yes, but I think it's a mistake of thinking of going to counseling to get "de-programmed". What I addressed in counseling were a number of things that I needed, some of which were the consequence of growing up a JW, but many of them had nothing to do with growing up a JW.

No, a counselor cannot "de-program". In fact, the "de-programming" that used to happen way back when by cult experts has been rendered obsolete because that approach has proven to be more harmful than the cult experience.

My suggestions is to look for a suitable counselor, one who specializes in whichever thing you need counseling on (if you feel it's the negative influence of the WT, look for one who knows about high demand controlling groups; if you're depressed, look for one who knows how to treat depression. I needed one who knew how to properly work with gay men). There are a lot of quacks out there. Be selective and if it doesn't work out with one, keep looking.

The influence of the WT is not going to disappear from my life. I cannot just erase the first 23 years of my life as if they never happened. That's just not possible. What I can do is identify when I am making decisions or leading my life based on those believes. That, along with learning to bring the "world" to my life has been my journey. There are reasons why I don't give a fuck about the names of the current GB. There are reasons why my replies to posts related to what some old WT mag said is along the lines of "Who cares? What does that matter?". That's how I keep myself away from their influence. That's part of the work I do for myself.

I hope this helps.

103

Using Illegal Means for Righteous Activism

by John Davis in

i wanted to get people's opinion on something.

how do you feel when people use illegal means while performing their activism to shed light on the watchtower.

there have been people who have illegally recorded conversations with elders and with branch offices or at meetings.

scratchme1010

I understand the desire behind it is to bring justice to the people who have been hurt by Watchtower and to protect other people, but do you think it is right to willfully break the law to get this accomplished?

My two cents: My policy is that not everything legal is just or fair. The WT has no interest in following the law, and has no problem having their members break the law over their interest. They have led people to believe that it's OK to die, to make their most important life decisions regarding career, work, marriage, sex, education, and health care based on lies that they tell, and assume no responsibility when people suffer the consequences of their bad decision making because of them.

They are dirt bags. They do as much as they can get away as possible. So you tell me, are you ok with them bending the rules (at best) and doing as much as they can get away from?

Now, about activism, thinking of the activism I've gotten involved, without civil disobedience and doing acts that are illegal, many times change doesn't happen. That said, it really depends on what kind of illegal act we're talking about. Opening fire in a public space to make a point, nope. Entering the White House naked with my coworkers to raise awareness, yes. A friend of mine proposed a massive poop-down in front of Trump Tower here in NYC, nope, but not necessarily because I'm against it. Going late at night to areas where gay men have anonymous sex to give them condoms, yes. Marching in protest of something, yes. Blowing a building full of people, nope.

Under the word "activism" falls a lot of actions, event and things that people do, and not all of those involve illegal activity, and some of it does but it depends on what kind of infraction one is committing. Then there are the number of ridiculous laws that have been passed that people may not even know that they are breaking. Just google "dumb laws".

29

What religions/organizations aren't a cult?

by Jules Saturn in

so we've already established that most religions can be classified as high control groups, we can name the wbts, church of scientology, lds, etc.

the list goes on and on.

but are there any religions or organizations that aren't classified as a high control group or aren't as bad as the ones i've just mentioned?

scratchme1010

So we've already established that most religions can be classified as high control groups, we can name the WBTS, Church of Scientology, LDS, etc. the list goes on and on. But are there any religions or organizations that aren't classified as a high control group or aren't as bad as the ones I've just mentioned? Are ALL organized religions classified as cults? Would a religion have to lack organization to avoid being classified as a cult?

First, as far as I know it has not been established that most religions can be classified as high control groups. Not sure where the research that supports that is. Please let me know where can reliable support for that statement can be found.

Second, according to researchers in the matter, cult as a label doesn't cover what it is supposed to be addressed. Instead of labeling an organization or group as a cult, it is more accurate to describe a dynamic, and effect, something that occurs as a consequences of certain intended actions. That's where the terms "high demand", or "controlling" groups, or "cultic relationships" come from. The purpose of using those terms is to address and effect, not to label a given group.

The reason that difference is relevant is because a lot of people may be under the negative influence of a group or a person, and not realize it because the idea that people have of a cult doesn't fit with what they are going through.

That "cultic" effect can happen pretty much in every group. If you think of it as an effect and not as a label, you may better understand why you may find that pretty much every religion can have people who have been negatively harmed. Furthermore, thinking of it as an effect includes a whole lot of non-religious groups that cause as much harm.

Keeping that in mind, there are groups which sole purpose is nothing other than their own interest and agenda. Those are set with the intention of using and manipulating people and misled them to believe that they are in need of that group. Not all religious groups fall in that category; some, however, fir the profile perfectly.

The President of the International Cultic Studies Association mentioned to me that he knew of a 12-step meeting that people started calling "The Children of the Corn group". That group was being led by people who had the intention of enticing their members to feel like they needed that one particular meeting to save themselves, and that they should dedicate their entire lives to grow that group. That was not a religious group, and that cult effect was evident in that one particular meeting.

I'd suggest to start rethinking the use of the term cult and start thinking of the harm and the effect that it causes in people, at the same time that some groups can be identified as harmful to people.

7

How has 2017 treated you so far?

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

jw
friends

i can't wait till 2017 comes to an end.

here are s few things that have happened to my family and i:.

my jehovah's witnesses mom died in the beginning of the year.

scratchme1010

HOW HAS YOUR 2017 BEEN?

Certainly better than yours so far. I'm sorry you are having a rough time. Your 2017 sounds a lot like my 2016. I lost my mother, had to deal with a whole lot of nonsense around it, had a lot of very demanding projects at work that required traveling to places I didn't want to go to, had to be away from my family for a long time, and spent three months with a kidney stone stuck in my dick.

This year has been much better for me, other than having to deal with the vulgar pig that we call president of USA, and the consequences of having him as such.

10

Phone call with a disfellowshipped relative

by Jules Saturn in

so i call my grandfather who has been inactive for several decades and he's at vacation in puerto rico.

the conversation is normal, we talk about how he's doing down there and how i am doing.

then he tells me that my cousin who i haven't seen in 5 years, is with him and asks if i would like to speak to him; i said yes.

scratchme1010

Love your post. Thank you for sharing.

9

Remember Your First Taste of Freedom?

by Funchback in

it's around 10am here in the northeast of brazil.

i have just finished having coffee and a light breakfast.

i am reflecting on my saturdays of jw past, where i would be just about ready to leave the morning field service group and go door-knocking.. honestly, i hated every second of field service, always keeping one eye on the clock, counting down the minutes until service would be over.. 12 years later since i last "preached", i am also reflecting on the sense of freedom i experienced (and still experience) when i definitively said "no more!

Of all the bible characters would you like any as a friend?

Satan. He does nothing but challenging bipolar schizophrenic with narcissistic tendencies Jehovah and gets blamed for everything bad without proof. Just like the way I was raised as a JW.