I wonder if it has ever occurred to any Jehovah's Witness that fellowship and comradery and love can be had without the cruelty that they inflict on those who opt out of their cult. I'm especially intrigued by this, as I just had a pair of JWs at my front door yesterday, who asked me my opinion of the bible. "Fiction," I told them, "and poorly written fiction at that."
Seriously, why would anyone join such an organization, knowing that their support and friendship was conditional on your unmodified agreement with the tenants of their faith? Obviously, THEY DON'T TELL YOU THAT, certainly not up front. What would happen, I wonder, if they were utterly honest about that policy with those who were candidates for conversion? The answer to that one, I suspect, is intuitively obvious.
Mostly, I think the JWs are a 19th- and 20th-century cult which is ill-adapted (if adapted at all) for the 21st century, the internet, and the fact that those doctrines and practices – ALL OF THEM – which they may keep hidden from newbies, are out there for all to see and know about. The two men who met me yesterday I suspect were surprised at my position regarding their belief system. I wonder if they are willing to recognize that more and more people like me are out there, and the chances of their garnering a new convert, especially out of Millennials and Gen-Z folk, aren't just thin.
Ha! Dear archaic religions, please continue to not realize that once you put something on the internet it is there *forever* and it's full of people you have no authority over. I can't wait until the JWs shoot themselves in the foot one too many times, this is an org I can see collapsing within my lifetime. Their refusal to grow as an org combined with their attempts to use new tech will bring more of this. Learn from the Amish, keep 'em down on the farm with no Google.
As a former jw this is just so ridiculous. They say they're the one trie religion therefore they should be proud of all their policies not try to hide them
There are few punishments as cruel as shunning. Several religious groups practice it, not just the JWs, and that level of cruelty for apostates is a big part of the definition of a CULT. The extremely toxic potential of religion is tragically demonstrated in its ability to overcome one of the strongest instincts humans have, to love and care for one's parents, one's children, and one's siblings.
Members are kept in line by the promise of loving kindness AND the threat of cold, cruel abandonment. There is little difference between the architectures of a fortress and a prison.
Don’t be haughty by shunning people you don’t agree with anymore?
Do these people hear themselves? I mean, they come to our homes to tell us to follow their one and only true religion and if we don’t join we are going to hell. And if someone who decides this isn’t for them they literally throw them out like yesterday’s garbage, never to speak to them again. And then try to say don’t be haughty.
Here’s what I have to say. Mind your own business, stay off my lawn, and quit hiding child molesters and rapists.
Shunning is calculated cruelty designed to keep people in line, and in the fold. Something that can always be justified in the name of Jesus. Religious organizations employ it to let everyone know the price they're going to pay should they dare think for themselves. I can only hope more and more people find the courage to remove themselves from these oppressive environments, find a community if they want one, and make a decent life for themselves.
These are just a few things that makes a religion cross the line into abusive cult:
a.) punishing people who leave.
b.) forcing people to choose between the church and their loved ones, thereby cutting them off from loved ones who might cause them to question doctrine.
c.) Getting you to doubt yourself: your ethics, your morals, your intuition, your empathy.
d.) The organization is authoritarian and demands control of your personal life.
And yes, I am aware that I am also indicting a lot of religious organizations who would insist that they aren't a cult.
In the mid-20th century, several Jehovah's Witnesses brought before the US Supreme Court cases challenging state laws that forced students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, culminating in the 1943 West Virginia v. Barnette decision which has, to this day, protected the right to opt out of that stupid bit of fascist flag fellation.
I mention this only because it is the sole beneficial thing that vile organization has ever managed to accomplish. So... thanks, Witnesses! 𝘕𝘰𝘸 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘶𝘱 and stop being backwards assholes who compel members to shun their loved ones and deny them life-saving medical care.
Religion poisons everything. Period.
I wonder if it has ever occurred to any Jehovah's Witness that fellowship and comradery and love can be had without the cruelty that they inflict on those who opt out of their cult. I'm especially intrigued by this, as I just had a pair of JWs at my front door yesterday, who asked me my opinion of the bible. "Fiction," I told them, "and poorly written fiction at that."
Seriously, why would anyone join such an organization, knowing that their support and friendship was conditional on your unmodified agreement with the tenants of their faith? Obviously, THEY DON'T TELL YOU THAT, certainly not up front. What would happen, I wonder, if they were utterly honest about that policy with those who were candidates for conversion? The answer to that one, I suspect, is intuitively obvious.
Mostly, I think the JWs are a 19th- and 20th-century cult which is ill-adapted (if adapted at all) for the 21st century, the internet, and the fact that those doctrines and practices – ALL OF THEM – which they may keep hidden from newbies, are out there for all to see and know about. The two men who met me yesterday I suspect were surprised at my position regarding their belief system. I wonder if they are willing to recognize that more and more people like me are out there, and the chances of their garnering a new convert, especially out of Millennials and Gen-Z folk, aren't just thin.
They're anorexic.
Ha! Dear archaic religions, please continue to not realize that once you put something on the internet it is there *forever* and it's full of people you have no authority over. I can't wait until the JWs shoot themselves in the foot one too many times, this is an org I can see collapsing within my lifetime. Their refusal to grow as an org combined with their attempts to use new tech will bring more of this. Learn from the Amish, keep 'em down on the farm with no Google.
As a former jw this is just so ridiculous. They say they're the one trie religion therefore they should be proud of all their policies not try to hide them
There are few punishments as cruel as shunning. Several religious groups practice it, not just the JWs, and that level of cruelty for apostates is a big part of the definition of a CULT. The extremely toxic potential of religion is tragically demonstrated in its ability to overcome one of the strongest instincts humans have, to love and care for one's parents, one's children, and one's siblings.
Members are kept in line by the promise of loving kindness AND the threat of cold, cruel abandonment. There is little difference between the architectures of a fortress and a prison.
𝐸𝐿𝑆𝐴’𝑆 𝑉𝑂𝐼𝐶𝐸𝑂𝑉𝐸𝑅: 𝐼𝑡'𝑠 𝑠𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑎 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑔𝑔𝑙𝑒. 𝐼 𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑠 ℎ𝑒𝑟.
This is the one time you don't want to let it go, Elsa.
Don’t be haughty?
Seriously? Don’t be haughty?
Don’t be haughty by shunning people you don’t agree with anymore?
Do these people hear themselves? I mean, they come to our homes to tell us to follow their one and only true religion and if we don’t join we are going to hell. And if someone who decides this isn’t for them they literally throw them out like yesterday’s garbage, never to speak to them again. And then try to say don’t be haughty.
Here’s what I have to say. Mind your own business, stay off my lawn, and quit hiding child molesters and rapists.
Jesus always breaking up families - a homewrecker.
Shunning is calculated cruelty designed to keep people in line, and in the fold. Something that can always be justified in the name of Jesus. Religious organizations employ it to let everyone know the price they're going to pay should they dare think for themselves. I can only hope more and more people find the courage to remove themselves from these oppressive environments, find a community if they want one, and make a decent life for themselves.
So much love I will follow this example and reconnect immediately with my father family 🙄
Time travel https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/348966049_164475766595802_3973492809302649983_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=_k1aSxw22wUAX8uBSFw&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAuJBBIe3CVEQsVYbT5rV6LpWT_S4UItCG4xXanQOq0Eg&oe=64746054
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/25/oath-keepers-far-right-stewart-rhodes-sentence
Wow ... unexpected much?
These are just a few things that makes a religion cross the line into abusive cult:
a.) punishing people who leave.
b.) forcing people to choose between the church and their loved ones, thereby cutting them off from loved ones who might cause them to question doctrine.
c.) Getting you to doubt yourself: your ethics, your morals, your intuition, your empathy.
d.) The organization is authoritarian and demands control of your personal life.
And yes, I am aware that I am also indicting a lot of religious organizations who would insist that they aren't a cult.
I almost don't want to post this
https://www.businessinsider.com/lauren-boebert-son-called-911-report-abuse-husband-jayson-2023-5
"The implication is that the other mothers in her congregation will just take the place of her biological mom..."
Oh, yeah, things will absolutely, positively work out like that, because religious people aren't at all selfish or self-involved. Right. Got it.
In the mid-20th century, several Jehovah's Witnesses brought before the US Supreme Court cases challenging state laws that forced students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, culminating in the 1943 West Virginia v. Barnette decision which has, to this day, protected the right to opt out of that stupid bit of fascist flag fellation.
I mention this only because it is the sole beneficial thing that vile organization has ever managed to accomplish. So... thanks, Witnesses! 𝘕𝘰𝘸 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘶𝘱 and stop being backwards assholes who compel members to shun their loved ones and deny them life-saving medical care.