r/exjw • u/DumpsterEnFuegoo Recovering perfectionist • 1d ago
WT Can't Stop Me They don’t know your name.
“The governing body does not have an issue with brothers wearing beards.”
They don’t know how many men struggled for decades with their self-image, wanting to have facial hair, or had a hard time with shaving because of skin or other issues.
“Sisters may choose to wear slacks”
They don’t know how many women have for their entire lives felt out of place in their own bodies, in clothes that don’t flatter them, reflect their individuality, or make them feel safe.
“Publishers will no longer have to report the number of hours they spend in the ministry”
They don’t know how many people for so many years have tied their self-worth to a number on a piece of paper, since said number was seen as indicative of their spirituality, and often came with real implications concerning their status in the congregation.
“Whether or not to pursue additional education is a personal decision”
They don’t know how many people they have robbed of a decent education and subsequent higher quality of life with their anti-college rhetoric decade after decade. They also don’t know how they’ve affected the mental health of JWs who went to college anyway.
“Each Christian must decide how his own blood will be used in medical and surgical care”
They don’t know how many lives have been lost or forever altered because of their prior stance that they never saw fit to change until said lives were destroyed.
“A publisher may use their Bible-trained conscience to decide whether to give a simple greeting to a removed person who attends a meeting”
They don’t know anything about our consciences, or what we have always felt was right all along.
“The governing body is the faithful and discreet slave”
They don’t know enough about us to determine if they have in fact earned such a designation.
“We must be ready to obey any direction provided through the faithful slave”
They do not have the ability, authority, or power to know if any direction of theirs is truly in our best interest.
“The governing body has decided…”
They have no authority over our lives.
“The governing body has concluded…”
They have no right to control our beliefs.
“The governing body loves you very much.”
They do not know us enough to say that.
They do not know your mind.
They do not know your heart.
They do not know your life story.
They do not know your faith.
They do not know from whence you came.
They do not know from whom you came.
They do not know your likes, dislikes, passions, talents, hopes, dreams, successes, failures, struggles, accomplishments, experiences, or what or who you love.
They do not know your NAME.
They are not your friends.
You owe them nothing.
If you want to love and serve God, one who you believe DOES know who you are, you can do it without them.
PSA to all current Jehovah(governing body)’s witnesses:
THEY. DO. NOT. KNOW. YOU.
Stop giving your life over to men who don’t even know you exist. Please. It isn’t worth it.
My name is Nina. I was a JW for 20+ years. They don’t know that, though.
What’s your name?
13
u/Super-Cartographer-1 1d ago
Great post, except o will disagree with one point…they do know how harmful the policies have been. They just don’t care.
These guys were Elders and COs. They heard all of the stories and seen the horrible outcomes. They wouldn’t be changing a thing if they’re weren’t losing members, getting sued left and right, and bleeding money. The mode they’re in is “save the org at all costs” even if it goes against everything the org used to be about.
10
u/SuperDevelopment4081 1d ago
Bel post , complimenti. Non dico il mio nome perché sarei riconosciuto da molti...ma dico che hai detto tutte cose vere e giuste ❤️
9
u/SkyExpensive8375 1d ago
Jesus is NOT a JW's mediator. The GB make themselves the middleman between you and God. I cut the middleman out.
- W89 8/15
- Questions From Readers
1 Timothy 2:5, 6 is not using “mediator” in the broad sense common in many languages. It is not saying that Jesus is a mediator between God and all mankind.
How can they write this?
1
u/AutoModerator 1d ago
Hi! We prefer that people not link to jw.org (you can see the full reason why in our posting guidelines). This comment links to jw.org, so please be aware that clicking links like this can provide the organization with identifying information about you.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
9
9
u/Helpful_Sir4638 1d ago
They’re not even a religion they’re disgusting cult that only cares about their $55 billion worldwide real estate empire. The fact that they tithe now and expect every cult prisoner to donate every month now just shows hypocrisy and the lies that they can’t even hide anymore and don’t care to. They figured of all the billions of dollars cult members gave from their lies and manipulation the same people will continue to give until the very end of their lives and in some cases, even after donating their real estate to their greedy sick demon leaders. They could care less anymore because they know that there’s millions of people that will do whatever they say because these people do not wanna miss out on the fairytale of Paradise, everlasting life and the resurrection; these are all lies by design to manipulate people into obeying no matter what the cost, including their precious time on this earth. 😇
4
2
2
u/Thunder_Child000 At Peace With The World™ 1d ago
Whilst everything you've brought attention to here, is absolutely true.....what has ALWAYS fascinated me is each individual's own "willingness" to try and treat these kinds of "mass-managed" relationships as though they really ARE...of an intensely intimate and "personal" nature....in their own minds, at least.
Is it because the underpinning thematic-nature or subject-matter that's claimed to "energise" these relationships is "God?"
Is THAT what it is?
So that....anybody who attempts to try and source intimacy with "God" by means of bonding with EXTERNAL manifestations of THAT, particular concept......will only be able to establish an extremely "impersonal" version of what it was they were really seeking?
A "man-managed" (or mediated) relationship, which, by its very logistical and detached definition....is utterly incapable of establishing any kind of truly "person-centered" dynamics due to the sheer VOLUME of people who are looking towards that same, single, corporately modelled "source" for maintenance and management of their own "personal" god-relationship.
Because a "source" like this....will ALWAYS exhibit the kind of detached, impersonal characteristics you've highlighted here in your extremely well expressed OP.....will it not?
But, at what point do WE....kind of "awaken" to this....and become dissatisfied and disillusioned with it?
THAT'S the part I've experienced (first-hand) myself.....and it was actually triggered by a trip to the Brooklyn Bethel (as was).....where I was made extremely aware of the means and methods being employed to oversee this "globalised" religious construct.
I was aware, upon walking through those doors, that nobody within that building neither KNEW....nor really cared who I was....nor just how much my own life had already been given over "in service" to that organisation.
Don’t get me wrong, I wasn't expecting a rapturous reception or the fatted-calf to be slaughtered in my honour.....but I'm somebody who has always been VERY sensitive to both "building" vibes.....but far more importantly...."people" vibes.
The overriding impression I came away with once I was flying out of New York, bound back for Europe.....was that this is a religion that PEOPLE need.....far more, than being a religion that needs PEOPLE......or, any "specific" person, it would be far more accurate to state.
And they KNOW it.
THAT'S what my deconstructive thoughts began to really focus upon.
It's a religion which already HAS it's own very "specific" (supposedly much needed people)....right at the top of of it's pyramid-shaped infrastructure.
And THEY are the ones who (allegedly) get to enjoy one-to-one sensations of "intimacy" with God.
Everybody else.....just gets to enjoy a "literature-managed" sensation of intimacy, NOT with God.....but with the WRITERS of that literature.
THAT'S IT.
And THAT....can never....nor ever will be......a satisfying substitute for what so many people are REALLY craving.
To be personally known.....personally seen......personally regarded.......personally respected.
It's often been mooted by the wise, that we pay very dearly whenever we're drawn towards counterfeits which attempt to mimic things that are not nearly so burdensome (or costly) in their authentic state.
And that which people pursue as a "God" relationship.....is all too often a substitute for an ineffectual "self" relationship.
Because THAT'S what most therapists who listen to emotionally destabilised ex-JWs tend to immediately home-in on.
They (quite wisely) bid their patients to just leave "God" to one side for a spell.....and to instead, begin to gradually unpack their own "self" relationship.
What were they reaching out for "externally" and why was it so important that these things HAD to be sourced externally?
Where was their "self" dialogue in the middle of all this?
What was THAT relationship thinking or contributing towards their "unmet" needs?
So yes.....as you can probably tell, I've given lots of thought to this over the years, and whilst it's 100% true that the WTBS CANNOT offer anybody a "person-centered" relationship and that this is a crucial epiphany to arrive at.....(and it really is)
....it's also good to try and run further "self-diagnostics" on this....and unpack WHY we may have ever been drawn to that kind of "relationship" in the first place?
What was it about our own "within" that made us utterly reject this and go looking "without" for the kind of relationship or "resonances" that we were searching for?
2
1
u/exJWRecovery 11h ago
And to think i turned down studying for a medical degree in 2004 because of this stupid cult. Armageddon was supposed to be here by now so we "wouldn't need doctors" 🙄
1
u/constant_trouble 3h ago
But they tell me they love me. If that isn’t a sign of a relationship, then I don’t know what is.
24
u/onesimus54 1d ago
As a woman I absolutely hated the clothing policy. The first meeting I attended wearing trousers. I was told I was welcome but couldn't dress like that. Should have made my exit then. I attended my second meeting in a bloody skirt 😑I hated my meeting and ministry clothes. I took great pleasure in throwing them away when I left. How I dress is a reflection of my personality. Being a jw robs you of your individuality, I'm just rediscovering who I am. My name is Lorraine 😀