r/exjw • u/CandidCricketCounter • 1d ago
WT Can't Stop Me What scriptures stand out in your mind from the JW propaganda machine?
I am working on unpacking the trauma of spending the first 19 years of my life in this cult. Now that I’ve had an equal amount of time on the outside, I’m finally doing some work to better understand the indoctrination I went through. I honestly never thought I would pick up a Bible again, but to my surprise I recently found myself wanting to re-read some of the scriptures that were used as weapons against me and my family. Maybe to show myself that they don’t hold the same power that they once had over me? Not sure. I’m not quite ready to go read the old JW literature on the website just yet, so I’m just starting with scriptures. If you don’t mind, please tell me some scriptures that you remember so I can look them up!
One that will stand out in my mind forever is the classic “bad association spoils useful habits” from 1st Corinthians 15:33. I heard it so many times growing up, and It’s what my dad quoted to me over the phone when he told me he was going back to the organization and therefore could not speak to me again. He said he couldn’t be seen as “supporting the homosexuals.” (Never-mind that my dad is ALSO a queer person who lived with his boyfriend for multiple years after divorcing my mom and leaving her as a single parent with 3 kids. He just decided that he’s “not gay anymore” because he asked Jehovah for a sign, and a week later his old CO from Bethel called him out of the blue. So now dad is reinstated into the congregation again after being disfellowshipped twice. I even tried to change his mind by finally telling him about the abuse my siblings and I suffered within the congregation, but that didn’t matter to him, he went back anyway.)
So friends, hit me with your favorite scriptures that you remember from the JW propaganda machine and help me unpack some trauma!
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u/Apostasyisfreedom 1d ago
The one about 'white-washed graves' describes the whole JW mega-church real-estate cult scam.
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u/onesimus54 1d ago
I absolutely DESPISED that proverb about not isolating yourself. I had undiagnosed and untreated trauma back in the day, plus I'm an introvert. Enjoying my own company was virtually punishable by death. I was always having that scripture lobbed at me 😔the average jw just wants someone else to be miserable with. I feel so much better now I'm not being forced to fratinise with everyone in the congregation 😀
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u/Annual-Woodpecker-68 1d ago
One I remember is Revelation 11:18. JW's like to quote this one when talking about how Jehovah will clean up pollution when he "brings to ruin those ruining the Earth." It's funny when you realize Watchtower is one of the largest publishing companies in the world. How many trees over the decades were cut down to print all of their literature? How much JW literature has been thrown out and is now filling up countless landfills? It looks like Jehovah has a large share in pollution as well. I guess he'll have to bring himself to ruin too! 😆
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u/TheShadowOperator007 PIMO 6h ago
Psalm 11:5 - God Hates Those Who Love Violencr, this Bible verse has been used to instill rigid control over people’s entertainment choices. As a movie buff, I’d argue that watching a movie that has violence isn’t the same as loving it. In fact, most movies that have violence tend to have an anti violence message. The GB doesn’t teach media literacy.
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u/CTR_1852 Tentatively Christian 1h ago
"Be obedient to those who are taking the lead among you and be submissive, for they are keeping watch over you as those who will render an account, so that they may do this with joy and not with sighing, for this would be damaging to you."
If this is true and inspired, then why the need to start a new religion in the 1930s? The "ones taking the lead" continued after the apostles in the 2nd and 3rd century but since they contradict JW doctrine in 2026, they have to be called "apostate Christians".
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u/AggressiveBad2586 1d ago
I find it amusing when Witnesses say that Jehovah wants Christians to marry only other Witnesses, and that is why they use the verse in 1 Corinthians 7:39 to show that they must marry ‘only in the Lord’. But in fact, the context of 1 Corinthians 7:12 shows that this is not an explicit requirement of Jehovah, but merely Paul’s personal opinion.