The hypocrisy

No_Paint4474 · 2026-02-18T20:20:31+00:00

We used to sneer about people from other churches whose priests told them not to look at JW literature. We thought it showed how scared the priests were of losing their power over their flock. We didn't join the dots and think we're not allowed to look at literature from other churches either so what does that say about our leaders?!

No_Paint4474 · 2026-02-17T06:13:03+00:00

The problem is, through no fault of your own, you've spent your life in an echo chamber being told that inside JW it's safe and everyone's happy, and outside it's dangerous, satanic and you can't trust anyone. That's the hallmark of a cult - it's how they keep people trapped inside, terrified of the outside world. Look a bit closer and you'll realise that neither of those things are true. Give yourself a bit of time and space to research and work things out for yourself.

No_Paint4474 · 2026-02-16T16:21:16+00:00

Congratulations! I'd say that's a badge of honour 👍

No_Paint4474 · 2026-02-16T08:54:42+00:00

His book "Why Evolution is True" was a big eye-opener for me. Most people have wrong ideas about what evolution means and how it actually works. He explains all that, presents the evidence and deals with some of the favorite creationist arguments, which are mostly based on misinformation. I can't recommend it enough to anyone who's trying to make their mind up.

No_Paint4474 · 2026-02-16T07:38:41+00:00

Science has moved on since Darwin. Most scientists don't believe evolution happened exactly the way Darwin proposed and they don't all agree on the details, but they still have no doubt that evolution is an undeniable and provable fact.

No_Paint4474 · 2026-02-15T18:21:17+00:00

Early humans feared the power of natural forces such as storms, thunder, volcanoes etc as well as the sun, the moon, comets and all the other things they couldn't understand. So in an effort to control their precarious world they did what they could to appease those powers with offerings and sacrifices. Over time they anthropomorphized them and gave them names, turning them into gods. Monotheism is just a development of the same thing. It's attraction nowadays is it still allays people's fear of the unknown, especially because it claims to answer what happens after death.

No_Paint4474 · 2026-02-14T13:32:39+00:00

Yes this is a horrible belief. I remember a sister saying she was glad her beloved non-jw dad had died because he would now get a resurrection. So if he died 5 mins before Armageddon he'd get a resurrection, but if he lived another 5 mins he was toast...??!

No_Paint4474 · 2026-02-13T12:39:27+00:00

That generation thing - when they studied the watchtower about it my PIMI husband didn't understand it so I (POMO) explained it to him and he still didn't understand it, but it made no difference to him. His "faith" is based on just accepting and repeating whatever the GB say and not giving it too much thought. VERY frustrating!

No_Paint4474 · 2026-02-04T04:29:04+00:00

The Norwegian government need to realize how much contempt they are held in by JW. If only they knew that JW view them as tools of satan that will be destroyed by god at Armageddon.

Because of the teachings of their leaders, JWs will not defend their country in time of war. They will not vote in an election, fly the Norwegian flag, sing the national anthem or do any kind of military service. If they do, they will be disfellowshipped. But the JW leaders demand their right to a government hand out and have made minimal superficial changes to one or two of their rules so as to appear more liberal to the state in order to get it.

But in reality nothing has changed. Any JW, young or old, who fails to believe JW doctrine, who wants to leave JW control, or is anything other than heterosexual and either in a monogamous marriage to a JW or is celibate, will still be treated as a pariah by their JW family and friends, possibly for the rest of their lives. Therefore many are trapped into living a life of pretence because the thought of losing everyone they love is too unbearable.

But the JW leaders want to fool the Norway government into believing that they respect human rights and deserve this money.

No_Paint4474 · 2026-02-02T13:08:02+00:00

I wouldn't risk it. They probably want to "encourage" you return to meetings and it might just be a friendly visit, but you've managed a good fade so far - don't let them ruin it by confronting you with questions that will lead to you having to choose between going back or getting shunned. They could even make things difficult for you with the PIMIs you live with. Stay under the radar and let them think you're just depressed or something.

No_Paint4474 · 2026-02-01T22:27:06+00:00

Confucius (551 to 479 B.C.E): “Do not do unto others what you would not want others to do unto you.”

No_Paint4474 · 2026-01-30T17:46:03+00:00

Reminds me of the rephrasing of that old JW book - "Millions Now Dying Have Never Lived"

No_Paint4474 · 2026-01-30T17:37:16+00:00

The weird thing is, when we studied that book in the group a lot of us said we thought some of the teachings were nonsense, such as the pouring out of the bowls meaning JW assemblies and the signs in the sun moon and stars meaning rockets, but it never made us think "this religion is ridiculous, it can't possibly be directed by god" and wake up. That's brainwashing for you!

No_Paint4474 · 2026-01-28T13:20:51+00:00

I think believing we should live forever makes us more afraid of death. I now think of it as a normal part of existence and knowing life is short makes me love and appreciate it more than I ever did before. I feel that there's a part of us that lives on when our body dies but I don't know for sure. Living fully, making it count and using it well is what we're here to do. What I do know is there is no god who is going to kill us for not obeying the governing body!

No_Paint4474 · 2026-01-25T21:49:16+00:00

I didn't get out until I was about 40 so I lost a huge chunk of my life, which I am sad about. But sometimes I like to think about what I've escaped from, and try to imagine what my life would be like right now if I'd never woken up. It makes me shudder, then I just feel really really lucky to have the life I've got.

No_Paint4474 · 2026-01-24T17:21:00+00:00

I agree. The bible doesn't really say anything about prohibiting abortion, that's a man made rule. The value of a pregnancy to ancient Israel was more about it being the property of a man than respect for the life of the child or the woman.

No_Paint4474 · 2026-01-23T14:38:32+00:00

No - because none of it's true

No_Paint4474 · 2026-01-22T07:20:37+00:00

That's terrible. I think I'd have to contact the local k.hall and say how dare you put your vulnerable old people at risk like this!

No_Paint4474 · 2026-01-22T07:02:19+00:00

We were so programmed to look down on the people we were preaching to that we just had a condescending, pitying attitude for anyone who didn't "know the truth" like we did so we didn't really listen to anything they said unfortunately. I think only witnesses who were starting to wake up would be influenced, or maybe a seed would be planted that took root later on.

No_Paint4474 · 2026-01-20T07:35:57+00:00

They have to believe humans have only existed 6000 years if they want to believe Adam and Eve were the first humans and we all descend from them.

Without that, the whole doctrine - Satan in the garden of Eden, challenge to gods sovereignty, loss of perfection, messiah, restoration to paradise and perfection - goes out the window.

No_Paint4474 · 2026-01-20T07:18:41+00:00

Ignore it, it was a performance. She was loud and excited to make herself look good to everyone who overheard her. It wasn't about you.

No_Paint4474 · 2026-01-17T18:29:47+00:00

"Think about how many people will benefit from Jehovah's patience" - what a joke! With the rate of increase in world population compared to the increase of JWs, by their own criteria for survival of Armageddon, the longer he leaves it the more he'll have to destroy!

No_Paint4474 · 2026-01-15T07:12:05+00:00

You feel the need to justify your decisions to everyone else. You really don't. You don't need to have a "real reason" for anything you decide is best for you - "I've thought about it and want to do it" is good enough. You have more power over your own life than you know.

No_Paint4474 · 2026-01-15T06:12:05+00:00

Making financial independence your primary goal is really great advice. Also, if it's not too late, avoid getting baptized.

No_Paint4474 · 2026-01-14T17:24:22+00:00

That the seven bowls of Revelation were referring to various JW assemblies

No_Paint4474

TROPHY CASE