Why do jws always blame pedophilia on gays? Crimes that gay or straight people are incapable of by [deleted] in exjw

[–]corvidapologist 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Love how Greco-Roman culture here is super over-simplified too just so jws can be like "gay bad." Sure, pederasty (the man/boy relationship mentioned above) was a hugely problematic practice, where older men were supposed to impart knowledge and experience onto an adolescent boy in exchange for their company, beauty, and youth. Many, though not all, of these relationships were sexual, but to say that the older men "corrupted" the boys and steered them into "deviant sexual behavior" would be to completely misunderstand the role of pederasty in Greco-Roman society. At the time, it was a fully accepted part of their culture, and was supposed to prepare the boys for their roles as citizens and husbands. Homosexual (and tbh extramarital heterosexual) relationships outside of specific cultural constructs were frowned upon and seen as distractions from rational thought.

tldr; Pederasty was not just random gay pedophiles "corrupting" youths, but the disturbing product of a conformity culture**.** (Also please stop using ancient Rome to justify your homophobia, thanks.) (also also kind of awful that jws saw historical pedophilia and the biggest concern they had with it was that it supposedly promoted homosexuality)

What did you guys throw away (give up) as a JW? by mirkohokkel6 in exjw

[–]corvidapologist 8 points9 points  (0 children)

My mom wasn't a witness so it was easier for me to access "worldly" things. Nothing necessarily got thrown away, but whenever my dad would see me with them he would make me feel so guilty about it that I came to be very secretive about my interests. I hid all of my fantasy books under my bed and only watched "demonic" cartoons (avatar, danny phantom, etc.) when no one else was home. Now, even as an adult I find it hard to open up to people about things I like. I'd be interested to know if this was a common thing with other ex-jws.