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Critics of Jehovah`s Witnesses/Expert Profile
Expertise
I don't object to Witness theology, but rather their use of social pressure & deceptive manipulations to undermine family ties & control minds. (This may seem contradictory to Witnesses, who draw no distinction between spiritual belief & organizational policy.) I do not engage in theological debate. I support persons impacted by an experience with the Witnesses & advocate early education for everyone so that they can protect themselves from cults by understanding what to watch out for.
(Ex-)Witnesses: I know how upsetting it is to experience doubts (or anger) about your experience. Time does not heal this wound until you first remove the splinter, which takes more time & effort than you may realize. So unless you have already put in that time & effort, don't be surprised if you are deeply affected long after the experience. But there is good news! You're NOT an enemy of God for doubting or for failing to meet the requirements of a human organization. People who lie cannot represent a God of Truth. Tell me where you're at. I'll understand. I can show you how to begin or continue your recovery & make a life for yourself worth living.
Non-Witnesses: Describe your experience with your friend/relative who is (becoming) a Witness. I can help you understand the Witness indoctrination & social dynamics that are affecting him or her (which are probably not apparent to you). I can help you put your options into perspective. Keep in mind that people make their own choices, & you may not be able to affect this person's choices, no matter how much they impact on you. A few people manage to do so, but don't count on it.
Despite my struggle to recover from my experience with the Witnesses, it was worth it. I will never let anyone cloud my clarity of mind again. Let me use that clarity to help you gain clarity. You deserve it. Every living thing deserves truth, compassion, discovery, and wonder; not manipulation, judgementalism, dogma, or control.
Experience in the area
I was a Witness for 30 years, and a volunteer at their headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, for a year. I have attended many congregations across the United States, carefully observing patterns of behavior. Although being a Witness was difficult and I gradually had more and more doubts about Witness teachings, I was a true believer, so I kept trying to make it work somehow. I stopped attending meetings in 1997 only after receiving an answer to a prayer about doing so, and have since been actively involved in recovery, both my own, and supporting others in theirs. Recovery can include reading books, communicating with others in recovery, and participating in support groups and/or therapy. It always involves reclaiming one's own mind and discovering the other sides of the issues that you have been blinded to in the past.
The Witness organization is not like other churches. Most non-Witnesses really cannot imagine what it is like to be a Witness. The organization has unimaginably extensive rules and monitoring that affect every aspect of life (so there is no privacy and no sense of personal independence).
The organization insists on absolute conformity, and claims to directly represent God; so dissent is not tolerated, and authority is totalitarian. Being a Witness is more like living in China or the former Soviet Union than being a member of a religion as you know it. It was the research of Robert J. Lifton, WHO WAS STUDYING TOTALITARIAN GOVERNMENT BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN, that first began to illuminate the problem of totalitarian cult religions around the world.
Witnesses often experience extremely dysfunctional lives and problems including broken family ties, stunted social development, inner unrest resulting from repressed doubts, inability to defend boundaries, and an extreme, persistent feeling of shame for no apparent reason. I can help people impacted by an experience with the Witnesses by revealing in detail the policies and social dynamics in the Witness organization that cause these problems.
My gradual awakening was socially, psychologically, and spiritually tumultuous. I lost everything from my former life. My suffering was epic.
But I have gained everything, so it was worth it. Only after beginning my recovery, I gained social, psychological, and spiritual healing and growth; I gained peace of mind; I gained self-respect; I discovered who I am; and for the first time I discovered the meaning of real brotherly love.
For more resources on this topic, try these web sites:
http://freeminds.org/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freedomofmind/
What do you like about this subject?
I like being helpful. I like helping people avoid pitfalls that have impacted my life. If I can harness my experience to help someone, then it wasn't a total waste, and all that pain can ultimately have a positive result for others as well as myself.
What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?
My recovery is not complete. I guess I'm 95% of the way there, and that last 5% will take the rest of my life. I hope to get as much as possible of that last 5% out of my system in order to achieve balance and harmony in my remaining years. Helping others helps me.
Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:
Cults are not what you think they are. Even sophisticated and educated people are vulnerable to their allure until they know specifically what to watch out for. Hollywood spreads misinformation so that most people don't know what to watch out for, making the world more vulnerable to cults. You can best protect yourself and your loved ones by educating yourself and them in advance.
Something controversial or provocative about this subject
I believe in the founding principles of democracy, including freedom of religion. However, cults do not deserve the freedom to deprive individuals of their freedom. Organizations that use the finite tactics of cult mind control should not enjoy the legal protections that other religious organizations do.
Average Ratings
Recent Answers from Andrew
2009-11-16 Dating between Witnesses and non-Witnesses Causes Suffering:
Dear Walter, On the one hand, congratulations that you have found something pleasant. On the other hand, I am afraid it may be a "mixed blessing". In the context you've offered, and based on the
2009-11-11 The devastating effects of normal dating:
Dear Jo, Thank you for making your question open to the public so that others can benefit from your experience. > From the beginning I was honest and upfront about what I wanted > from a relationship
2009-11-04 Young love between a Baptist and a Witness:
Dear Terrence, > her mother said she and her husband are trying to raise > her daughter to be a pure Christian. But I had always thought > that J.Witnesses weren't Christians Witnesses consider
2009-11-03 Marriage between Witness & non-Witness:
Dear Marie, > To be honest i have no idea what a J.W is all about Some of us hold the position that they are destructive religious cult because they actively practice cult mind control, depriving
2009-11-03 Marriage between Witness & non-Witness:
Dear Marie, You haven't given me much specific information about your case so that I could zoom in and respond in a way that might specifically apply to you; so my answer can only be general. I think
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