Why Can't I Be a Jehovah's Witness?

In reflecting on my time as a JW, one thing that elders and Circuit Overseers would frequently say is: "We aren't like other religions. You can walk into Catholic or Baptist Church and become a member pretty quickly. But for us (JW's) you have to study first and get the accurate knowledge of John 17:3"

This is another attempt to put on a great front to a dubious method of Jehovah's Witness recruitment. Indoctrination.

Since I resigned my membership as a JW, I find it funny how so not true it is that you can walk into any church and become a member. JW's would like for you to believe that most churches are the Dollar General store equivalent of religion, cheap and easy. That simply isn't true. I will allow that there are many religions that simply ask if one has accepted Christ and are born again, but there are just as many churches, if not more, that would like for you to know a little something about them before you join.

JW's have a more cynical goal though. Because they have such amazing beliefs regarding the prophetic value of the bible, (i.e. most prophetic characters from Noah to Abraham to David to Solomon and Hezekiah all point to the modern day structure and hierarchy of Jehovah's Witnesses), it is necessary to prep the prospective JW with the soft stuff first.

JW's have books designated for study with new prospects. Here is a list

1969: The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life
1982: You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth
1995: Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life
2005: What Does the Bible Really Teach?

These books contain nothing of the very controversial prophetic view of JW's. It skims over and gives the greatest, one sided impression of such controversial teachings as blood based medicine and disfellowshipping/excommunication. It starts almost immediately with the thought that friends and family will be against you for studying the bible. (even though you aren't studying the bible, you are studying JW theology with cherry picked scriptures to back up the theology.)

During this "study" (i.e. Indoctrination!) the prospect is encouraged to attend all the meetings of JW's, where they are trained to basically "love bomb" new ones. New ones are impressed with how much attention they get, and just as equally miffed when, after baptism, interest in them and their problems fade. But it feels good in the mean time.

Of course, the goal for this indoctrination is for you to be able to parrot the basics of JW theology, agree that you want to be a JW, and get baptized. This takes several months or more. It changes after that, because now that you are baptized, you have them as the authority. You can no longer research their bible exegesis, you can no longer even have the private thought that you disagree with JW's on any subject, under pain of disfellowshipping and shunning.

For many, the more you learn, the less you like, but if you get baptized, its a little late to call them out on it and avoid the heartache that frequently occurs for associating with and promoting this group.

So if you want to be a Jehovah's Witness, be sure to study thoroughly, and on your own terms. If they have the truth as they claim, then the truth will stand on its own merits, and not on the merits of propaganda designed to bait and switch you into a lifelong, mafia like commitment.

Why This Blog?

Some of you know me as a former Jehovah's Witness. I grew up and was raised to believe that this was the only true religion. While being raised with morals by two loving parents helped me greatly, the ideas of a cult hurt me as well.

I have struggled to understand what I should do with what I know about this cult. (yeah, it is a cult. If that makes you uncomfortable, the phrase "high control group" might help) While having many dangerous doctrines and beliefs (no blood transfusions, an unwillingness to deal with pedophiles in their midst) Jehovah's Witnesses are far from the only group of its kind that promotes high unity "group think".

The Nazi's are recent history's most powerful example of what can happen when passion and ideology are allowed to run over the rights and abilities of individuals to think and act for themselves. Today, we see in the United States of America a concerted effort to legislate behavior and personal choices under the guise of "morality". This is a thinly disguised effort to enforce a religious philosophy on others, regardless of what such "nonbelievers" may actually think. It seems that many people, though vaguely uncomfortable in seeing personal freedoms backtrack, find comfort in knowing that "they are not alone". They might not be bothered by Atheists or Homosexuals, but they won't stand up to others when their rights are encroached and threatened.

It is my experience and belief that a minority of people actually do think for themselves. Truly thinking for oneself involves having a unique quality, intellectual honesty. I am not talking about elitism. I am talking about the ability to look in the mirror and have the ability to know who you really are, what you really think, and not be afraid to say that the emperor has no clothes. It might mean admitting that you don't know everything, that your beliefs (inherited, learned, or otherwise) on how the world is may not be as the world is. Frequently, our own passions and beliefs reveal more about who we are then the pragmatic reality of the world today.

I have talked to thousands of people in my life thus far on religion. I don't begrudge anyone their beliefs. For many, a belief in god is literally a life saver. Yet, for many more, religion and "faith" is nothing more then an exercise in superstition. For others who are scared to think for themselves, religion and faith is a way to believe in something that a group believes without putting in the work for knowing why you believe what you do. Lets face it, it is easier to be with a hundred people who vaguely agree then to be the one person in the room who sees it differently and disagrees.

This blog will not be about the existence or non existence of god or a higher power. It is all about the danger of superstitious thought, the dangers of letting others think for you, and why organized religion, while having some legitimate benefits, must at the same time be held accountable for the continued ignorance and hate mongering we see in the world today. I will frequently comment on the group I know best, Jehovah's Witnesses. But the lessons learned from this group can easily be applied to other high control groups and walks of life.

Superstitions Antidote is simple: Examine the facts, let them speak, and be honest with yourself. We all must accept responsibility for who we are and our life. Life is too short to let others make your decisions for you.