searcher

This thraed explains something that I have been trying to work out for a while. Thanks all who posted.

To a certain extent, people are defined by the rules they make for themselves, not the ones they are forced to obey. It is not always pleasent to 'hear' what someone has to say outwith the enforced rules constraint, but it does say a lot about the person.

No problem :D--> it is fascinating to learn.

Kit, I cannot say anything because I am not ex anything, and so have no first hand knowledge. As a 'never been' however, I can give an outsiders view of what I see, that is the reason for my post/thread.

Thanks Jeff, It is nice to be able to follow the steps taken by groups, gives a better insight as to why.

JW’s spend their entire time in the cult being micro managed, their every word and action is subjected to close scrutiny. After leaving the cult, most of them become over sensitive to what they may perceive as ‘close scrutiny’, and react negatively. On the other hand, they ALSO subject peoples actions and words to close scrutiny, leading to much “so you are saying then” and “obviously you mean” etc. Mostly, this is so ingrained that they don’t even know they do it, rather like a nervous habit. Understanding this can help greatly in interacting with them.

Mr Mineta seems to think that it is better to risk having a plane blown up than to risk hurting the feelings of a few people. Goes to show what sort of world this has become, hm?

I shall stick around for a couple days because I want to bring my 56 posts up to 3000. :D-->

A few times while reading I have encountered the saying 'studying the bible down to the word' if this means what I think it means, that would explain why some posts are hard to read. I take the meaning of the sentence or phrase.

Zixar, “Pony” Yes, it seems the subject has been discussed to death, (but not died). Conclusion (mine) State “I believe” and expect to be left in peace with that. Or State “I do not believe” and expect to be left in peace with that. That seems to about cover it I think. Now, about these Sea Monkeys……………………. :D-->

How does TWI view the relationship between husband and wife? For example, JW’s take this literally, 4 The Bible further establishes the responsibilities of headship in the example of Christ Jesus, who is spoken of as the husband and head of his congregation. It makes direct statements, such as: “Let wives be in subjection to their husbands as to the Lord, because a husband is head of his wife as the Christ also is head of the congregation, he being a savior of this body. In fact, as the congregation is in subjection to the Christ, so let wives also be to their husbands in everything.”—Eph. 5:22-24. Taken from a 1968 Watchtower magazine (WT mag is studied more by JW’s than the bible is, the bible is just to ‘back up’ the Watchtower with selected quotes)

Zixar, I agree, I will start a topic in doctrinal, we can talk there. Better idea, could a mod please move this thread to doctrinal to preserve continuity? The origional question seems to have been answered now.

Zixar, Not nitpicking at all, you are correct. True, however, I believe that all religion comes from mans awareness that he is part of nature, all the rest comes from speculation about that. A man and a woman ‘create’ a child, so they reasoned someone/thing must have created the first man, and away they went. And I just KNEW I had spelled interpretations wrong :D-->

Lindyhopper, I can offend people just by looking at them :D--> j/k I take it you like swing music then?

Thank You Zixar, Your post explains things so well I could almost be there, for, although I have never been in a cult, I have been a part of things that stated off good, then were taken over by, for want of a better phrase, power hungry a**holes. It is a pity that so many horrible things have been done in the name of god, but then, so many wonderful things have been done in his name also. Bad things done in the name of god are the main reason I dont believe. I will explain if I can. Religion is based on the bible, I have read the bible many times, both from front to back (several times) and in sections, I find it confusing, contradictory and inciteful. Please dont get me wrong, I am not 'bashing' this is just what I see, and I do have good reading comprehension. The only reason I am saying this is that, as I see it, what I said above about the bible is why there are so many different groups and beliefs, it seems there are almost as many different 'interpritations' as there are people. It seems that the problem is people.