u/nocturnus_strife

if armageddon is just around the corner, why waste your precious seconds why letter writing or sitting in a building for a boring 2 hours when you can enjoy a tv show or movie with your family, go out with friends more, travel or go on vacation, pick up on a new hobby, instead of just rinse and repeating the same thing JWs have been doing for decades except a lot slower with their policies constantly changing and requiring less from everybody? i thought armageddon was supposed to be here now but apparently they "don't know" anymore? how can JWs just stand by and do nothing, not even participate in political/social justice arguments or activities if you want to help others?
it's obvious they just want to convert them instead of actually helping them by giving advice that isn't from the bible, which many now, especially of younger generations, don't really care about or want to waste their time to spend months studying with other people who sh¡t-talk more about gay people than the pedophiles and abusers within their congregation(s), i'd call it crazy since little to no JWs with a lick of awareness really want to talk about it, but what is there to talk about other than the same doctrine over again? i feel if they cared more about others, they'd go back to their older ways, like preaching more, but since armageddon is right around the corner, then they don't really need to? if jehovah really spoke through the elders from the bible, wouldn't god want them to do more for their community (not just their own members, so including athiests and whatnot) since he's an "all loving creator," or is it just people not wanting to commit all their time to the same cause that seems to be delaying faster than ever?
many JWs would also benefit from not constantly talking about the death and destruction of billions who happen to not believe, which is dare i say pretty silly to believe in anyway, like it can improve your mental health by not telling others they're going to be killed by the "true god," whom you could just repent to either way?
imagine that conversation in paradise where you knew someone during the great tribulation who just repented last minute without wasting their limited days on earth to actually have fun rather than concern yourselves with people who don't answer at the doors

(context: the sister was a wife w a son and husband + i was told this last night at 10am but i dont know when this actually happened and im wondering if the next meeting they'll announce this, idk its my first time hearing of this happening to someone "close" to me)

like i thought my mom meant like she just moved or smth, turns out she just dipped out and vanished from this, mom was really upset and mentioned she "wouldnt stop thinking about this one anytime soon" since they were close friends
jeez... tbh i also thought the sister, lets call her A, was a fully devout jw: she went to meetings most times, commented usually, went to service pretty regularly, and even though i havent talk to A or did any close things or hang out with her, idk, im just surprised
this is the first time i've heard someone in my cong get disfellowshipped (i think? idk what happened to A, my mom just stated she left and nothing else) that was actually sorta close to me or at least knew me, i never really was close to A but she was pretty nice and i thought she was fully pimi - or maybe she just became a pomi? idk what happened or what made A make the choice of leaving but im inspired, really, like sweet! what about me next? i wanna leave this i cant handle one more meeting or anymore service ever since i realized i never believed in this

i guess jws really believe that their "brothers and sisters" are all apart of this big "family" as long as you attend regularly or don't mention your doubts, at least for the most part, because even tho im not a jw, i was really shocked to find one of the most jw-jws i've met just end up leaving randomly whether or not they wanted to or were disfellowshipped

idk but at a certain season (i dont remember which one it was but it was when Discord took away the powers and magic of the main 5) my mom was like "nah" and i just never really watched it again other than listening to some music (razzle dazzle/countess song is a banger) and seen a few clips in later seasons and it doesnt look too "dark" for me, a 15y/o, to watch rather than when i was, what like 8?
also its a show about ponies facing racism, systemic issues (earth ponies vs unicorns and peguses and alicorns) etc., and i dont think it wouldve "corrupted" my child self because i just liked rainbow dash bc i thought she was a guy at first lol (and that i lowk had a crush on King Sombra but wtv)

i mean maybe bc MLP deals with evil forces that turn good into evil or destroying good and whatnot (Queen Chrysalis) and i feel jw parents WOULD and SHOULD let their kids watch something that teaches kids about world issues, but ig, other than violent jw programs, they cant watch something that deals with "worldly issues" like mistreatment and other things like bigotry

anyone else had random restrictions on entertainment like this growing up, i feel like this is common, just i havent heard anyone not allowed to watch MLP other than me

i was just curious about any other queer, therian, pagan, or people/nonhumans, 'n whatnot that dont believe in this anymore or if you ever had at all (like me—i never really faded since i never truly believed, not fully at least, esp since im all three)

do ya'll have any weird, confusing, crazy, or obscure experiences in your congregation or with believing friends/friends?
- were you aware of what you were while still believing or fading?
- have any of your brothers and sisters managed to figure out the fact of you don't (fully) identify with the norm within the cult, esp if you're queer?
- what are your struggles with identifying as this for you while still being PIMO?
- if you're all three, what do you feel is the worst having to hide constantly?
(you don't have to say anything deeply personal for any of these dw)

biggest struggle for me was just keeping it a secret, i really want to express my identity while im still a teen with less responsibilities, but this cult really makes you wish you were older just to be able to find a job, affordable housing and basic living materials, like gah damn, i dont wanna live i wanna be safe and free to dress and act how i want, and not be the 1893936th born-in jw that all acts the same (ﾒ﹏ﾒ)

i really wanna dress more dark as an emo and alt/grunge guy, and also decorate with "furry" like things (such as fake tails, ears, drawing paws on my converse, a shitton of flannels, messy eyeliner, dye my hair black, and more) but i severely doubt my parents would let me try to get any, like, therian symbols for my clothing or masks, maybe some basic accessesories like fake tails or smth but im js too scared to ask them (ᗒᗣᗕ)՞ i hate being an overthinker

you don't need to drop any deep lore or anything if you'd rather not, but i was just wondering how many queer, pagan, alter/nonhuman-identifying somebodies are here while being pimo or are still fading, i feel like a lotta people are either atheists or just christians after leaving and wanted to see if others shared or are in my same situation

i dont like JWs, their belief system is very mean towards women and especially minorities so obviously i dont respect them for ts, but i feel really bad for my family and friends that are stuck in this cult, like they're nice people but they are not good, so i cant support their actions since they want everyone to be one of them and actively pray on the downfall of billions who dont...

but i just wish they could open their eyes and notice how genuinely bad this whole thing is (csa/abuse, shunning, victim blaming, superioty/savior complex, etc), and how it affects them and the other brothers and sisters, like js because you believe in this doesnt make you good people, esp with covering up and excusing sa/abuse
and tbh it gave me imposter syndrome, or something relating to it on a small/medium level, because my family loves me, or says they love me, but if i told them abt being a non-witness, would they disown me? would they hate me? will their "love" for their child overcome their brainwashing with the whole shunning thing? they say these things that make me lose respect as people even when i respect them as parents, i mean they care abt me, but every parent should love their kid no matter what (besides abusers and whatnot), its common sense to, but these people lack it and basic logic, maybe even alongside good parents skills
imagine putting your kids spirituality over their mental health, even if they love you, like... no wonder why im so fucked up 🙏

anyone else relate or have a similar experience

if you're gay, trans, lesbian, genderqueer, enby, or anything else these people find "filthy," know that your existance actively makes these people want to throw up, cry, throw a bible at you, and that makes you a very powerful, strong individual, and you deserve sunshine, no matter your current, albeit strict and controlling, environment says.
(you're literally powerful, these guys think you're tests from the devil or whatever homophobic things these people say nowadays idk, i disassociated years ago)

(hahaha, ur gay 🫵)

if you're cis, straight, an ally, or *questioning, don't let these people bring you down because you lack "faith" or god's "*presence" to preach or spread the gospel, (assuming ur atheist, but aye to any christians) you have more morals than the people that claim truth who take their "morals" out of a centuries old book

if you're neurodivergent(how u spell that?), on the spectrum, or have mental and/or physical health issues in general, know that it makes you unique and helps you survive tense and immense struggle(s) more than the people who use the traumatic experiences of their financially unstable and actually oppressed members to guilt trip more stable families

don't let these people get to you or control you for your "flaws," because your flaws make you way better than any intense and destructive group in my eyes

and also because you're awesome sauce and im feeling very happy because i have chicken tenders for dinner (*edit: grammer at the start*)

there's this young brother in my congregation who's roughly around my age, maybe older, whose name is Apollo (awesome right?...), but like, isnt that contradictory or smth? saying any other gods/deities besides jehovah are false but name your kids after them is crazy
and they arent really consistant with it either; my mom was against naming our new dog Janus (even tho it didnt match him and i was just listing ideas atm, his name is Rusty Shackleford now), because Janus is a "false roman god," literally what my mom said, even tho my sister has a sandviper snake named Venus (literal roman goddess), and my ball python's name is Saturn...
true, they ARE technically named after the planets, but they still have pagan origin, and wouldn't that be enough for JWs to avoid using? even as a name for a pet/child? or is it just limited to secular activities? smh ⸝⸝⸝𖦹␥𖦹⸝⸝⸝

JWs believe that if you end up repenting at the last minute when armeggedon comes 'round, you'll be able to live forever with new converts or the "og" JWs, so whats the point of bashing on the thousands of other of beliefs that exist and have existed because of your own? especially if those beliefs or traditions have a cultural background (spirit animals, animism, spiritism, spirituality, wicca/paganism, etc) it just comes off as insensitive and mocking, imo
i doubt this is a hottake amongst exJWs, but ive seen a lot of assholes on here, whether or not they stay christian (ive been bitchier people that went from one cult to another), atheist, or pagan... what do you gain from saying evolution is fake, even if you yourself have no backing for your own creationist-like "religion," do you not get to have to deal with those people in paradise while teaching the new converts about jehovah? do they not have their memories intact besides JWs, do they have a long-term memory subscription or is this whole belief system rigged for the ex-non believers for whatever the paradise brings? wouldn't this be more successful if you advocated for more people amongst different backgrounds rather than the main white, and like one poc, guys that're in charge? how are they going to stay in control if they talk about other religious practices as if many people don't already hate christianity and/or christian sects? there's enough racism and sexism apart of these cults (christianity, mormonism, pimi JWs) , why actively demean the people of different spiritual views just because you have the right one?
i feel as if everyone has free will, there would be no true religion because wouldnt that just contradict the whole point of free will anyway? if everyone besides JWs have a false religion (even atheists), whats the point of just saying they're false without any redemption other than repetance for the JW's version of the end of the world?
why did jehovah let people use their "free will" to create "false religions" just for him to eventually destroy the sacred and cultural religous buildings and even kill the unrepentant followers? is that not cruel to let shit like wars happen just because "this religion is right" and "that religion is wrong," is this not that?
the world government going to war with JWs because of true/false religions? its the same concept

listening to the talk rn (on zoom) and the brother was talking about obedience or whatever (im not rlly paying attention) but that phrase just made me snort through my nose

they preach practicality and consistanty (like spending your time wisely, aka doing js JW stuff) but they don't practice it themselves because they think they're superior to the worldly people that "oppose" them, and it gives them the false belief that they're right for doing so because of the all the articles exposing them, thats why they walk away from hate, they cant even handle criticism in their grown ass age
they create a massive following full of people that dont question their product and if they do, they tell their fans/members to invalidate their valid hate and opinions; its a massive echo chamber for these people, JWs arent supposed to talk to outsiders because then they'll hear how the WT operates, make them doubt, turn to the WT and their publications for help (which js tells them to "starve their doubts," because the borg is full of false prophecy and just pure lies), which will make them confused on whats truly real and right, its pure cognitive dissonance for these people (if they ever actually do their own research without external JW backing, which is highly improbable, considering their new watchtower study, "how to be happy when men hate you")
- which literally states that "people hate us because we worship jehovah" NO. YOU are hated because YOU harm minors, protect the people that do, indoctrinate your active members to guilt trip them for being healthy and capable unlike those with lesser material things and finanical ability, and it just goes on. - a commenter said "if we worship him, people hate us"

"we're living in the last days of the last days" or whatever the hell they say nowadays, doesnt make any sense considering their eschatology (or however you spell that)

if they genuinely cared about helping others into being saved by their god, they wouldnt waste away in a half-empty building "learning" about the same things again and again and singing terrible songs; they would be constantly going out in the ministry, talking about satan and what armegeddon brings, bombarding information about the BORG to their unbelieving friends, families, and neighbors, NOT repeating the same information about the end of the end of the world, excusing their homophobic behavior every damn pride month (not just during pride either, but also during basic meetings or conversations), and showering their strong opinions on any non-JW tradition (like different culture, as they clearly want everyone to act and sound the same everywhere) while acting like its just their god's "standards" (even though, to them, he created everything and everyone equally, except only JWs are the only equal to each other, all those petty apostates trying to ruin their faith /sar)

like why can they wait for paradise, since they have eternal life, to teach others with their knew knowledge about their god, instead of wasting their and others limited time about something obviously outdated? (e.g., the prophecies to come true during the last days even though in the bible they mainly come true and happen right afterwards, like the falling tree with the rings or the crazy king's nightmares that turns him animalistic)

enough about me though, what're your thoughts on how the WT goes about spreading their totally one true religion to those totally filthy unbelievers and atheists?

especially if you're still pimo and actively, or just normally, talk with those that are active members of your congregation, like you ever wonder if they all just catch the new personality flu and assume everything about their religion is the right one besides the valid citicism and news surrounding the borg?
i feel bad for my friends and family, man, they're still mostly young (besides some of my older "friends") because imagine slaving away for a bunch of men and making your entire self purely all JW and not even an ounce of something that used to be of them before they converted/fully believed? im, thankfully, not baptized as im almost finished with hs (two weeks left!!) and i feel a lot of the new questions about the members themselves, not just about the WT/BG and stuff, come from my interactions with my non-jw friends
they help my mental health more than any of the wt/bg's "advice" ever has (which i have never considered taking dw lmao)
it makes me sad these people cant live and only do what theyre told to help make others survive just because of a selfish/selfless* belief
(*selfish because of the paradise idea and selfless for donating even when your financially unstable, even if its wrong, it still shows your kind-hearted and determined, even if you are stuck in a high-control cult)

i've seen others talk about something similar to this and ive heard a couple of statements by jws themselves in person, mainly my friends, family members, or randos at the kingdom hall, during conversations and wanted to ask if you have an experience
maybe as a humorous moment or something that took you off guard if you were still PIMO at the moment

for me, i remember my mom saying that satanists created and thrived off halloween because of children, or something, during our watchtower study about holidays, and im pretty sure that the study didnt mention satanists at all (im actually unsure abt how she came to that conclusion) and it surprised me because jehovahs witness, of course, assume the worst stereotypes about other religions that arent there own

the GB has multiple updates on their fundraising and whatnot to pay cleanup crews for brothers and sisters that are affected by natural disasters or global opposion (opposition?) and support those brothers and sisters that have lost their families/pets/belongings/been forced away from familiar communities, etc... however, they only use that money to help their own members. why not support the entire area? if people are in need of help, help them, it's basic human decency, not a religious roleplay to feel better about all the accusations they get from exjws. like they have the money, but i guess they cant be like all those apostate churches that actually give back to their communities, not just fellow christians
not just that but they also mock other religious for practicing actual hospitality and helping those who are atheist/of a different cultural practice amongst their block, but suddenly those people are beinf influenced by the devil! like is this not at least selfish to claim being the best and one true religion just because you only support your own and not others in the process while also shitting on the communities or different organizations that actually try and care about others?
- note: i also wanted to say how sadistic these people are to non-jws, like they believe they're going to just get brutally destroyed and those who "reject god's messege" are just "setting themselves up for failure" :/

this post is about the paradise "logic"; it's so funny, not necassarily the concept itself, but what JWs believe they'll get to do there. the selling point of this religion is paradise, right? thats the whole point, convert others to be saved from armeggedon, but why, then, do carnivores turn into herbivores? is that not silly? 😭😭 look, living forever (to me) sounds awful, but not wanting to eat meat because we'll all be vegans, sounds like the real hell.
this is also how they sell it to their children (since kids are JW's legacy other than converting others), if kids like animals, if they become friendly and essentially become our pets, why would kids leave? children love animals (most times at least)
if there are other things i've missed, my fault, but the whole idea of lions eating hay with sheep sounds so outlandish lmao, it just feels like it was made by a kid for kids to remain in the religion - also sorry if i sound like im shitting on their beliefs (i mean i am but im trying not to sound mean in the process) i just cant take the mental images of ex-carnivores seriously
i thought a lot abt the paradise, and i just cant understand how animal's predatory instincts will change to veganism, which is a human concept (humans are omnivores, thus the blunt teeth), other than herbivores themselves; its in their nature to eat non-meat products, so would jehovah be brainwashing aligators into eating raspberries? what happens to omnivores? are they the bisexuals of the new diet system in paradise? cant wait to have a pet hippo to find out lmao

NOTE: im just curious, so correct me if im wrong, but this is just my opinion, esp with personal experiences with mainly monotheistic people i've seen and/or met
-
its usually just Eschatologies (religions in a more literal sense i think) that do this, believing in the last days, so of course they're gonna assume everything about "the end of the world" in their religion is 100% true even unchecked factually other than simply believing in an Armageddon/Rapture of sorts or something

what confuses me is that some people (who like to cherry pick things to fit into their idealogy more) legit assume how "oh this is true, this isnt" with their own mythos, like Christianity with the flood (however in my opinion, i dont think its literal as its quite almost impossible to do that, and i feel a worldwide flood would be scribed more than just in the bible if it was true, so it makes sense to be a story about survival and doing whats right... but NOOO ITS WHAT REALLY HAPPENED RIGHT!?! /sar /gen)
2.
another thing that i've seen when it comes to being literal around myths, is the fact people assume everyone else, fellow believers or not, takes things as literal as them, too; i feel as if how widespread Christianity has gotten due to colonization and such it makes people learn from others and/or subconsiously develop the idea that certain religious stories (esp with how big monotheistic religions are) is meant to always be 100% true, unless it doesn't fit their own personal standard (again, correct me if im wrong)

just started an assignment on Greek mythology in my English class today and these boys were arguing and one said "whay does it matter? it's mythology it isn't real" (they always argue but this actually made me angry) like one of them is a literal sophomore, thought he would have more than one brain cell to consider religions, outside of christianity and it's branches, to exist for others - may just be a rant but question still stands