Have Been Experiencing Jehovah's Witness "Programming Glitches"

I've been experiencing some stuff that I've just recently had some insight about. It's not really as mysterious as it sounds. I remember reading that Fritz Springmeier says that the purpose of the Jehovah's Witness religion is to create black and white thinking. Here's an excerpt from his book:

11. Black and white thinking is created by the programming. Many of the Gnostic cults have employed these tactics. People in the Jehovah’s Witnesses and CUT, which are Gnostic cults, as well as members of many other groups, such as the CIA will recognize that these methods were used on them.

Being an official member of the Jehovah's Witness religion, I've experienced this type of programming first-hand. But now I realize that I've been experiencing programming glitches related to this. I experienced one person ignoring me at a congregation meeting repeatedly, and then pretend to be good friends at a congregation dinner. But after the dinner she continued to ignore me at the meetings. Really strange. Another weird thing is just recently when somebody thought I was saying the opposite thing while she was wording back to me exactly what I said. In other words, her subconscious knew what I was saying, but her conscious mind was putting up some kind of weird mental block. I gave up trying to explain it to her, and then eventually after the person that I was with explained it to her, she miraculously got it. A programming glitch, indeed.

The most prevalent glitch that I see is one that is on a higher level of the organization. This one is where the organization will say something that contradicts something else that they've said. For example, the higher-ups will say that we should leave the magazines in the hands of as many people as possible, but then they'll say that we have to use discernment because we wouldn't want to waste magazines. And then you'll see people in the field run with this glitch and err with leaving a magazine in the hands of the "householder," despite the householder displaying a low level of interest.

One of the main things that bothers me is how holy the publications say that JWs are, and yet I've experienced that JWs are about the same as any other person "in the world," or less, in showing respect to others. The only difference is that JWs are clean on the surface (for example, they don't smoke, are not supposed to lie, are not supposed to get plastered), but deep inside they are rotting just like any other person that doesn't believe that they should take hold of their spirituality by getting in touch with that intelligent source of the universe is (via trance states, meditation, deep contemplation, whatever). It seems like JWs always feel that they are in competition with Protestants and Catholics (and other Christians), but in contrast, they hardly even refer to Eastern religions, as if to say that those religions are so far beneath them.

I also want to make clear that all religions seem to have their glitches, although I've found recently that Buddhism seems to be closer to the truth than most religions. But even Buddhism has things that I think that they could stand to do away with (one example is the use of mudras during meditation; if anything, for me, using a mudra would distract me in my meditation).

Well, that was my rant. I feel like I better say it here since saying it to another Witness can easily get me disfellowshipped. Have you experienced "glitches" and hypocrisy in formal religions?

a reply to: brazenalderpadrescorpio

uhm... a question if you will...

how exactly are JW's related to gnostics?

this is news to me...

a reply to: Akragon

To be honest, I personally don't believe that JWs are related to Gnosticism. It's apparently something that Mr. Springmeier believed since he was ultra-Protestant. I'd actually wish that JWs had some similarity to gnostic philosophy. It'd make it a little bit more interesting at the meetings. Lol.

a reply to: brazenalderpadrescorpio

From my experiences with the JW's, it seems the only thing they know about is revelation...

I've found no gnostic ties what so ever, and in fact if you even mention almost anything in the gospels they're completely stumped...

I like it when they come to my door actually... Quote a passage or two from the gospels and watch how confused their faces are...

Protestantism is mighty far from Gnosticism as well... In fact they completely disagee with it for the most part

IF you disagree with the religion why are you part of it?

Maybe they just don't like you?

Just a thought.

a reply to: Akragon

It's complicated. But the main reason is that I live in an apartment complex with other Witnesses, and so if I disassociate myself from the religion, it would get real awkward having to be around the other Witnesses. If you're no longer a member of the religion, they're not even allowed to say Hi to you. It sounds cowardly, but something like that would totally break my heart. Especially being in such close proximity to other Witnesses.

We're thinking about moving soon. The other reason is that since I don't work, being a Jehovah's Witness keeps me active doing something. If not, I'd probably be on the internet all day wasting my time.

a reply to: Pants3204

Well I don't like them, to be honest. They all seem real fake to me.

originally posted by: brazenalderpadrescorpio
a reply to: Pants3204

Well I don't like them, to be honest. They all seem real fake to me.

You know people can sense stuff like that.. I'd not like you if I was a JW and thought you were not all the way into it like me.

But to your OP. Any system of thoughts morals or really any system will have holes in it. If you aren't ready to adapt to new situations because you are relying on dogma I guess you will get a "glitch." I'd rather be free of it all. Life is my teacher as well as my soul. If god needed to give me a rule book he would have given it to me where I couldn't lose it. And maybe he did.

I get you not wanting to upset everyone around you though. Tough spot you got yourself into I guess. Good luck on the move.

originally posted by: brazenalderpadrescorpio
a reply to: Akragon

It's complicated. But the main reason is that I live in an apartment complex with other Witnesses, and so if I disassociate myself from the religion, it would get real awkward having to be around the other Witnesses. If you're no longer a member of the religion, they're not even allowed to say Hi to you. It sounds cowardly, but something like that would totally break my heart. Especially being in such close proximity to other Witnesses.

We're thinking about moving soon. The other reason is that since I don't work, being a Jehovah's Witness keeps me active doing something. If not, I'd probably be on the internet all day wasting my time.

Rather disgusting behaviour don't you think?

Sounds very familiar though... almost cultish

Im actually dealing with something similar though... The whole "IF you're not part of our group, we don't like you, and you can't even associate with our people" thing...

Makes me sick... Personally I think Jesus would bitch slap these people...

Sigh

It would be good to look how the system of JW is out of the box, i see you have opened your eyes but still in some sort of denial by the fear of being outcast and separated from the JW community ( btw scientologists use same method and its also a typical sign of the cults ).
Are all your friends and loved ones JWs? The JW committees are quite questionable by way they deal the sins of their people and give the verdicts, the worst is the separation of the community i believe, when people might lose all human contacs they used to have.

a reply to: Akragon

Well they are headquartered in New York which if this is biblical times is surely the city in Revelation 18,so after that they are a headless chicken so perhaps Revelation isn't so great a forte.

a reply to: KnightLight

Thanks for your well wishes! Yeah, it's really weird. I really do think that they can sense it like you said! A lot of times during the meetings, I'm hanging by the back of the main hall. Everybody seems to be talking to everyone else, but I'm pretty much the only one that is not being approached to talk to (except for this other old elder, but I think it's because he's bitter). It's insane! I sometimes talk to people outside of my age range because they are more innocent (mostly older ones), but I think that that makes me seem even stranger to them.

But most of the people in the congregation are kiss-a**es. You can tell that they only talk to other ones so that they won't be excluded from the next party. It's really quite sad. I can't honestly understand how people like that can be brainwashed into thinking that they are so spiritual. And they all try to tell each other that they have a copyright on having "holy spirit." I sometimes think I'm going insane when I think about it. I'm just glad that I can voice my thoughts somewhere.

a reply to: Akragon

I can't stand it. I really do think that Jesus would do the same, as well.

a reply to: brazenalderpadrescorpio

At least these people are just your friends...

I get it from the girlfriends family

a reply to: dollukka

I guess I am a victim of fear in a sense. My mother is in the religion, but she's not baptized. I actually hope she never gets baptized. I myself am baptized.

a reply to: Akragon

I think that they are my friends in the most rigid, formal sense possible. The funny thing is that JWs refer to each other as "friends" in a general sense. They go, "by the way, friends." Every time I hear that, I'm like, I don't feel like I'm just automatically your friend. You have to show me that you're my friend. Another thing that irks me is how horrible their advice is. It's so beyond reality.

The JWs that come out here are nice people. Usually two woman come, one older one and her daughter. They bring me literature quite often, I tell them I put it in the can next to the toilet. That is the only way it gets read by me. I have a bible by the upstairs can on the counter that is open. Best places to study in the house.

They don't mind, I actually tell them of this. I discuss all sort of things with them about religions.

They just have requirements to let people know about Jehovah. I don't see a problem with that. They never have coffee though, I offer it almost every time. I don't know if I should completely trust someone who doesn't have coffee.

a reply to: rickymouse

they can't drink caffeine

Hello my friend. I think you know the real "truth" is revealing itself to you. The only question is are you going to be true to what you see around you, or will you continue to wear the mask of the JW? As one who was born and raised into the JW cult, I've seen and experienced everything you've presented to us here and more. For me, I just couldn't reconcile the fact that there were too many questions they were unable to answer regarding their teachings and honestly, the pure hypocracy of the "elders" in the treatment of their families vs the rest of the congregation.

The decision to leave the church was a tough one that cost me dearly. I basically have no biological family now as I've been "excised" from my bloodline. My family now consists of my wife's family. They've shown more love, compassion and understanding than I ever received while a member of the church.

For me, I find it impossible to reconcile ANY religion that says I'm less of a person because I don't worship, pray or believe what they tell me. We are all from the same origin, whatever that may be. Live your life clean, treat others with respect, understanding and kindness and you will find happiness within. Anything else is to deceive.

a reply to: Akragon

Plenty JWs do drink caffeine, actually. An elder that I know used to drink Rockstars. They call it a conscience matter; in other words, some who recognize that it is a drug will decide not to do it, but won't tell others not to do it. Akragon, I think you're getting confused with Mormons. Mormonism is a way different religion.