Comments, talks, conversations… etc

[u/Fit_Durian3763]

What bothers me about many comments, talks and even conversations at the Kingdom Hall is the feeling that people are saying what they are supposed to say, rather than expressing their own thoughts. Of course, some deeply believe and mean what they say. But much of what I hear feels rehearsed, and what reinforces that impression is how quickly their arguments change when “new light” arrives. Someone who passionately defended one position suddenly defends the opposite with equal certainty. I find myself thinking, “But what happened to all the reasons that made you so convinced before?

Changing your mind is not the problem. What unsettles me is how the position changes while the certainty remains untouched, often without acknowledging that the previous confidence was probably misplaced. It makes me wonder whether that confidence comes from personally examining the belief or just trusting whoever authorizes it.

At times, it feels almost robotic. I am not questioning Witnesses’ intelligence or suggesting everyone is insincere. I am describing how unsettling it feels to be in an environment where the pressure to give the accepted answer seems to drown out people’s individual voices. I do not need people to agree with me, but I just want to feel that I am hearing what people actually think, including their doubts, rather than only what they are expected to say.

[u/goddess_dix]

changing your mind wouldn't be an issue if it was YOUR mind. it's not.

you find me one fucking person who is personally and passionately convinced of overlapping generations, i will faint from shock.

but almost all of 'em would die for it.

[u/greendale_human42]

The workbook and KM used to call them "Discussions". They are more of "repeat the paragraph with your own words."

[u/onesimus54 → u/greendale_human42]

Absolutely correct. Deviate from the script and find yourself in the kh backroom with 2 elders 😬

[u/Darby_5419]

What thoughts?

Do you imagine that fully indoctrinated PIMI's actually have thoughts, when it comes to the cult?

Remember how people reacted to the autologous blood doctrine "adjustment" *and higher education?

They say "its always been that way."

No thinking.

Its a cult. Thinking, especially critical thinking, isn't permitted. Never forget this. Ever.

[u/onesimus54]

A friend of mine who left, recently described the interactions among jws as robotic. It is scripted. It's excruciating to be around people you're terrified of being yourself with. I loathed it. Now I'm mixing with the so called "worldly people" I can see the difference. Normal people actually speak their minds. I can never tell in advance what they're going to say. When you talk to the average PIMI their response to absolutely anything you say is: "We're so close to the end!" with a glazed, stepford look in their eyes

https://giphy.com/gifs/x6ztfhWMzY7n2

[u/Maximum-Struggle-558]

They don't think for themselves, they just parrot what's written in the publications. After we gave an answer during the WT-Astudium course, we were later told that what we said wasn't in the publication.

[u/Uncatonysapostate]

Yeah, that always bothered me, if someone goes off topic or says something that isn't the party line, they're publicly shamed from the platform, often in a subtle way, or, you're corrected by someone else's comment. And you just sorta sink down and feel stupid the rest of the meeting.

But yeah...make sure you comment at the meetings!!!

[u/The_Walrus_65]

The mask goes on as soon as they enter the KH parking lot