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Jehova's Witnesses aren't a legitimate religion. They're a cult, and the parent comment to you is engaged in predatory behavior exactly of the sort any cult is

Jehova's Witnesses aren't a legitimate religion. They're a cult, and the parent comment to you is engaged in predatory behavior exactly of the sort any cult is known for.

solardev 4y ago
You know, I get where you're coming from. One of my good friends was a disfellowed JW -- which is kinda like excommunication, except they're not just cut off from their church, but their community and family and friends too, altogether. This person had horror story upon horror story to tell about JWs. I certainly would never choose that path for myself. However, I don't think I should be the one deciding what the OP is interested in or not. If they want a religious discussion they are free to follow up, or else they can ignore it. I just didn't want to erroneously mark it as spam. <aside> Really though, what's the difference between a cult and a religion? The amount of real estate they own? Every mainstream religion presumably started from a small cult at some point. Yeah, there are some questionable JW practices and adherents who do shitty things, but you could say that about any religion, or really any group of people. As an agnostic outsider who never believed in any religion, they all seem kooky and silly to me, but I also recognize that they fulfill deeply-rooted human needs for belonging and meaning. The OP is already in a rough place, between the chronic pain and the depression. It's not up to me censor their options. If they can find some respite and peace, be it in a religion or in mindfulness or in nature or in community or in harmless drugs, you know... good on 'em. As long as they're not hurting themselves or others in the process, not my place to judge how they find solace. Our society is so obsessed with materialism and the worship of greed that sometimes even just asking people to consider other spheres of being -- spirituality, community, personal meaning, whatever -- might open up avenues they wouldn't even have considered otherwise. IMO, when you're truly desperate, no option should be off the table. But of course others are free to disagree, and I'm also glad the OP is getting informed about the downsides of JW so they can make a balanced opinion of their own. </aside>

Jehova's Witnesses aren't a legitimate religion. They're a cult, and the parent comment to you is engaged in predatory behavior exactly of the sort any cult is known for.

solardev 4y ago

You know, I get where you're coming from. One of my good friends was a disfellowed JW -- which is kinda like excommunication, except they're not just cut off from their church, but their community and family and friends too, altogether. This person had horror story upon horror story to tell about JWs. I certainly would never choose that path for myself. However, I don't think I should be the one deciding what the OP is interested in or not. If they want a religious discussion they are free to follow up, or else they can ignore it. I just didn't want to erroneously mark it as spam. <aside> Really though, what's the difference between a cult and a religion? The amount of real estate they own? Every mainstream religion presumably started from a small cult at some point. Yeah, there are some questionable JW practices and adherents who do shitty things, but you could say that about any religion, or really any group of people. As an agnostic outsider who never believed in any religion, they all seem kooky and silly to me, but I also recognize that they fulfill deeply-rooted human needs for belonging and meaning. The OP is already in a rough place, between the chronic pain and the depression. It's not up to me censor their options. If they can find some respite and peace, be it in a religion or in mindfulness or in nature or in community or in harmless drugs, you know... good on 'em. As long as they're not hurting themselves or others in the process, not my place to judge how they find solace. Our society is so obsessed with materialism and the worship of greed that sometimes even just asking people to consider other spheres of being -- spirituality, community, personal meaning, whatever -- might open up avenues they wouldn't even have considered otherwise. IMO, when you're truly desperate, no option should be off the table. But of course others are free to disagree, and I'm also glad the OP is getting informed about the downsides of JW so they can make a balanced opinion of their own. </aside>