On Happiness

The Hopeful Atheist describes life inside and outside the religion.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• jehovah's
• witnesses
• happiness
• religion

[Septuaginted]

Dude, you are clueless on this one. I happen to be a very happy person. My congregation is filled with happy people. The problem is that we live in a tough world. Financial hardship can be distressing. But that does not detract from the happiness I get from my religion. I know what it's like to walk away. I did it twice and came back twice. MISERY when away, happiness when I stayed. But that's only me.

[hopefulatheist]

If you are happy, then good for you. In my experience, Witnesses try very hard to represent the face of the organization that is depicted in the Watchtower and Awake, and that means appearing happy in public and with other Witnesses. I don't feel that many people I knew were actually very happy inside. Of course, I can only speak to what I saw. But the people I know now seem much happier at a core level.

[eternityandforever]

@hopefulatheist Well, the people you know now are not under the same PRESSURE as Jehovah's Witnesses! They are not constantly being ATTACKED by Satan the DEVIL. No wonder life is a big piece of pie for them so it seems! You really have not looked at all the facets of this.We really are happy on a spiritual level. We do indeed get holy spirit, which strengthens us to endure. It still is hard, though. Jesus said to pick up your TORTURE STAKE! It wasn't meant to be "EASY". Take another, DEEP look!

[hopefulatheist]

@eternityandforever Thanks for your comments. I wasn't claiming that an easy life is a happy one, simply that Jehovah's Witnesses are not, in my view, happy people overall. Regarding the "easy life," I actually believe that meeting and overcoming challenges is an important part of what it means to be human, and that it's a big part of being happy. But another, critical part of happiness is honesty with oneself and the facts. And that's where I think Witnesses are hindered the most.

[highfidelity95]

I love your video. My life is so much richer since I left eventhough it took several years for me to lose the fear and deprogram and my relationship with my sons is affected. I feel true to myself now and I have wonderful friends (worldly - LOL) and a wonderful ful life. It's like amazing clarity being able to make my own decisions. My biggest regret is that my three sons remain, one being an Elder who will not speak to me. Any suggestions?

[hopefulatheist]

Hi there. Glad you liked the video! I understand what you mean about life being richer after waking up from the JW daze.

Regarding your sons, unfortunately I don't have any advice. Breaking the spell of indoctrination seems to me, so far, something that must come from within the person him or herself. I think the best you can do is make yourself available when they are ready to start thinking. Sorry I don't have any magic recipes, but that's my experience.

Thanks for watching!

[1520ocma]

You are quite right, the 'Happy People' title makes me laugh because most have serious mental issues, not funny that they have problems but that joining JW's doesn't seem to 'cheer' them up.

I attended meetings alone and that's exactly how I felt in the KH. Few would even say hello to me, even though I was young and friendly, I came to dread attending the meetings and after 10 years, I was able to drift out in the last 3. I have no regrets over leaving. Wish I'd done it sooner.

[DblOSmith]

Former XJW here. The congregation is full of the fake happiness that comes with trying to show people that you are happy instead of being genuinely happy yourself.

...but I was never truly a JW. I wasn't baptised and I smelled the BS at 11 and before I could be indoctrinated or have an internal crisis.

Great video.

[drewskione]

@tbuckel1959 No, Heavenly Father is!

[tbuckel1959]

JEHOVAH IS THE CREATOR

[torrents4u2c]

@eternityandforever

Jesus said my load is light and my yoke is easy. I never felt that way as a witness. I felt loaded down beyond the imagination of non witnesses. 5 meetings each week. Field service every Saturday and Sunday. Studing magazines and books every free minute. Trying to fulfill all the demands of the congregation. Dealing with interpersonal relationships in the congregation. The only vacations I could afford ended up being assemblies. My load was heavy and the yoke strangled me,

[eternityandforever]

@2000jasmin OK, so Noah, was false, so was MOSES, so was Jeremiah, so was King David, so was all the former prophets. No man could possibly be leading us to God, no, no, no, that would be impossible. I am so glad I'm not going to follow any MAN! NO, not me! I don't need to listen to the bible, why,it's much easier to just turn away and look at the shiny ball over there! wow, how much easier it is to put down the Torture Stake, and take a new life! Wow, who needs to follow God's way?I like shiny

[eternityandforever]

@hopefulatheist Yeah, everyone just DROP your torture stake....try and go on and be free from the BURDEN! Give up, take a break, take a leisure....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh­hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Isn't it so much better without the need to ENDURE???? Wow, I love the EASY LIFE. No need to study, just R-E-L-A-X-.......ahhhhhhhhhhhh­hhhhhhhh! ---Satan couldn't have said it much better himself!

[rockstock80]

tv Russia. Jehovah's Witnesses and their victims

youtube.com/watch?v=dYtpytCjTs­0&feature=channel_video_title

[savedbygrace1972]

You are right. JW's are not happy at all!