Posted by J.H. on March 23, 1999 at 00:19:41 {MWKQmDRkic4cM}:
In Reply to: ***What JWs do for fun posted by practicus on March 22, 1999 at 22:35:32:
practicus,
One problem with your assertions: We have been JWs. I grew up in the JW community, I knew hundreds of JWs (still knows many), and my largly dysfunctional family on one side are JWs.
There are varying degrees of happiness among JWs like others. But JWs present themselves as happier than others, and this runs very much counter to my experiences. My experiences are that JW congregations are a social mess. Depression and substance abuse is extremely common among JWs. I will also say that especially younger women, and those who are pioneers in particular, are very unhappy and suffer seriously.
But, as you note, many JWs lead reasonably decent lives. They would, of course, only improve it by leaving the Brooklynites behind. Living a lie can't benefit anyone.
You have not been an exJW as far as I know, so you know next to nothing about how that is.