JWs: Are ex-JWs who characterize their childhoods as being "destroyed" or unpleasant all full of it?

JWs have a tendency to look the other way and not acknowledge this issue. If you are a kid who wants to do what other boys and girls do then OF COURSE you will be distressed when you are forced to be an outcast. That is common sense. Duh!

What I would like to see is more Jehovah's Witnesses admitting that life in the org can be rough, especially for little ones. The typical defense is for them to say, "I have no idea what you are talking about. My family life is great! We go on vacations and enjoy lots of happy times together. Children these days have problems with drugs and other issues, but not OUR children! They are attentive at Kingdom Hall and are always anxious to participate."

I am sure that many JW families are able to see their children through to adulthood without any major incidents or issues affecting their perceptions of overall well-being. The main things children need are love, approval, and attention from their parents. If these requirements are met, young people will survive and get along fairly well even though their mental health suffers and their levels of happiness are low.

A person's condition can be poor even though his or her PERCEPTION of that condition may not be consistent with reality. For example, if you were an African bordering on starvation and you were given two bowls of rice per day rather than one, you would be overjoyed and feel privileged. This same concept applies to JW children who are perhaps scraping by with their basic needs and the minimum requirements for mental stability. JW children may assess their condition as being "great" merely because they don't know any better and/or because they are attempting to convince themselves of this.

The best way to judge for yourself is to read accounts of ex-JWs, keeping in mind that they are NOT all liars who are exaggerating for the purpose of damaging the Watchtower Society. It is clear that most of them are sincere and feel that telling the unaltered truth is enough to warn people of the severe damage that this religion can do to children. Read some testimonies here:

http://4jehovah.org/ex-jehovahs-witness-stories/

The Creator designed children to function in a very specific way. Let them loose and you will get a good idea of what this is. We see them laughing, using their imagination, running around freely, engaging in silly activities, wrestling, jumping on and off things, etc. Quietly following their moms and dads around while they spend hour upon hour in Kingdom service, at church. or in family worship is not consistent with how a normal child operates. That's why most churches of "Christendom" have nursery rooms and Sunday school programs. Telling children to "sit down and shut up" for extended periods of time is unnatural and cruel. But, or course, if Jehovah (or the old men he has delegated his authority to) demands it, then that's the way it MUST be!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OAazqPMBcw

The vast number of EX- JWs do not run to Yahoo Answers to express their grievances. We all experience unpleasant times in our lives as any other person. We are not especially shielded from life.

The most maladjusted people I know, are those that grew up in JW homes

kick them in the face