Steve Lowry

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Posts by Steve Lowry

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  51

  Internet...the best revenge against the Watchtower

  by DevonMcBride in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for over 100 years the watchtower was used to getting their way.

  they had complete control over their faithful members and those who left had no voice to speak out.

  the law was on their side protecting their teachings.

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  Steve Lowry

  Scoob,

  I have to repsectfully disagree with you on this one, if understnad the point correctly that you are making that is. As to how damaging the Internet has been to the Watchtower Society, I must say that it has a profound effect. I have read many testimonials as to people (JW's) discovering information about the WBTS (via the Internet) that provided them ability to see things clearly (as if for the first time) and then to subsequently leave the group. I believe the Internet may in fact be the singularly biggest device in freeing those shackled to the mighty WBTS today. Active JW's who may be questioning can gather all kinds of information about the WBTS without fear of reprisal. Many who come here (I believe) are such one's as these. Before the Internet, folks like this, simply weren't privy to this kind of valuable information.

  Footnote:

  Now, do I believe the Internet will actually 'bring down' the WBTS? No, I don't. But it has caused it to stumble and has cost it many "publishers". And no one can tell ultimately what ripple effect can come from it. Any kind of damage you can inflict on a cultic group like this, is a plus.
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  14

  Do you still struggle with a negative world view?

  by new light in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well-trained jws tend to view all current events in relation to armageddon.

  they see the world as having no hope of improvement, and view all efforts to improve our home as a waste of time.

  have you totally broken free of this destructive viewpoint?

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  Steve Lowry

  Well of course the WBTS uses the carrot/stick thing to grease its own engine. It teaches it's followers to view the world as a doomed and scarey place, then offers IT'S solution to give the follower peace. You take away the WBTS and all the JW has left is the doom feeling. Yea, I had to deal with this for a while myself. But I've learned that all this is, is trained hopelessness. This of course is just another cultic tactic to keep membership intact. Once you began to take control of your own life (without the WBTS), you relaize that YOU can make a difference.

  I like what I saw on a sign once that said, "The only way to guarantee your future, is to create it!"
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  13

  Speaking of Shunning

  by North Girl in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for those who don't know me i've never been jw but am interesting in understanding.

  anyways, i was wondering when you were a practicing jw and you had to shun people, deep down how did you feel?

  did you feel right in doing so or did you always know that it wasn't right?

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  Steve Lowry

  I never even was aware of the whole shunning thing growing up a JW. There was only one person that I knew of that got Df'd, and we never saw him again. I was pretty young then and if I had of seen him out and about I would have prolly been scared of him becuse of the way the Watchtower Society demonizes those who leave. But, as a young adult I recal friend of mine's sister who was the sweetest girl I ever knew and not a hurtful bone in her body, get publically reproved from the podium one night. It shamed her and her entire family. They never came back to our Hall. Man, I never seen anyting like that. To have someone stand up there and humiliate my friend that way. I was mad as hell that they had done this thing. It was wrong. It really opened my eyes to what I aligned myself with and I believe it helped me in my leaving a little later on.

  Steve
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  25

  What other religions background do you have?

  by Pinned Blouse in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was wondering what if any other religious background any of you had other than being a jw and if you have any comparisons.

  i was brought up as a 7th day adventist.

  once i was on my own as an adult, my former sis-in-law started studying with me and the rest was history.

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  Steve Lowry

  After my JW experience, I decided to go to the curch of Steve. I have been a happy member ever since!
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  67

  What did you actually enjoy about JW meetings?

  by Pinned Blouse in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .

  as much as i dreaded going to all the meetings there were things that i did enjoy.. 1. no special parking spaces for the elders, etc.. 2. no collections plate going around the room.

  3. no one person giving the talk every single week (can you imagine the same speaker 3 to 4 times a week, every day?

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  Steve Lowry

  I have to be honest. From the moment I walked into the Kngdom Hall until the moment I walked out, I hated it.

  The day I got up to walk out for the last time was as close to an orgasmic experience as you could have with your clothes on. I walked out of the door knowing I'd never set foot in a Kingdom Hall again. The only sense of freedom I have ever had that came close to this was when I drove my first car by myself. Two magical moments in my life.
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  6

  Family Matters

  by Purza in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so i have been inactive technically for about 2.5 years now.

  before i became inactive i was literally struggling to get my 1 hour in per month and half the time i studied with my daughter to get that hour in.

  my daughter at 8 years of age began questioning the organization with things like "why won't they let women give talks to the audience, etc.".

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  Steve Lowry

  I needed (for me) to read this post. Thank you for posting it. It's encouraging to hear that people still do stand up to the "mighty" Watchtower Society. Too many people these days it seems are staying 'in' just to appease family members and becasue its 'safer' to do so. (Note here: I realize that the process of leaving a cult like the Watchtower Society takes time and everyone must find thier own and in their own time.)

  I don't even know you or your daughter, but I can tell that you have been a good teacher and good influence and an excellent role model in her life. And she is a great example of someone with a free and strong mind. I wish all parents were as courageous as you. Sure, its scarey and even risky to stand up for what you believe. Very often the truest prinicples are those that find the most resistence. Maybe your mother will get a clue now? In any event your daughter didn't give in to her grandmother's JW rhetoric and pressure and stood her ground. Its all about modifying poeples behaivior and setting boundries. If grandma wants to see her grandaughter, then she'll play by YOUR rules. Excellent work.

  Yea, you go girl! (Both of you!)

  Thanks again for sharing this wonderful story.

  Steve
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  16

  To all those who attended the Dallas Apostafest

  by Junction-Guy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hey gang, i would just like to say that the 3 of us had the time of our life down there and we enjoyed meeting everyone.

  never have i felt so touched by something as i did this apostafest.

  it was so hard for us to leave texas on sunday morning.

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  Steve Lowry

  What's gonna happen in east Tenn.?
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  82

  What's Your Worst Quality???

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ....jealousy?

  anger??

  cheapness??

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  Steve Lowry

  Forgetting my own imperfection. Which I keep being reminded of daily.

  Oh, and bed wetting of course.
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  27

  My friend and co-worker dead.

  by Steve Lowry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  his name was robert thigpin and i worked with him for eight years (1990-1998).

  last night he killed himself.

  while we didn't always see things eye to eye, i could always count on him and he was a good co-worker.

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  Steve Lowry

  Again, thank you everyone for the thoughtful and loving responses to this thread. Friday is the funeral and I'm not looking forward to it. It wouldn't be so bad, but because of the boys, it will be difficult to get through. I am a father myself, so it's gonna be a tough situation. But I have to go, and I will go.

  Steve
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  18

  Calling my JW sister.....Help and Advice, Please!

  by lisaBObeesa in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it has been a long time since i spoke to my sister?a year or so maybe?

  i made a promise to myself to give her a call in the next week or so.

  i also promised my counselor, so i really have to do it!

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  Steve Lowry

  Lisa,

  I don't know if you're still monitoring this thread, but I wanted to add something here. If you decided to show your sister how it feels to be shunned to try and help her see what your mother may be feeling, there are a few things you neeed to consider. One, it could back-fire and create a wedge between you and your sister that could be difficult to remove later. Secondly, you must be pepared for the long haul. Since 'shunning' your sister (for lack of a better way to call it), could result in you not speaking to each other for sometime, you must be prepared for death. Meaning, people die and you want to make sure you don't have any guilt where she (your sis') is concerned. So make sure that whatever you do is based on what you think is appropriate behaivior. I was driving to work this morning and thinking to myself that the advice I gave you works for me because I know it is appropriate for my situation. But would my advice to you for your situation also be appropriate? I don't know. Only you can know that.

  If my sister died today, I would feel sad, yes indeed. But I would have no guilt where she is concerned because of my desicion to cut her out of my life. Ergo, I will be at peace with my actions and know that I acted in an approprite manner regarding her and our relationship. All this to say, you must take care in shunning someone as to where it could ultimetly go. Sometimes what works in one relationship can be disasterous in another.

  Think about it before you act. I will monitor this thread for a while to see if there is anything else I can offer you concerning this dilema of yours.

  Steve