Phaedra

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Posts by Phaedra

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  38

  Unbelievable Watchtower quote from 1962!!.. ''Don't waste time speculating on what year Armageddon will come'' (check it on cd-rom if you like)

  by defender of truth in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  wt 6/15 1962 p.380-383.

  "likewise it is possible to spend valuable time speculating on matters concerning the future.

  one might ask, in what year will armageddon begin?...jehovah has not provided answers at this time.

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  Phaedra

  "Truth and theory are not synonymous [unless it originates from US and we say so]."

  

  Phae
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  6

  The Bethel "Compound", CULTure & Cults

  by Phaedra in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i was reflecting on some of the traditional cults mentioned in hassan's book that recruit members and have them move into some kind of compound, give up their worldly lives, possessions, leave their families, etc.

  and work solely for the furthering of the cult... isn't that exactly what "going to bethel" is?.

  when you become a bethelite, you take a vow of poverty and devote your life to the org.

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  Phaedra

  I was reflecting on some of the traditional cults mentioned in Hassan's book that recruit members and have them move into some kind of compound, give up their worldly lives, possessions, leave their families, etc. and work solely for the furthering of the cult... isn't that exactly what "going to Bethel" is?

  When you become a Bethelite, you take a vow of poverty and devote your life to the Org. Your environment is controled, your time/schedule managed, meals are at set times and run in a militant style (I've vistited Bethel several times had the "privelege" of joining a couple of dining room meals).

  The JW organization runs just like any other typical cult... but has the advantage of having most of its recruits "out in the field", self-supporting, willingly volunteering all their time and resources and autonimity to the cult remotely in congregations throughout the world. Belthelite or not, everything about this high-control group quacks like a duck.

  Imagine if everybody who was a dedicated JW had to move into a Bethel-like setting. They have the best of both worlds with the current set up: those who work in the world to support the Org financially and those who give up their entire lives to run it.

  Phae
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  40

  GB approves entertainment auditioning for international delegates.

  by suavojr in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i don't know if this was mentioned but i spoke with a jw from atlanta, georgia that informed me that the great gb has approved jw auditions.. yes, you read that right!

  now the jw's will have their own jw idol, jw voice, and dancing with jw stars, lol.. they are using an assembly hall in atlanta and jw's from all over are auditioning from 8am till 6pm.. supposedly the idea is to have live entertainment for the delegates traveling from overseas for the international conventions.. he said they have had jw's who can play all the hits from the beatles, play merengue, salsa, sing, dance, etc.. the gb is trying hard to make their cult look normal.. some of the questions this rises are,.

  will it work?

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  Phaedra

  A group that has consistently managed to take the entertainment value out of everything, that makes the meetings and conventions as dry and boring as a insurance convention, they are going to have entertainment?

  add to that, a group that has consistently discouraged:

  • the nuturing of personal creative talents and doing *anything* that takes away from Furthering Kingdom Interests™
  • spending time on personal development, education, and hobbies
  • enjoying anything the world has to offer, especially things that draw attention to oneself

  Just wow.

  Phae
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  16

  Satan's tic tacs or GB kool aid?

  by sparrowdown in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  anyone that has been a jw would be familiar with any or all the following scenarios.. 1. you get offered a full time position or promotion after submitting a pioneer application.. 2. a really great bible student you have gets offered a job which means they have to move or have no time for study anymore.. 3. a promising return visit begins a new relationship and the new bf/gf is'nt favourable to jws so the great rv backs off.. 4. a married sister falls pregnant right after her and her husband are invited to bethel or circuit work or gilead.. 5.a couple needs to start caring for an aging parent right after they decide to move to where the need is greater.. etc, etc, etc.

  most if not all jw's would tell you satan is to blame,.... or is he?.

  satanic pattern of sabotage or blind superstition?.

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  Phaedra

  double post
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  16

  Satan's tic tacs or GB kool aid?

  by sparrowdown in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  anyone that has been a jw would be familiar with any or all the following scenarios.. 1. you get offered a full time position or promotion after submitting a pioneer application.. 2. a really great bible student you have gets offered a job which means they have to move or have no time for study anymore.. 3. a promising return visit begins a new relationship and the new bf/gf is'nt favourable to jws so the great rv backs off.. 4. a married sister falls pregnant right after her and her husband are invited to bethel or circuit work or gilead.. 5.a couple needs to start caring for an aging parent right after they decide to move to where the need is greater.. etc, etc, etc.

  most if not all jw's would tell you satan is to blame,.... or is he?.

  satanic pattern of sabotage or blind superstition?.

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  Phaedra

  can't sell your house to go where the need is great = satan keeping you from serving Jehovah to the fullest.

  can't sell your house to go where the need is great = Jehovah has some other blessing in mind for you.

  Phae
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  39

  A few International Conv instructions (more ways to control)

  by doinmypart in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a few official instructions jw delegates are being told leading up to the international conventions.

  congregation secretaries are holding conference calls and then relating the instructions to the congregation.. atlanta - do not drive to convention, parking will not be available.

  take public transportation; attendants will be on all public transit and able to assist.. dallas - attendants will be on site at all hotels to make sure delegates leave the hotel at their assigned times and take their assigned route.

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  Phaedra

  New Orleans - Carry two wallets in case you are robbed. Keep a small amount of cash in the wallet you will hand over to your assailant.

  Really?! That'd sure make me want to attend!

  Phae
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  90

  10 good reasons why celebrating birthdays should be allowed

  by bluecanary in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i cannot take credit for any of the gems below but i did want to polish and organize them.

  much of the information was borrowed from this thread.

  if you can come up with any more, please post them.. the bible does not ban birthdays.

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  Phaedra

  Glad this one resurfaced. Gonna read it now!

  Phae
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  16

  Past couple years of being awake might be catching up with me

  by noonehome in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i was a little too honest with a super close friend who is one of the most important people in my life.

  my mistake.

  she talked to an elder about my doubts...i know she had my best interests in mind and i hold nothing against her.

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  Phaedra

  Ah, sweet noonehome,

  Welcome... to your life.

  You are officially outside the box now, no matter how much you want to stay or pretend to salvage your unfortunately conditional relationships.

  What they all say above.

  So much good input here for you to sort through. This is an amazing resource and I'm so glad you have access to at this fork in the road. So many of us didn't have this kind of support when we awakened.

  That people keep waking up in this organazation to face these kinds of heart wrenching decisions mentally and emotionally is astounding and a testimony to so much humanly *wrong* in that organization when someone begins to truly exercise their free will... to lose so much.

  I understand. I have walked this journey and still do. I have friends and family who are hardcore JWs and I tread carefully around them just to keep our relationships alive. I pay a high price. So will you. So does everyone.

  Married to a believer,

  Phae
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  9

  Happy Birthday LouBelle!

  by kurtbethel in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  yes, it's that time of year to recognize that southern belle of the great continent of africa, our own loubelle!.

  may you have a wonderful birthday and know that you are treasured by myself and many others here.. .

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  Phaedra

  Happy Birthday Loubelle!

  Don't lose your head celebrating, now.

  Phae
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  34

  WOW gotta check out this Charles Sinutko talk "Is It Proper to have doubts?"

  by BU2B in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so manipulaitve.

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  http://www.printcentralandsigns.com/jwtalks/covisits/sinutko%20charles%20-%20is%20it%20proper%20to%20have%20doubts.mp3.

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  Phaedra

  Not going to listen, but I remember my parents had a memorial talk of his on cassette that was circulating (in the 80s). He must be a good speaker, manipulative and all... is he Australian (if he's the same speaker I'm thinking of)?

  Phae