outbutnotdown

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Posts by outbutnotdown

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  106

  Does Belgium Have it Right About JWs?

  by ezekiel3 in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  us criticises religious .

  discrimination in belgium

  source: expatica (belgium) http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=48&story_id=11964&name=us+criticises+religious+freedom+in+belgium.

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  outbutnotdown

  Czar,

  You make good points about certain things, but you also leave out the facts that innocent children and even people who have been abused, who are now adults, tend to not have the ability to CHOOSE to escape that religion, because of not having the self-confidence to do so. Quite often these people, who lack this self-confidence, are lacking specifically because they have known nothing other than this mind-control.

  When people are in an abusive relationship, they usually don't even know it. For this reason, there are safety nets for them to escape to, no questions asked. And despite the fact that some people can actually abuse this system, and my ex-wife is one of those people..... (she has gone around accusing me of sexually assaulting my children and of abusing her in every way possible..... all of them lies), but I would be the first to still say that these "safety nets" need to be there, despite that others and myself suffer.

  I have also, like Corvin, through our court system, had a Judge rule that my children are not to be raised as Jehovah's Witnesses. It is through these BIG victories, that the truth eventually comes out, but prevention is still better than this cure that Corvin and I have accomplished.

  B.
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  106

  Does Belgium Have it Right About JWs?

  by ezekiel3 in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  us criticises religious .

  discrimination in belgium

  source: expatica (belgium) http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=48&story_id=11964&name=us+criticises+religious+freedom+in+belgium.

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  outbutnotdown

  Ezekiel3,

  Awesome argument!!!!!! Very true and valid!! I DEFINITELY could not have said it any better myself.

  Cheers!!!!!!

  B.
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  76

  How much harm have you caused your congregation?

  by Joker10 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  how much harm did you cause to the people in your congregation?

  everybody complains how the witnesses did this and that and in the process caused so much harm.

  but what you don't say is how much pain you caused others while you were in.

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  outbutnotdown

  Joker10,

  To be honest, your denial scares me. People who sit there and accuse others, while, at the same time exonerate themselves are delusional and are not even honest with themselves.

  I personally hurt my family a lot, but I think my actions, (even though I was originally df'd, my not going back was 100% MY decision) were necessary and I wouldn't change a thing about it. I have hurt a lot, and some have now opened their eyes and are now learning to free temselves from their pain that they place on themselves in that religion.

  Your response, however,should not even be taken into consideration. At least others here, as Valis and others have said, showed some humility. It's a good thing.... try it sometime.

  B.
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  106

  Does Belgium Have it Right About JWs?

  by ezekiel3 in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  us criticises religious .

  discrimination in belgium

  source: expatica (belgium) http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=48&story_id=11964&name=us+criticises+religious+freedom+in+belgium.

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  outbutnotdown

  Xena,

  IMO, the worst part of living in a high-control religion or even in a high-control and judgemental family, such as if we were raised by prejudiced parents, is not being able to use our God-given (or inate) abilities to decipher what is good and bad, to speak in pretty basic terms.

  In answer to your question, where we should draw the line is when a religion, for example, restricts these in-born abilities. As humans, it stunts our growth spiritually and emotionally when this happens, which in turn causes us to be the negative, close-minded people that is unhealthy for society to have around.

  I have used this quote a few times before, but I will use it again, because it's a goody!!!!!!! On the back of Crisis of Conscience, when speaking about the negative effects of the JW religion, Kim Kimmons says:

  "It jolts the conscience.... a warning of what can happen when an individual turns his God-given right of decision-making over to an organization."

  To me, that is the entire answer............ when an organization prevents us from making decisions that are natural and healthy........ THERE'S A BIG PROBLEM!!!!!!!

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  106

  Does Belgium Have it Right About JWs?

  by ezekiel3 in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  us criticises religious .

  discrimination in belgium

  source: expatica (belgium) http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=48&story_id=11964&name=us+criticises+religious+freedom+in+belgium.

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  outbutnotdown

  Czar,

  Good points again. I went through some weird sh*t when I was younger, mostly based on the fact that my parents, who lacked in skills that enabled good emotional upbringing for their children, seemed to have this belief that they were "special" people and therefore never seemed to question, (or were never open-minded enough to realize it), the fact that they could be even better parents.

  HOWEVER, much like yourself, I wouldn't change a thing about it, not because I don't have some things that make me less than perfect, but, actually because I am ecstatic that I actually realize that I can become more enlightened, and I don't get in trouble for "finding this new light" before some religious hierarchy says it's OK to follow THEIR new light.

  I still stick to my point about the fact that I am not against the gov't pointing out concerns about specific religions, as long as it is done with as much objectivity as possible and with, (like you said), the best of intentions. And yes, I do know that the road to hell is paved with good intentions but the road to happiness/heaven is also. I am the youngest of four kids and I see the anger, hatred, and just emptiness in my older siblings who are all still JW's........and I say that not to insult them, but just to state a fact...............but as much as I respect their freedom of religion, I also know that I was in their shoes before and I firmly believe that they would like it better out here.

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  106

  Does Belgium Have it Right About JWs?

  by ezekiel3 in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  us criticises religious .

  discrimination in belgium

  source: expatica (belgium) http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=48&story_id=11964&name=us+criticises+religious+freedom+in+belgium.

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  outbutnotdown

  Czar,

  I respect your views on having open forums and such about religion and their respective negative consequences as well. I'm not disagreeing with you on that....... it is a great idea.

  I would like to add another point, though. Little children, for example, are not able to have this freedom to the information and are therefore brought up believing that this negative mind-control is good and normal. Therefore, I believe that we should also have PREVENTATIVE measures to disallow people, especially children, from being reared in a JW type of religion.

  I know, for myself personally, I continue to have to de-program myself from some of those negative thought processes that have been put there by that religion, and despite knowing that Im doing better and better, I still think I would have preferred to have a more "open-minded" upbringing.

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  106

  Does Belgium Have it Right About JWs?

  by ezekiel3 in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  us criticises religious .

  discrimination in belgium

  source: expatica (belgium) http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=48&story_id=11964&name=us+criticises+religious+freedom+in+belgium.

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  outbutnotdown

  LOL @ Heathen,

  Ok, I apologize. You are just disrespectful to anyone who's point of view differs from yours..... it is not just women you hate...... it's everybody who is against you and since almost everybody has a different opinion than you, they are therefore all out to get you and against you, in your opinion. But hey, some paranoid delusional people live long and delusionally happy lives.

  Let me know how that doctor appt. goes. Until then, I'll dedicate my time to people who would at least respect my viewpoints, even if they feel that theirs may be more enlightened. Those of us who admit that we are wrong, ironically, lead happeir lives you know.

  B.
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  213

  WHAT IF WE DIDN'T POISON CHILDREN'S MINDS WITH FANTASY?

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  every baby born seems to have a giant helping of fairy stories, talking animals, outrageous exaggerations parading as "fact" and an endless stream of cartoons, science fiction and make-believe.

  the laws of nature and physics are violated every few seconds in film and tv!

  is it surprising that children are not only ignorant of how things really work-but, they don't have patience and an appetite for fact when they get to the schoolroom.

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  outbutnotdown

  Meggidon,

  You are one weird dude. It's hard to know exactly what you are saying, since your grammar and spelling is atrocious, but it sounded like you were even being threatening, with your last post.

  What exactly were you trying to say?

  B.
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  213

  WHAT IF WE DIDN'T POISON CHILDREN'S MINDS WITH FANTASY?

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  every baby born seems to have a giant helping of fairy stories, talking animals, outrageous exaggerations parading as "fact" and an endless stream of cartoons, science fiction and make-believe.

  the laws of nature and physics are violated every few seconds in film and tv!

  is it surprising that children are not only ignorant of how things really work-but, they don't have patience and an appetite for fact when they get to the schoolroom.

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  outbutnotdown

  Well, it seems like a good amount of my posts refer to the comparison between my ex's JW family's theories on raising children and my own non-JW theories..... and here's another perfect opportunity.

  I can't really say exactly how my ex treats the kids, but if it was the way that she was when we were together, it is usually a high stress time for them.... lots of strict rules, absolutes, punishments, etc., with little praise. So when the kids are with me, I always make sure they are safe, but aside from that, I just let them be as free and peaceful as possible. They role play and create numerous imaginary friends/creatures, so it would seem to me that fantasy is a very natural part of life. Keeping that fantasy world from them must stunt their mind development.

  Irregardless of the deeper psychological reasoning, they are very happy in their own little fantasy world..... so how bad can that be?

  I haven't really read too many of your posts, Terry, but maybe you should lighten up a bit on your kids. That's not meant to be rude, but just let them believe what they want. It is THEIR reality, after all.

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  63

  An experiment in self-empowerment - Any Volunteers?

  by Frannie Banannie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i need volunteers for this experiment, but i'll explain what it's about first....you'll find it's gonna be easier for some than others.

  this is about the power of sound and the power of written and/or spoken words and their affect on our environment.

  within the last 30 years an instrument called an eidophone was discovered.

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  outbutnotdown

  I'm in.