Posts by Freedom77

41

Would like all of your imput on this. Please

by Still Totally ADD in

jw
friends

both reopened mind and i are now in our early 60's and it seems our conversations lately have been on putting everything up for sale and buying a rv and travel until we can't anymore.

it has been a dream of ours for along time to see all the site's in the u.s. and canada.

we feel we could make money as we go by selling and teaching using herbs and gardening.

Freedom77

Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.

What does "everything" include? If you're selling a house that you've owned for a long time, you will never again be able to buy a house if you blow all the proceeds on traveling around. (I think you'd also be liable for extra income taxes if you didn't buy another house with the money in a certain amount of time, but check with your accountant on that.) So where would you live if you couldn't travel anymore?

What will "selling everything" net you? If it's only $50,000, heck no put your money in the bank and stay home, travel on weekends. If it's $5 million, well, put a fifth in savings and have fun! If it's somewhere in between, count the cost as someone once said.

If a semi smashed into you, or one of you tripped over a stump and broke a vertebra, or had a heart attack (which happens to plenty of strong, healthy people unexpectedly after 60), or came down with a bad case of tick fever or Lyme disease, or for any reason needed lots of medical/nursing care and expensive pharmaceuticals, and the other had to take care of the sick one full time -- what would you do?

Have you got close, loving, financially independent children who in the worst case scenario would look after you and either take you in or make sure you had decent accommodation, utilities, food, medical care?

I know of lots of folks over 60 who have bought a Winnebago or whatever and toured around the country - but they still kept their house and had somewhere to come home to when the road got too tiresome.

I wouldn't recommend any couple at your age hitting the road without first having two or three years' complete living expenses locked away in a savings account or very very very safe investment.

But then - as you said you only live once. You can do anything you want to do - as long as you're willing to take the consequences.

24

Bizarro world conclusion to the 2014 International Convention Public Bible Discourse

by rory-ks in

jw
friends

it was entitled earth's new ruler - who really qualifies?

given by brother mark neumeyer*, "who has been a full-time servant for nearly 35 years, and is a helper of the governing body of jehovah's witnesses.

" it was his second talk of the convention.

Freedom77

At the 1:35 mark: "We don't brainwash people, we're not salesmen . . . ."

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!

“Minds must be cleansed and made over, mental circuits formed by old-world thinking and acting faded out and new ones put in according to new-world specifications. By privately studying regularly, by attending all meetings regularly, and by engaging in all features of the preaching work regularly mental circuits are deepened and such good activities become habitual, not at all the struggle they are when the mental circuits are weak and faint because used only occasionally. For ourselves and for others, make them strong!—1 Tim. 4:16." Watchtower June 1, 1953

“Why be tricked by crafty men into adopting their thoughts, especially when those men have themselves been snared by Satan and pumped full of his poisonous subtleties and like ventriloquists' dummies chatter them out under his unseen direction? Why allow yourself to be brainwashed by dupes oblivious to their own mental bondage? The brains of millions need a washing, but not with the political or religious propagandas of this system of things under Satan. Rather, everyone needs regular cleansings ‘with the bath of water by means of the word’ of Jehovah God, to get his thoughts instead of man's or Satan's." Watchtower June 15, 1956 p. 360

"Consider some of the other "twisted things" used to mislead God's people today. On occasion opposers will question the various teachings that Jehovah's people hold in common. . . . They may also question the need for an organization to direct the minds of God's people. Their view is, God's spirit can direct individuals without some central, organized body of men giving direction." Watchtower March 1, 1983

30

Would JWs Really Drink The Kool Aid?

by minimus in

jw
friends

if push came to shove and it was a showdown for loyalty to the organization or not following whatever decrees coming heir way, what percentage would remain loyal to the organization?

.

Freedom77

Hell yeah they could. You know how good they are at borganization. And how proud they are of the (much-repeated) fact that every single JW congo around the world is studying the very same WT article every Sunday.

Of course for the kool-aid party, as you say to prevent warnings going out it would have to be held worldwide at one certain time UTC, regardless of local time. But the R&F would all gladly troop along to a Special Meeting at midnight or 3 a.m. if told it was their duty to Jehovah!

Scary thought. Hope it never happens . . . but it could.

44

Where to go from here...

by Patrickday in

i'm new around here, but i've been browsing the site the last few days in hopes of finding the answer to the situation i've been going through, so hopefully you can help me.

i met this girl in highschool, but never really spoke with her until about a year after i graduated.

she's three years younger (however it's legal where i'm from, don't fret) and still a teenager.

Freedom77

Patrickday, just my 2 cents, sounds like you have gotten great advice already and are doing the absolutely right thing: walking away from this mixed-up girl.

She may be wanting to leave the JW's but it's something she's got to do on her own and for herself - you can't help because there's feelings involved, which always screws with rational thinking. She needs an independent helper, not a potential boyfriend - that way lies nothing but Trouble for both of you.

Most likely scenarios: If you were to hook up and become a couple, in time either she would blame you for pulling her away from "the truth" and her family; or, even if she totally left the JW beliefs behind, she would become very dependent on or controlling of you, repeating the behaviors she already learned growing up as a JW.

And even if she totally broke free of the JW's and got her head together too, you guys would never have a normal family life with kids versus JW grandparents, always trying to entice the kiddos into the Borg, and meanwhile NO birthday cards or cake or parties or presents, NO Christmas trees or Santa Claus or Thanksgiving dinners, NO this, that, and the other. IF the grandparents would even speak to you and her at all - she could very well end up disfellowshipped and thus permanently shunned by her entire family. Unless she went crawling back to the Borg, begging for reinstatement, in which case then the Borgmen would be running your life for you, including exactly what you could and could not do in bed with your wife. Seriously, man, it's no joke.

Vivere's story is a great warning example. Your friend needs to find her own way out of the Borg, and learn to stand on her own two feet as a grown-up, independent woman first, before she is anywhere near ready to be part of a couple. Otherwise, you would most likely end up being the punching bag for her frustrations and disappointments - it's a psychological thing called transferrence, and your life would be a living hell.

You're a young guy with his whole life before him, and total freedom to make it what you want it to be. Which the JW's absolutely do not have. So go get on with it, education, career, friends, romance, whatever - and there's plenty of smart, sexy, got-it-together young women who would love to hook up permanently with a decent, caring, intelligent, self-supporting guy - but it's not your job to save this girl, and there's plenty of impartial help available for her on this board and other internet sites, plus professional counselors in real life if need be. So don't feel guilty, it's way too big a thing for you to fix, trust me.

Last point: you need to really understand it's NOT a "religion" in the ordinary way you think of that word: it's a mind-control CULT that worships a corporation. Stupid, yeah, but very true. Here's one vid that makes that totally clear, and it's not the slightest bit exaggerated - ask anyone on this board. Good luck bud.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp3C4f7cBrw

10

How do I update details?

by stuckinarut2 in

how do i update my details such as my bio etc?.

i can't see wher this can be uploaded?

i'm probably stupid i know....sorry...... thanks.....

Freedom77

Twilight Zone thought: maybe our avatars are a true picture of what we looked like to non-JW's back in field service days?

Mwahahaha!

24

Advice on fading needed

by wallievase in

jw
friends

these 2 options are before me right now-.

1. write a letter to the elders and my family, not da myself but basically saying i have too much going on in my life and am confused, so that they will stop bothering my wife and stop asking me questions all the time.

after i write the letter continue to go to the hall less and less.... 2. appease my wife.

Freedom77

The thing is, Wallievase, nobody can tell you the exactly right and perfect thing for YOU to do. You are gonna have to weigh the alternatives and make your own decision. It's like asking other people, should I get married? Should I get divorced? Should I take an overseas job? Etc., etc., etc. Not even your nearest and dearest know what's right for YOU, not really, not completely, not the way you know deep down in your heart what the best thing is. And the best thing might change as time goes on and your circumstances change, too.

There will be both positive and negative consequences to ANY decision you make. And nobody else will have to live with those consequences, good or bad. Just you.

Might help to take a piece of paper, draw a line down the middle, then for each possible choice list the pros on one side and the cons on the other side -- see how they add up and balance out, or not.

My own one suggestion would be as someone said above NOT to write any kind of letter - putting you on record that can be used against you later - also, writing anything to the elders is putting you under their authority, acknowledging they have some kind of power over you and some kind of right to know your thoughts. THEY DON'T.

The "five magic words" is good advice, too. And once you've said that, change the subject or get away fast. Don't let anyone grill you; they may have been sent to scope you out.

Welcome to human freedom, wonderful and scary at the same time. We none of us can make perfect predictions or choices because we never have perfect knowledge, or can foresee all the results that will come. Just count the cost, and then do what feels right in your gut, and that's probably the best you can do in any situation. But understand: you're only a slave if you stay chained up - but the chain is already broken, and you know that.

Good luck to you.

10

"Follow the Golden Rule in your ministry" (WT study July 14-20)

by stuckinarut2 in

wow...just wow!.

this article to be studied next week, is one of the most distorted articles on the subject of showing love....or as jesus stated: "the golden rule" matt 7:12. instead of looking at what it means to show love to members of the community, it is purely designed for witnesses to use in the "field ministry/service".

all about how to approach people with the message etc.... they have completely hijacked the scripture and applied it to pushing the message out in service, instead of how to apply true christian principles in all aspects of one's life!.

Freedom77

Phizzy, isn't that what YOU would want? To be treated the way YOU want to be treated? So it comes down to the same thing. You're just nit-picking over plain English words here.

This seems to be a thing now, I've had this same conversation with oh-so-cool hipsters before who think they have a brilliant new take on an very old thought.

10

"Follow the Golden Rule in your ministry" (WT study July 14-20)

by stuckinarut2 in

wow...just wow!.

this article to be studied next week, is one of the most distorted articles on the subject of showing love....or as jesus stated: "the golden rule" matt 7:12. instead of looking at what it means to show love to members of the community, it is purely designed for witnesses to use in the "field ministry/service".

all about how to approach people with the message etc.... they have completely hijacked the scripture and applied it to pushing the message out in service, instead of how to apply true christian principles in all aspects of one's life!.

Freedom77

Phizzy, outside the jaydubs, the Golden Rule has never been understood as promoting lack of empathy, but quite the opposite, all these many centuries.

In fact the very same thought, in slightly different wording, has been expressed in practically every culture and religion around the world:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Rule

You seem to still be stuck in Borg mentality there - ruthlessly literal-minded when it suits them and "twisting the scriptures" when literal interpretations don't suit the purpose. That's just childish.

1

New Light? Music Permitted ONLY at Weddings

by Freedom77 in

jw
friends

i stumbled across this vid and thought, shave the beard off him and stick him in a suit and tie, and he would be a perfect young mr. theocratic - on steroids.. my second thought was, as wacky as his ideas are .

if the gb put out the very same teachings tomorrow, the r&f would lap them up without a murmur.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivfa8ekoh-4.

your thoughts, folks?.

Freedom77

I stumbled across this vid and thought, shave the beard off him and stick him in a suit and tie, and he would be a perfect young Mr. Theocratic - on steroids.

My second thought was, as wacky as his ideas are . . . if the GB put out the very same teachings tomorrow, the R&F would lap them up without a murmur.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvFa8ekOh-4

Your thoughts, folks?

30

Would JWs Really Drink The Kool Aid?

by minimus in

jw
friends

if push came to shove and it was a showdown for loyalty to the organization or not following whatever decrees coming heir way, what percentage would remain loyal to the organization?

.

Freedom77

I agree with Bennyk and Mum - the R&F would have to be prepared and conditioned for it, but you know the Borg is really, really good at organizing events and also propaganda. First there would be top-secret meetings roping in the elders and ministerial servants and other "spritually strong" baptized brothers. (Ever noticed how quick the under-30 bros turn into fascist Storm Troopers when given some authority at assemblies and such - they love barking out the orders and throwing their weight around, no questions asked.)

Then there would be weeks or months of preparing the R&F lambs for the slaughter with special talks and pointed WT articles. It would all be so carefully and "lovingly" arranged, leading up to the "Special Meeting" day . . . . Seems to me from all I read on this board and others that there's a lot more disaffected bros and sisters now who show up for meetings but their heart isn't really in it. I dunno about now, I haven't set foot in a KH since 1977, but in my time before the 1975 debacle, as far as I ever knew, it was nearly all true believers -- I would say in that day and time, at least two-thirds would have drunk the kool-aid without a moment's hesitation, especially if the kids were killed first, and maybe even 80 or 90 percent. The others, as Mum suggests, would have to be forcibly done away with -- the "spiritually weak" ones who as usual didn't prepare for the meeting!

The idea of what would happen if the order was to go out and kill others . . . mmm, I'm thinking the numbers would have been somewhat lower because of the fear of retribution from police and jail time, etc. -- but I'm sure a significant number would have done the deed "whole-souled for Jehovah" if they were told to. Again, all with the Society's excellent planning & preparation beforehand. The lying, stinking bastards.