cyber-sista

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Posts by cyber-sista

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  15

  Please help me understand the differences.....

  by SwampThing in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i?ve noticed something of a discrepancy and would like some clarification.

  as much as it appears that the wts controls the jws through their published, written word, there also appears to be a fair amount of difference in how that word is applied across the various congregations, not to mention in other countries.

  some members here say this or that happened in their old congregations, and then others say that it was different where they attended.

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  cyber-sista

  The last congo I attended was in a fairly upscale area where the JWs were much more involved in mainstream life--kids in college, many had careers and were more socially integrated than in the recent congo I attended. The last congo I attended was very puritanical--still suspicious about anyone who sought a higher education (some spoke totally against it). Men were counciled to wear solid color shirts only and members of the congo were extremely uptight about any social contact with the world outside of the KH walls. This hall lost most of its young people and was full of social misfits. I would never have become a JW if I was at first contacted by the former congo. It seemed like a totally different religion to me. The whole unity is worship thing is so totally bogus. Congos and elders in differerent cultures and different areas make their own rules and regulations and claim it is all through the direction of the holy spirit. The elders believe that they are being lead by holy spirit in their decision making process when it is nothing but their own strong feelings and judgements about things.

  Of course the Org gives some pretty specific directions (at many times called suggestions) and there is so many grey areas and double think/double speak going on that JWs in general are a confused lot.
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  12

  How a JW treats a friend

  by Sirius Dogma in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have been thinking lately how being raised a jw taught me to be a terrible friend.. to a jw friendship is completely conditional.

  if you don't share the same beliefs as me, you cannot be my friend.

  if you offend my conscience, you cannot be my friend.

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  cyber-sista

  You don't have a lot of time for friendships or doing good things for people in need. I often knew of those in the congo who needed a friend or a helping hand in one way or another--sometimes I would try to reach out, but never as much as I would have like to. I was always too exhausted preparing for meetings, getting reading for meetings and FS, thinking about getting ready for meetings and FS (that was exhausting too) or being at meetings. On top of working and caring for family there is no time for getting too close with people when you're working for the Org.
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  28

  Jehovah's Witnesses Seek To Expand Presence In Brooklyn

  by Larry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  august 05, 2004

  on ny1 now: news all day

  weather: wet & cloudy, high 79

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  cyber-sista

  The last witness I spoke with (or who spoke at me last week) was gushing on about a kid from here who had just gone over to NY to work on a big project there. We are very far from NY and the witnesses here are all under the impression that the society is totally pulling out of NY city area because of the dangers of being there. I don't even think the majority of the witnesses know this big project is going there. For what purpose are they housing all these witnesses if there is no factory for them to work there? The only thing I can think of is that they will build these residenses with free labor and then sell them off in a few years for a huge non-profit organization tax free profit. How do they justify this project as having to do with anything related to the bible education work?
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  59

  My Life in Jehovah's Service - VERY INTERESTING STORY

  by Dogpatch in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  " the overseer made it quite plain..

  "if i can't say i have been advised not to serve in alternate service--why are you actually doing it?

  i was there to serve jehovah; consequently i was doing jehovah's will.

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  cyber-sista

  THANKS FOR POSTING THIS AND

  Terry, thanks for your story. You have managed to make sense of the out of what happened to you during those years in strong and reflective voice. I can tell that you have grown from and out of your experience. Experience isn't always and easy teacher and these were very hard lessons for us all to learn, but hopefully we will move ahead with it in the best way possible.

  CYBS
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  19

  Kingdom Hall For Sale

  by hubert in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  .

  while driving thru town the other day, i noticed a kingdom hall with a "for sale" sign in front of it.

  i am wondering...... what are your views on why they would sell it?

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  cyber-sista

  Was just thinking on this one. If the sold property makes a profit does the society pay taxes on this? Do not profit religious organizations pay capitol gains taxes on real estate investment profits? If not, much money is to be made by buying and selling property like this. If the value of the KH increases enough they can sell it and then turn it over and buy another piece of raw land--this would be a real estate investor's dream!. With the free building labor and and volume discounted materials to reinvest into the next property they would greatly increase their assets and make out like bandits! this is my post from the other KH for sale thread--does anybody know about the tax laws for these investments?
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  37

  3 years of posts from Lady Lee

  by Lady Lee in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well i'm still here after 3 years.

  compared to some people i don't talk a lot.

  but then compared to others i might talk too much.. i've been wondering what to say on this anniversay.

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  cyber-sista

  Lee, I don't think there are enough words to describe how much value you add to all the lives that come here seaching for help. There are so many here that play a major role in helping people as they recover with their exit issues. You are one of those people. The supportive and loving way you come into a thread when someone is anxious or hurting because of the trauma they have been through in the WTS is no small thing. There have been more times that I can count, just on my issues alone that you came and said just the right thing that was needed.

  I wish we could give back to you, as much as you give to us. I appreciate that you are here for all this time!

  Sassy couldn't have said it better--these are my sentiments exactly. THANK YOU SO MUCH for being here, Love, cybs
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  17

  This is your subconscious speaking...

  by seattleniceguy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  many of us have had the experience of our subconscious trying to send us messages.

  sometimes we refuse to listen and it has to resort to more forceful measures, even making us physically ill. for example, while in the final throes of my witness-ism, i found that i would get horribly painful sore throats within seconds of repressing a thought about something that challenged my faith in a way i could not legitimately dispute.

  it was as though my brain was saying, "you need to think about this, now," and then punishing me for refusing to do so.. i was wondering if anyone has experiences like this.

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  cyber-sista

  My personal research has proven to me that JWs are a troubled lot and as has been mentioned before how many are on medication because of it. There is some research out there about JWs and mental health and some have shown that JWs have 4 times the the amount of certain serious mental illnesses than the average. I remember one CO about 7 or so years ago saying that it was shocking to him how many were now suffering from mental illness/depression/chronic fatique, etc. He said these things had increased greatly in the past years. Of course this was all blamed on the world conditions (and satan), which is probably true on some levels the world conditions and not the satan part), but that fact along with the increasing pressures of being a JW in the age of information. It is harder and harder to stuff it--to live a life in the state of denial is such a compromise of self. can see why so many JWs are troubled when they constantly hear their subconscious speaking, but they are warned not to listen to it (the heart being wicked--don't trust it--the corrupt imperfect flesh--and the whole independent thinking propaganda)
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  4

  Kingdom Halls for Sale

  by Banshee in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  in the past year, i have noticed that two kingdom halls in my area are closed and for sale and i haven't heard from any of the locals (i am in a rural area) about the jws here building any new ones to meet in.

  i was wondering, is this an increasing trend throughout the us or just a local phenonenon?

  dare we hope that the dubs will go out of business in other regions?.

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  cyber-sista

  Was just thinking on this one. If the sold property makes a profit does the society pay taxes on this? Do not profit religious organizations pay capitol gains taxes on real estate investment profits? If not, much money is to be made by buying and selling property like this. If the value of the KH increases enough they can sell it and then turn it over and buy another piece of raw land--this would be a real estate investor's dream!. With the free building labor and and volume discounted materials to reinvest into the next property they would greatly increase their assets and make out like bandits!
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  17

  This is your subconscious speaking...

  by seattleniceguy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  many of us have had the experience of our subconscious trying to send us messages.

  sometimes we refuse to listen and it has to resort to more forceful measures, even making us physically ill. for example, while in the final throes of my witness-ism, i found that i would get horribly painful sore throats within seconds of repressing a thought about something that challenged my faith in a way i could not legitimately dispute.

  it was as though my brain was saying, "you need to think about this, now," and then punishing me for refusing to do so.. i was wondering if anyone has experiences like this.

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  cyber-sista

  SNG,

  I remember talking with you before about having the throat syndrome. I had also being dealing with a lot of tightness and horseness along with being tongue tied and stuttering over words. It is something that came up with me during my exiting of the JWs. My therapist told me throat symtoms are based on fears--and not being able to speak well--I still haven't totally figured that out--probably just being disturbed and rattled. I also experienced pins and needles and numbness sensation throughout my body along with exhaustion--nothing medical has come up, but it come upon me during times of stress mostly the stress brought on by JW encounters. The psycologist tells me that stressful situations can at times bring on paralysis in different parts of the body--some being quite extreme.

  At the end of my JW days (daze) I got extremely anxious and nauseous whenever I went to the KH and would need to leave the meeting early most of the time because of my symtoms.

  Thinking back over the years I have known many who claim that they are allergic to the KH and have asthma/alergic attacks, etc when they go in there and some who have panic attacks at the hall too. One little girl used to break out in hives within minutes. I observed some of these same highly allergic people doing fine in other situations where there were alergens present.

  I recall many who developed chronic fatique syndrome. One sister had to be in bed for several months almost in a catatonic state and they couldn't find anything wrong with her. I recall reading about someone on this site when finding out the truth about the JW religion was in such a state of shock and was unable to move and went to bed for weeks where he had to be spoon fed.

  Since exiting the JWs I have had many dreams about my JW experience. Some of very interesting and rather cryptic in nature, but quite obvious that they are connected with my JW experinece and it is the subconscious trying to work through it and bring some understanding into my conscious world.

  I have meant to do a topic on something like this as my subconscious mind also plays JW tricks on me at times, especially when I am tired or in a waking or half asleep state or when I am very tired. Sometimes my JW mind kicks in and tells me God is punishing me/ his spirit has left me especially when I am feeling badly or something is wrong in my life. I catch myself in these fleeting thoughts and shake myself. This is what i was told for so long that this is what would happen to me if I ever left I guess part of my mind is still believing that, but not the part that is awake.
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  13

  Baptist funerals vs. JW funerals

  by jws in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i went to a funeral at a 1st baptist church this past weekend.

  it was for the son of a former co-worker.

  travis was 18 and was about to start his senior year in high school.

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  cyber-sista

  because I was Dfed (wrongfully) in early 1992 I was not allowed by the bastard control freak jw elders to learn of my beloved (blind) JW mom's long illness and subsequent death.I wasn't even invited to the funeral.I did not learn EVEN WHAT YEAR [2002] she died until the govt. database came up to speed,and i found out for myself.

  Danny...I'm always sad and infuriated when I read about this one. This is just plain inhuman and I am so sorry that you were treated like this. My belated sympathy and condolenses to you.

  Even funnier: Lots of people from the congregation came to my moms house afterward. Not one (excluding family and my dads worldly friends) JW would even express their sorrow to me or my sis. The rest of my family saw it and they were disgusted. I went outside and drank a beer and smoked a cigarette in the garage while they were there. THen I came in the house and stared at all of em. I made sure that they would be as uncomfortable as possible.

  Melba...Do JWs even realize what a terrible witness they are giving to the outside world when they see people being treated like this? This is not human decency in any stretch of the imagination. To imagine in their minds that this is something that is giving glory to their God should clue them in on the fact that the WT God is not a merciful one. My belated sympathy and condolenses to you too.

  PS. At the last KH funeral/memorial I went to a sister sat by the door with a table full of literature such as the track "What hope for dead loved ones?" Even though I was still in the Org this made me feel strangely uncomfortable. The talk was the typical sales pitch too.