the wts is just one of the cults that exploits and damages people, besides it there are many others that operate and damage their adherants in a similar or worse way.
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did you happen to come across such individuals that were similarly traumatised by these other cults or read about them on the internet or books?
Some of the research that I have been doing on cults and high control groups, suggests that just about anything can take on those characteristics.
Here is a link to a booklet from Jehovah's Witnesses Recovery. There is an interesting article about High Control Groups in it. It's downloadable. http://members.aol.com/beyondjw/xj.htm
I read Out of the Cults into the Church when I was first leaving. It talked more about mormons, moonies and hare krishnas. Same thought control.
meagan
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when jesus was talking to the samaritan woman by the well did he imply that buildings (like the temple) would have to be built & dedicated to god for a person to be able to worship god?
can modern day kingdom halls really be considered a place of true worship?
It was not a matter of where a person worshipped.
It was a matter of the heart. And didn't Jesus say something where 2 or more are gathered in my name, there I am?
meagan
i've commented before that the watchtower goes out of its way to label groups of people it doesn't want you to like -- "worldly people", "apostates", "christendom".
there are scores of these labels.. people in general use them too: "spick", "n*gger", "trailer trash".
once we allow ourselves to refer to people by a label, we automatically change them from an individual to a member of a group.
Hm,
good point Katie.
Whenever they can claim persecution they wear it as a badge of honor.
They should have their own t shirt made for them for their congregation picnics:
"WITLESS AND PROUD OF IT BABY!!!"
(sorry too much coffee)
meagan
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when you were a dud (i call it 'dud' not dub..lol), ok how can i put this.....were you 'always on'?
meaning did you always have something to give to people or witness to them at 'every' opportunity or did you look at it as a 'job' where you only gave things out in service?
On. I felt it was my responsibility. I think of all the people I "witnessed" to.
I keep wanting to go back to them and tell them what is going on now, I have just had a lot going on.
Probably come spring and the weather is a bit nicer, I'll stop by.
meagan
new to the site.
have been away from the jw's since 1985. they have a new bible or what?
i remember the nwt not niv.
I have a NIV parents bible. A friend of my husbands family gave it to me when we had our first child.
Great advice in it.
meagan
i've commented before that the watchtower goes out of its way to label groups of people it doesn't want you to like -- "worldly people", "apostates", "christendom".
there are scores of these labels.. people in general use them too: "spick", "n*gger", "trailer trash".
once we allow ourselves to refer to people by a label, we automatically change them from an individual to a member of a group.
Depends on the conversation to some degree. IF I'm talking to someone about my 'elderette' sister for example. They're really, really into the 'troof' and if the GB told them to jump off a bridge, they might do it.
My point: There are some individual witnesses that can in a way earn the label. When we have painful experiences with certain individuals, it's difficult not to.
On the other hand, I do agree we need to be careful. There are many that are browsing through the boards who are active and are searching, be it for incriminating evidence against any of us or for the real truth. Talking about the general individual witness in those terms could do more harm then what the laugh is worth.
meagan
new to the site.
have been away from the jw's since 1985. they have a new bible or what?
i remember the nwt not niv.
New International Version
Easy to understand. You can find it at most bookstores or Christian bookstores.
I don't believe it is a literal translation, it is a thought for thought translation. Interestingly, they have several different study versions that do dive into specific thoughts or words.
I believe Zondervaan out of Grand Rapids Mi publishes them.
meagan
it has been said that something as small as the flutter of a butterfly's .
wing can ultimately cause a typhoon halfway around the world.
--chaos theory
meeting on the street ending.
I saw it on Starz one evening. I thought it was really well done.
meagan
the way the jw religion markets itself often intrigues me.
needless to say one of the most powerful marketing tools, the internet, is giving more hindrance than help to the wts.. i'm suprised that the organisation still sticks with the basic door to door sales approach, which more often than not irritates people, and that they push their message primarily with rather crude magazines.
i'm sure the magazines have to be basic and cheap to maintain profit margins, but in a more sophisticated media dominated world do they really think that cheesy drawings of people cuddling tigers in front of waterfalls is a good sell?
That's a good point.
Because after all, look at the effort they have put out there to get rid of the old publications. If a person could record what they actually had to say, they'd be in a lot of trouble.
meagan
it has been said that something as small as the flutter of a butterfly's .
wing can ultimately cause a typhoon halfway around the world.
--chaos theory
You didn't say if you really REALLY believed this or not.
I think that the lots of which you speak, really are code for Lot, as in wife of Lot. That Lot. Not lots, property.
Lot, you know that guy...
Yeah, I think if you think about this a little more, you'll see what I mean.
ELvis told me. Elvis likes me, I'm from Egypt. Memphis Egypt.
Well, not ME. But Cleopatra. That's who I was in my former life. SO, Elvis, likes me, because I am Cleopatra.
I'm serious. Believe it or not, no skin off my back.
meagan
