Posts by rebel8

20

1975 Marketing

by lambsbottom in

can anyone tell me exactly how the jws advertised the '75 being the end of the world?

how were they soooo effective?

i mean, other cults are effective also, but damn!

rebel8

Back then, the printed word had even more power than it does now. Information was not so easy to get. It was hard to get a book published if you were an author, so a book was regarded as fact.

Just close your eyes for a moment and imagine yourself naive, worried about the future, and wanting badly to believe. Now imagine yourself reading a book with this in it. Gives you an emotional response, doesn't it? WOW, of all human generations, it's happening NOW! And you're one of the chosen few who even knows it's coming and will survive it! You're so special! You must adhere to this or suffer torture and death.

This graphic was a big freaking deal back then.

I am not excusing any adult from their responsibility to not teach lies to others or to expose their children to cults. Only explaining how.

Yuck! Looking at that stupid graphic is making me nauseated, literally. That sick little drawing ruined lives.

20

1975 Marketing

by lambsbottom in

can anyone tell me exactly how the jws advertised the '75 being the end of the world?

how were they soooo effective?

i mean, other cults are effective also, but damn!

rebel8

Once you get past the first bitter bite while being distracted by love bombing, confirmation bias kicks in.

Of course I'm just an observer, so I may be wrong. I watched a parent join up during that time period. I wasn't actually old enough to fully believe or disbelieve.

20

1975 Marketing

by lambsbottom in

can anyone tell me exactly how the jws advertised the '75 being the end of the world?

how were they soooo effective?

i mean, other cults are effective also, but damn!

rebel8

They had these elaborate math problems (that when calculated, did not add up correctly), and nifty graphs that looked, deceivingly, like someone smart made them.

Vatican II had reduced some people's faith in mainstream religion--how could true religion be exactly the same for so long and then substantially different all of the sudden?

The US had been in VietNam and there was lots of domestic unrest. The vast social changes occurring in recent years left those who had 1950s conservative values confused and feeling like something was missing. Hippies, Jesus Freaks, heroin--very disconcerting.

Environmental concerns were coming to light & people were concerned Earth could not be restored. People were seeking a solution, something different, something simple, so they didn't have to figure it all out themselves.

Educational levels and scientific literacy were lower back then, so it made for easier targets.

16

Elderly sister (married) says rumor is that RC talk says resurrected will be with thier mates! Poor thing.

by Wasanelder Once in

87 year old sister (who's current husband, a total nazi one foot in the grave) was excited to relate that (she heard) a talk at the regional convention said a wife would be happy to meet her ressurected husband and grab him in her arms!

she reads that as reunion of the married kind.

she is pooping skittles she's so happy.

rebel8

Why is she pooping Skittles over this?

Bligh may stay alive 'til '75 [TBA] along with her, and their marriage bond will remain unbroken.

Even if he didn't, the 1st marriage bond was terminated when she remarried, so she'd be reunited with the latest spouse.

44

I Need Help Getting My Head Straight.......

by TTATTelder in

one of the things i have been wresting with mentally is unraveling the "us vs. them" mentality that has been driven into my skull in the organization.. i am starting this thread seeking advice on how others have come to grip with this.. this is what i struggle with:.

i like the feeling/thought of being among people that live, or try to live, or at least know they ought to live by higher standards of conduct (maybe it is just what i'm used to...).

when you walk out of a convention of people dressed up, clean-cut, shaven, non-smoking, less-profanity-speaking, fairly orderly etc and see what greets you in the streets outside, it is a big contrast.. i am also still trying to understand how a religion that has conned people (so is morally wrong) could also be so well organized and have a lot of truly decent folks among their ranks.

rebel8

I like the feeling/thought of being among people that live, or try to live, or at least know they ought to live by higher standards of conduct (maybe it is just what I'm used to...)

I'd venture to say most people who voluntarily choose to be dubs think so too. It has to do with personality type.

Take this test. You will probably get a J as your last letter. At the end of the test, it will explain the J and other letters. Again I'd guess most dubs are too.

I've taken every hokey pop psychology personality test out there (due to the profession I'm in), but this is the only one that holds water. And when I got the results and started learning more about it, it was just light turning a light bulb on. It explained so much, what was naturally me and what was a product of dubbery. It helped me understand my authentic self.

And then once I did, I understood some of the adjustment difficulties I had post-Borg. Some of that is me and there's nothing wrong with it. And some of it needs to give the rest of the world a break. I am not perfect either.

Try to spend time listening to people from all walks of life, those who are different from you. Ask them a lot of questions about themselves, and try to imagine things from their points of view.

25

Ensure that you dont appear to be Negative , Unhappy or Bitter

by stuckinarut2 in

just a quick thought.... we know that the org loves to paint all those who fade or leave as "negative, bitter and unhappy"...because of course "the truth is the happiest way to live".

so, never allow ourselves to be that way when talking with witnesses, or family members still in.. show them that we are happy, our lives are fulfilled and positive.. then they have no ammunition.

also, it helps other doubters to see that there is life in the world beyond the org..

rebel8

I think part of the reason dubs assume we are negative/unhappy/bitter is because that's how (many of us?) are when we see them.

I have non-jw enemies too (people who have done me harm, who are evil or have acted wrongly and not attempted to make amends). And when I run into them, they can thank their lucky stars that I'm only negative/unhappy/bitter and not worse toward them.

That does not mean I am negative/unhappy/bitter in the rest of my life. Quite the contrary.

I just hold people responsible for their own acts. If they want to blame me for holding them accountable, well then that's their problem, isn't it?

I will not change my actions to impress or affect them in any way. It does not matter what they think about me. If my words or facial expressions make them feel guilty about their own actions, and they twist that around to a reason to stay in the cult longer, then they're getting what they deserve in life.

176

JW refuses to provide wedding stationery to Gay couple

by KateWild in

i was outraged at this and had to post it.. http://jehovahswitnessreport.com/blog/jw-refuses-to-provide-wedding-stationery-to-gay-couple.

i think she is a hypocrite and i bet she sells her invites to fornicators, or does she ask them if they are having sex before marrige, before she takes their money?.

i was never like this when i was a jw, it's even more disturbing that she is going to ask her elders what to do.

rebel8

I don't assume that two men sleeping in the same bed back in those days = homosexuality. Some cultures have communal sleeping. What say the Biblical scholars?

17

Why is shunning NOT a violation of Nat'l and Int'l law?

by Zoos in

i was looking at the universal declaration of human rights posted at un.org and also the description of what constitutes a violation of religious freedom at uslegal.com .. .

according to the declaration of human rights:.

article 18.. everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

rebel8

I have posted about this as well, but more from the perspective of how to publicize and operationalize this violation to the advantage of the victims.

But The Universal Declaration of Human Rightsis not a law.

43

"Only if you get a court order." wink, wink

by rebel8 in

recently had a discussion with a surgeon who said jw parents "usually" (her word, not mine) privately say they will take blood if the provider gets a court order.. yet another person, with no connection to dubs and no motive to make this up, saying this same thing.

interesting.. i'm surprised the thought police have not come out with an article saying jehoopla reads the hearts and judges as bloodguilty those who are relieved when forced to take blood..

rebel8

I have been flat told "we don't disfellowship for that anymore", by a circuit overseer. Of course the caveat is if it is well known or the person flaunts it.....but basically you can do it, and its like don't ask don't tell.

But they consider you as having disassociated yourself by your action, and therefore you're fully shunned. Correct? Potayto, potahto.

And what's that other post, "jehoopla will hold them accountable, not you". That makes me angry. I was told I'd be responsible if blood was forced on me, and I was a child. I had to scream, say NO, physically fight back, and try to escape, just as a rape victim had to, in order to not be blamed. And even if I did all those things, I was told I'd still be considered damaged goods and no one would want to marry me. (Which is why I was totally freaked out when they said there'd be no marriage in the New System...because I'd be forever a virgin...no one to love...ever. Just for being born with a genetic disorder.)

Dubs today, they got it easier.

17

Birthday celebration/participation

by Zana in

my wife is considering to let our kids participate, maybe even celebrate their own birthdays.

she says what can be so bad about just giving a little kid (who doesn't yet understand the bible) a day full of joy and happiness?

she herself actually delayed her own baptism as a teenager in order to celebrate one more birthday.

rebel8

Job celebrated his bday. it's in the bible.