So sorry for your loss, Poppers. I know it's hard. Thinking of you and yours...
under the radar
JoinedPosts by under the radar
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115
My brother died tonight
by poppers injust got word that my youngest brother died of pancreatic cancer.
he was diagnosed in early august.
this has been really tough for me and my family..
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under the radar
Me too. I will hit the big six oh on the 30th. Oh well, 60 is the new 39, right? All kidding aside, I am happier and feel better and more content that when I really was 39. After all, I now know the TATT and I'm with the love of my life. Yes indeed, life is good.
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New TV documentary about the Longo murders
by under the radar inlast night, investigation discovery channel premiered an episode titled fatal devotion.
it was documentary about the longo murders in oregon in 2001. chris longo, recently disfellowshipped in another state for check fraud, moved his young wife and three young children out west to make a new start but wound up murdering them all and fleeing to mexico.
the series is titled final witness.
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under the radar
Last night, Investigation Discovery channel premiered an episode titled Fatal Devotion. It was documentary about the Longo murders in Oregon in 2001. Chris Longo, recently disfellowshipped in another state for check fraud, moved his young wife and three young children out west to make a new start but wound up murdering them all and fleeing to Mexico. The series is titled Final Witness. Ironic, huh?
Unlike another TV program about this horrible crime, Fatal Devotion does not dance around the fact that they were active JWs when Chris began forging checks because he thought his clients weren't paying him fast enough. It shows actual NWTs and Watchtowers and the Kingdom Hall scenes are very realistic. It also briefly talks about the meaning of disfellowshipping and its effect on the whole family, not just the disfellowshipped one.
Warning: editorial below. Read for your own amusement and at your own risk.
Don't misunderstand. Chris' disfellowshipping did not CAUSE these murders. His pride and self-image led him to commit fraud to keep up appearances, but he only received probation from the legal system. Yes, he was disfellowshipped, in my opinion deservedly because his crime was intentional, premeditated, repeated, and covered up. But he could have just "done his time" and eventually been reinstated and moved on. But he CHOSE to uproot his family and ultimately killed them all when he decided they were a drag on him and the lifestyle he wanted. Selfish evil bastard. The death penalty is entirely too good for him. Life without parole in the general prison population would probably be much more fitting. At least he would learn what it means to suffer...
That said, his disfellowshipping did affect his whole family. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for congregations to treat the whole family of a disfellowshipped one as pariahs. Restricting "spiritual" association is one thing, but often the shunning extends to purely commercial and business relationships. Contracts are often cancelled, new work is not offered, valued employees leave. This can drive anyone to desperation. And obviously affects all those who depend on that income. I think this extreme form of "total shunning" without regard for all the collateral damage makes the way JWs handle disfellowshipping unduely harsh, cruel, and yes, evil. Besides, it's largely ineffective. Even when some do jump through the hoops to be reinstated, I believe it's more due to the social coercion and isolation that anything else.
Editorial concluded. Resume normal operations.
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SAD news about OOMPA......
by redredrose inour friend, oompa, has passed away.
just recieved the news a couple of hours ago, and have almost no details.
it happened today or yesterday, he took his own life.
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under the radar
Just saw this thread. I am so shocked and saddened. Another beautiful caring loving person's life RUINED, in this case ENDED, as a direct result of the policies of this Pharisaical self-aggrandizing cult. If there is a God or Jesus, in the sense the Bible portrays, He must be shuddering with rage at the evil and injustice done in His name.
RIP, Eric. I wish I could have known you. If only you could have known all the love and respect your friends at JWN held for you. Wherever you are, you finally know the secrets of the universe. I hope you have found peace, my friend.
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Watchtower Dishonesty
by Vanderhoven7 injust re-discovered this gem:.
"it is a matter of fact that the history of the watchtower society is riddled with failed date-setting and abandoned doctrine,1 and the society has gone to great lengths to hide this past from its members.
older (incriminating) watchtower publications are virtually impossible to obtain through the society,2 while at the same time members are overwhelmed with "current" watchtower material.. the watchtower society has even gone as far as to publish disinformation about its own history in an attempt to convince readers that watchtower doctrine has remained consistent over the years, and that the society is not a false prophet.
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under the radar
Thanks, Vanderhoven7. That was very interesting. I'd like to share it with a couple of "friends," but I know their response will be more along the lines of "Where did you get that?" rather than "I'll have to check it out to see if if it's really true."
I tried to click on the View links, but of course, they are no longer valid. Is there any way you could reconstruct the links to scans of the actual pages, as it was in the original post? I think that would make the arguments even more effective.
Regardless, thanks again for reposting this. I don't think anyone could read this material with an open mind and not know in their hearts that the Society is guilty of intellectual dishonesty and outright lies.
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Heading soccer balls, wearing designer clothes, and driving hybrid vehicles - all condemned in the latest Awake
by cedars infor those who are interested, the november 2012 awake!
is now available for download online.. among items of possible interest are some of the latest examples of fear-mongering "armageddon art" on pages 12 and 14.... .
speaking of armageddon, you will be sad to hear that the criteria for surviving the great day of god's wrath just got a little more stringent.. there are a number of extra things in this month's awake!
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under the radar
Hey designs,
Can you post the exact name of that hilarious song? I'd love to download it and turn it into a ringtone. iTunes has several albums by the Dillards, but I can't figure out which song you're talking about.
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I have learned to say ''bless you"!
by Aussie Oz infor those born in or dragged in as little children, normal customs are not imprinted on our minds.. such as the simple saying ''bless you'' when somebody sneezes.
this has frustrated my wife for as long as we have been together!
she felt it very rude that when she would sneeze i would not respond with the customary phrase, i had to explain that it just was not part of my culture, not imprinted on me.
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under the radar
Of course, let us not forget that great philosopher Seinfeld who taught us to say, "You're SO good looking!"
Makes every bit as much sense as "Bless you."
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Eric McLean & His YouTube Video Telling All His Friends He's Going To Die!
by minimus inthis young man from wisconsin has been battling cancer for many years.
his doctor told him that they have done everything humanly possible to help him but that he will die.
it's very sad to see this 28 year old man break down as he does.. personally, i don't think i could go on youtube or anywhere else and video myself telling the world, "goodbye"..
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under the radar
That was heart-wrenching. I feel so sad for him and his family and friends.
Poppers: I am so sorry about your brother. I hope they can keep his pain under control and make him as comfortable as possible. The ONLY redeeming feature of knowing your days are numbered is that you have a chance to get your affairs in order and settle any personal issues between family and friends. Too often people die suddenly in accidents and leave things hanging... That just adds to the grief of their loved ones. My best to you and yours.
Radar
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Help what should I tell my mom?!
by Butterflyleia85 inlittle background.
i'm dfed been dfed for about 4 to 6 years if you include the first dfment and getting back in for 6 months then 2008 dfed second time.. i did alot of research in 2010 to now and well from getting dfed for a total different reason just makes me look like a sinner who is unrepentent in my family.
the only people who know my researching is mainly my sister and mom.. .
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under the radar
Unfortunately, your sister probably won't listen, but you could try asking her if the "Faithful Slave" meant it when it said in the July, 2009 Awake! "...no one should have to choose between their family and their beliefs". If they didn't really mean it, or try to claim that it doesn't apply to JWs because "we have the truth," then they have institutionalized hypocrisy. Either that article meant what it said, or it didn't. They can't have it both ways.
None of Jesus' brothers or sisters followed him until after his death. There is no record that he ever shunned them. On the contrary, there is every reason to believe that he treated them the same as anyone else with good sense would treat his siblings.
The only other organization I know of that says once you're in you can never leave is the Mafia. The JWs are the biggest whiners of all when relatives of newly interested ones try to persuade them to stop their studies. They're the first ones to cry "Persecution!" and make a lot of noise about freedom of religion. But if a Witness should do independent research and decide they don't want to be JW anymore, that's a whole different story. There's a BIG price to be paid. Like I said, they're hypocrites.
You don't have to make your mom choose. Just let her know that, come what may, you will always be there for her. Unconditional love means just that... unconditional.
My best to you and yours,
Radar
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No more 3-day DCs starting in 2013?
by respectful_observer inapologies if there is another recent thread on this, but i have heard from 4 different people in 3 different geographic areas (including someone who does advance work for the dcs), that beginning in 2013 the three day dc program will be replaced by a second two-day circuit assembly.
some people were passing the info along like a secret, others seemed to think that everyone already knew.. if everyone in j-dub land is already talking about this, how is it not all over this forum??.
anyway, can anyone confirm or deny?.
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under the radar
This may be a case of waning interest in many areas coupled with the lackluster economy. Gone are the days when the average "publisher" could uproot his whole family and traipse to New York for a delightful 8 day festival of spiritual gorging. Just think what such a thing would cost today. Again, partly because of the economy in general but also largely because of the Society's discouragement of higher education and the careers that go with that, most of the "brothers" simply couldn't afford something like that. Oh, some would wreck themselves financially to try to make it, but I doubt nearly enough could actually pull it off to make it worthwhile.
I was in NYC as a child for both the 1958 and 1963 for the International Conventions. They were indeed 8 long, long days. Everyone, including the most ardent adults, was exhausted both mentally and physically at the end of each day. I doubt anyone retained very much from the ceaseless pounding of spiritual drivel into their skulls.
Anyway, reducing the conventions from 3 back to 2 days may be a back-door way to try to increase attendance. Of course, I haven't been to a JW meeting of any kind in about 10 years and will never go to one again, but I can see why they may want to try this out.