under the radar

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Posts by under the radar

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  79

  Finished Ex-Jehovah's Witness Survey (Please fill out for help with project)...

  by Tuesday in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hey everyone!.

  ) did you feel the religion was a cult before leaving?:.

  ) do you feel the religion is a cult now after leaving?:.

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  under the radar

  Ex-Jehovah's Witness Survey

  General

  A.) Name: Mark

  B.) Gender: Male

  C.) Age: 56-60

  Questions:

  1.) How were you introduced to Jehovah's Witnesses: Parents/Grandparents/Relatives were in before you were born and taught you

  2.) How did you leave the religion: Stopped attending all at once

  3.) What Age did you leave? 45-50

  4.) Were you Baptized? Yes

  5.) What General reason did you leave the religion: Didn't believe the teachings, not allowed to question the teachings, disagreed with stance on social issues, didn't agree with things said in the magazines or on the platform.

  6.) How did you feel about the doctrine before leaving: Believed there were more things wrong than right

  7.) Did your feelings about the doctrine effect the way you left? Yes

  8.) If you were disfellowshipped for sin, did your feelings on the doctrine effect you sinning in the first place? N/A

  9.) Did you feel the religion was a cult before leaving? I saw many similarities between the religion and a cult

  10.) Did you research the religion's teachings after leaving? Yes

  11.) What are your feelings on the doctrine of the religion since leaving? The religion has a problem with nearly every teaching

  12.) How do you feel about the organization since leaving? They are no different than any other religion they have good and bad

  13.) How do you feel about the people since leaving?: They are good people with a few bad apples

  14.) Do you feel the religion is a cult now after leaving?: They have most of the qualities of a cult

  15.) What is your opinion on the intelligence of those still in the Organization? : They're intelligent but purposely deny facts for their religion

  16.) Are you happier now that you're gone? I think I'm much happier now that I'm gone

  17.) Do you feel that other than the fact you left the Jehovah's Witnesses that they would agree with how you live your life? I do a few things they would not agree with

  18.) If a Jehovah's Witness approaches you to discuss their religion you're more than likely do the following: Tell them I was raised a Jehovah's Witness and feel they're wrong

  19.) Would you consider returning? When hell freezes over

  20.) How do you feel about discussing your time as a Jehovah's Witness?: It's part of me I'll discuss it if it comes up
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  40

  Where is the best place in the world to live?

  by highdose in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  could be just a whim, but highdoses feet are feeling itchy today.

  i'm young, unattached was thinking about upping sticks again maybe.. .

  can i get any recomendations from anyone?.

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  under the radar

  Well, if you're considering any place in the United States, I'd have to say give anywhere in New Hampshire a look. Great state, no income OR sales taxes (except on hotel stays, restaurant meals, etc.), beautiful both summer and winter, lots of sports, etc. Nashua has been voted America's Best City to Live In more than once. Manchester is bigger, but still feels like a small town. Has all the modern conveniences, including colleges, a major airport nearby, extensive shopping, etc. I love it here!
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  112

  what is your job ?i was wondering how varied our different jobs are !

  by looloo in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i am a support worker for adults with profound disabilities and some with autism and i love caring for people ..

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  under the radar

  Airline pilot.
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  29

  Free load of Watchtower books (tons!), must pick up

  by drew sagan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've been thinking about getting rid of these books for a long time.

  i have bound volumes starting with 1950s up through the early 2000's (not complete, but probably about 35-40 volumes).

  i also have about 50-70+ books, including some from the 1950's (let god be true & others).

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  under the radar

  Mouthy,

  Please check for a PM.

  Thanks!
• 
  67

  Did You Exit the Witnesses Due to Injustices / Difference with Doctrine-Both?

  by flipper in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  many of us leave due to injustices committed inside the organization.

  i did initially.

  i had doubts about some doctrines for years - but not until after leaving the witnesses was i free to be able to confirm my suspicions and see that yes, i did have valid reasons to have doubts all those years .

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  under the radar

  Although I've read many heart-wrenching accounts of abuse and injustice on this site, I have to say that I was never personally mistreated by any Witness.

  My problem with the Society and the Truth™ is the required acceptance of whatever the belief du jour is. Regardless of what your own education, experience, and reasoning tells you, regardless of what "the Spirit" leads you to see (if you believe in such a thing), regardless of whether the New Light™ passes the "sniff test" or not... you MUST accept, believe, and promulgate whatever the "present Truth™" is. It doesn't matter what your own conscience tells you or what you know in your heart to be true.

  It is the forced, artificial lockstep unity that I find most objectionable. Absolutely no room for outside research or thinking for oneself. "Independent thinking" is demonized. Never mind that what is required today might have been apostasy yesterday, and may be tomorrow. What was required yesterday, what some even died to comply with, is now a "conscience matter." To teach earlier beliefs, which were required before, would now be apostasy. Unless, of course, they have been reinstated as the Truth™ again. (See the "generation" merry-go-round.)

  I don't really care about their errors in doctrine, interpretation, or prophecy. I believe that's all fantasy, myth, and superstition anyway. Again, my main issue is that you MUST accept whatever they're teaching today, never mind that it was something different yesterday and may be changed again tomorrow.

  Another major issue is their legalistic, authoritarian approach to maintaining control over almost every aspect of their victims' adherents' lives. Everything from the bedroom to the workplace is regulated. And their ridiculous approach to the "blood issue" is unfathomable. Inconsistent, confusing, and capricious are the kindest words I can use to describe it. And yet "good Witnesses" are expected to be ready to die before accepting whatever components or "fractions" the Slave™ says are not allowed. Never mind that there is no logic apparent in what parts are approved and what parts banned, or that the list itself has been repeatedly revised. I have no doubt that many have died "unnecessarily," even by Witness standards, but "at least they died doing what they thought was right. It was really a conscience matter anyway. And now they're practically guaranteed a resurrection." I have actually heard words similar to that used to "comfort" loved ones left behind. All I can say is, when you have to have a team of elders armed with two thick binders to interpret and enforce a couple of statements taken out of context from a 2000-3500 year old book, it is hardly a conscience matter.

  And now they're tightening the noose by repeated articles stressing the need to obey the Slave™ even if the instructions seem unnecessary, unreasonable, or even dangerous. A recent article even said that no one should "challenge or question the channel Jehovah God is using in this time of the end." What??? Now they even want to be above questioning, much less challenging. That's the height of presumptuousness and arrogance!

  So my reason for disassociating myself from any pretense of being a Witness has nothing to do with doctrinal errors, failed prophecies, or personal mistreatment. It is entirely about their audacious claim to be God's exclusive "channel," deserving and demanding unquestioning obedience and acceptance of whatever their latest pronouncement from on high may be. Their authoritarian and legalistic approach to controlling their members only further reveals them for the charlatans they are.
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  20

  The show must go on..

  by outofthebox in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was reading in the spanish forum (http://www.extj.com/foro/showthread.php?t=15396) that an old sister died from a heart atack during the memorial, but that didn't stop the ritual.

  i remember a lonley very sick sister calling for help to the kh during an emergency, and the elders told her, they were busy in an elder's meeting.

  she almost died and was rushed into the hospital by 'worldy' people.

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  under the radar

  Hey truman :

  Did the incident you mention by any chance happen in Nesbit, MS sometime in the late 80's or early 90's? I don't remember when, but the exact same thing happened one Sunday when I was there. As it happened, the speaker's fleshly brother was the one who stepped up and finished the talk from the outline. Did a pretty good job, too.

  In this case, however, the sick one DID get attention and was treated with loving concern by several elders and others. And his brother, who finished the talk for him, is actually very nice and humble and unassuming. Not one to put on airs at all. I know there are plenty of "showboats" among the dubs, and I have seen plenty of cases of callousness and lack of concern for others, especially for those of the "lower" classes. But in this specific incident, everything was as it should have been.

  Just goes to show that even though the Organization is legalistic cult seeking to contol even the minutiae of its subjects' lives , individual Witnesses can be as sincere, thoughtful, and loving as anyone else. Even the all-powerful Borg can't stomp out the decency in every single one...
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  15

  First Ever JW to attend ETON College. Boy's father steps down as MS.

  by ThomasCovenant in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/education-news/2009/09/03/winning-a-scholarship-to-eton-91466-24595339/.

  eton college is possibly the most famous public school in the world and they have recently accepted their first ever jehovah's witness.

  the link above is a local news item.. i am reliably informed that the boy's father 'stepped down' from his 'position' of ministerial servant as some in the local congregation were not too happy with the example being set.. .

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  under the radar

  Thanks, Billy. That was exactly the thread I was thinking of. As a matter of fact, a copy of the confidential outline (in English) would be just as good as a letter. It would have to be a copy of a CO's original, genuine outline in English for my brother-in-law to (maybe) accept it. He says no such thing was ever discussed in elders' meetings with the CO. I wonder if it was just a regional thing...
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  15

  First Ever JW to attend ETON College. Boy's father steps down as MS.

  by ThomasCovenant in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/education-news/2009/09/03/winning-a-scholarship-to-eton-91466-24595339/.

  eton college is possibly the most famous public school in the world and they have recently accepted their first ever jehovah's witness.

  the link above is a local news item.. i am reliably informed that the boy's father 'stepped down' from his 'position' of ministerial servant as some in the local congregation were not too happy with the example being set.. .

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  under the radar

  If anyone has a copy of that letter that zarco was talking about, I'd sure appreciate your letting me know. I asked my brother-in-law (a life-long Witness and currently the COBOE of his congregation) about it and he said he never heard of such a letter and did not believe it ever existed. They had just had a CO visit when I heard about the letter on JWN, so I thought for sure it would come up on the next go-around. He's had at least 3 Circuit Overseer visits since then and still denies it.

  There was a Spanish version (with translation) on this site, but I never did see an English version. If I could present him with one, I believe I'd score valuable points and maybe get to show him other things I have told him about but he couldn't believe. By the way, he is absolutely honest and if he says he didn't see or hear about such a letter, I believe him. If he had seen it but been "sworn to secrecy," he would have just simply said he couldn't discuss it. He would NOT have denied that it existed.
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  49

  How Jehovah's Witnesses Differ From Cults

  by Bangalore in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  found this article by some guy named john w scott that says jw's are not a cult.. .

  http://ezinearticles.com/?how-jehovahs-witnesses-differ-from-cults&id=3237332.

  bangalore.

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  under the radar

  I was appalled by the blatant lies and misrepresentations in this piece. Most of the author's assertions about the Witnesses are misleading at best and I believe outright deceptive in intent. On some points, he uses misdirection to appear to be addressing a concern while really only trying to distract the reader from the real issue. Classic bait-and-switch. And the Society accuses the "apostates" of using "lies and half-truths." How ironic. How hypocritical.

  I realize that this article isn't an "official" statement from the Society, but I believe it does represent their own view of themselves. The author is almost certainly an active, avid Witness, and not a disinterested observer. The whole thing has an obvious pro-Witness bias and strives to promote Witness beliefs while masquerading as a scholarly discussion of the subject at hand. This in itself is deceptive and disingenuous.

  I would love it if someone with the writing skills of, say, Barbara Anderson, could take the time to refute this article point for point, using direct quotes from Watchtower literature to show the truth about the Truth™. Of course, die-hard Witnesses would never read it, but others might be spared a lifetime of subjugation to the old men in Brooklyn.

  An unbiased look at the unvarnished facts leads to one inevitable conclusion: the Watchtower Society is definitely a cult, by any objective definition.
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  2

  Amazing local cable segment

  by under the radar in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  flipping through the channels this afternoon, i came across a local cable show that spotlights small businesses around town.

  this afternoon's featured business was.... wait for it.... j.

  dubs!!!

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  under the radar

  Flipping through the channels this afternoon, I came across a local cable show that spotlights small businesses around town. This afternoon's featured business was.... wait for it.... j. dubs !!! This is a very nice coffee shop I strongly believe is run by one of our most erudite JWN posters.

  The interviewer was very enthusiastic and Jim Whitney did an excellent job of showcasing his fine coffee shop. I was very impressed with the whole thing.

  You can watch the entire segment on the web at http://mcam.org/VYB.htm

  Just scroll down to the j. dub review and enjoy.