LongHairGal

Joined

• started 50 topics
• posted 8,324 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by LongHairGal

• 
  21

  What makes a cult (in the pejorative sense)?

  by Vanderhoven7 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  michael moore writes:.

  a cult is an organization that enslaves minds and destroys families using cult mind control.

  cult mind control involves orchestrated deception, social pressure, psychological abuse, and repetitive indoctrination (brainwashing) centering around an unchallengeable ideology enforced in a totalitarian way in a closed socially-separatist community setting.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  LongHairGal

  VANDERHOVEN7:

  Answering the first post: I would have to say the biggest indicator of whether or not somebody is in a ‘cult’ is how they are treated when they try to leave.

  If everybody sees how JWs are treated when they leave - they have their answer in black and white!

  As regards the man in the picture with the poster: this may help potentially interested people because they can look up what it’s all about on the internet! ..Too bad the internet wasn’t around back when I was young and interested. I would have saved myself much trouble and aggravation.. And even though I ended up okay, Thank God - I could have been spared some unpleasant memories.

  As for older PIMI JWs seeing this poster: it would not move them an inch. They are in til the bitter End…But, they can keep it.
• 
  22

  2024-05-May-S-147-Dress-and-Grooming-Announcements!

  by Atlantis in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  2024-05-may-s-147-dress and grooming-announcements and reminders!.

  https://pdfupload.io/docs/4d0d5bcf.

  grandpa!.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  LongHairGal

  ATLANTIS:

  A friend, who is also a former Witness, observed Witnesses around the city where they live (manning carts, etc.)

  This person’s opinion is that the JWs NOW look really crummy with the relaxed dress rules along with the unshaven look.. There were even some spotted wearing jeans. (I am sure this isn’t allowed but there’s always somebody who will take advantage).

  Probably the religion sees this and wants to reel everybody back in before they start wearing clown pants and flip flops.
• 
  30

  Moving on in a new chapter

  by redsetter2 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  moving on is the hardest thing anyone has to cope with.. i have officially left the org.

  and now it feels my family have been waiting to do this for a long time, officially shunning me, even though they were practically doing this whilst i was still in.. it feels like i've accomplished a victory and at the same time i feel guilty i was tangled up in communication with someone who "hid who they were" claiming to leak information from bethel.

  i got the call from the man who i thought i worked with.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  LongHairGal

  BETH SARIM:

  I often wondered the same thing myself - that the religion was just laughing at everybody.

  The first time I felt this way was years ago when I was still ‘in’ and they had yearly calendars.. They came out with one that looked like something from the days of PT Barnum (as in ‘a sucker is born every minute’).. I refused to hang this thing up.. I wondered if this was just a bad choice?? I mean they could have used some biblical artwork instead of this.. There have also been rumors of them using subliminal imagery, so who knows what could be going on?

  Anyway, in time I ended up doing a ‘Fade’ after that 1995 Generation teaching… I wish all the Witnesses well who also decided it’s finally time to ‘call it a day’ after those recent changes!
• 
  85

  Disaster preparedness

  by ElderBerry in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  as your family considers its disaster preparedness plan, please ensure that the secretary has up-to-date contact information for you and your emergency contact.

  also, we have re- peatedly seen good results when brothers and sisters are prepared with go bags and are ready to obey direction when they face various kinds of disasters.

  please be sure you have a go bag, and review its contents at least once a year.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  LongHairGal

  NO ZOMBIE:

  I am in total agreement with your VERY realistic post!…I don’t think too many Witnesses ever thought any of this out.

  Yes, if it’s a localized disaster it might work. But, if it’s a big or national disaster, it won’t help them. And you are very RIGHT to point out that when it gets down to survival it will matter that there will be people with you who can’t contribute anything. In truth, they will be a liability.

  The Witnesses can keep their unrealistic pipe dream of ‘togetherness’ in disaster situations. The reality is they’d be fending for themselves and their families. An outsider or single person like myself would be lucky to get crumbs!👎 Just the way it plays out in the ‘hall’ is the way it would play out elsewhere. And, in a disaster situation it would be many times worse.

  I remember the days of district conventions years ago being in car groups with annoying people I didn’t want to be with.. If there was ever a disaster nowadays, I would NEVER want to be with any of these people or any group of strangers if I could help it.. Maybe a few family members and that’s it.
• 
  4

  Latinos Leving Organized Religion- LA Times article

  by SouthCentral in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  https://www.latimes.com/delos/story/2024-04-30/generational-differences-latinos-leaving-religion.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  LongHairGal

  ILLOWY & TONUS OH:

  I agree with you and am tired of this gender politics nonsense. They imagine everybody is going to change their language! I don’t think so!

  This is like the tail wagging the dog.
• 
  48

  What's the Worst Advice You Heard of an Elder Giving Someone?

  by Sea Breeze in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i believe an an elder told someone who's daughter (14 yo) became sexually active with a 26 year old in the neighborhood, that maybe they should get married.

  so, they did... with parental consent.

  he turned out to be a ex-convict who shot his first wife in the face with a shotgun.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  LongHairGal

  TONUS OH:

  It most definitely is ‘sunk cost fallacy’ that keeps many of the older Witnesses in. With other age groups it IS definitely about the social aspects of the religion (and acceptance from other people there).

  I am convinced that in many cases it is pointless to try to reason with many Witnesses about what is wrong with the religion and its policies.. They are ‘all over the place’ with faulty reasoning and fallacies they cling to.

  I just tried on another thread with somebody claiming to be recently reinstated.. They had revealed on another thread how affluent they were - but yet suggested to me that other JWs should do-without now and get benefits later (eternal life, I presume) - saying they should pursue a ‘lower lifestyle’. 🙄

  I saw this back in the day with older Witnesses with cushy lives suggesting that OTHER people do-without. This was suggested to me!!!

  Also, certain JWs apparently aren’t really keeping up with the ‘celestial chariot’. I’m referring to the change at the annual meeting about no longer needing to count time. These people either don’t know or don’t care about this.. It’s all hypocrisy and gives me a headache and I’m glad I never allowed the religion to influence my life decisions.
• 
  48

  What's the Worst Advice You Heard of an Elder Giving Someone?

  by Sea Breeze in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i believe an an elder told someone who's daughter (14 yo) became sexually active with a 26 year old in the neighborhood, that maybe they should get married.

  so, they did... with parental consent.

  he turned out to be a ex-convict who shot his first wife in the face with a shotgun.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  LongHairGal

  RIVERGANG:

  Even those of us who did not ‘buy’ it all and who DID prepare - still have to watch our pennies. Everything is terribly expensive..

  Maybe some who retired early had to because their body was telling them something! .. If they worked longer they would get higher SS.. But, that was not to be.

  I’m happy for you that you are not in a physically demanding occupation and that you might be able to retire next year. Something to look forward to!👍🏻
• 
  29

  Why does it matter whether or not Armageddon is near?

  by TxNVSue2023 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  why does it matter whether or not the end of the world ( (armageddon) is near?

  if it was next week, next year, next decade, next century?

  what is to be gained by knowing how close or far it is?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  LongHairGal

  TXNVSUE2023:

  You can believe I’m ‘miserable’ if it makes you feel any better.🙄 Makes no difference to me.. Witnesses like to believe such things about those who leave.

  I was just pointing out the fallacies in your argument.

  Sorry you have to resort to insults when somebody rejects the JW religion.. And I have news for you: everybody dies.
• 
  29

  Why does it matter whether or not Armageddon is near?

  by TxNVSue2023 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  why does it matter whether or not the end of the world ( (armageddon) is near?

  if it was next week, next year, next decade, next century?

  what is to be gained by knowing how close or far it is?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  LongHairGal

  TXNVSUE2023:

  Well..things were surely black & white back in the days when I was in the Witnesses!…..Or maybe we weren’t even in the same religion(?)

  No offense, but your first paragraph is a lot of pretty talk that is meaningless in real life - and sounds scripted by the religion. It’s not for real. ‘Lower level lifestyle’ = on the balls of your a$$ poverty. Why don’t you try it?

  Just try talking to some older baby boomer JWs who didn’t plan and have reached retirement age broke and are asking around for money… I’m Glad I never followed the nonsense in that paragraph!😮

  Believe what you will.
• 
  29

  Why does it matter whether or not Armageddon is near?

  by TxNVSue2023 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  why does it matter whether or not the end of the world ( (armageddon) is near?

  if it was next week, next year, next decade, next century?

  what is to be gained by knowing how close or far it is?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  LongHairGal

  TXNVSUE2023:

  Maybe you haven’t read many threads and posts on the forum.

  You might have missed the part about how many Jehovah’s Witnesses have not prepared for their old age and retirement. They were discouraged from getting higher education/careers and full-time employment and told they should be in the ministry instead. They worked part-time for low wages.

  I am glad that you probably got college & career.. This means you are not overly concerned about when the End comes - which is as it should be.. Unfortunately, this is not the case for many Witnesses. They are waiting for ‘this system to end’ because they cannot deal with having gotten older and being unprepared because of following bad advice (which some of them won’t admit).

  I could have been in this predicament myself except I paid No heed years ago when pushy elders in the religion wanted me to quit my job. Thank God I didn’t listen.