Carmel

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Posts by Carmel

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  46

  DO YOU STILL HAVE PERSONAL INTEGRITY?

  by juni in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for most all of us here we have had association with the jehovah's witnesses in some way or another.

  there are many man-made "rules" within the organization.

  that fact we all agree on.

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  Carmel

  I was born into the JW system and didn't realize the many hypocracies until the day I was baptized. It all came into focus when I realized I was being lied to and there was a pattern of behavior that was fundamentally dishonest. The underlying opportunistic nature of self serving individuals in a system that rewards the most effective deceivers reinforces behavior that eventually leads to cognitive dissonance, mental health problems, anger, discord and eventually psychological disaster. Hence, so many JWs with serious mental disorders. Having left at the tender age of 14, I've been fortunate to have fewer long lasting scars and have been exposed to influences that were healthy and nuturing. End result... a more ethical and moral person than what I would have become as a UU.

  carm
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  25

  What would you say is the main reason why people didn't listen to us?

  by JH in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when i started going out door to door, i was sure i'd bring a couple of people with me to the org.

  i knew my parents believed in god and the bible, so i was sure i'd be able to convince them with a few simple verses that we had the truth.

  but no, they didn't seem convinced enough to want to study.

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  Carmel

  asside from the social aspects of the controlling cult, consider the stuff you were promoting (ie the doctrins of your next post)

  carmel
• 
  49

  How many are like me?

  by JH in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i still believe in god.

  still believe his name is jehovah or something like it.. still believe that jesus is his son, and he isn't god almighty.. don't believe in the trinity.

  i believe in the resurrection.

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  Carmel

  hmmm, well, I guess we differ on most of these items except # 1, partially and # 2 partially....after that sorry, we be on different planets.

  carmel
• 
  19

  Tonight's question from my kindergarten teacher/wife:

  by JeffT in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  can you have a group of one?

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  Carmel

  I had an Episcopalean friend in Alasaka that bragged that when ever there were four of them you'd always find a fifth!

  carmel
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  12

  Defy Logic

  by KW13 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i think other than real hard evidence, seeing an ex-jw actually getting on with their life must really scare a jw.

  shouldn't we be upset, down and practically begging for a chance to get back into the proverbial ark?.

  also when you do bring up hard evidence, there are times when you can tell by the expression of any dub change into either shock or anger before they re-arrange it and do their best to tear down said evidence.. i love to defy logic, i'm determined now to make a success of my life so i can (hopefully) get mum to see what really makes a good family and what really makes a person happy.

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  Carmel

  by the going standard here, I certainly got my revenge!,,,,,but for what?

  carmel
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  16

  What and how would you change/fix?

  by XYZ in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so often, i hear people complaining about how the jw beliefs are no longer working and things like that....but so often, the complainers never say what should be done to solve the problem(s).

  today i was reading jehovahs-witness.com/6/122349/1.ashx (about "faders"), which had some honest & interesting points but no solutions.

  some, even seem to think there's flaws in the whole jw organization.

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  Carmel

  'Well XYZ, did you get enough ideas?

  carmelb
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  20

  What Was the Role of the Prophets? --->please help pick this apart.

  by lisavegas420 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i asked a jw several questions via email ....this was the only question she has answered.. the first page talks about false doctrines.

  do jehovah's witnesses feel that they are prophets?

  the title of this is "the end of false religion is near" that sounds like a prophesy.. this is her answer.. whatwastheroleoftheprophets?.

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  Carmel

  Is it possible to know Jehovah's view on anything? Isn't anyone who claims to know such trying to partner with God? Pretty presumptuous position, I'd say!

  Carmel

  Therefore, men have always been taught and led by the Prophets of God. The Prophets of God are the Mediators of God. All the Prophets and Messengers have come from One Holy Spirit and bear the Message of God, fitted to the age in which they appear. The One Light is in them and they are One with each other. But the Eternal does not become phenomenal; neither can the phenomenal become Eternal.

  (Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 24)
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  39

  My story

  by FreeGirl2006 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i was raised "in the faith" for most of my life.

  my mother married an elder when i was 1 1/2 years old.

  he came from a family of pedophiles (also jw's) and i was a pet project.

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  Carmel

  It's helpful to share your story with those that will not judge or condemn. You've earned you XJW strips. Wear them with distinction.

  Now about that Armegeddon crap....time to get that notion out of your head. Yes, you're eventually going to die. 100% of humans have or will and likely that pattern will continue, but you can study the bible for your self and discredit the silly notions of a book and magazine publishing company masquerading as a relgion..

  Welcome!

  carmeo
• 
  13

  Did you ever wonder who the inventor is?

  by Frannie Banannie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm talking about inventions that are supposed to make our lives a little easier, more convenient, more pleasant....... take for example that new-fangled flashlight that's been in tv ads for the past year.

  it doesn't require batteries.

  that's just wonderful, because battery-operated "conveniences" can have expensive feeding habits.

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  Carmel

  I have two patends but "master of none"

  carmel of the "bait and switch" class
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  22

  Wisdom and folly

  by Narkissos in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've been thinking about this topic for some time.. wisdom and folly.

  sages and prophets in the bible texts and the wider ancient near eastern world.

  apollo and dionysos in greek tradition.

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  Carmel

  Having spent nearly ten years post DF'ing, looking for a cosmology that explained all the diversity of beliefs in the world and the folly of "biblical literalism" I finally gave up and contented myself to be agnostic and secular. About eight years later I stumbled upon a religion that was inclusive, made infinately more sense than any of the limited beliefs I'd investigated in the past and conformed with science, reason and logic, while still maintaining a mystical element. It teaches that man will continually evolve to higher forms of consciousness (spirituality) and is entering an age of maturity in his collective life that parallels the individual's progress through life. I am free to invest as much or little time as I please without coersion or pressure. My life is filled with intellectual, social, and "spiritual" stimulation and know that I am contributing to an "ever advancing civilization".

  carmel