Stress Free

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Posts by Stress Free

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  28

  Reading the Bible Made Me Leave "The Truth" – & Christianity

  by Seeker4 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was looking up a couple of verses the other day in my nwt reference bible the one with larger print, footnotes, cross references, etc.

  in my day i was quite a diligent student - the bible is filled with my notes and comments, and i'd already worn out another one earlier.

  one of the things that i found surprising as i was reading my notes, was how often they were pointing out inconsistencies, contradictions and obvious lies in the biblical text.

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  Stress Free

  Yes Seeker4 i'm with you on this. When I was an elder there were many times when I just couldn't understand there explanation of particular scriptures. The harder I tried to understand it from there viewpoint the more I got doubts, not only about the wts but the bible as well. As other posters before me have mentioned, I also had problems with the old testament. All those ghastly details of violence and war that was supposedly committed in the name of god, and jehoova would bless them, just didn't make sense to me. I started thinking of him as a violent god.

  Then along came the new testament and all of a sudden he is this all loving god, turn the other cheek kind of thing. I started thinking, hell he must have Schizophrenia. All this prompted me to I start studying ancient history and the early history of the bible without any wts literature. Then it all started to make sense, I have been wasting my life following a book compiled and written by men whom at the end of the day only wanted to control peoples lives.

  So did reading the bible help me leave "the Troof" and Christianity forever? Obsolutley!

  Stress Free
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  10

  The Exclusive Brethren: JW's on steroids in Oz

  by HalfWayThere in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  heard a story on the radio (triplej) about a religion in australia called the exclusive brethren.

  when the story was being introduced i thought they were talking about jw's, but then it all sounded much worse:.

  link: http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hack/notes/s1594232.htm.

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  Stress Free

  There is large population of them in the area where I live in. Over the years I have done business with a lot of them, they are very much into working for themselves as opposed to working for non Brethren employers.

  Geez I thought we had it hard been jdubs, it is nothing compared to what a Exclusive Brethren must do or not do. I did some research on their beliefs some time ago and also spoke to a couple of ex Brethren, here is some examples of their rules.

  The women are forbidden to ever cut or colour their hair, they are not allowed to wear any form of makeup, are not permitted to wear shorts or trousers and dresses must be worn below the knee.. They are forbidden to wear swimmers, therefore they never go swimming. The men must be clean shaven, no beards allowed (sounds familiar), men are never allowed to wear shorts or show their legs in public.

  Other items they are banned from using are, faxes, computers, mobile phones, radio, television (not even educational documentry's), videos, dvds. They will not share a meal with non Brethren, will not vote, do not celebrate Christmas, Easter or birthdays. Children will not play in sport outside school. In our area they attend meetings every single week night, two on Saturday and three on Sunday that's ten meetings a week!!

  There belief is that all loyal Brethren will have a special favoured position in heaven by christ's side.They teach that other christians may also go to heaven but will reside in a lower level under their control. When it comes to being self righteous, believe me not even the jdubs come close to this mob. What I have never been able to understand is that while they will go and stand on the street corner and preach out loud their message you can never join this mob you must be born into it, such love they show. This probably explains why they have a such a high number of children with mental and physical deformities as they have been inbreeding for such a long time.

  So would I describe them as a cult, you bet I do. In fact I believe they are even worse then the jdubs in not allowing their children to have any freedom of thought at all. I really feel pity for the kids. They have more man made rules then the jdubs and frankly most of the rules are insane and you could never prove them from the bible.
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  97

  What generation JW are you?

  by crazycate in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .

  i'm 3rd generation.

  cate

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  Stress Free

  Unfortunately third generation.
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  24

  HYPOCRITICAL QUOTES FROM THE MAY 15TH WT....

  by Mary in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this is just unreal.......i cannot believe they have the nerve to actually put this stuff into print, but here's the proof that there's no limit to their insanity-----or their hypocrisy:

  page 26: "..a preoccupation with the future...prevents us from seeing the present as it is" noted one american philospher.......even jehovah's worshippers are not immune tot his pattern of thinking.

  (gee, i can't imagine why) what if we become so preoccupied with future physical blessings that we are blind to our present-day spiritual blessings?........we could easily become discouraged and feel 'sick at heart because our expectations have been post-poned beyond what we imagined (or, what we were promised)........we could develop a complaining attitude.

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  Stress Free

  Like you I feel so sorry for the older jdubs. Many I know have given there entire life to the society, I would like nothing more if given the opportunity then to teach my parents and other older witnesses I know, the real truth about the troof. However, this would have a devastating effect on them to the point where some would probably give up on living. Thank god I woke up early enough so at least my family and I can live a normal life away from this thought controlling cult.
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  24

  HYPOCRITICAL QUOTES FROM THE MAY 15TH WT....

  by Mary in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this is just unreal.......i cannot believe they have the nerve to actually put this stuff into print, but here's the proof that there's no limit to their insanity-----or their hypocrisy:

  page 26: "..a preoccupation with the future...prevents us from seeing the present as it is" noted one american philospher.......even jehovah's worshippers are not immune tot his pattern of thinking.

  (gee, i can't imagine why) what if we become so preoccupied with future physical blessings that we are blind to our present-day spiritual blessings?........we could easily become discouraged and feel 'sick at heart because our expectations have been post-poned beyond what we imagined (or, what we were promised)........we could develop a complaining attitude.

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  Stress Free

  "We eagerly await a life free of sickness, old age, pain and suffering. While it is good to be in expectation of such things, what if we become so preoccupied with future physical blessings that we are blind to our present-day spiritual blessings?........We could easily become discouraged and feel 'sick at heart because our expectations have been post-poned beyond what we imagined (or, what we were promised)........we could develop a complaining attitude. (ya think?)"

  Hell this has must make the old timers furious, after all the only reason the majority of them are jdub's is to gain from the false promises of living sick free and perfect on a paradise earth. My parents are old time witnesses now in there seventies and I know for sure that when my father in particular reads comments in the watchtower like this one, he becomes disheartened, even depressed. The society is grasping at straws, they are trying to buy time for they know that time has caught up with them. Many long term witnesses must be starting to get really pissed off because things are not going the way they were promised. It's articles like this one that are going to encourage current jdub's to start questioning these pie in the sky promises.

  Ps. Mary, thanks for another great post.
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  54

  So, why did I meet with the elders?

  by lola28 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this is my explanation as to why i met with the elders today.

  when i agreed to meet with the elders last week i had made up my mind to just go in and be honest with them.

  i was going to tell the elders that i no longer believed this to be the truth, and then i was just going to walk away.

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  Stress Free

  Everyones situation is unique. You must make decisions based on what best suits your situation at the time. The majority of people on this forum understand what you are going through and respect your decision. However, as time goes on everyones circumstances change and so does the way we handle decisions like the one you just made.
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  43

  Read some responses of those that attended a jw funeral talk........

  by troubled mind in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if witnesses really think their version of a funeral talk is a good way to give a witness ...think again.

  ...oh yea i also was really pissed how your funeral turned out...while i was sitting there ...kept sayin to each other how much we hated it and how pissed we were that he was sayin all that shit.. .

  i miss you so much.

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  Stress Free

  Yes how sad but yet so true, most JDub funerals are just a recruitment drive. In reality they are just a Sunday public talk disguised as a so called funeral talk. They are so cold and impersonal it makes you sick. They offer this wonderful hope of seeing the person again when they are resurrected in a few hundred years time, but wait there is a catch! For those non jw's in attendance the speaker virtually bribes them by saying that if you would like to see the deceased again you will have to do all of the following, attend five meetings a week, spend your life preaching from door to door and hand your life and money over to the wtbts. If you are a jbub in attendance the bribe is that you will need to do more of the above and then maybe, yes just maybe, you will survive armageddon and witness the resurrection. And then after hearing all that we are suppose to feel all better and consoled, yeah right!
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  19

  What a blast!

  by ozziepost in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this morning was the morning after the night before at the get-together at the apostates' restaurant.. such an animated crowd with instant friendship.. yep, many came with at least one thing in common, a realisation about the trith about "the troof".. and how appropriate we should be just down the road from bethel.

  let's hope they heard - the inmates would have been sooooo jealous!.

  there was dark knight with friends, jwfacts and his friends - didn't they have a tale to tell!

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  Stress Free

  Yes I have to agree it was we had a fantastic time. The "Devil's Lair" I shared with Ozzie topped off the night.

  It was so great meeting everyone there, such wonderful people, the unity was amazing you would of thought that we have known each other for years. Also it was encouraging to see that everyone there has moved on with there lives and they are now experiencing a more fulfilling and enjoyable life outside the control of the Jdubs.

  As jwfacts stated, we just wish that we had more time to be able to get to know everyone better on the night. But hey, that's a great excuse for Ozzie to arrange another meet up soon!!

  Cheers,

  Stress Free
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  27

  CO calls meeting to discuss association with my parents

  by Stress Free in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm so furious at the moment my keyboard is smoking whilst i'm typing this message.

  i just got informed through one of my contacts that at the recent visit to my parents cong the visiting co brought the elders together to discusss with my father who is still an elder, to decide if he should be allowed to associate or even speak with me.

  who in the hell do they think they are?

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  Stress Free

  garybuss I tend to agree with your observation. The society maybe giving the co's instructions to shut down anyone whom poses a threat to the borg. Or if they can't get to the individual concerned, try and shut down their contact with family members. I have not made any waves in recent times, that is what puzzles me.

  To answer your question misspeaches I live in New South Wales. By the way Ozzie, I would love to come to your meet up please post me with the details.

  Stress Free (well sometimes)
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  27

  CO calls meeting to discuss association with my parents

  by Stress Free in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm so furious at the moment my keyboard is smoking whilst i'm typing this message.

  i just got informed through one of my contacts that at the recent visit to my parents cong the visiting co brought the elders together to discusss with my father who is still an elder, to decide if he should be allowed to associate or even speak with me.

  who in the hell do they think they are?

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  Stress Free

  I'm so furious at the moment my keyboard is smoking whilst I'm typing this message. I just got informed through one of my contacts that at the recent visit to my parents cong the visiting CO brought the elders together to discusss with my father who is still an elder, to decide if he should be allowed to associate or even speak with me.

  Who in the hell do they think they are? I have never been disfellowshipped and have yet to disassociate myself. We walked away over two years ago and have tried to keep a low profile when it comes to the jdub world but I know they tag me as an "apostate". My relationship has already been strained with my parents since walking away, this will only destroy it. Even though we disagree with each others beliefs we really have not discussed these differences for over a year as I did not want to provoke the situation. What puzzles me is that I have never even been in their cong, so what is stirring this up. Are they afraid that with the knowledge I now have in knowing the real truth about the truth that I may pose a threat to them. Nothing would make the local elders more pleased then to disfellowship me or do what ever they call it now, but they can't get enough evidence against me.

  My parents are now in their seventies and they do not need this type of pressure. Although we don't share the same religious views now, in my book nothing has changed, I still love my parents. What this has fully proved to me is that without a doubt they are a vindictive thought controling cult that is hell bent on destroying families.

  I am going to contact my parents later this week and see what kind of reaction I get. Will they choose the society or will they choose family? I will post the outcome.