atypical

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Posts by atypical

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  27

  Are Faders Making It Too Easy For The WT?

  by ThomasCovenant in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i've always tried to teach my kids to follow aesop's fable of the 'sun and the wind', i.e.

  try the gentle persuasion method for achieving your goals rather than head on aggression.

  however as with most things in life there is a time and place for both.

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  atypical

  That was a very interesting post. I have to agree with jgnat, though. I think faders are extremely destructive to the society because they are completely beyond any of the society's rules, and therefore impossible to conrol. They are free to speak to active members and pass on information much easier than someone who is supposed to be shunned. They throw a huge monkey wrench into the watchtower machine, in my opinion. But that could just be because I'm a fader - :P
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  3

  Fundraisers, Family, and Other Priorities

  by atypical in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm sitting here alone today while my wife, my family, and the majority of the people i have grown up around are at the district convention.

  my absence is considered a strong statement about where my loyalties lie.

  in the last few months i have had a good friend take his life.

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  atypical

  I'm sitting here alone today while my wife, my family, and the majority of the people I have grown up around are at the district convention. My absence is considered a strong statement about where my loyalties lie.

  In the last few months I have had a good friend take his life. I have pushed for honest talk with those around me regarding life, death, and the effects of our choices. I want to know if anyone is willing to admit the part that religion may have played in my friend's tragedy.

  I don't think it takes a great mind to understand that shunning a person, cutting him off from his family and friends, can deeply damage, maybe even destroy him. But those who care more about their status in their religion, including my family, cannot manage an honest discussion on these things.

  They can, however, find the time to condemn me for daring to ask questions. They see my questions as nothing more than an attempt to break their faith. They also see my absence this weekend as hurtful and divisive.

  How do you fight against a mentality that cares more about membership in a religious club than life and death? I see families who can't even find the time to share a meal and a hug with their children moving mountains to make sure they don't miss even one hour of this three day, thinly disguised fund-raiser.

  My hats off to all of you who have been dealing with loved ones who are on the inside. I don't know if any other part of this whole deal is as bad as knowing that someone you love thinks you deserve to be killed by God.
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  56

  Another Deceitful Tactic by the WTBTS.

  by gumby in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  as most informed jehovah's witnesses know, the wtbts is very good at painting a pretty picture of themselves by cleverly wording things to outsiders, yet not revealing the specifics of their beliefs.. below is an example from their official website regarding whether or not they shun members who choose to leave them.

  they do not tell the public of the interogation they impose on members who wish to quietly leave ( fade ).. notice they mention how they are more than happy to restore those who exit, but fail to mention the types of questions they ask to those who leave them.. while they admit they shun those who verbally express they no longer wish to be a jehovahs witness, they do not tell the public they coerce that very statement from those who try to leave peacefully and quietly.

  quote: .

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  atypical

  You are right, Gumby, that is extremely deceitful. The truth is that they will not let you leave with any shred of dignity if they can help it. I wonder what it would be like if they told the truth:

  "Once baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses, you will be free to leave at any time. Of course, there will be no good reason for you to leave, and if you do we will make everyone think that you are a dirty, immoral, slug who cannot live up to our high standards. If you try to defend yourself by questioning our organization, we will lable you an apostate and make sure that even your own family is too uncomfortable to have a meaningful conversation with you. But, like we said, there will be no good reason to leave, so you shouldn't have to worry about it."
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  27

  Intro and ? that has probably been asked a zillion times...

  by Swamboozled in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i don't want to bore with the tedious details...but long story short: my husband was raised a jw.

  he da and married me 6 years ago.

  i was so appalled at the fact that his family shunned him that i insisted on a sit down with his mom to explain.

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  atypical

  Whenever I get into an argument with my witness parents, I ask them who was the organization in place when Jesus arrived on the scene. Then I ask them who was Jesus the angriest with - sinners? - or the so-called organization which was abusing and burdening the people with endless rules and regulations. They still haven't come up with a good answer for me.
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  38

  JW and Home Schooling WHY, WHY, WHY????????

  by Wordly Andre in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i just heard that my nephew will not be attending high school, instead will be doing home schooling, why do jws pressure their kids into home schooling?

  i really do love my nephew he is a bright kid, i think he would do really great in high school, and hopefully attend college, but i was informed yesterday that he will not be going to high school because its not safe, and besides he made the decision not to go.

  i am sorry but he should go, i know what they got planned for him, home school and full time service, this is the time of his life where he needs to concentrate on his education, he will end up just like his mother, who also never attended high school, seems that when your totally lost into the society, covering all aspects of your life, that leaves you socially inept, depressed, and have a distorted view of the world.

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  atypical

  Andre, I feel your pain - I am 30 and haven't started on my degree yet. Every time I hear about a youngster throwing away their chances and pioneering instead, I just want to scream.
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  38

  JW and Home Schooling WHY, WHY, WHY????????

  by Wordly Andre in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i just heard that my nephew will not be attending high school, instead will be doing home schooling, why do jws pressure their kids into home schooling?

  i really do love my nephew he is a bright kid, i think he would do really great in high school, and hopefully attend college, but i was informed yesterday that he will not be going to high school because its not safe, and besides he made the decision not to go.

  i am sorry but he should go, i know what they got planned for him, home school and full time service, this is the time of his life where he needs to concentrate on his education, he will end up just like his mother, who also never attended high school, seems that when your totally lost into the society, covering all aspects of your life, that leaves you socially inept, depressed, and have a distorted view of the world.

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  atypical

  Thanks, Dams. I have been trying to figure all that stuff out and get going with it. I realized awhile back that I have complained about missing out on college for too long - from here on out I have no excuses if I don't do it.
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  43

  What book or movie most resembles the WTS in your opinion? Why?

  by whyizit in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've seen where some former jws compare the wts to certain movies or books (such as the village and 1984).

  i just wondered what movies or books reminded you of the wts and why?

  did you draw this conclusion before or after you left the organization?

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  atypical

  The Village.

  Jim_TX - I saw The Village before I stopped going to meetings. It hit me very hard and made me think about the set of ideas that had kept me ignorant my whole life.
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  38

  JW and Home Schooling WHY, WHY, WHY????????

  by Wordly Andre in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i just heard that my nephew will not be attending high school, instead will be doing home schooling, why do jws pressure their kids into home schooling?

  i really do love my nephew he is a bright kid, i think he would do really great in high school, and hopefully attend college, but i was informed yesterday that he will not be going to high school because its not safe, and besides he made the decision not to go.

  i am sorry but he should go, i know what they got planned for him, home school and full time service, this is the time of his life where he needs to concentrate on his education, he will end up just like his mother, who also never attended high school, seems that when your totally lost into the society, covering all aspects of your life, that leaves you socially inept, depressed, and have a distorted view of the world.

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  atypical

  A subject dear to my heart......I too took the home school route at the encouragement of my parents and those in my congregation. I had perfect straight A's all through school and could have moved on to a great education.

  I really think that home school helps make sure that a young person avoids an open mind and stays easier to control. Reminds me of the movie "The Village". Now, although I have managed to start my own business and make decent money, I have to do physical, mind numbing work every day with not much hope of a good retirement later. I am trying to figure out how to afford the time and money to get a degree while working 55+ hours per week.
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  8

  Has anyone seen this video?

  by atypical in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .

  http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=493740339707143103&q=jehovah

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  atypical

  tijkmo - what a party pooper you are! Just kidding. I agree it may be staged, but not for the reasons listed. If you listen carefully, the man at the door says he is inactive, which is why he gets called "brother". I am considered inactive, and I get called "brother" all the time - especially when an elder leaves me a message on my phone inviting me to meetings.

  As far as the hell thing, I have heard countless witnesses use that term when they get mad. Telling someone they will lay unconscious in hades just doesn't carry the same weight, you know?

  Also, since I have been inactive I have been hounded in a similar way - and a lot of the times witnesses have knocked at my door it has been to try to get me to come to some kind of "upbuilding" get-together (which always includes boring refreshments).
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  167

  District Overseer put out to pasture with no $$$ - sad

  by Dogpatch in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  anyone know this poor soul?

  randy

  a brother who served as a curcuit and district.

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  atypical

  Wow - Janesville... that brings back memories. I attended many circuit assemblies at the Janesville assembly hall as a child. But, in addition to the other states mentioned, we also had Emshoff in AZ.