Posts by whyizit

174

Sorry?

by RichieRich in

jw
friends

over the past few days... someone who i'm no longer associated with has been out on vendetta to discredit me.

it started with a mass mail to my myspace friends, which caused nothing more than a few eyebrows to be raised.

that was the reaction of people who know me in real life.

whyizit

Richie,

Don't leave JWD. Don't ever leave. Unless it is because you WANT to leave.

With all the people who have access to the internet, you are bound to be cyber-bullied at some point and time. Lots of people would like to get you the heck off this forum, because you make so much of a difference. Stay in spite of them, and because of the people who matter. The ones who are encouraged by your struggles and your story.

I know it is frustrating to try to prove yourself, with skeptics ready to pounce on every piece of evidence you would provide. But lots of us care about you, we love what you have to offer, and we have enough discernment to be able to see what really matters, and throw out what doesn't.

I don't care if you ever worked in a tattoo shop or not. It does beg the question: Why would anyone lie about working in a tattoo shop?! (Now, if you said you invented "Windows"....)

I really love all that you have to offer and share with the people here. It gives me hope that my friend will one day escape the WTS too.

Let it roll off, and keep coming back!

12

It may not make any difference, but if it did,....what would you suggest?

by whyizit in

jw
friends

my jw friend and i had a conversation.. it seems she received an anonymous letter from an "apostate" person.

explaining why they left the wts.. of course, this person must have left the jws to pursue a deviate lifestyle.

since there weren't a bunch of sited bible verses to substantiate her claims, my jw friend is trying to dismiss it all as a sour person who thinks they missed having a childhood, due to over-zealous jw parents who were supposedly "too strict".. she comented that had this person given good biblical reasons as to why she left, and supported those reasons biblically--then she might be more inclined to take the letter seriously.. now, i know this is a bunch of bs.

whyizit

My JW friend and I had a conversation.

It seems she received an anonymous letter from an "apostate" person. Explaining why they left the WTS.

Of course, this person must have left the JWs to pursue a deviate lifestyle. Since there weren't a bunch of sited Bible verses to substantiate her claims, my JW friend is trying to dismiss it all as a sour person who thinks they missed having a childhood, due to over-zealous JW parents who were supposedly "too strict".

She comented that had this person given good Biblical reasons as to why she left, and supported those reasons Biblically--THEN she might be more inclined to take the letter seriously.

Now, I know this is a bunch of BS. Just looking for reasons to NOT hear the blatant truth. But suppose you were in her situation. If there were one (or more) Biblical references that would have made you take a step back in awe, or if there were a teaching that the WTS practices that JUST smacks you in the face with the reality that "THIS IS NOT BIBLICAL", once you look back on it objectively, could you share it here?

20

How would you divide an inheritance?

by bebu in

jw
friends

would you give all of your children equal portions--completely regardless of behavior and/or attitude toward you?.

would you take into account anything they have done to deserve something "above and beyond"?.

is a child always entitled to an inheritance?

whyizit

My Uncle passed away several years ago. I was the only relative that lived near by, that had any type of relationship with him, and I took him to all of his Dr.s appt.s, etc.... He assumed that I would inherit anything that was left after his passing. I didn't ask for anything, but he told me that I could have what I wanted. He never put any of it in writing. After his death, all of the sudden I had cousins I didn't even know existed! I received 1/5 of what he intended. I wouldn't have minded, if that had been his wish. But it was not.

After that, my last remaining parent had a short but sweet will made up for about $75. I was the caretaker, so that was taken into consideration. I was made Power Of Attorney and anything that was to be mine, or my siblings, was put in writing then and there. There was also some exclusions. The comment was made that they were loved and thought of, but due to a lack of personal contact, they would not be receiving an inheritance from the estate.

It left no arguments or hard feelings.

31

Having Phobias : Negative Images Keep People Cult Controlled- By Hassan

by flipper in

jw
friends

hey folks.

i have been busy reading steve hassan's book, " combatting cult mind control " and just wanted to share several thoughts now that i'm about 25% through the book.

it has been a real eye opener of how the power of a cult like the " jehovah's witnesses works.. one thing he mentioned is that in cults, " members are systematically made to feel phobic about ever leaving the group .

whyizit

Love Steve Hassan!!!!

I think everyone uses these techniques to a certain degree. I have used some of these same techniques to try to keep my child from dangerous situations. Not really knowing it was mind control, but after reading up, it surely is!

Using these methods to control someone unethically, THAT is a whole other story.

Religious cults aren't the only ones that use these methods. There are a lot of pyramid type commercial organizations (er....cults) that do the same thing. It's all about using what the person longs for the most. Spiritual security, financial gain, longevity, business success.... lots of groups use the same system of mind control.

My in-laws recently went to a "free dinner" in a college town, and it turned out to be a cult-type group. They offer something free, but they make you feel guilty if you don't listen to their schpeel, and then you feel pressured to get their tapes, videos, etc.... Which are tools to further indoctrinate you.

Fortunately, my father-in-law is a sharp cookie, and he didn't fall for any of it.

How Cults Work . com is a great place to get basic info. about how it works and questions you can and should ask before joining anything.

I nearly fell into a commercial cult head-over-heels, and the way they recruit is very much like the WTS does it. I was actually p.o.'d for quite some time at my husband for not wanting to get more involved. Am I ever glad I married such a wise man! (Whew!)

4

Hermie, the the non-conformist elf......

by whyizit in

jw
friends

perhaps my interest in mind control has went into obsession now.

i was watching rudolph the red nosed reindeer.

i couldn't help but ponder poor hermie the elf.

whyizit

Perhaps my interest in Mind Control has went into obsession now.

I was watching Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer. I couldn't help but ponder poor Hermie the elf. Remember him? He's the elf that wanted to be a dentist. His elf leader and fellow elves gave him a big "shame on you", because he didn't want to make toys. He even tried to make dolls with teeth, so he could fit in somehow. It was a no go.

Interestingly enough, when he missed "elf practice", and the elves were singing for Santa, all of the sudden he was missed. Apparently he was a tenor and they needed him for the song to sound better.

This got me to thinking. I know that uniformity in the WTS (and other groups) is misconstrued as unity.

Unity is like a choir. In a choir, everyone is united, yet they are not all singing in the exact same key. Each person's voice brings something unique that makes everything sound richer and more beautiful than it would have without them. The differences are appreciated. They are needed.

Uniformity is expecting everyone to be exactly the same. Do the same thing, dress the same way, have the exact same thought patterns,......Cookie Cutter people.

This makes me wonder: How do JWs use their own specific talents and gifts, in spite of the WT? How did you maintain your own individuality, and did it upset fellow WT members? Or do most JWs just completely give up their talents and gifts, so they won't upset the apple cart?

6

Some confusion about a JW friend's take on holidays.

by whyizit in

jw
friends

my friend is a self-proclaimed jw, actively involved in fs, all the mmetings, assemblies, etc...., but as of yet, not baptized.. she told me a few of years ago that she no longer was going to participate in anything that had to do with christmas, birthdays, etc...... we have had some pretty deep (yet, peaceful) conversations about the blood topic, holidays, and 607bc.

along with other conversations on other subjects.. this year, sor the first time in a long time, she called to wish me a happy birthday on my birthday.

she celebrated thanksgiving with her family.

whyizit

I guess she is making some progress, because about a year ago she was diving head long in to the whole she-bang!

However, as a "Bystander", how long will her JW friends put up with it? I mean, isn't it their job to make sure she commits and becomes baptized? Won't they put they be putting the pressure on?

Her guru has spent 10 years indoctrinating her.

I would think it is very frustrating to spend all that time "liking" someone, just to have them backing out at the last minute! What's next?

6

Some confusion about a JW friend's take on holidays.

by whyizit in

jw
friends

my friend is a self-proclaimed jw, actively involved in fs, all the mmetings, assemblies, etc...., but as of yet, not baptized.. she told me a few of years ago that she no longer was going to participate in anything that had to do with christmas, birthdays, etc...... we have had some pretty deep (yet, peaceful) conversations about the blood topic, holidays, and 607bc.

along with other conversations on other subjects.. this year, sor the first time in a long time, she called to wish me a happy birthday on my birthday.

she celebrated thanksgiving with her family.

whyizit

My friend is a self-proclaimed JW, actively involved in FS, all the mmetings, assemblies, etc...., but as of yet, not baptized.

She told me a few of years ago that she no longer was going to participate in anything that had to do with Christmas, birthdays, etc.....

We have had some pretty deep (yet, peaceful) conversations about the blood topic, holidays, and 607BC. Along with other conversations on other subjects.

THIS year, sor the first time in a LONG time, she called to wish me a Happy Birthday on my birthday.

She celebrated Thanksgiving with her family. Now she mentioned that she was hoping to take the day off for her birthday. YET, in nearly the same breath, she told me she is going to an assembly Sat.!

Can someone advise me as to what all this might mean? All of the sudden "birthday" isn't the dirty word it used to be, yet she is still in over her head in the WT activities. Should I take this as a sign that she is questioning a few things?

Just hoped that maybe someone could give me an idea of what might be going on with her. I try to avoid saying any holiday "word", because I don't want her to think I'm a pagan idolatrous demon possessed freak. But then she comes up with this stuff, and I am getting a little confused!

7

14 year old JW dies without blood transfusion...

by under74 in

jw
friends

i put it in "friends" although i have not been here for a long time.

it just happened today in seattle.

i'm wondering everyone's thoughts on this.

whyizit

I certainly hope the parents of this child intend to sue the WTS.

Too bad someone didn't give the kid a heads up on Leviticus 17:15-16. He could have had the blood transfusion, washed his clothes, washed himself, bee "clean" the next day, and then possibly lived out a full life with Jehovah's blessing!

What a cruel practice. I wonder how many JWs die every year because of this? Yet, they would probably criticize Jones, huh?!

64

A Question for those of you who run on Empty gas tanks?

by restrangled in

jw
friends

i am going to guess there are few to no women who do this.

it has to be mainly guys.....and why take the chance is my question?.

i never go below 1/3 of a tank and refill.

whyizit

I had a "friend" (I use that term loosely, because she turned out not to be much of one after all) that in the course of one year ran her tank completely dry on at least 3 occasions that I know of. She was basically too lazy to get her butt out and pump the gas!

Repeatedly doing this apparently messed a few things up within the vehicle. Which, of course, was blamed soley on the mechanic's lack of education and ability. (It couldn't possibly be her fault. I mean, the little gas pump light was only on for 30 or so miles, after all! Doesn't it know she's busy?!)

Sheesh!

20

A question for those who believe in God and the Bible....

by restrangled in

jw
friends

how do you feel about the gifts he gave us as humans?

don't you find it strange that the wbts or f&ds and other extremist religions would have their adherents believe he wants our entire lives spent in worship and preaching?.

all of us have been given special talents, gifts of special abilities such as art, humor, music, writing and so on.

whyizit

He didn't make us carbon copies of each other for a reason.

From what I have read in the Bible, He likes relationships. He would like for us to choose to have a relationship with Him. He didn't seem all that keen on "religious" people, with all their rituals and demands.

I have some really cool Christian friends that live it. They don't hammer people with religious crap. They model Christ-like behavior and love. They are the most humble people I've ever met.

They all have special gifts. Artists, equestrians, singers, dancers, speakers, servants to the needy, communicating with kids, helping the poor with heat bills, ....whatever they know or can do, they do it, without any recognition. The only reason I know some of their deeds, is because the recipients of their help have told me.

That's the kind of Christian I desire to be. Not a Pharisee. A friend. I communicate with my Maker as I do with my other friends, and often. I see Him in everything. Using the gifts He gives us is something we want to do. Not something we are guilted in to.