Didn't know the guy but sorry to hear about it. You rarely do ever know completely what is going on in someone else's head. At least he did have some good times. The only thing I do know is that he is at peace now as was said.
Sentient
JoinedPosts by Sentient
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98
Sad news from Maui
by Makena1 inwe went to our favorite beach, met up with some of our local friends.
we don't have much in the way of details - but heard some devasting news that ari (well known to seattle area exjw's and i am sure by many on the board) killed himself sometime over last weekend.
he was so excited about moving to maui, and starting a new life here.
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What did you take with you when you left the organization?
by coffee_black inleaving the organization, it is like packing for a journey you can choose what you take with you, and what you leave behind (other than people).
there are things i chose to take with me.
for example, i have used the sales training to my advantage over the years.
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Sentient
>An ability to see every person as an individual human being without prejudice based on belief or behavior (after the dramatic transformation from staunch Witness)....an ability to truly put myself into other people's shoes and my foot well into my mouth
>A passion for understanding the truth on both sides of every dispute, why individual people and groups of people beleive what they do, and how identities are formed...reality creation
>A keen understanding of how individual people can influence others in harmful ways and how to change for the better
>Significant insights into organizational techniques of information and thought control, the development and nature of mental illness, the dynamics of fear, and many other useful subjects
>An unforgettable lesson in the importance of critical thought and self-reliance
>An unforgettable lesson in the ignorance and hypocrisy of religion or thinking in black and white
>An unforgettable lesson in the effects of allowing someone else to define who you are
>A deep appreciation of freedom in its various forms
>The gift of self-awareness
>The strength and depth of character that results from surviving extreme conditions -
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Watchtower Society Losing the Information War. What Will Sink the Last Nail
by Rig Boy inwith the proliferation of blogs and forums like this one, ex-jws writing books and protesting, lawsuits, exposure of abuse, pedophilia, and mind control, what more needs to be done to sink this cult and kill it?
do the ex-jehovah's witness have enough momentum to destroy any remaining credibility the watchtower society has, or perhaps, bankrupt it?
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Sentient
Yes, they do feel the threat Emma, anywhere that internet access is widespread. I have heard here locally just recently about comments from older publishers who were sharing experiences about those they personally knew who had left the "truth" after "reading apostate sites". Their ignorance is astounding in its magnitude.
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Quotations JW style
by startingover ini came across this in an essay written by s. g. friedman, ph.d. its not that science can be relied on to always provide the truth.
weve all been jerked and pulled by the capricious findings of science too many times to be so naive.
i mean, until they make up their minds about chocolate, coffee and red wine, count me in.
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Sentient
You are right, startingover! So right. Excellent quote and example of how those who feel the need to literally believe in fairy tales are NOT the same in their pursuit of truth as a person who can learn to live with the fact that what they believe is only the best understanding currently known and even the basic understandings of many things may change. JWs on the other hand believe in progressively revealed truth yet paradoxically do not allow current ideas to be questioned.
It's like if you just arrived suddenly on this planet and asked the local beings, "Tell me, what is the truth about how you all got here and what your existence is all about?" What you would be told by any particular person would simply be their ideas, you would have to examine as many independent sources as possible to get closer to having any confidence in your beliefs about what they say. You would not simply search for whoever seems to have the most "faith". -
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What is Apostasy ?
by Acurardx2007 ini have researched the word apostasy, and it makes the statement about one changing beliefs and speaking out against one's current religion.
as a matter of fact at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/apostasy raymond franz is noted as an apostate of christianity.
however my question is, is it apostasy when it is the truth for instance the society was part of the un?
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Sentient
Compare with "heretic". It basically means, "You used to agree with us that we had the one and only truth and we were the most holiest of the holy. Now you say it's BS. Therefore, you are evil and God will destroy you." Historically as far as I know this logic only existed in intolerant monotheistic societies, which tended to be effective militarily. A similar intolerant mindset where critical thought is hindered is brought about by patriotic indoctrination.
I thought this Wikipedia contrast was noteworthy:
"One of possible reasons for this renunciation is loss of faith, another is the alleged failure of religious indoctrination and/or brainwashing."
Blind faith is the result of indoctrination and/or a lack of sincerity. I think all religious/spiritual/political groups that claim some kind of special authority to interpret truth are basically led by mentally ill people who are intelligent enough to persuade regular folk that they are divinely inspired to whatever degree, but who lack the ability or desire to see themselves objectively or think critically about their own beliefs. This works out great because regular folk would rather not have to think too hard and their reasoning is, "Even though I can't explain x, I know my bishop/circuit overseer/imam/party leader will have a better explanation that passes the critical thinking test." Until you actually follow through and decide to dedicate the real mental and emotional effort required to sift fact from fiction and you realize how much BS there was at the core. Often when the indoctrination fails, an "apostate" still has not learned how to critically examine themselves and therefore ends up in another group that is another side of the same coin. Generally the reasons are more emotional than intellectual. -
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Dependence and US addiction on Foreign Oil
by stillajwexelder inthe president said in the state of the union that the us must wean itself off imported oil/energy - this has to be positive and no matter what ones politics all must agree with this surely?
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Sentient
Makes sense to me. Can't say for sure how well it will work but how about investing a little more money in this kind of thing? http://www.changingworldtech.com/ Bush was right about creativity being the greatest asset, it is. Should I live on for a while, one of my greatest life's interests will be to help unleash the creative power that lies dormant in the minds of the masses. As uncle Scrooge always said, work smarter, not harder.
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No isolationism
by stillajwexelder inwell i have just finsihed listening to the president in his state of the union speech.
i have suggested in other threads that the us should go isolationist.
george w. bush says this is an absolute no-no.
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Sentient
If the goal is solely to defend one's self I cannot understand any justification for not going isolationist, although I suppose you could say as in chess you must keep on the offense to tie up the opponent's energy, attention and resources so he cannot mount his own adequate offense.
I think the real reasons are sadly enough gaining a better image for the party president as a strong Man at War leader, economic impetus and shifting attention. Alternatively, he actually beleives Jesus has appointed him to liberate the world...by force! The drawback is that hundreds of thousands of people die and the local economy plunges, but the benefit is eventually a more free society. Equal to that I think is that the military establishment is a deranged and out-of-control self-sustaining machine (kind of like the WTBTS) that will find a way to make a war somehow, "defense" just isn't exciting enough and doesn't provide the right opportunity for the ongoing study of the science of offensive warfare. Got to do something with all those fancy new bombs, and trained soldiers can't be allowed to get too rusty you know. However, in a couple of decades technology will have reached a level so that U.S. soldiers will generally not be needed to fight on the ground...which is scary for the "enemy" when there are no U.S. deaths to sway public support thus the call for more math and science kids (think T2). You've got your hawks always itching to fight, that's all they know how to do. Honestly, after trying to look at the situation objectively, I have concluded that the leaders of the world are mainly just having great fun playing with exorbitant military budgets, stroking their egos and achieving their personal and party agendas. With a small dose of charity and compassion thrown in for good measure, of course. -
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Can DaVinci Code make Witnesses think?
by Lilycurly ini've just finished reading the book...and i know most of it is fiction, but some of you might have read it too.
as an ex-jw, it really made me think...the author has an excellent way to make one think outside the box without making it look like he wants to ram his ideas into your head...you know, it's kind of subtle, amongst all the action and enigmas.
my father loves to read...i really want him to read that book.
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Sentient
Brigid,
As I said, not tomorrow, and probably not the next day. I don't believe in prophecies anymore (except the self-fulfilling kind), and I don't think there are guaruntees of what's going to happen or not. But I don't believe I'm any better than Joe Blow. He just hasn't learned how to use his own head yet...maybe books like the DVC are a beginning. If Joe Blow is not ready for something today, doesn't mean he won't be next year. Or it doesn't mean his kids won't be. You can believe in others more when you believe in yourself more. From what I've experienced, the naked truth is only scary when you haven't moved past the wall. Once you see begin to move into that void, it is actually beautiful. Deep down, everyone wants to be happy and fulfilled in life. Whether you see the ugliness or the beauty of the world depends on what you choose to see.
I think there are many people besides Satanists who live in the moment, and not all them see the world exactly the way Satanists do (they generally seem kind of jaded to me). When you've stared death in the face, I think two things can happen. One, you come away with a longing to die or a loathing of life and self. Two, you come away with a longing to live life to the fullest each day, being deeply grateful for each day and seeing the world through as if through the eyes of a child again. I think that really then do you have a special opportunity to live your life authentically. (Well, sorry if I'm getting off topic here...I'm supposed to be talking about he DVC right?) -
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Suggestions Please
by nonjwalltheway inmy wife and i have been married for over 10 years and we have three sons.
she grew up in a jw family.
he sisters, brother, mother, aunts, uncles and other extended family are mostly jw.
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Sentient
nonjwalltheway,
Basically, your wife has been programmed. She doesn't even understand why she is doing what she is doing, but she has other logical reasons for it yet in the end it is fear and the desire for certainty and safety. Empowering yourself with understanding as much as possible how JW life effects an invididual from a psychological perspective is the most important thing to do IMO. You will reap understanding and power relative to the effort you're willing to put into this. You've already shown your desire to understand by posting here.
Also, someone posted this link. Even though it is supposed to be for children, I think this article contains exactly the mentality that is needed to have the greatest positive impact on anyone effected by JW teachings. Great practical suggestions on how to view the person and yourself and how to influence them without force.
http://members.aol.com/beyondjw/xjparent.htm -
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Can DaVinci Code make Witnesses think?
by Lilycurly ini've just finished reading the book...and i know most of it is fiction, but some of you might have read it too.
as an ex-jw, it really made me think...the author has an excellent way to make one think outside the box without making it look like he wants to ram his ideas into your head...you know, it's kind of subtle, amongst all the action and enigmas.
my father loves to read...i really want him to read that book.
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Sentient
Brigid,
I have to respectfully disagree with your group's conclusions about what people need and what they don't. On the one hand I'm more of a realist now, I know that everybody in the world is not going to wake up tomorrow and see that some of their most deeply held beliefs are based on mythos and societal programming. On the other hand, I believe that at the individual level letting go of all perceived safety nets based on unrealities is what can bring real peace and freedom to an individual and possibly to the world. The most liberating faith is complete faith in yourself and in your fellow human being. You would be surprised how much better a person you might have thought needed something to survive might be able to do without it given time and the right environment and information. The purpose of a change like that should be healing and greater peace and happiness, and it must be internally motivated.
Also, I believe that with the advent of the information age and despite the overload of information, people of the world who have the greatest access to information are increasingly able to sift fact from fiction in their personal lives. I think it is something that will progress and can't really be stopped at this point, it is taking place exponentially. I think it's difficult to see the positive changes happening through the turmoil and pain that is to be found on the road to truth. Not absolute truth and all answers to questions of existence, but the truth about what ISN'T true and why we may have believed what we have for so long, the truth about how certain beliefs about the hereafter are perpetuated and have been used to blame and control our fellow human beings in the here and now. The most rewarding place you can go is through the Walls of Fear that exist within you into the Void of the Unknown and Confusing and Painful Stuff, whether you are JW, Jew, or anything else.