freemindfade

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Posts by freemindfade

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  24

  Hours will be going up

  by pbrow in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  just got done watching parts of the october episode at jdub.broadcasting and it looks like the definition of "sacred service" is getting an update.

  construction work, helping out fellow dubs, even helping out non-beliebers and opposers will soon be adding up to record progress for publishers... gett ready for a huge increase in hours being reported.... can you hear it now??

  my how jw.org provides.... pbrow.

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  freemindfade

  Hey its only taken the JWS 100+ years to become christians... kinda
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  24

  Hours will be going up

  by pbrow in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  just got done watching parts of the october episode at jdub.broadcasting and it looks like the definition of "sacred service" is getting an update.

  construction work, helping out fellow dubs, even helping out non-beliebers and opposers will soon be adding up to record progress for publishers... gett ready for a huge increase in hours being reported.... can you hear it now??

  my how jw.org provides.... pbrow.

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  freemindfade

  
  

  I totally called it!!! I knew it!

  As the hours went down they needed to find a way to keep it appearing higher!
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  225

  Cult or Religion

  by Richard C B in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  what is a cult and what is a religion?

  its open to debate.

  who has the authority to say for certain what is a cult and what is a religion?

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  freemindfade

  Mad Irishman, I think it has already been stated (I know I said it)

  ALL RELIGIONS ARE IN FACT CULTS

  But some excel at bad deeds, ie how you are treated for leaving. Witness are harmful, exercise undue control, and are coercive and dangerous.
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  120

  The right to shun - wrong?

  by Simon in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  many people are understandably upset and angry at the notion that jws have the right to shun people.

  it seems such an obvious "no brainer" cruel and inhuman thing to do - it must be wrong ... surely?.

  of course we look at things from the perspective of those hurt and harmed by shunning.

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  freemindfade

  Religious Hate Tax!! hahahah yes! pay to be an asshole, now we are talking
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  120

  The right to shun - wrong?

  by Simon in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  many people are understandably upset and angry at the notion that jws have the right to shun people.

  it seems such an obvious "no brainer" cruel and inhuman thing to do - it must be wrong ... surely?.

  of course we look at things from the perspective of those hurt and harmed by shunning.

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  freemindfade

  True. Unless they set some sort of promotion of intolerance and hate threshold and if crossed you are no longer recognized as a religion. You can still be an organization, but any benefits or recognition of religious status is taken away.
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  120

  The right to shun - wrong?

  by Simon in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  many people are understandably upset and angry at the notion that jws have the right to shun people.

  it seems such an obvious "no brainer" cruel and inhuman thing to do - it must be wrong ... surely?.

  of course we look at things from the perspective of those hurt and harmed by shunning.

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  freemindfade

  While it may not yet cross the street to legal issue, it is safe to call it an ethical issue. For instance, and I am speaking from experience, choosing not to associate with someone who has spiraled to a point of absolute danger to them selves and others. having to take somewhat of a "intervention" approach and not enable them through self destruction (which doesn't mean shunning either). Just not supporting it.

  But when you consider the worst part of witness shunning its not really someone who breaks a witness law like fornications and gets DF'd but still believes fully in their membership to the cult, but rather the worst part would be anyone who simply says, I don't want to be a member any longer. This is where you see the true intentions of this cult practice. Censorship and vilification/demonization of anyone brazen enough to leave. You are saying you become a jehovah's witness you have forfeited freedom of religion in their eyes.

  The damages cause to someone simply wanting to leave, should start to push the line from ethics to legality someday I hope.
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  225

  Cult or Religion

  by Richard C B in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  what is a cult and what is a religion?

  its open to debate.

  who has the authority to say for certain what is a cult and what is a religion?

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  3. 
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  freemindfade

  His comment that we have somehow proven it is not a cult to him is a simple demonstration of this cult mind protection mechanism:

  
  

  An awesome video was posted here Richard and everyone should watch.

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/505320002/explaining-cult-mentality

  This may be one of the deepest and most critical things for an honest version of Richard to grasp. As a Jehovah's Witness you have been conditioned to put critics into a no-win position. Until something cracks this and gets inside, no proof, no rational, nothing will matter, the Cult will be right regardless.
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  120

  The right to shun - wrong?

  by Simon in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  many people are understandably upset and angry at the notion that jws have the right to shun people.

  it seems such an obvious "no brainer" cruel and inhuman thing to do - it must be wrong ... surely?.

  of course we look at things from the perspective of those hurt and harmed by shunning.

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  freemindfade

  I suppose the only way they could get away with it is some sort of recategorizing.

  Like if you preach any kind of hate

  If you promote intolerance

  Discrimination

  shunning etc.

  Through written policies and published material

  You lose certain religious privileges, such as tax exemption. yes there is freedom of religion and speech, but still why can't these groups be subject to not violating certain protected categories like you would in a work place?

  In the end it would probably just result in a changing of language in literature, but the witnesses can twist it for days and still do it, they would just change the name of it and continue
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  120

  The right to shun - wrong?

  by Simon in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  many people are understandably upset and angry at the notion that jws have the right to shun people.

  it seems such an obvious "no brainer" cruel and inhuman thing to do - it must be wrong ... surely?.

  of course we look at things from the perspective of those hurt and harmed by shunning.

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  freemindfade

  To some degree I agree. If you don't want to have anything to do with someone you have the right.

  A few things to consider though. It's institutional for one. It's not just getting in a fight with someone and they stop taking to you. It's announced. To friends. Family. And strangers.

  Shunning often has delved into people's privacy to get to that point, then exposed it to many others in what is a slanderous way.

  Another thing is to consider is children. Most born ins are baptized before being considered an adult. They are making a choice of member ship into an organized religion/business before they can drink, drive, go to war, get married, etc. And now they are pushing for younger baptize and focused on kids. What happens when more minors are getting not only baptized but also reproved and even df'd? It could make for a sticky situation.

  What I am getting at is personal reason to cut ties with someone happen often. A systematic approach from a group claiming charity etc could be a problem though. When they, a third party, are dictating your choices that if you don't uphold you could be threatened with the same punishment.

  I do agree Simon but I think something will give somewhere. It's religious intolerance, and as isis and other maniacs make more headlines the Prarie of religious hatred and intolerance is going to get less and less popular and by extension jw shunning could get lumped in with that at some point. Laws made to protect Muslims or others could be used for jws in the future.

  Also I gave often thought of this:

  Would it mean the government would force people to talk to others they didn't want to?

  And here is what I think would happen. Watchtower would have to change policy and preaching of the practice. I deep down believe they would continue it though. They have a way. For instance it doesn't say anywhere you can't have a beard. But grow one and watch the fireworks. They are good at enforcing unwritten rules that would just seem crazy in writing. But if the law forced them to at least remove the policy. I would call that a small win
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  65

  Introducing...ME

  by Heartsafire in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  long time lurker here.

  i'm a fifth gen born-in baptized jw.

  to say i've been struggling with doubts is an understatement.

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  freemindfade

  Welcome heartsafire

  Another very familiar sounding story. Me and a lot of others here can sympathize with exactly the struggle you now face. Having that full in spouse never allows you the full peace of the fade. But you know it's there so don't give up. Your friend fmf