thecarpenter

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Posts by thecarpenter

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  15

  Kittens! (fluff)

  by Mysterious in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  share your cutest kitten moments and stop thinking those horrid apostate thoughts.

  my kitten who is about 16 weeks old now woke me up this morning by trying to nurse .

  he came from a shelter so we think he might be a bit insecure ^_^ even though we adopted him at 7 weeks.

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  thecarpenter

  Oh, I love kittens... mmmm..... mmmm...... good!
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  24

  Dr Phil - Mennonites/Hutterites - brainwashing

  by Scully in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  did anyone see the last 2 episodes of dr phil concerning the abduction of two girls by their father into the remote mennonite communities in belize?.

  it was interesting to hear dr phil describe the girls' affect as being "flat" and that something just wasn't right.

  the mother believes the girls have been brainwashed into the "plain" lifestyle.

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  thecarpenter

  That's remarkable. I was wondering about that, ex-jw's seem to carry the burden of the mind control in the lives for a while. I sometimes think that is because some of what they were taught still resonates with them. (I can see this in myself at times and have to reinterpret the trigger situation in my mind) I can see that the same phenomenon also exists with other Christian control groups. This would be a interesting psychological study.
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  12

  Instead of going to the assembly.....

  by Dawn in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  last year i seriously thought of going to the summer district convention for a day or two just to listen to the information once again now that i've been out so long.

  i thought it would be interesting to hear it "as an outsider" - but i just could not make myself go.

  i found too many other things that i would much rather spend my time at during the summer months.. so i thought it would be fun to list a few of the things i have actually done now instead of going to assemblies, meetings, or field service:boating/water skiingfishingcampingstudy dance (i danced in my first public performance this past summer!

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  thecarpenter

  Well lets see, I started doing these things progressively more as I faded away and now I'm doing these things all the time

  • Spend more time with my non-jw family
  • I read more non-jdub books
  • I associate more with my coworkers/neighbors
  • I am teaching myself more programs on the computer
  • I do more side jobs for cash
  • Exercise more / have a better diet
  • I joined a dance class to make more friends (meet 'worldly' chicks)
  • I'm back in college part-time (finally going to finish my degree)

  Here are some things I plan to do by next year (As you can see, I don't have a fear of heights)

  • Skydiving (one time... maybe twice, airstrip is in NJ and I will do this in the spring)
  • Scuba diving (Want to get my certification)
  • Hand gliding / para-sailing (Always wanted to try, there is this club in NY that goes regularly)
  • Travel to Europe for the first time (Summer vacation)
  • Ballooning (anyone from NY or NJ want to come with me, let me know... the place is in NJ and I will go this spring)

  It is nice to finally do some of the things I always wanted to do, have the time to do it and not worry about what people will say.
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  8

  New Blood Info

  by chappy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  not sure if this has been posted before but:.

  american medical association researchers have made a remarkable discovery.

  it seems that some patients needing blood transfusions may benefit from receiving chicken blood rather than human blood.

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  thecarpenter

  that was funny, I'll tell it to some ex-jw's I know.
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  13

  Lack of Trust

  by XJW4EVR in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  having been raised in this cult i still struggle with trust issues.

  i just can't bring myself to speak about certain things to people that i have formed a relationship with.

  i have such a phobia of having that bond of trust broken, that i won't allow myself to be open to people that i have known, and are good friends.

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  thecarpenter

  I don't mean jumping off buildings. There are things that you would like to do but fear holds you back. Fear now serves as a shackle to keep you from doing many positive and wonderful things. Example: Social anxiety, many people have a fear of meeting people, then you should deliberately go out and meet people (join a club, go dancing, etc...). Fear of heights, start going to high buildings and looking out windows or go on the roof and look down and talk rationally to yourself that nothing will happen. Whatever scares you, take reasonable precautions to give yourself a legitimate chance of succeeding and conquering your anxieties. It is a tremendous confidence booster.
  

  thecarpenter looks at a tub filled with rose petals and says to himself, 'I am not a sissy, I am not a sissy...'
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  13

  Lack of Trust

  by XJW4EVR in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  having been raised in this cult i still struggle with trust issues.

  i just can't bring myself to speak about certain things to people that i have formed a relationship with.

  i have such a phobia of having that bond of trust broken, that i won't allow myself to be open to people that i have known, and are good friends.

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  thecarpenter

  note: do something that scares you everyday. It is good therapy to conquer your fears and is a tremendous confidence booster.
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  13

  Lack of Trust

  by XJW4EVR in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  having been raised in this cult i still struggle with trust issues.

  i just can't bring myself to speak about certain things to people that i have formed a relationship with.

  i have such a phobia of having that bond of trust broken, that i won't allow myself to be open to people that i have known, and are good friends.

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  thecarpenter

  
  
  Well personally, I think that it is important to be discreet. I tell people personal things all the time but if someone tells me something in confidence, I keep it secret. I think trust is a important part in friendship. On the other hand, there are people who tell nothing about themselves to other people which is counterproductive. If I tell someone something private about myself (I like bathe with rose petals in the tub, hehehe), I would like to know something about you (you like to do what?!?, you dirty slimeball!!!). It is good for friendship.
  
  thecarpenter who doesn't really bathe with rose petals in the tub class
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  2

  Keith Reddin's "Brutality of Fact," review in New York

  by Dogpatch in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for those of you who have already seen the play, how did you like it?

  randy

  august 28, 2006 edition > section: arts and letters > printer-friendly version alcoholics synonymous.

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  thecarpenter

  For those of you who have already seen the play, how did you like it?

  I thought it was alright, I wouldn't pay twice to see it again though. The part of the jdub (jackie) was played like a born again jdub. She kept referring to Jesus instead of Jehovah over and over and it took away from the realism. But the arrogant, 'I know better attitude' was right on. Also the slow

  disintegration of Jackie's faith was something I think many can relate to. You can see how religion was a crutch Jackie was trying to hold on to instead of facing her real problems with her family and dealing with them head on. I felt bad for her in the end, it didn't go well for her.

  One other thing, there was a bit of cursing onstage and a homosexual woman trying to pick up Maggie. I don't think most jdubs would stay to finish the play. If you haven't seen it, I think many on the forum would probably enjoy the story and it would make good dinner conversation afterward. As I posted in the other thread, there is a cool restaurant right around the corner on 7th ave call Seven. Great spot for dinner, cool restaurant with good prices.

  thecarpenter of the cultured I see live plays class
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  14

  Hello

  by kerj2leev in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have recently(df'ed) left the tower after being raised in the "truth".

  kinda weird but in an exciting way!

  the one thing i do miss is the friendships it sucks some have such a hard line, but that is the price they pay.

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  thecarpenter

  hey bud, Sometimes when you leave, it can be kind of lonely. Start taking a proactive approach on replacing the friends, join a club, dance class, go back to school, hang out with your coworkers, etc... By taking the initative and looking for good people quickly, it will not be so lonely. Glad to have you on board.
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  14

  Another win!

  by AuldSoul in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well, another jw is now an ex-jw.

  not going back.

  that makes 8 since june or so of 2005, not counting the df's that won't be going back.. woo-hoo!

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  thecarpenter

  
  Good for you Truthsetonefree. She sounds like a smart woman ;D
  

  hey jason, here is the amazon location of the book 'Crisis of Conscience'

  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0914675230/sr=8-1/qid=1156778916/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-2117014-2025660?ie=UTF8

  Here is the location for Steve Hassan's books 'Combatting Cult Mind Control'

  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0892813113/sr=1-1/qid=1156779064/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-2117014-2025660?ie=UTF8&s=books

  Also by Steven Hassan 'Releasing the Bonds'

  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0967068800/ref=pd_bxgy_img_b/002-2117014-2025660?ie=UTF8