Posts by thecarpenter

19

Were you Socially inadequate after leaving the Organization?

by The wanderer in

jw
friends

socially inadequate after leaving the organization the organization encouragedno demanded that individuals who were.

jehovah's witnesses to restrict their association to other individuals who.

also were jehovah's witnesses.

thecarpenter

Well, I have been out for about 7 months now and I found I had some major adjustments initially. I seem to be moving along nicely now, making more friends and a little less guarded now. I think one of the reasons things have been going along well is that I took and continue to take the initiative to meet new people and get involved in activities. I find that many people are a little reserved anyway (it is not just me) and sometimes need a little coaxing. In any event, I can truly say that I am enjoying the formative friendships I am currently making. I am also finding that I am smiling a lot more now. (not the glumly person I was while a witness)

Interestingly, some of my old witness friends still call me and want to do things together (they are unhappy but yet lack the resolve to investigate the society). I have been avoiding their calls but yet they still call (one of them tried to turn me in a few months back and tried to play it off recently). I feel sorry for them because they are so miserable but they need to make their own decisions and stand by it.

14

Single Dad- spark

by D in Dallas in

jw
friends

hey all, i've been reading this sight for a year now and have never posted.the last topic sparked my "need" to do so.i got a girl pregnant 13 yrs.

ago that i really didn't know that well.

she turned out to be a "non-practicing j.w", according to her, until she became pregnant and realized that i was not going to marry her....i knew her for about a week.

thecarpenter

Introduce him to this forum and have him familarize himself with the various teachings of JW's by ex-JW's. Unfortunately, you don't have a deep enough understanding of the belief system and may not necessarily have enough bible knowledge to answer his questions. Also let him read 'Combatting Cult Mind Control' by Steven Hassan. Very interesting reading.

9

Diane Sawyer in North Korea this week what do you think?

by hambeak in

jw
friends

a prominant news woman is in nk this week and doing interviews i wonder how the nk will use it as propaganda or the us.

what's your take on this?

thecarpenter

I always thought diane sawyer was a korean spy in disguise. She is revealing all the US military secrets she obtained to korean's dictator Kim Jon Mentallyill (the king of the north)

49

Who is your favourite Star Trek character?

by slimboyfat in

jw
friends

mine is garak because he has a healthy cynicism about everything, yet is good deep down.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/garak .

slim.

thecarpenter

Picard was the best character and the Next Generation the best series; 7 of 9 was the best female character (I can't stop looking at her when she is on the screen).

30

Annual Meeting Notes

by NikL in

jw
friends

this is an e mail making the rounds of the faithfull.

supposedly notes from the annual society meetiing.

in case anyone is interested.. ****************.

thecarpenter

Actually, I agree that we need to cultivate humility, viture, kindness, goodness and a host a other good qualities. This is just good sense and makes us better people. I just can't stand when they mix in their own rules, views, speculations and call it the will of God. That's what makes this organization cult-like and damaging. I'm sure the Pharisees mentioned the same things but also mixed in their own views and put it on the same level of God's commandments.

As never before we MUST keep our sense of urgency! Then he stated “The Governing Body is convinced that the Great Day of
Jehovah is NEAR!”

How near??? well it is anyone's guess but the point they are trying to make overall is focus all your attentions reading and selling their books on their interpretations of the bible. If you don't then that is not a good thing (translate- GUILT) and Jehovah will only save those loyally doing his will (translate - fear.... 'doing his will' translate - whatever the society says)

It is sickening to see how they subtlety twist things to make people do what they want... the properly trained conscience is follow whatever the watchtower says regardless if it makes sense, is incorrect and even dishonest. What a clear example of mind control.

He said contentment is not a natural characteristic – but must be cultivated. It can be accomplished once our basic needs (food,
love, protection) are met.

Here is a clear case where conscience comes in. People have different needs and different levels of personal security. Too often this thought is used to get people to limit their personal growth, educational growth, material wealth and so on. Endeavors not focused on doing the societies will are looked down upon, even earning the label 'dead works'. Another cult trait... keep them busy in what you want them to do and make them feel guilty and fearful if they don't. (and find scriptures the seemingly support your thinking and propound on people that your interpretation of the scripture is the only correct one).

Sometimes when I think too much on this topic, I feel sick.

the carpenter.

33

BREAKING NEWS: BUILDING ON FIRE IN MANHATTAN

by What-A-Coincidence in

jw
friends

check the news.. they say terrorism isn't related.

thecarpenter

oooh, got a chill from that comment!

33

BREAKING NEWS: BUILDING ON FIRE IN MANHATTAN

by What-A-Coincidence in

jw
friends

check the news.. they say terrorism isn't related.

thecarpenter

just drove by the area (work close to the area), doesn't seem to be a big deal. The actual impact footprint on the building is small, so it must have been a small plane or helicopter. Traffic is quite a mess though.

3

CO Birdsong & DO Episcopo

by ICBehindtheCurtain in

hey guys, do any of you know whatever happened to these xjw's?

i'm curious to know, gene birdsong was a co in tx and was df'd for apostasy he was a very nice man, very caring wouldn't it be great if he was posting here?

episcopo was a do, he was also a very nice man, was one of the few that gave exhilerating talks, that did not put you to sleep, he was df'd a year ago, that was totally unexpected, i wonder what happened, these guys probably found out the truth about "the truth"!

thecarpenter

Was Episcopo the same Episcopo mentioned in Crisis of Conscience? That Episcopo was in the spanish congregation.

40

JWs Stopped By!!

by RichieRich in

jw
friends

so, i had just woke up, and i was sitting on my couch.

i'm wearing a pair of worn khaki shorts, and a tshirt.. there is a subtle knock on the door.

so, i walk over to the door.

thecarpenter

this was great richie, I had my deep belly laugh for the day thecarpenter

37

Anyone of these fine looking C.O's or D.O.'s look familiar? Gifts in Men

by What-A-Coincidence in

jw
friends

i believe it was a spanish elder school in jersey city assembly hall.. front middle is the afamed harold jackson.. .

don't forget to add a caption to the pic all you picture editors.... .

wac - paparazti to the wtbts.

thecarpenter

I recognized harold jackson... he is a pretty pleasent fellow (met him several times) I read in Crisis of Conscience that he got was on the disfellowshipping committee of several several people on the great apostasy in 1981. He was a younger buck then flexing his "spiritual muscles".