Posts by choosing life

33

Does the Watchtower KNOW they are using mind control techniques?

by finding my way in

jw
friends

i've read a few other threads about cult mind control as well as steven hassans book comabatting cult mind control.

i also read a thread questioning the watchtowers motives.

are they in it for the money or what?

choosing life

Questions (Not) From Readers is the most blatant display that shows they know exactly what they are doing. How many times have they dropped a big change into one of these articles?

COC also showed that the decisions the governing body made were in response to financial and political reasons. The reasons they gave for the changes were outright lies. Things like the donation only arrangement, not becoming a religion in Mexico so they could own property, the Mexico/Malawi incident, etc.

So they have shown that they will outright LIE about things. If someone wants to talk openly about these things, they disfellowship them to silence them.

The constant droning on at the meetings and the repetition does have an effect on the mind. It is often when someone gets away from these meetings because of sickness or work that they begin to wake up.

So they have to know they are lying and deceiving people and controlling them through coercive measures.

86

Death: Friend or Foe?

by Narkissos in

jw
friends

the jw and the (pseudo?

)scientific "hopes" of individual "everlasting life" (which have been connected on a couple of recent threads) have at least something in common: they all seem to take for granted that death is a bad thing.. as amazing as it may be to you, this amazes me so much that i don't know even where to start.

of course death hurts in reality when you lose people you love, or in imagination when you anticipate your own extinction.

choosing life

I understand your reasons to consider death of the physical body on this planet necessary for new life to continue to be born, live, learn and then pass away also. Eventually, everyone reaches the point where physical death becomes a friend.

What I wonder, though, is whether you consider the possibility of some part of a person to live on, the soul, the conscience part, into another realm. Do you believe that ANY part of a person lives on? Not through what they leave behind, but rather what they actually take with them into another "world".

I always thought that eternal life on earth or in a physical world is impossible. It goes against all the laws of nature that the physical world must operate under. I think having children brings this to the fore, as you know for others to continue to be born, some must also leave.

17

Article by LDS Writer

by purplesofa in

jw
friends

article by lds writer (mormon) .

the world's best non-lds missionary programs .

best missionary literature printing and distribution program: jehovah's witnesses .

choosing life

I rather doubted that an LDS writer would write something praising jws. On the other hand, the missionaries I have talked to seem to be interested in certain details in order to get "baptized for the dead".

SusanHere, does this really happen and exactly what is the purpose of getting baptized for the dead?

27

don't marry that unbaptized meeting going sister, or loose your privileges

by DaCheech in

i've got one of those forever single friend.. he tries to be friends with every kind of "spiritual" sister out there.

they use him for gifts, rides, and paying their diner meals when the friends go out.. he's in his late 40's and has himself been used by 5 sisters in a 15 years span.. he says he's found a good one, but she goes to meetings and is studying the "troof".

his elders and nosybody acquantences have told him to lay off of her until she's baptized and then some (2-3 years for prooving herself in the lord) or else loose his priviliges.. i tried to nonchalantly telling him that was hogwash, but the pharasees have a grip on him.

choosing life

If she is really interested in him, she just needs to hurry up and get baptized. After that, the elders cannot do anything if he marries her.

OR, they could run away together and never return.

20

"Faithful & discreet" NUMEROLOGY

by Nathan Natas in

jw
friends

.

- from the watch tower, february 15, 1925, page 54..

choosing life

Yeah, like the measurement of a passageway in the great stone witness, a pyramid. Didn't Russell use that to establish the time of the end? I may have some details wrong, but the watchtower was formed on the occult. Strange how well they hide it from members.

Helps to be able to rewrite its history.

24

American Pit Bull attacks American jdub in Oz

by Mattieu in

jw
friends

this jdub was out walking his two dogs when attacked by a pit bull, killing one of his dogs and causing injuries to his hand.

he was from texas and now lives in melbourne.

he comes from a very well known us jw family (uncles, grandparents in brooklyn, other uncles c/o & d/o, w/t life story of family...).

choosing life

Sounds like being a jw had nothing to do with it. He was walking his dogs. I have had problems with other dogs when walking my dog on a leash. Some of them just want to fight-pretty territorial.

Didn't help that my little dog is totally unaware of her actual size. She's up for a fight anytime.

89

Being Under Cult Mind Control is a Psychological Disorder - Steve Hassan

by flipper in

jw
friends

thought perhaps some newer members who haven't heard some of hassan's thoughts on mind control might relate to this from their own experiences in jehovah's witnesses .

even though mind control is initiated by the cult involved in controlling it's members - hassan points out - it actually becomes a psychological disorder which can entrap the victim himself or herself - all the while - as they are being controlled by the leaders of cults.. on page 55 of hassan's book " releasing the bonds - empowering people to think for themselves " it states what happens in a destructive cult , " in a destructive cult, the locus of control shifts to the group or it's leader .

the new recruit abdicates his ability to make decisions.

choosing life

In other words, you are assimilated. Yep, that's exactly what happens.

The biggest difference I have noticed since leaving is that I give myself PERMISSION to think and give my heart and gut reaction a lot of attention. I believe you have to give these processes over to the group to assimilate.

I recently had a conversation with a jw and they were astonished that I dared to decide for myself how I felt on a moral question. They thought it was haughty of me to believe in my perception on the subject.

I am surprised there are not more jws with schizoaffective disorder, or maybe I am just not aware of the true numbers. After all, you have to stuff away your real thoughts and assume two personalities at times.

Dependent personality disorder sounds like it would serve a jw well, especially those who get most or all of their validation as a witness drone. I always thoughts of Bethelites as being institutionalized, same as cos, dos, missionaries and anyone else that depends on the borg for a living.

20

"Faithful & discreet" NUMEROLOGY

by Nathan Natas in

jw
friends

.

- from the watch tower, february 15, 1925, page 54..

choosing life

They sure do make a big thing over what numbers mean. 3,6,7,10 all mean something to them. Kinda like a secret puzzle. Interesting at first, boring when you realize it is a lot of hooey.

2