Open mind

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Posts by Open mind

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  92

  Wanted to get reinstated... Almost ready to give up

  by headisspinning in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'd like to hear from anyone who was disfellowshipped but fully intended to go back as soon as possible and how that worked out or didn't.

  i'd like to hear how soon you went back to meetings, how many letters requesting reinstatement you wrote, how you were treated, and how long it took you to get bitter and jaded.... or in the off chance you had a positive experience, what exactly happened.. really struggling here... thanks!.

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  Open mind

  Fastest reinstatment I've ever personally seen was about 8 months, although I have heard of some as short as 6 months.

  The victim didn't miss any meetings right off the bat. Never made any waves. Always had her WT materials underlined in very visible highlighter ink. Turned in a "thank you" letter to the elders right off the bat letting them know she appreciated the spiritual discipline and was going to do her very best to restore her damaged relationship with Jehovah. Turned in a letter requesting reinstatment at 3 months. Was told to keep up the good work but continue to be patient. Turned in another letter around 6 months. Reinstated at around 8 months.

  She seemed very sincere and cut to the heart.

  I think an average time span if a person is sincerely trying to make a comeback, stays visible and maintains good communication with the elders and doesn't make ANY kind of excuses is probably 12-18 months.

  As Farkel says: "It's all Bible Based" (tm).

  om
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  14

  Are you open minded?

  by TimothyT in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i figured it would be fun if i wrote this, went for a shower, and then came back to check how many have responded!.

  just to set the scene, im currently a jw in the uk but i am having issues with my sexuality.

  i have just come back from the ministry with a group of brothers!

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  Open mind

  Definitely not.
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  37

  Hobbies

  by MrFreeze in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  being a jw, especially if you work, there is no time for anything else really.

  work, field service, meetings.

  wash, rinse, repeat.

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  Open mind

  moshe: "I check in to the Jewish Ham radio club net at 8:00am"

  Something about that doesn't sound quite Kosher to me.

  VERY cool vids, BTW.

  om
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  13

  What book are they currently using for the Congregation Bible Study?

  by Beth Sarim in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  just curious..

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  Open mind

  They're just finishing up "Come Be My Follower".

  I think the Jeremiah book is next. Not sure tho. If I have time when I get home, I'll post it.

  om
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  34

  Did you feel your BOE was spirit directed?

  by pontoon in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when i was first appointed i did, not me myself, but the body as a whole.

  good group of spiritual men.

  at first a pleasure to serve with them.

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  Open mind

  " “Those that respect the law and love sausage should watch neither being made.”

  Mark Twain

  Once you see what goes on in the sausage room, you realize there's no Shakina Light making its way in there.

  om
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  14

  Answer Up

  by Franklin Massey in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  we don't have this expression in the us.

  "i always 'answer up' at every meeting.

  " i love it!

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  Open mind

  Yes, but are you regularly "on the doors"?

  I've heard UK JWs use both terms.

  om

  p.s. I'll be sending you a PM shortly.
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  108

  Fallen out of love with Husband?

  by bloominglotus in

  1. social
  2. family

  hi u guys.

  right now i am literally in tears because i am so confused right now as to the state of my marriage.

  lately, i have been really noticing some major flaws in my husband(well at least they appear major in my eyes).

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  Open mind

  Robdar: "marriage is more than looking good and walking off into the sunset together with buns of steel. "

  Now that's a quote worth remembering.

  Good one Robyn!

  om
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  77

  JW's not a cult

  by Lunatic Faith in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  okay, before you fly off the handle--i wrote a blog on how my research proves jw's are a cult (no, i haven't read the cult book yet).

  somebody linked their own findings onto my site saying the opposite.

  their evidence is erroneous and as i don't have time to point this out i thought i would let you all do it for me.. www.epages.wordpress.com.

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  Open mind

  newchapter, sorry for being unclear about my 1-10 scale with Unitarian Universalists as a 1.

  I was looking for a religion that is definitely NOT a cult. However, in retrospect, I probably shouldn't have used them since I really don't know that much about them personally. The fact that they are OK with atheists seemed pretty non-cultish to me. If I ever wanted to check out a church for social reasons, they'd be near the top of my list.

  So, how about Methodists for a "1"?

  As for accurately defining a cult, well, OUTLAW's post pretty well sums up why it's generally a waste of time. Even the dictionary is all over the map! So people just cherry-pick whatever definition suits their argument, talk past each other and waste precious electrons on the Interweb.

  om
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  77

  JW's not a cult

  by Lunatic Faith in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  okay, before you fly off the handle--i wrote a blog on how my research proves jw's are a cult (no, i haven't read the cult book yet).

  somebody linked their own findings onto my site saying the opposite.

  their evidence is erroneous and as i don't have time to point this out i thought i would let you all do it for me.. www.epages.wordpress.com.

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  Open mind

  Are JW's a cult? Depends on where you set the goal posts.

  The writer of that blog article set them where she wanted in order to support her personal definition of cult.

  Here's my take on JWs and cults.

  Scale of 1 - 10.

  1 = Unitarian Universalists

  10 = People's Temple (Jim Jones)

  JWs are a 7.

  Scientologists are an 8.

  And when all the blathering is done, that's just one of 7 billion opinions on this pale blue dot.

  om
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  25

  Literature-Leaving Etiquette

  by zoiks in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  a friend of mine is the tasting room manager at a local vineyard.

  this weekend the vineyard hosted an anniversary party for a my-gosh-they-are-so-young-for-having-been-married-for-so-long couple.

  while cleaning up after the party, the employees found numerous pieces of literature hidden in their magazine racks, and the 3-dvd set, "the bible - a book of fact & prophecy" hidden among their cds.

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  Open mind

  Thanks for the clarification zoiks.

  Remember how JWs are encouraged to have literature available no matter where they find themselves? I remember one elder always had a "New World" tract tucked away in his wallet "just in case".

  Anyway, I'll bet there was at least one pioneer in the ranks with a box full of literature in the trunk just waiting for such an occasion. The more I think about it, perhaps the angels directed them to do it, so we shouldn't be too critical.

  om