AllTimeJeff

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Posts by AllTimeJeff

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  49

  My 71st Birthday Confessional

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was born january 15, 1947in mt.

  carmel hospital, detroit, michigan.. within six months of my birth, my mother would bundle her baby boy into a blanket and board an american airlines propeller-driven plane--in effect, leaving my father behind--to return to her hometown, ft. worth, texas.. my dad had an excellent job working for cadillac as an inspector.

  it was a union job.

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  AllTimeJeff

  As always, well said. I can relate to the over compensation.
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  30

  Unprivileged

  by Wake Me Up Before You Jo-Ho in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  something just dawned on me today as i processed my assimilation into the real world (thanks to our new poster, @jester, giving me a major throwback to my first post).. when you're a jehovah's witness, you really are in some sort of la la land.

  things which are perfectly normal are acts of eating from the table of the demons.

  things which are horribly grotesque and extremely unjust are branded as "righteousness".

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  AllTimeJeff

  The nomenclature of JW's is unique to their own. How do you reframe work? Call it a privilege. How do you stifle a voice? Call them comments, then make that a privilege.

  I like this post. I personally so was ambitious at my arrogant JW peak that I viewed each "privilege" as something to gain and conquer, and I rated myself based on the age I achieved them. I had to be a young MS, then Elder. (accomplished) Mic Handler since I was 9. (insert sort of not really funny, but funny, punch line here). Whatever it was, to some JW's like me before my awakening, a privilege was a notch on the JW bedpost.

  The ultimate privilege? Become one of the anointed. Who's gonna check you on that? Just play the game, make sure you have the long con going on, be in the traveling work or missionary for 20 years, make sure you network so you can kiss some GB @$$, and then suddenly, YHWH picks you. Next stop, GB 2.0 (or is it 3.0 soon???)
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  5

  Healing

  by AllTimeJeff in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  among the many ways that jehovahs witnesses leadership strangle a person is primarily through the taking of your identity.

  for cults and high control groups, of course this is how it's done.

  but once you leave, finding out who you really are, and living a life of authenticity is usually quite challenging.. i have learned since my exit in 2006 that it is healthy to learn about who you are.

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  AllTimeJeff

  Among the many ways that Jehovahs Witnesses leadership strangle a person is primarily through the taking of your identity. For cults and high control groups, of course this is how it's done. But once you leave, finding out who you really are, and living a life of authenticity is usually quite challenging.

  I have learned since my exit in 2006 that it is healthy to learn about who YOU are. In fact, I wish I had someone who would have told me this when I left. I didn't. I was scared, just wanting to survive, not wanting to give into the anger I felt, not wanting to make self destructive decisions, so I just worked for the approval of my boss, and licked my wounds for a while. I was never going to be good enough, so at first, I didn't put myself out there. Lately, I am now able to do this.

  Of course, that isn't the most charitable way to view and treat myself. And that is the point. I was NEVER going to be good enough without the borg. Wasn't that the point? I was imperfect, a sinner, now hanging out with worldly, potentially demonized people. (I know, all of this is eye roll inducing, except that when you leave, the nomenclature stays with you. The words, the furrowed eyebrows, the self-righteous "thank god I am here instead of being them" bullshit)

  These days, I don't care about the ending of Jehovah's Witnesses, because they, like other high control groups (or perhaps groups in general?) tend to prey on our need to belong. Whatever the next religion that is like JW's, or Scientologists, or whomever, the one thing that they will attract are people who are in need of belonging, who don't know themselves, and aren't ready to think or make decisions for themselves... (and it is for that very reason why JW's baptizing of teenagers is disgusting and reprehensible...) So why not just claim who you are?

  What I do care about now is that I help people just be themselves, and understand it isn't my job to change anyone. I am not talking about having political or religious viewpoints that could potentially hurt someone. I am talking about embracing who you are, what you think, and not taking shit from anyone else.

  It's ironic that in the United States, the country I live in, we talk a great game about rugged individuality and free speech, only to seemingly spend most of our waking hours mocking or ridiculing others for doing the same, instead of celebrating the differences. But if you truly own yourself, that won't ever matter.

  I have learned that you are finally on the path to healing when you finally embrace who you are, be vulnerable, and know that it is ok to be just you. That was the only thing JW's had over you, because you were never (First name, Last name) You were always (Brother/Sister, Last name) When your name really means that you are you, you win. They lose. But that does take time and work.

  From there, you get to decide politics, spirituality, and all that other stuff. But at least you are doing it for you, and not for the approval of a group, family, or frankly, anyone else.

  Oh and don't forget that true love IS unconditional. There are friends you can make that will like you, will love you, and may totally disagree with 75% of the bullshit you spew. But they're your friends anyway. That is real love. Those are real people. They accept who you are, just like you do them. Anything less than that, isn't worthy of the real you, lurking inside.

  Happy healing!
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  23

  Did a current or ex-JW help you to awaken?

  by TweetieBird in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  was there something that was said to you that got the wheel turning in your brain, that caused you to start waking up to ttatt, either by a jw or ex-jw that you didn't know was awake?

  i'm trying to think of things i can say or ask of my current family members still in that may help them to start seeing the real truth about the organization.

  they think we're still in..

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  AllTimeJeff

  My brothers suicide in 1998, followed by 9/11/01, and then the coup de gras to my JW faith: Gilead in 2005 had the opposite effect on me the GB wanted. I saw the rot. Following a failed (successful?) missionary assignment, I read CoC followed by a very intense spurt of reading Randy Watters, and off I went into the happy world of being an independent mind. With the requeset bumps in the road. Which is cool, you've got to go through that.

  Let me offer an opinion I feel is some learned wisdom: Whatever you decide to do or not do relative to the "anti JW" thing, don't let what "they" think stop you or start you. It is ok for this to be about you, and your self discovery.

  We all need to find our own way. There is only one of me and one of you. Be you, do you, and live your life unapologetically, without regard for JW approval, or anyone else's approval for that matter. (not suggesting a self destructive lifestyle of course).

  What might be a trigger to leave for you or me may not be a trigger for someone else. I think it is instructive to observe what the leadership of JW's fear the most. It isn't flip flopping, or failed prophecies, etc. It is a person being an individual and thinking for themselves. That is what scares them the most. They feed on group think. I feel you must encourage anyone "in" you care about to think for themselves. Easier said than done, but it seems to me to be the best, most effective way....
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  81

  Gerrit Losch Claims JW's Attending College Are Spiritually Weak

  by pale.emperor in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  https://www.facebook.com/jw.0027/videos/799049613609936/.

  the video was posted directly to a pro-jw facebook page.

  i cant believe what i'm hearing... actually, nothing surprises be about this cult anymore.. didn't they say to the judge in the arc that they dont discourage college?.

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  AllTimeJeff

  Getting a college education doesn't guarantee things like higher income. If taken seriously though, it does mean you will be better educated. And education is the antidote to all things that Jehovah's Witnesses spew.

  They'd love for JW's to have successful businesses so that they can donate more money. Please don't think this is about money. It's about what college teaches most people who pass through their doors, the ability to think critically for themselves. That is kryptonite for the GB
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  315

  Atheism = self defeating.

  by towerwatchman in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  atheism = self defeating.

  first may we define our terms.

  the word atheism comes literally from the greek, alpha the negative and theos [for god], therefore “negative god” or there is no god.

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  AllTimeJeff

  Hey. I don't know about all of you, but I am watching a great final four game.

  For anyone who wants to continue this, much respect, but allow me to point out something. (apologies if someone else said this on say, page 13 of this thread. I didn't read it)

  PUTTING THE BURDEN OF PROOF FOR THE EXISTENCE OF SOMEONE WHO IS OSTENSIBLY INVISIBLE ON THOSE WHO DON'T BELIEVE WHAT NO ONE CAN SEE, OR HAS EVER SEEN EVIDENCE OF, IS UTTER BULLSH*T.

  Towerwatchman assumes his belief and evidence is already established. As I always say, please provide your Polaroid. Otherwise, don't attack atheists. Your god is not my god. I don't know her. I haven't met her.

  I can just as easily prove the existence of an invisible deity by quoting Lord of the Rings. Which is recognized as a work of fiction. Apply logically as you will, if you can.

  If one wishes to have faith and believe in a deity, I don't find fault with that either, so long as your beliefs don't encroach on the rights of others who choose to believe differently. But don't be arrogant and defend what is indefensible.
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  9

  Hello JW Lurkers. Did you watch Leah Remini's show? Or her interview? It's here...

  by AllTimeJeff in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  substitute "jehovah's witnesses" for every time leah says "scientology".

  it's a cult folks.

  please watch the interview below.. "you should always talk to someone who was in, because, if you don't get the nomenclature 100% correct, we have a way of kind of discrediting you if you're not using it correctly.".

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  AllTimeJeff

  A very important point to understand is that Jehovah's Witnesses ARE NOT unique. People are very adept at observing what works.

  One thing I appreciated about this interview is how both cults control people because they control the words. That is the danger of "apostates" for both Hubbardites and JW's. We know the secret code word to get into the tree house.

  Another interesting aspect is that the higher you go, the more you see and learn. JW's have that in the form of elders, CO's and the specialized training and materials they receive.
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  9

  Hello JW Lurkers. Did you watch Leah Remini's show? Or her interview? It's here...

  by AllTimeJeff in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  substitute "jehovah's witnesses" for every time leah says "scientology".

  it's a cult folks.

  please watch the interview below.. "you should always talk to someone who was in, because, if you don't get the nomenclature 100% correct, we have a way of kind of discrediting you if you're not using it correctly.".

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  AllTimeJeff

  Wish you the best on that. It can open eyes...
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  9

  Hello JW Lurkers. Did you watch Leah Remini's show? Or her interview? It's here...

  by AllTimeJeff in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  substitute "jehovah's witnesses" for every time leah says "scientology".

  it's a cult folks.

  please watch the interview below.. "you should always talk to someone who was in, because, if you don't get the nomenclature 100% correct, we have a way of kind of discrediting you if you're not using it correctly.".

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  AllTimeJeff

  Substitute "Jehovah's Witnesses" for every time Leah says "Scientology". It's a cult folks. Please watch the interview below.

  "You should always talk to someone who was in, because, If you don't get the nomenclature 100% correct, we have a way of kind of discrediting you if you're not using it correctly."

  nomenclature definition: "the devising or choosing of names for things" Sound familiar? Active/Inactive? Sheep/Goats? Just for two....

  Talk to someone who was in. Like me. Born in. 4th generation JW. Elder at 26. Gilead missionary at 30. (class 116, Jan 1 2006 WT. I have big hair. For a JW, but I digress)

  Sort of fired up today. While JW's are on the other side of the bell curve, they still hurt people. I urge you to watch both this interview and Leah Remini's show on Scientology. While the words that JW's and Hubbardites use are different, they are used to promote the same concepts of control. And I would like to see anyone who wants to, have the opportunity to make their life what they want, and at least have that shot.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxvPtWAymGU
  
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  13

  "Those Who Leave Are Doomed..."

  by AllTimeJeff in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  in mission impossible 3, ethan hunt (aka tom cruise) and his protege (aka keri russell) have an explosive pellet implanted in their heads through their nose by the bad guys as a way to control them.

  the only way to to stop it from detonating is to use a defibrillator or some device to send massive electric shocks to the body, thus short circuiting the deadly implant.

  hunt's protege doesn't get the help she needed in time, and she dies.

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  AllTimeJeff

  It's worth bringing up a lot. I think anyone who exits a cult or high control religion needs support.

  It Actually matters to the cult that those who leave fail. The more happy success stories we can show, the better.