Posts by themonster123

5

Exposing psychological manipulation

by Ténébreux in

not sure if this has been discussed before (probably) but this is something that just occurred to me:.

religions and cults employ some very well documented psychological techniques to deceive, persuade and control people - logical fallacies, thought-reform, etc.

techniques which can be easily identified in action when one is aware that they exist.

themonster123

interesting point-kinda sounds like you're reiterating the old cliche: They're not telling you HOW to think, they're telling you WHAT to think.... anyway... Yes, Witnesses whoever thought up HOW to teach people was VERY smart....like the Watchtower study every sunday. you think "oh i'm actually answering these 'thought-provoking' questions a bout the Bible, I really AM doing 'critical thinking'" but as we all know once you get out and realize it, it's not critical thinking. Canned questions-canned answers. You're not really allowed to think critically at the end of the day as a Witness. Not so much. Not really at all.

You block out so many ideas before even allowing them to form. It's so narrow what you actually allow your brain to think. It's hard to adjust to worldly livin and worldly THINKING once you get out b/c everything's not so black and white and everything doesn't make SENSE like it did as a WItness....

8

There are a lot of stupid people out there in the world

by Jourles in

jw
friends

on monday, i was sitting on a bench outside of the restrooms in morocco waiting for my wife to come out.

wait a sec, did he just say morocco?

well, sort of.

themonster123

One day we will find out that Disneyland really WAS behind the terrorism all along. No one company can get THAT rich w/o doing SOMETHING dishonest. Mickey's behind the whole damn thing. All that happiest place on Earth business? nah nah, it's just a front man. Maybe that lady was onto something. Maybe she's not as ignorant as you think.

The Witnesses were wrong all along-the REAL king of the South is Disneyland. I read it in a Watchtower once. Oh...you haven't read that one? Hmm....well, maybe I imagined it.

15

"Religions tell us we have to give up this life for another ...

by serenitynow in

jw
friends

give up our desire, passions, pleasures ... what type of comfort is that?

'die while you are alive so you can be alive when you are dead?'".

this was a thought-provoking quote i read on the weekend from a french philosopher michael onfray, particularly when we know how much one gives up for life as a dub.

themonster123

Yeah, I read something similar to this in a magazine called "risen" (I'm not dumb-they purposely spelled it w/ a lower-cased "r" even though it's the name of a magazine)....there was an interview w/ that girl from that show "Joan of Arcadia" and she was saying that's what she didn't like abou tChristianity is its constant promotion of the "suffer now for The Good Life later." I think that theme is common in ALL religions.

But I don't think there's anything after Death, so live NOW.

55

Can God see the future?

by Adolfius in

jw
friends

i've been out a while, but i remember thinking about this as a teenager and being confused, (my mother told me i must be posessed by demons to think such things and so never offered me an explanation).

what do the jws say about it.

if jehovah can see into the future, he would've known what a mess he was going to make of creation so he would've decided against it before he even thought of it.. based on the theory that he went ahead and created everything anyway, that must mean he can't see into the future.. i also seem to remember that god doesn't interfere with man, because we have free will, so all our actions are down to us and in no way "steered" or "influenced" by god.. so how can he make predictions about the future, i.e.

themonster123

This idea never made sense to me-that God can see the future! What I was told as a Witness was he CHOOSES to see the future....

But this idea really doesn't make sense that he'd allow all this to happen..if he could see the future. Apparantly, he's gonna step in...in the future!

31

Do you get "tired" of "Apostates/ex-jws" bashing the WT to you?

by booker-t in

i know it is good to let out pent up anger for healing purposes, but do you ever get tired of some "apostates or ex-jws" constantly bashing the wt?

for instance when you or having lunch and all they do is say "the evil wt this the evil wt that" during the whole time you are at lunch?

sometimes i just don't feel like hearing it especially when i am at an event for fun.

themonster123

YES!! I GET TIRED OF IT!!! Ex-JWs get mad for JWs calling the apostates "all bad", when they are doing the exact same thing ! Witnesses aren't ALL bad, or even MOSTLY bad in my opinion. It was my old religion, my ex-religion, like my ex-boyfriend. Are ex-boyfriends and ex-girlfriends all bad? No, even though when you first break up you're very angry w/ them, but after time goes by, you realize you're wasting your precious Life here having so much negativity towards a person or organization.

35

You know you're a JW if..

by themonster123 in

jw
friends

hey i'll come back and do some, but does anyone want to kick start it?

themonster123

lol-to WHitedove...

29

Did I miss something? Is this the new resolution at the D.Convention?

by Star Moore in

1. we are determined to intensify our preaching activity.

2. to live up to our dedication to jehovah and give him exclusive devotion.

3. to follow jesus' example closely and be no part of the world.

themonster123

What is the deal? So they're getting stricter....Do you think eventually Witnesses could be the next Hale Bopp cult?!!!! I mean, seriously-I'm starting to get scared for my Witness family and friends.

50

TWO DUMB QUESTIONS.......PLUS, ADD YOUR OWN DUMB QUESTIONS

by Warlock in

jw
friends

when you eat crackers, do you lay them out salt side up, or salt side down?

do you put them in your mouth salt side up, or salt side down?.

are there any other dumb questions you can think of, to post on this thread?.

themonster123

Why do dogs like to stick their head out the window, but get annoyed when you blow in their face?

35

You know you're a JW if..

by themonster123 in

jw
friends

hey i'll come back and do some, but does anyone want to kick start it?

themonster123

Someone tells you they got their couch at a garage sale and you nod politely, but in your head are thinking: "Note to self: NEver spend the night here-you WILL become demonized."

20

Will there be any competitive sports in the new system?

by JH in

jw
friends

since everyone will be young and in top shape, i wonder what sports will be permited, and will competition be permitted?.

the williams sisters play competitive tennis, and that seems to be ok, but on the other hand, some young jw's aren,t allowed to play competitive sports at school..... .

.

themonster123

Ha ha-no there will not be any competitive sports in the new system (which we've all already established there is no such thing)....Oh my gosh-that was another thing that was so cult-y about witnesses. That just seems to have come about in recent years-the whole "No competitive sports thing." ITs' crazy man! I remember some CO or something got up there on the platform and was like, "Now, there have been reports of young ones getting involved in competitive sports. Now recreation is fine here and there, but to get too into it w/ our brothers and sisters-well, we could start contentions that way, ya know!" OMG-ARE YOU serious!?

A few of my guy friends had started some basketball teams (JWs only) and I thought it was apretty neat thing for them to go and do that-the tiny tiny tiny bit of fun witnesses get to have, and the CO was basically talking about THEM in his talk. But it was like they were only JWs on the bballt eam anyway! I don't know if the CO doesnt get that sports involve COMPETITION.

I can just imagine him playing (if he could)-it'd be like "Oh pass me the ball please." THen you pass it and he just stands there asking everyone "Did you get the ball too? Oh, Mark did you get a chance? WHo hasn't gotten the ball yet?"

I swear, anything with the slightest bit of passion or vigor in it in any form of LIfe is totally shut down by Witnesses-anything involving real EMOTION or PASSION....ugghhh,

By the way JH, you are a cutie! :) You look all emo and indie-cutie pie!