This sounds like a lot of fun! I actually think it might work, in the sense that it might get some of them to think a little. Especially the part about apostacy couldbe a home-run. Imagine if everyone should treat people who change religion like the witnesses do? If you are able to pull it of in a nice, non "better-then-you" way then they will absorb it and recognise your pattern of thought. I remember when I was pioneering I would always be fascinated whenever I met someone with real Bible knowledge in the door-to-door ministry who could show me something in the Bible instead of the other way around.
LosingMyReligion
JoinedPosts by LosingMyReligion
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22
Getting JWs To Think By Using Their Own Tactics On Them.
by Island Man ini've been thinking that an effective way to expose the idiocy and vacuousness of jwism is to use it right back on them when they come to your door.
say you're a fader and you've moved to the territory of a different circuit where the jws there don't know your jw background.
when they come knocking at your door, just put on the jw mindset and pretend to yourself that the jws at the door are not jws but members of a "false religion.".
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LosingMyReligion
No, I don't think so.
Witnesses don't have prison camps, they don't have a "fair game" policy and they are just not so interesting and mysterious as the scientologists. The only thing that would make them interesting for the media and the general public is if the protection of sex offenders blew up in their face and got a lot of attention. For that to happen you need people who have been abused to come forward and you need someone (a media) to spread their story.
Unfortunately there is not enough of either at the time to garner any real awareness of Jehovas Witnesses. For most people they are just the weirdos who goes door-to-door and don't celebrate anything. Only witnesses and ex-witnesses care about them to put it blunt.
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What is truth?
by Heisenberg inwell, i have been lurking on this site for several months and i recently decided to join as a member.
i have made several observations and would like to make a few comments.. first, i am perplexed by the attitude of many on this site that are either former or active (but apostate) jws.
they seem to have a strong hatred for the wts and also for rank and file jws.
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LosingMyReligion
I am astounded when I hear of former JWs that now celebrate Christmas. Are you kidding me? You want the truth but then go back to the deepest, darkest pit of deception. We all know Christmas has nothing to do with Jesus. Why would you trade one set of lies for another?
99,9% of people celebrating christmas do it not as a religious activity, but as a social activity. It's an excellent opportunity to come together with family and relatives and enjoy some time together in a pleasant setting. -
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Hi! Long time lurker finally signing up!
by LosingMyReligion inok, so the time has finally come to register an account on this site.
not that i think i have much to contribute to the discussions here, but more out of a desire to show that yet another person has learned ttatt.
i am a fader, not discussing ttatt with anyone as i know the inevitable outcome it would have.
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LosingMyReligion
neverendingjourney -
Thank you! Do you have any documentaries you would recommend to explain these concepts in a way that makes it understandable for someone who is not well educated in science? I have found listening to Dawkins as an example to be sometimes difficult to understand as I am not familiar with all the things he is referring to.We all go through our own journey in discovering where we fall on these questions, but let me suggest that an unfiltered view of the universe actually reveals a considerable amount of evidence of a chaos, randomness and disorder. As witnesses we were selectively taught examples that might suggest design while ignoring everything else. There's a considerable amount of literature on this topic as well as good scientific documentaries if you, like me, prefer documentaries over books.
Best of luck to you.
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35
Hi! Long time lurker finally signing up!
by LosingMyReligion inok, so the time has finally come to register an account on this site.
not that i think i have much to contribute to the discussions here, but more out of a desire to show that yet another person has learned ttatt.
i am a fader, not discussing ttatt with anyone as i know the inevitable outcome it would have.
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LosingMyReligion
Yes, actually when I was a teenager i considered REM as one of my favourite bands. I had a bad concience for liking the song "losing my religion" .
Are you an REM fan?
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53
Is Watchtower's stance against education only for North American witnesses
by wannaexit ini was reading on a european ex jw forum where some feel that watchtower's railing against higher education is primarily for north america issue.
this is due that many in usa and canada leave home to leave on campus.
it was mentioned that many young european jw attend universities and its not frowned on.. i found this odd because i heard what morris and losch said about education in italy.
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LosingMyReligion
I think it's important to remember that Europe is a continent, and not a country or state (despite the attempts to create a united European Union). Within this continent you have a variety of countries, big and small, that have their own unique culture, history and morality. Therefore the witnesses in a scandinavian country can have a different view on beards then for an example the witnesses in a southern european country.
Regarding the Watchtower's stance on higher education we all have the same watchower study, the same assembly programs and the same dogma presented to us no matter if we live in North America, Europe or Africa. The only difference is how we react to it. If you compare the European continent to the American or African continent you will see a distinct difference in the number of confessed agnostics and atheists vs. "believers" in the general population, and this must affect the witnesses also. Therefore I would think that the more atheist or science-based your surroundings are the more prone you are to not be overly zealous in following every command from the Governing Body. Remember, most witnesses hate preaching and don't want to pioneer for a career. I know by my own experience how it is to force yourself to pioneer even though you hate it, just because you want to "please God". Most witnesses would take any opportunity to not preach and be occupied with something else, and going to school is one of the best and most readibly available way out of a life of preaching and working low-salary jobs.
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35
Hi! Long time lurker finally signing up!
by LosingMyReligion inok, so the time has finally come to register an account on this site.
not that i think i have much to contribute to the discussions here, but more out of a desire to show that yet another person has learned ttatt.
i am a fader, not discussing ttatt with anyone as i know the inevitable outcome it would have.
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LosingMyReligion
Thanks for the warm welcome! You really have a great community going here, and I find it both educational and encouraging to be able to learn from everyone elses experiences and perspectives.
I appreciate all the kind words and friendly guidances as to further expand my horizon. :)
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35
Hi! Long time lurker finally signing up!
by LosingMyReligion inok, so the time has finally come to register an account on this site.
not that i think i have much to contribute to the discussions here, but more out of a desire to show that yet another person has learned ttatt.
i am a fader, not discussing ttatt with anyone as i know the inevitable outcome it would have.
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LosingMyReligion
Thanks guys! Yes, mikeypants, after reading a bit you realise that most people here are just normal people with different talents and qualities, just like anywhere else. :) -
21
DEMONS: the torment I suffered
by Terry inwhen i was in my teens i wanted a room of my own, but i lived with my grandparents whose house was very small.. my uncle had been living in a little one room bed-sitter way out in the backyard.
he married and moved away and i moved in.. it was quite isolated and the ceiling was six feet from the floor.
unfortunately, the top of my head was four inches higher than that!
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LosingMyReligion
I can remember as a kid when we had bookstudies. Sometimes after the study was over someone would relate stories about demons, satanic music played backwards to relate a message from satan and all kinds of crazy shit. How anyone can think these are suitable subjects of discussion among kids is beyond me, but they sure have left a mark on me. -
35
Hi! Long time lurker finally signing up!
by LosingMyReligion inok, so the time has finally come to register an account on this site.
not that i think i have much to contribute to the discussions here, but more out of a desire to show that yet another person has learned ttatt.
i am a fader, not discussing ttatt with anyone as i know the inevitable outcome it would have.
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LosingMyReligion
Ok, so the time has finally come to register an account on this site. Not that I think I have much to contribute to the discussions here, but more out of a desire to show that yet another person has learned TTATT. I am a fader, not discussing TTATT with anyone as I know the inevitable outcome it would have. I do however hope to gradually plant small seeds in my best friend to make him wake up and see the organisation for what it really is - an organisation.
My first introduction to apostates I can't honestly recall. You see, in the past I have used this site to get a hold of the kingdom ministry whenever I have been inactive and not been able to get it from my congregation. I was at that time not impressed by what i read here though, to me the image of apostates as bitter people was reaffirmed by what I saw here so I didn't pay any attention to any of the material readily available here. The turning point for me was the new definition of "generations". To me that was the moment I just went "what the ####?" inside, and then it all started crumbling down. How could God's spirit be guiding these men if they had to change "the truth" all the time? Together with the lack of humbleness towards all the other failed "truths" in the past I couldn't stop asking myself how this could be the organisation supposedly ledby God himself, a God that is incapable of errors? I kept having doubts for a good while continuing with attending meetings, doing volunteer work in kh maintenance, at assemblies etc. like a good little slave is supposed to. Eventually my nagging doubts led me to start my own studies and google opened a world to me that I could never have imagined was there. I have gone from having doubts about certain things about the religion, to being sure it's all bullcrap.
Today I am officially an inactive "witness", but personally I consider myself agnostic with no faith in the bible. I am open to the idea that maybe evolution is more then a theory, but I have never done any research on it beyond pondering the subject in my own mind and finding it hard to wrap my head around it. The only reason I consider myself agnostic and not atheist is that - perhaps because of indoctination since childhood - I feel that the complexity and the order of everything in the universe is a sign of a plan, or order if you like. However I do not believe that whoever or whatever is behind the universe has written a book and is hiding in the sky telling a select few people what he wants from us. If there is a God it is clear he really don't give a crap about us and what we do.
Losing my religion has been an emotional rollercoaster that I have not yet completed. Giving up the idea of paradise, ressurection and a God to fix all our problems was hard. But on the other hand, giving up on slaving for imperfect(that's a term i have to get out of my system) men running an imperfect organisation, not wasting my life bothering people at their homes to try to give them something they don't want and to not feel constantly guilty for not doing enough, not being good enough is liberating beyond expression.
I no longer have to put on my fake seller persona and go out to push magazines on people, I don't have to pretend the memorial talk was "so nice" when it was horrible, I don't have to defend the disgusting shunning policy, I don't have to risk my life refusing blood and I no longer have to worry about demons and evil "worldly people" who's only mission in life is to refuse me a life in paradise.
I am free, no religion shall ever entrap me again.