freeman

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Posts by freeman

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  37

  Smoking tobacco- ex-JW's have a warped view, so what should we do?

  by OnTheWayOut in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i used to smoke cigarettes.

  i quit as i was learning the lies of the watchtower organization.. i used to smoke between 1 and 3 packs a day depending on whether i went drinking or not.. .

  i didn't really quit for the religion, but as i was learning it.. i swore to quit when cigarettes got to cost me more than a buck a pack.

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  freeman

  OTWO, You raise many good points and things to ponder. Just to add to the confusion, here are some blaring contradictions to the all tobacco is evil mindset.

  Smokers have reduced risks of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease

  Smoking: Protection Against Neural Tube Defects

  Urinary Cotinine Concentration Confirms the Reduced Risk of Preeclampsia with Tobacco Exposure

  Severe Gum Recession, Less Of A Risk For Smokers –

  Twin Study Supports Protective Effect of Smoking For Parkinson's Disease

  And my all-time favorite:

  Smoking lessens the likelihood of dying from diseases associated with old-age!

  That said I would say to anyone thinking about smoking, don’t ever start. And if you already do smoke, quit. As for me, I was a 3 pack a day guy. I was hooked. Now I only smoke premium cigars because I enjoy them, not because I have to.

  Freeman
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  26

  Is punishing someone for changing their religion against international law

  by ldrnomo in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i saw this on wikipedia:.

  the united nations commission on human rights, considers the recanting of a person's religion a human right legally protected by the international covenant on civil and political rights: "the committee observes that the freedom to 'have or to adopt' a religion or belief necessarily entails the freedom to choose a religion or belief, including the right to replace one's current religion or belief with another or to adopt atheistic views [...] article 18.2 bars coercion that would impair the right to have or adopt a religion or belief, including the use of threat of physical force or penal sanctions to compel believers or non-believers to adhere to their religious beliefs and congregations, to recant their religion or belief or to convert."[5].

  seems to me that being shunned by family and friends for quitting jehovah's witnesses would be penal sanctions.. .

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  freeman

  I have a friend that I’ve lost contact with for some time now, but his life story is directly related to this thread.

  My friend, Adam is closely related to Suharto; ex-dictator of Indonesia (now deceased). In fact Adam was raised as a child in Suharto’s palace. He told me that he would like to one day visit Indonesia again, but he can’t because he literally has a death sentence on him. His crime? He was raised a Muslim and changed his religion, that is his crime deserving of death.

  Adam is related to Suharto, also the Grandson or great Grandson of the King of Java, a nephew of the UN ambassador of Indonesia, raised in the royal palace, and yet his very life would be in jeopardy if he simply returned home for a visit.

  I remember some time back, (not sure in which publication I read it) the WTS was lamenting over the fact that it wasn’t allowed to kill apostates like back in the good old days.

  SICK!

  “Religion is a snare and a racket” ; just maybe the Judge had a point

  Freeman
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  7

  background checks

  by bibledike in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  is there anybody that is a probation officer out there i have many questions regarding background or maybe somebody could help me.

  do full background checks look up your medical records?.

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  freeman

  “do full background checks look up your medical records?”

  In the case where employment screening is concerned, m edical records are generally off limits, however there are exceptions. If for example you are being considered for a very high security clearance (as in above top secret); your medical / mental health records may be subject to investigation too. That said however, they will need your signed consent to do so. Needless to say, failure to provide this consent may greatly lessen your chances of obtaining the clearance and employment .

  Freeman
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  20

  I have to put my doggie to sleep today.....

  by Alana in

  1. jw
  2. friends

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  freeman

  I’m very sorry to hear of your loss. We lost our black Lab “Kelly” a few years ago to cancer. Here is a link to a site that will help.

  http://www.forevermypet.com

  Freeman
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  28

  Does the WT warn against reading the Bible?

  by Hope4Others in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs
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  freeman

  Oh no!!!! Holy crap Spike, you’re morphing!!

  Folks, it sounds like Spike is reverting back to the thinking of Christendom. Have you been reading the Bible alone? Do you realize Spike that you just said that Jesus ordered the Holy Spirit around?

  " the holy spirit that he said he would send "

  The Holy Spirit is subordinate to Jesus. Wow, cognitive dissonance and all can’t stop the truth from being revealed, even if the very stones themselves have to speak!

  Thanks Spike for this great insight.

  Freeman
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  27

  Watchtower says "Field Service Report NOT a Major Concern!"

  by UnDisfellowshipped in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the watchtower, june 1st, 2005 issue, pages 14-15:.

  "saved, not by works alone, but by undeserved kindness" (study article).

  (paragraph 1): "christians [...] realize that in jehovah's service, right motives are more important than personal accomplishments.

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  freeman

  "The numbers are already embarassing... how many thousand hours is it that's needed to convert someone again?"

  About 40 years worth

  Freeman
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  23

  The *M* Word

  by VIII in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  little people call for fcc to ban 'midget'.

  new york (ap) -- little people are calling on the federal communications commission to ban the use of the word "midget" on broadcast tv.. .

  the group little people of america said sunday the word is just as offensive as racial slurs.. .

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  freeman

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NvgLkuEtkA

  I’m ashamed for even posting this J
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  44

  Personal experience of accepting Jesus as God, how was it for you?

  by digderidoo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have decided to start another thread to the one on jesus...god or god's son?.

  the reason for this is that i started a thread really looking for personal experiences, looking for reasons those with a jw background would change their opinion on this.

  i wanted to know why those that believe that jesus is god now feel this, whereas years ago they didn't.. i think it's a shame the other thread has descended into a debate between trinitarians and jw apologists, whereas only a couple of posters responded to my original post.

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  freeman

  I remember the BS (watchtower explanation) that I so dutifully gave to a householder about what Tomas so plainly said, namely Jesus being his Lord and his God. It was what I was taught, but I never felt quite right about implying Tomas was just so astonished that he said “oh my God”, as is the custom today.

  I was with a very sharp MS on that day, and despite my own shortcomings, I just knew he could rebuff anything the householder could argue. This MS, Rudy, was also my final study conductor before I was baptized. Rudy had what I thought at the time was an in-depth Biblical knowledge base. He could ever-so-quickly jump the appropriate passage, like superman, just in the nick of time. In retrospect, what I mistakenly surmised as a demonstrable depth of knowledge was in fact not deep Biblical knowledge, but rather excellent skills in the fine art of Biblical hopscotch.

  What I (we) didn’t count on was that this person we were talking to at the door was a seminary graduate. This person had an advanced college education, not only the history of the Bible and the doctrines, but had in fact mastered the very languages it was written in.

  Needles to say, we both got a real education that day. Hopefully for someone such as our dear Reniia, she will never run into such a person. However if you do Reniia, I suggest cognitive dissonance to help you cope and put your world aright once again. It did wonders for Rudy and me, I sure it could help you too.

  Freeman
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  12

  What's your 4th of July plans?

  by Quirky1 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'll be batchen it while the jw wifey goes to the dc.....

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  freeman

  July 4 th is a very special day to me.

  Not only because it is my nations’ birthday, but because I was set free from the watchtower merry-go-round on July 4 th , 1987. I will celebrate with a barbeque, some beer, and later some brandy and a vintage (legal, rare, and very expensive) Pre-Castro Cigar.

  Freeman
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  46

  Things I learned at the 2009 DC !!!

  by tresdecu in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  unfortunately i had the "flu" friday and saturday.

  but i made it to the sunday session to make an apperance.. on sunday, i learned that we are,... ready, this is a new one for me :"...on the doorstep of the great tribulation..." so close brothers!

  so close!.

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  freeman

  Any minute now, any minute now! it’s so close you could miss out if you even get up to go to the bathroom; it’s best to just hold it in.

  Freeman