FreePeace

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Posts by FreePeace

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  8

  Style of assembly/convention speakers

  by comment in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  what precisely are the instructions that are given to assembly or convention speakers about the manner in which they are to deliver their talks, especially the manuscript ones?.

  the reason i ask is that i was always irked by the strident, hectoring tone of the speakers at these events.. you'd have brother mild-mannered from your home congregation on the platform, someone you knew gave talks at the kingdom hall in a (relatively) low-key "i'm a normal person" voice, but get him up there at the doers of god's divine godly fear kingdom district convention and he'd be snapping out those long boring rhetorical questions and thrashing his hands around like some dictator wannabe.. it made me think that if you wanted to turn people on to the organization, the district convention sure wasn't the place to start.. comment

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  FreePeace

  One hardly qualifies for such an exalted privilege unless he is a petty demagogue, has some distinctive affectation, penchant for hyperbole, grandeloquence or eccentricity. In short, a no-life ham who thrives on milking applause from a compliant audience.

  While the above comments certainly apply to some convention speakers, they do not apply to all.

  Some of us really cared about making a difference. Some of us were really very good public speakers who did not change our speaking style to accomodate some CO/DO.

  I was a convention speaker, and I do not consider the above words as applicable in my case. I did not do it for the glory, nor the applause. I did it because I love speaking (unlike most people). I did it because I wanted to make a difference.

  I still want to make a difference. That's why I am no longer a Dub. Now I can make a difference in a way that really counts.

  FreePeace
  "The World is my country, and to do good, my religion." --Thomas Paine
  TruthQuest: http://beam.to/truthquest
  Who Am I? -How to Reinvent Yourself After Leaving the WTS
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  101

  Who of you in this forum have been df'ed?

  by YoYoMama in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  if it is possible can you post why you were disfellowshipped?

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  FreePeace

  Who has been DF'd?

  None of your god damned business.

  Let us know when you’re DF'd and maybe we’ll talk.

  FreePeace
  "The World is my country, and to do good, my religion." --Thomas Paine
  TruthQuest: http://beam.to/truthquest
  Who Am I? -How to Reinvent Yourself After Leaving the WTS
• 
  11

  will harmagedon ever come ?

  by eternal existent in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i wonder if harmagedon will ever come or if it is only a synonym for something other than jehovahs whitnesses believe.. please answer me in easy english because im not englishman and my english is not very good.. thank you.

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  FreePeace

  will harmagedon ever come ?

  No.

  Go out and live your life to the full; enjoy life; give back to the world; be happy.

  FreePeace
  "The World is my country, and to do good, my religion." --Thomas Paine
  TruthQuest: http://beam.to/truthquest
  Who Am I? -How to Reinvent Yourself After Leaving the WTS
• 
  62

  How Long A JW ( Baptised )?

  by hillary_step in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i frequently read on this board that somebody has 'been a jw for over 25 years' and then learn that they are in fact 25 years and three days old.. i am very easily confused, in fact i actually got inside a car of similar color to my own recently and spent at least five minutes with a furrowed brow trying to force my car key into its ignition, fortunately, i realised my error before i was arrested.

  so, just to humor me, can you all post how long you were/are baptised jw's?.

  thank you -- hs.

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  FreePeace

  I was a 4th generation Dub.
  Born in February 1959 (almost born in Japan, folks were missionaries there).

  Baptized on July 4th, 1974 at 15 years old.
  MS in 1981 at 21 years old.
  Elder in 1992.
  Resigned in 1999.

  Last time in a KH Memorial 1999. Never going back.
  Had talks on the District Convention last 3 years of being an elder.
  Seperated from and divorced my alcoholic wife in 1999.
  DF'd in August 1999. I spent 40 years as a Dub.
  Married Tracy (Think41Self) in December 1999.

  Been happy ever since.

  Now have plans to get my degrees and really live life to the full as well as give back to the world.

  FreePeace
  "The World is my country, and to do good, my religion." --Thomas Paine
  TruthQuest: http://beam.to/truthquest
  Who Am I? -How to Reinvent Yourself After Leaving the WTS
• 
  21

  LONGO IS OPP TO EXPLAIN SHUNNING TO NEWS MEDIA

  by MadApostate in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.asp?id=18631&site=3.

  the "christian longo" drama has been on television and in the newspapers now for about a week, and will stay in the headlines until he is captured.. the xjw community ****now**** has a good opportunity to communicate with reporters to explain that jw shunning may very well have been the driving force behind longo's downhill slid which finally climaxed in an act of mass-murder.. per the news articles, longo's initial problems appear to have been "financial".

  such problems could have been dealt with if longo's parent's would simply have offered and provided financial assistance.

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  FreePeace

  Yeah, yeah, brainwashed...whatever. The same line over and over again. Can't you come up with something original?

  Yes I can. How about "Mind-Fucked" because that's exactly what it is. However, it can be overcome.

  FreePeace
  "The World is my country, and to do good, my religion." --Thomas Paine
  TruthQuest: http://beam.to/truthquest
  Who Am I? -How to Reinvent Yourself After Leaving the WTS
• 
  47

  American Words Unused Here. Vice-Versa Also.

  by Englishman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  in the uk you never hear words such as:.

  railroad.

  mortician.

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  FreePeace

  How about:

  Apartment / Flat

  Is a Flat just an apartment, or does it refer to a house too?

  FreePeace
  "The World is my country, and to do good, my religion." --Thomas Paine
  TruthQuest: http://beam.to/truthquest
  Who Am I? -How to Reinvent Yourself After Leaving the WTS
• 
  87

  Mother's Letter To Start Off The New Year...

  by silentlambs in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i received this letter from my mother over the weekend, it came with a card and a special note to my children.

  i plan to let them read it someday, not today..... silentlambs.

  december 20,2001 .

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  FreePeace

  Larc,

  I appreciate where you are coming from, and have given this matter considerable thought prior to this thread.

  It's not about Bill's parents so much as it is about the message he sends by sending the letter. It's about the message to his own kids that, while his kids may not always agree with their parents, they are free to express their disagreements and find a mutually acceptable ground to continue their relationship.

  Obviously, it is up to Bill as to what he does. I do agree that there are times when backing down is prudent. Only Bill can decide if this is one of them.

  Their relationship is already strained, perhaps beyond repair due his parent's position.

  I have refrained in sending letters to my own parents for exactly the reasons you cite. However, I have done so when it comes to standing up for my values and principles.

  JW's seem to have every right to express their venom, and we often do not stand up out of regard for their ignorance. Again, they are adults. If they offer such words as Bill's parents have, they must be willing to hear the other side.

  It takes two to make a relationship. If Bill is the only one giving, then it will not last. If Bill is always taking the "blows" and adjusting for them, that is codependent. It is not healthy and will not last.

  Again, I appreciate and respect what you are saying. This is a tricky issue, and one that may be different for different people and situations.

  All my best,

  Doug

  FreePeace
  "The World is my country, and to do good, my religion." --Thomas Paine
  TruthQuest: http://beam.to/truthquest
  Who Am I? -How to Reinvent Yourself After Leaving the WTS
• 
  87

  Mother's Letter To Start Off The New Year...

  by silentlambs in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i received this letter from my mother over the weekend, it came with a card and a special note to my children.

  i plan to let them read it someday, not today..... silentlambs.

  december 20,2001 .

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  FreePeace

  Bill,

  I am sorry for your situation. I know it must hurt deeply.

  Some have said not to send your reply to your folks. I have to disagree.

  -- At what point do we stop enabling our parents and other loved ones to continue pouring out hurt on us through guilt manipulation and twisted reasoning?

  -- At what point do we stop enabling them to remain absolved of personal responsibility for their actions?

  We are all human beings, and as such, have the human right of free will to believe and live as we see fit. No other human being--parent or otherwise--has the right to deprive us of our individual right to remain true to ourselves. No one has the right to deprive us of family relationships based on judgmental criteria.

  But along with these rights goes self-responsibility. Your parents--and mine--must also stand up and accept personal responsibility for their actions (or inactions) and beliefs.

  Your parents are adults. They must be treated as such. You have a right to tell them how you feel. After all, they told you. Now, they must be adults about it and listen to you.

  To not send that letter would be codependent. We cannot control another human being, but we must show respect for our own dignity and pain and loss by being true to ourselves and standing tall and strong.

  Since your parents initiated this correspondence, they are entitled to your response.

  Only you can know what you have personally sacrificed in this honorable cause. You have stood up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. Continue standing.

  If nothing else, your parents must respect the courage you have shown for what you believe in. After all, isn't that what being a Witness is all about? Now they deny it of you.

  Send the letter.

  Doug

  FreePeace
  "The World is my country, and to do good, my religion." --Thomas Paine
  TruthQuest: http://beam.to/truthquest
  Who Am I? -How to Reinvent Yourself After Leaving the WTS
• 
  10

  New beginnings....

  by FreePeace in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this piece was just posted on my empowered recovery discussion group.

  it came at just the right time for me--i needed it.

  i thought i would share it with all of you, my friends.. .

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  FreePeace

  Hi Marilyn,

  Freepeace, what is the Empowered Recovery discussion group you talk of? Is it specifically for religion or does it cover recovery from all kinds of emotional traumas?

  Empowered Recovery is a program I am currently developing to help non-alcoholics recover from and survive an alcoholic relationship. It very much involves overcoming codependence, which is the reciprocal "sickness" in an alcoholic relationship. It does not involve religion.

  It is specifically aimed at the issues and problems associated with alcohol, but is beneficial to those dealing with a drug addict as well.

  Codependence is rampant in many relationships, but not all codependent relationships involve alcoholism or drugs. Just many or most of them.

  There is more info at http://www.EmpoweredRecovery.com. I am adding more info regularly as I write it.

  I am looking for stories of people who have survived alcoholic relationships for my project.

  I am not sure what type of emotional trauma you are experiencing, but there may be some discussion groups specific to what you want on Yahoo.

  I also have two other websites that may be of interest. One is TruthQuest (address below); the other is at http://www.EmpowerTheSpirit.com, which may be helpful.

  Please feel free to email me with any questions or for more info, [email protected].

  Hope this helps.

  Doug

  FreePeace
  "The World is my country, and to do good, my religion." --Thomas Paine
  TruthQuest: http://beam.to/truthquest
  Who Am I? -How to Reinvent Yourself After Leaving the WTS
• 
  41

  Underwear...

  by Serena in

  1. social
  2. relationships

  this is the strangest thing that i have ever seen, and i have to ask cuz it's just sooooooo wacky, i'm just wondering what the hell it means: the jw guy that i have been seeing, well, he sometimes would wear two pairs of underwear?????

  is this usual to witnesses, or is he just trying to protect his goodies?

  or is he just a freak?????

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  FreePeace

  Serena,

  Listen to the Red Flags. I can't imagine why a guy would wear 2 pairs of underwear, but there might be a reason. Just ask him. That should give you an indication as to whether you should run or not.

  But I'm toward the Run option.

  FreePeace
  "The World is my country, and to do good, my religion." --Thomas Paine
  TruthQuest: http://beam.to/truthquest
  Who Am I? -How to Reinvent Yourself After Leaving the WTS