Maddie

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Posts by Maddie

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  32

  Should We Really Try to Change Others?

  by journey-on in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  why do atheists try to change believers?

  why do believers try to convert atheists?

  why do we feel compelled to evangelize, proselyltize, convert, and change others politically, religiously, culturally, etc.?

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  Maddie

  Whether we should try to change others depends on the reason why we want to change them. As a parent, if we know our child is on a harmful or destructive course then of course it is the right and natural thing to do. We need to look at our own motives to see if they are self-seeking or altruistic in lots of cases.

  In AA part of recovery is acceptance that ultimately we are responsible for changing ourselves and not trying to change other people to make them do what we want them to. We all have our own journey in life and that should be respected.

  Maddie
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  36

  Read this PR piece about Jehovah's Witnesses (respond if you like)

  by Gopher in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i just had to send a letter to the editor (see my next post) after the waynesville, north carolina local newspaper published this lovely little puff piece about jehovah's witnesses.. the last parts about blood transfusion and the "loving practice" of disfellowshipping were so absurd!.

  link to the article: click here.

  who are the jehovah's witnesses?

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  Maddie

  Gopher I read your post with interest because it has gone through my mind several times recently to write a letter to our local newspaper exposing the JW's for their disfellowshipping policy and how cruel it is. It may stop a great many people from getting inolved in the future. What do you think?

  Maddie
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  71

  Where Do We Really Go When We Die ?

  by flipper in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  oh, boy.

  just had these thoughts rattling around in my head a few days, so wanted to get your takes.

  my college son and i were talking and he said a fellow worker in his 50's said he had been aware his mother was sick and dying in another town , but had not died yet.

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  Maddie

  I still believe that there will be a resurrection but am not sure whether it will be as soon as we die ( in spirit form), or at some stage in the future.

  I have a friend who attends a spiritualist/healing church regularly and she is convinced that she receives messages from her nan often. When I was aged 16 ( soon after my mum died ), I was drawn to try and find out if I could get in touch with her so went to a spiritualist meeting. I didn't get a message but was freaked out by it all - it just felt scary, so I never went again. I wasn't a JW then and didn't know any of the Bible teachings on not contacting spirits so my fears weren't influenced by that. I just felt that I shouldn't be doing it.

  Maddie
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  21

  My nan's Funeral

  by Es in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  was yesterday.

  it went reasonably ok, i didnt make any effort to speak to my parents instead i went and chatted to other family members i havnt seen in years.

  i also had hubby's mum and dad there too for support.

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  Maddie

  I am so glad your mum was able to show her love for you in this way. My thoughts are with you Es.

  Maddie
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  13

  The Watchtower has trained us well.....to be vocal apostate's!

  by megsmomma in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was thinking about how "against" the watchtower so many are.

  we are outspoken about it and want people we love to get out too.

  we are very vocal about it...more so than a-lot of people are when they leave a religion.

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  Maddie

  OOMPA You summed up my feelings perfectly! Everyone who has been so thoroughly deceived and harmed by being a part of the WT cult is well equipped and justified in speaking out vehemently against what they are.

  Maddie
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  7

  Now I've gone and done it

  by Uncertain in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  as part of my churchly visits while working on my uncertainty, i took communion at a baptist church.

  i was baptized twenty-three years ago so it was all on the up and up, at least in protestant christendom.

  it had been years, and it was a very moving experience.

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  Maddie

  Hi uncertain I can identify with you about whether to take the bread and wine at the Memorial of Jesus Christ. It was rather strange for me because I had attended the memorial every year since becoming a JW, so had fully accepted I wasn't one of the "anointed" and therefore didn't actually partake of the emblems. However, for no reason that I could understand at the time, when I attended this years Memorial the thought came to me that by not taking the bread and wine I was denying Jesus and the ransome sacrifice that was so lovingly given on behalf of mankind. I actually felt really awful about it! I am trying to leave the JW's at the moment without losing my family ( they are JW's) and it is a heartbreaking business as is testified by so many on JWD. I am so glad that you have questioned things before you have comitted yourself to this awful cult.

  Maddie
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  31

  Are we being watched by the Watchtower?

  by lfcviking in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've heard a few posts on this forum suggesting the wt society has its own 'secret' team of people who lurk on this site for information purposes but also to identify individuals who have left the org and become 'apostate' and are actively working/campaigning against the wt society.

  can anybody here verify this?

  is this actually happening?

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  Maddie

  I'm fading and this thread is making me so paranoid !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  Maddie
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  27

  Emotion

  by MsMcDucket in

  1. watchtower
  2. medical

  i didn't cry when my mother died.

  i didn't cry when i saw her laying lifeless in the hospital bed, nor did i cry at the funeral.

  my mother used to say bring me my flowers while i'm alive.

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  Maddie

  I do understand how you are feeling and I am truly sorry for your sad loss.

  My mum died when I was a young teenager and I didn't grieve. just repressed my sadness for much too long.I

  It is such a big loss in our lives to lose a parent, but try to cherish the loving memories you have of her.

  Maddie
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  22

  40 Years Ago Today.....

  by Sunspot in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i was putting the finishing touches on my wedding plans for tomorrow!

  we were married by a j.p. in a country home with a beatiful braided rug, rustic furniture and a big fireplace.

  we couldn't afford a honeymoon .

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  Maddie

  Wishing you both a very happy 40th wedding anniversary

  Maddie
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  7

  Just saw a witness

  by darth frosty in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was at the department store picking up a new belt and i ran into the witness that did my wedding photo's.

  last that i knew he was an elder at one of the local halls.

  so i stop him and say hey.

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  Maddie

  darth frosty How wonderfully satisfying that experience must have been !!!!!!!! I wish it had been me saying all that, hopefully it will be one day.

  Maddie