Lloyd Braun

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Posts by Lloyd Braun

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  2

  Bowling For Burgers

  by Lloyd Braun in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hello friends,.

  i was wondering, how many here are still currently attending meetings?

  i would like to ask those who are, and those who are not, and those who simply do not care, what advice you would give to me in my current situation, as to whether or not to go ahead and disassociate myself.

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  Lloyd Braun

  Hello Friends,

  I was wondering, how many here are still currently attending meetings?
  
  I would like to ask those who are, and those who are not, and those who simply do not care, what advice you would give to me in my current situation, as to whether or not to go ahead and disassociate myself. I have a lot of friends there, but I am wondering what it will be like to start making more friends on the outside. Will I need something to replace the time I spent in field ministry and service?

  I was thinking of starting a bowling team, or maybe even a dart league or something to that effect. Any suggestions? Surely my presence at a recreational drinking establishment will be a sure sign of what direction I am taking.

  Matt
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  51

  Hello

  by Lloyd Braun in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hello all ex-jw's long time lurker first time posting.

  obviously my name is not my real name but i don't want to reveal my real name for fear of shunning obviously.

  i have really appreciated much of what this site offers in vast amounts of information that is valuable to me.

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  Lloyd Braun

  Once again... WELCOME Lloyd....or should I say MATTHEW?

  Wow, how did you ever guess that?

  This is a great place to get some advice on how to handle any situation you may face - while still IN.

  Yes I realize that now. A few months back though I was completely appauled to what I was hearing here, at first, but I guess some of us are receptive and maintain the very same seeking skills we had when we were first brought in, unless born in.

  I for one, am still an elder, and still go to most meetings. I have had to ditch the field ministry, because I can't bear to do anything that will bring another innocent person in to this mess we call the truth.

  Agreed.

  But I can help you with insider information - whatever you need to know. I can get all the letters to BOE, have all my Kingdom Ministry School Notes, Elders book notations, yuda yuda yuda.

  Thank you. I think the book notations sound like something of major interest. Would this be an elder's comments on the various books? I wouldn't mind seeing some regarding the truth book (blue book).

  I have also organized and continue to organize several campaigns designed to awaken fellow JWs from their hypnotic JW brainwashed condition. If you would like to participate in any of them let me know. I'll show you the ropes and you can do some real good on your own.

  Yes I am definitely interested in this, it's right up my alley and time to speak up I think. I really have nothing to fear at this point, other than the rejection from the 3 or so friends out a congregation of 100 or so. The rest, to me are simply part of the cube.

  Peace to you friend. We are here to help!

  Much obliged, and I would like to help in any way I can, of course.

  Matt
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  7

  Witnessing

  by Lloyd Braun in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i thought this cartoon was, although plain, quite funny:.

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  Lloyd Braun

  Sorry for the double link post...

  http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4196823013519091264&q=jehovah%27s+witnesses+pbs&total=7&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1

  I believe this time I have it right...

  This video is the one that presents mixed emotions.

  Although maybe the original post was meant to be. This one seems to show supportive cases for the JW experience and having them around still. I think the good in them might outweigh the bad, but as they say, even a small amount of poison in a recipe is still enough to kill the person ingesting the end result.
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  51

  Hello

  by Lloyd Braun in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hello all ex-jw's long time lurker first time posting.

  obviously my name is not my real name but i don't want to reveal my real name for fear of shunning obviously.

  i have really appreciated much of what this site offers in vast amounts of information that is valuable to me.

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  Lloyd Braun

  Does it feel good to step out of the shadows?

  It feels good to finally recognize that I can think for myself, the problem I am now facing is how much longer I can put up with the field ministry. I simply do not feel comfortable with preaching something I know is not true whether in part or in whole.

  I am very interested in your current situation... are you still going to meetings?

  Yes. Although I haven't been attending nearly as much as I used to. Suspcion is probably already aroused within the fellowship, and I am proposing a list of questions for one of the elders that I like, to see if I can raise a very credible point about specific subjects. For instance, Matthew 13:11 in contrast with Acts 1:6,7. I just cannot imagine how this can be interpreted as parallel reasoning. One verses specifically tells us vividly that Jesus has given "all the mysteries of the Kingdom to know" to his disciples. The other verse tells us that it is "not for you to know the time of the Kingdom" (I am paraphrasing a bit, I know).

  I somehow doubt the question will actually reach any neural centers of untrained thought though.

  Inicidentally I can tell you my first name. You have to guess it though. Hint: it is mentioned above, and no I am not a hispanic male named Jesus.
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  7

  Witnessing

  by Lloyd Braun in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i thought this cartoon was, although plain, quite funny:.

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  Lloyd Braun

  I also came upon these videos that I thought were well presented.

  http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5584592553885188697

  I also wanted to include this one, which in a way, is quite abstract for a video that shows both sides of an issue, from a more illuminated standpoint.

  http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5584592553885188697

  However, it is most difficult anymore for me to choose which way I lean anymore, my head being still so full of inferred or preconceived concepts which I really never thoroughly examined before accepting.

  Perhaps I will always have mixed emotions, but some day I hope to be able to have a firm stand one way or another. Being man enough to admit that I don't always have the right answer is a tall enough order in itself.

  What a paradox!
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  7

  Witnessing

  by Lloyd Braun in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i thought this cartoon was, although plain, quite funny:.

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  Lloyd Braun

  I thought this cartoon was, although plain, quite funny:

  
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  51

  Hello

  by Lloyd Braun in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hello all ex-jw's long time lurker first time posting.

  obviously my name is not my real name but i don't want to reveal my real name for fear of shunning obviously.

  i have really appreciated much of what this site offers in vast amounts of information that is valuable to me.

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  Lloyd Braun

  Just a side note: this site is hard to get used to: before long you may know a person's favorite color, the number of children they have, the length of thier penis, preference of music, several stories of thier childhood, favorite whiskey, whether the gun they use is full or partial choke, year of auto, the date they had a nipple pierced and......

  1. Red

  2. Zero

  3. 9 inches

  4. Rock

  5. Jim Beam

  6. Never had a nipple pierced.
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  51

  Hello

  by Lloyd Braun in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hello all ex-jw's long time lurker first time posting.

  obviously my name is not my real name but i don't want to reveal my real name for fear of shunning obviously.

  i have really appreciated much of what this site offers in vast amounts of information that is valuable to me.

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  Lloyd Braun

  Can you give us just a bit more info without risking your anonymity?

  I suppose so Captain, ya plannin' to take a swim? (Scotty, Star Trek IV - The Voyage Home)

  Are you an atheist or a believer?

  By believer, do you mean in God? I don't exactly know what God is anymore, but I certainly know for sure what He isn't. What He is, cannot be found in the Watchtower Society. What He isn't certainly can be found there. I guess I am sort of open minded now about most of the bible in general, although I have been hearing a lot from some other friends I have met recently that are ex-jw's that are convinced that Jesus is just another solar deity or representation of the sun and zodiac, and that most of the bible is about shifting ages on the solar calendar, where much of what Jesus Christ says is so allegoric that today, we try to anthropomorphize to extremes beyond it's original intent. Of course, this sort of stuff is just too intellectual for me anymore. I am happy with my toaster and steel belted radials.

  Are you the master of your own domain?

  Yes I am the master of my domain. But Kramer sure lost that bet pretty quick.

  Yeah, are you married to a JW? Or were you raised it it with JW family?

  Not married, but mainly for fear of the JW responsibilities right now. My main concern right now is keeping a lid on all this stuff I know that is false, without going crazy. If I was to get married with the feelings I currently have I just couldn't be honest with myself anymore. It's tough too, because I have a lot of close friends that are still brothers to the extreme. It's a love hate relationship for sure.

  Were you an elder or thankfully "just" a publisher? How long were you in the organization and what made you want to come out?

  Just a publisher thankfully. I have been a JW for most of my adult life. I want to come out. The biggest reason I could think of is the hypocrisy I think, as is with all religious extremist groups.

  (and hello, glad you are here, and I hope you don't mind playing 20 questions!!)

  Thank you, and no I don't mind the questions. I am kind of used to it.
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  51

  Hello

  by Lloyd Braun in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hello all ex-jw's long time lurker first time posting.

  obviously my name is not my real name but i don't want to reveal my real name for fear of shunning obviously.

  i have really appreciated much of what this site offers in vast amounts of information that is valuable to me.

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  Lloyd Braun

  Thank you all for your kind welcome. I have a link to a video, not sure how popular it is already here, but if it is old news for most of you, I apologize. It details the WT organization's history from a narrative outsider's standpoint. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2183288529160546808&q=jehovah%27s+witness
• 
  51

  Hello

  by Lloyd Braun in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hello all ex-jw's long time lurker first time posting.

  obviously my name is not my real name but i don't want to reveal my real name for fear of shunning obviously.

  i have really appreciated much of what this site offers in vast amounts of information that is valuable to me.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Lloyd Braun

  Hello All Ex-JW's long time lurker first time posting. Obviously my name is not my real name but I don't want to reveal my real name for fear of shunning obviously. I have really appreciated much of what this site offers in vast amounts of information that is valuable to me. Thank you all! LB