Think of what might happen if a person were paranoid, with grandiose delusions, hallucinations of spirits talking to him, happened to be an alcoholic attorney with unresolved resentment, a prolific writer, and had virtual control of a huge printing corporation. What would his product be? And what characteristics would he promote to his followers?
Any ideas?
garybuss
JoinedPosts by garybuss
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Mental Illness
by donkey inthe national alliance for the mentally ill website defines mental illness as: mental illnesses are disorders of the brain that disrupt a person's thinking, feeling, moods, and ability to relate to others.
they further define schizophrenia as:schizophrenia is a brain disorder that interferes with a persons ability to think clearly, manage emotions, make decisions, and relate to others.
many people with schizophrenia have hallucinations and delusions, meaning they hear and see things that arent there and believe things that are not real or true.. doesn't this sound like some of the "faith"ful?
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garybuss
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Real Estate Scam in the Name of Religion
by undercover ini layed awake last night thinking this through, trying to understand it..... a congregation needs to build a hall.
the money for this loan comes from donations from the worldwide brotherhood.
so in effect, the congregation is borrowing some of its own money back.
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garybuss
Some are huge with apartments built on to the hall and used to house the Circuit managers who work directly for the benefit of the Publishing Corporation. Many, like the one here in Sioux Falls, Is valued at over $250,000.00 US.
The one pictured here is at Arnpior, Ontario, Canada. Not sure what the story is on the bus. Enjoy!
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IQ and JWs
by Freedomrules indo you think there is any correlation between intelligence and membership?
most jws i've known aren't that bright, and it seems that most that leave are really intelligent.. just an observation.
any thoughts?.
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garybuss
Hi Freedomrules,
The reason practicing Witnesses do not appear smart while they are working for the group, and suddenly appear smart after they leave is a good topic.
Inside the group, intelligence is seen as a liability. Proof of intelligence is seen as pride and arrogance. It is the kiss of death for an organization climber to appear smarter than one's superior. To be a Witness in good standing and a ladder climber, Witnesses had to appear humble and that looked a lot like dumb.
Women have it especially hard in the organization in my opinion. So many I know are far smarter than the men in charge. Smarter than me. They know their language better, spell better, study better for meetings, actually read the literature, and know Witness doctrine far better than many men who are elders. Yet they can NEVER teach the group or be used in positions of service. The highest a woman can ever be in the congregation is pioneer and that is duty most elders don't like or even do very often in my experience.
That's a contributing reason many of us left. We knew we were smarter and better educated than the elders who strut their power in their Goodwill IBM business suits. Many of us who didn't even qualify to be microphone boy made five and six times as much money at our jobs as the elders.
Thanks for the topic. Hope all is well in your world. GaryThe Way I See it http://www.freeminds.org/buss/buss.htm
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You Are NOT Disfellowedshipped! Yet.
by Blueblades in.
if you were disfellowedshipped after you made an appeal by the appeal committee,you are not yet disfellowedshipped!.
in the elder flock book there is a little known "right" that the rank and file are not told when they lose their appeal.. that is that you have the "right"to appeal an appeal.you can request the appeal committee to forward their decision to the branch office and have them review all the decisions once again.. however ,when the appeal committee hides this "right"from you and does not inform you about this "right"there is an error in judgment on their part.. hence you are "not"disfellowedshipped when denied this "right"as outlined in the flock book for elders to follow when hearing an appeal.. i know that as far as the announcement that is made prior to this "right"everyone will treat you as such,not knowing that there has been a miscarriage of justice against you.. it is true that the branch office may uphold the appeal decision,but, that is not the issue here.. has anyone ever used this "right" or,been told of it by the appeal committee and had their decisions overturned.in the case of a family member we were not told.. blueblades
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garybuss
Blueblades, you wrote:
Gary I'm not radger.However you was the first one to help me and my family see what the Society was all about,when we read your post The Way I See it! Thanks.
Sorry It took me so long to see your reply. Hope everything is working out okay. I first titled that article "The Truth Simplified". Randy gave it the name that so many now remember. My thanks to Randy Watters for reading my writing and putting it on his site.
http://www.freeminds.org/buss/truth.htm
So much has changed since I first wrote that. I have often wondered if it was worth the cost to me to go public with my dissent. Then someone like you posts a thanks. Thanks for your thanks. Gary
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Assembly fun....Final notes.
by integ ina couple of things i forgot to mention... -it would not be "wise" to have open bars at witness wedding receptions.. -dating non-witnesses like going to the morgue to find a mate.
(this was mentioned at the latest circuit assembly as well).. -there are "deplorable conditions" in christendom...not in jah's org.. -we reflect the glory of god by preaching.. -(this is a doosy, and an actual statement made by the speaker)..just as jesus was hated by the world, but was perfect, so too is jehovahs' organization.
(yes he actually said this).. -3:05 sat.
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garybuss
Randy, Reports are being made of one sister who's cooler was so big, three apostates snuk into the assembly inside and during the second Internet warning they popped out and did a post dance right in isle 10B. One attendant was injured when sister DD had a wet wedgie attack and jumped up to give it some air and sunk her left elbow into his groin area as he came down the steps. -
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An unexpected Consequence
by 40wastedyears ini have read this board from time to time for almost two years.
it has been a mostly positive experience.
since this is my first post, i will give a brief background.
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garybuss
Hi Glen, Welcome! You wrote:
As a JW it was impossible to have long-term goals because there was never going to be a long term.
So right on! I was in the same boat right behind you, rowing like mad, getting nowhere.
For me, life changed when my mind was freed from all the delusions of ghosts and gods and deemins and freed from the labor of living under the threat of impending doom. I worked like I was always being watched and judged. I was not satisfied with just making money and I changed my job and my style of living. Now I get satisfaction from helping others in a friendly way.
My frenzied drive is gone, replaced with an awareness of my limitations and an appreciation of solitude and peace. I read more. I spend time with my sons and my friends. I reflect on what has worked in my life and what has not. I want to be remembered as a good guy. I want to be respected and I want to be missed when I am gone. Success is friends and security is health. Happiness is momentary and comfort is a living choice.
Fear is the best motivator known to man and contentment looks a lot like laziness to the observer.
Many of us had a low level depression lurking just under the surface in the first few years after we exited. If your enthusiasm and energy do not pick up pretty soon, you may want to have that checked out. Many of us used the energy, the mania of the Witnessism to mask unresolved grief or unresolved issues like abuse. Witnessism was like a drug to us and when we took it away we had to deal with those unresolved issues.
Best wishes and I look forward to more of your posts. GaryThe Way I See it http://www.freeminds.org/buss/buss.htm
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What GOOD has ever come about from Christianity ?!?!
by Hamas inpeople have touched on this subject in other posts.....
i was just wondering ..... has there ever been anything good come about thanks to christianity?.
all i can think of is oppression, torture, hypocrisy, etc....... .
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garybuss
In my town in the midwest USA, the Catholic Church has done the most to help people. They have provided schools, a hospital, nursing homes, old people's home, food and shelter for the homeless, and counseling services on every level. They visit the sick and the old and they do not shun or divide families. As religious people doing good, the Catholics get my vote.
There are many others here all doing good too. Next come the Lutherans and Methodists. My friends in the Covenant Church have been wonderful to me and I am very grateful to them. This community is much better for having these people here. -
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How long did it take you to leave the org?
by sandy ini was wondering how long it took for all of you to leave the org.
how active were you and for how long while knowing the "truth" was not the truth.
i ran into an old friend last week.
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garybuss
My body left in 1974.
My conscious mind left in 1992,
My subconscious mind left in 1995. -
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Are DF'd ones in your congregation friendly with you?
by JH inwhen i was an active jw, everyone talked to me.
when some were df'd, they avoided me, not to be shunned.
now that i'm out of the org, "inactive since so many years", whenever i meet df'd people, they won't talk to me much.
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garybuss
Hi JH, Many of the most rigid, strongest believing JW's I have ever met were walkaways or castaways. They tend to be better JWs in rejection than in acceptance. The strongest condemnation, the most vicious attacks on me have all come from believing walkaways or castaways.
I am in contact with scores of JW's now in various status situations and all are friendly and I appreciate my contact with them all. Mostly they are like me and they just want to recover and help others.
Of the 350 or so active Witnesses here, I have personally heard from over 40 of them. That is huge. There is a huge stealth skepticism and undertow in the group. -
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What is the WTS's motive?
by careful fader incan anyone help me understand the motive of the wts?
i don't think it's money .
the gb lives at bethel in a pretty low standard of living.
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garybuss
Hi Careful Fader, You wrote:
the GB lives at bethel in a pretty low standard of living. It's not power . . .
Those are two Corporation teachings, but are they true?
On the topic of low standard of living, please look at these pictures of their accommodations with groomed grounds, multiple suites, open travel and expense accounts, spas, tennis courts, servants, company cars and chauffeurs.Click on this link or paste it in your browser to see more.
http://members.shaw.ca/theotrip/index.htm
On the issue of power . . . . They have 12 million + people who hang on their every word, who treat them like royalty, who meet them and greet them and wine and dine them and see that their every need is met. How does this compare to your life? Or how does it compare to the life of the elderly pioneer who is single and old and living in poverty on the entitlement system to meet her needs?How does this compare to your backyard?
The Way I See it http://www.freeminds.org/buss/buss.htm
The leaders living in powerless poverty is a doctrine like Millions Now Living Will Never Die. Do the facts support it?
