Posts by wildfell

12

Things to Remember About Cult Mind Control- "Releasing the Bonds" By Hassan

by flipper in

jw
friends

i read steve hassan's first book " combatting cult mind control" last year and just started reading with my wife his follow up book " releasing the bonds " put out in 2000. a few quotes i wanted to share with you in case you haven't read it - and to help us keep in mind how far we have come from being mind controlled when we were jehovah's witnesses.

hassan mentions , " destructive cults are distiguished by their use of deception and mind control techniques to undermine a person's free will and make him dependent on the group's leader.

he adds, " destructive cults use mind control techniques to keep members dependent and obedient.

wildfell

Hi Flipper

Thanks for the update on "Releasing the Bonds". It should be an insightful read. I think it would be especially useful for those born in, because they have never had the opportunity to think outside of the little sphere of "allowed" thoughts. Even exploring mainstream Christianity seems so foreign because (as my husband recently marvelled), "everyone is so free". The contrast between the uptight, rigidly controlled jw's and Christians is blatant.

Yep, it's a mind-control cult alright!

12

My seperation/Divorce up-date. Un-believable what she wants!

by Witness 007 in

my wife asked for a seperation last week.

she rattles off a huge list of wrong things, like dress better when going out {wear a jacket?

} and be more ambitious like her since she would have been a millioniare if i wasn't holding her back?

wildfell

You should definately protect yourself so that you are assured of getting your half of the assets. She sounds like she wants to have it all?? My understanding is that being formally separated (I would think a solicitor/lawyer would be able to give you all the details) would ensure that your finances become seperated legally.

Also, if I were you, I would definately not move out. It may put you in the position of having to fight to get her out or to sell.

Please take the time to get yourself a good lawyer. It will be an investment in your future and your peace of mind.

I am so sorry for what you are going through.

kind regards

wildfell

22

I have a new great-grandson!!

by Eliveleth in

jw
friends

our great-grandson was born this morning, evan ryland.. he is 7lbs10oz and 19 inches.

is the first that we will be able to hold.

the rest are still captive in the.

wildfell

Congratulations to you and your husband, Velta!

What a special day! You are very blessed.

59

I've been studying JW for 6 months. Please help..

by fb130 in

jw
friends

i'm still trying 2 figure out if this is a pro or anti jw forum but here goes..

i started studying jw 6 months ago & i do feel i'm growing.

i think at the rate things are going i'll b babtised in another 6 months.

wildfell

Hi fb130

Welcome to jwd!

I was a jw for 20 years. I also came in through a bible study. Here are some things that I wish someone had told me:

Please be aware that the New World Translation is not an accurate and scholarly translation. It is an attempt by watchtower leadership to fool people into believing that their doctrines are backed by the Bible. Please do some research into the New World Translation! And use your own Bible.

Also, the jw baptism is hugely disrespectful to Jesus Christ in my opinion. Jesus said that his disciples had to be baptised in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. NOT in the name of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania!!!! Think about it, does baptism into a human organisation constitute a valid Christian baptism?

There is a website that I have personally found very helpful in researching the jw's. It presents the truth about the jehovah's witnesses, it is reasonable and well researched. I hope you enjoy it. I wish that the intenet had been around when I was studying. If I knew then what I know now, I would have ceased my study promptly!

http://www.jwfacts.com/

Now that I have said that . . . . RUN!!!

kind regards

wildfell

129

I Received The Holy Spirit!

by Maddie in

i want to share with you all a most wonderful experience i have just had.

i have been going to a christian church called the vineyard.

they have a live band and lots of singing goes on there.

wildfell

Hi Maddie

Jesus said 'ask and you shall receive'. You have received peace from God. It's uplifting to hear that.

kind regards

wildfell

26

Anyone from Down Under?

by ID Crisis in

jw
friends

i'm a newbie.

anyone else here from australia?

wildfell

Yes, I am on the east coast.

12

I feel de-programmed

by digderidoo in

jw
friends

i have posted my thread regarding that i went back to a few meetings.

within that the debate came up about 607 v 587.. for me i have seen many criticisms against the wt society that i agree with.

but i have never been able to find conclusive or 100% proof that doctrines or beliefs are wrong.

wildfell

My Eureka experience came in two parts. 1) the governing body lost their grip on me when I learned through the media about their disgraceful policies that protect pedophiles. The governing body was revealed to be the liars they are. I was no longer going to strain my mind to believe, or at least tolerate, their unsubstantiated dogmas. I lived in a state of cognitive dissonance for about two years where I felt increasingly trapped.

2) Early last year a documentary was featured on tv about Jerusalem. It stated that Jerusalem fell 585bc. I googled 607 bce. Once I understood that the 70 years of exile began when Jerusalem surrendered to Babylon, the watchtower pack of cards fell down in a single moment of revelation. Down went 1914, 1918/19. In one significant moment I realised that I had dedicated my adult life to a 'religion' that was based on the wild scams of con artists - Russell and Rutherford. In one moment in time, I was livid, devasted . . . and free.

Going back for one last meeting, the memorial, sealed the decision irrevocably.

19

Aussie outback Witnessing experience! Have you done isolated territory!

by Witness 007 in

driving for miles between houses...sometimes i would lose a hub-cap and have to go back "hubcap hunting.

" why bother since my car was as old as i was .....20 years.

people that live 30 miles from town would be shocked to see us!

wildfell

Ah, brings back memories. Of long, long driveways. Being met by packs of ferocious cattle dogs and too scared to get out of the car. Told to trust in Jehovah, but I wasn't getting out of that car for nuts.

The old brothers had their special pet rocks that they used to signal to other carloads of jw's that they had driven down a driveway. They would leave it by the front gate.

Lots of mud. Wrecked shoes.

Freezing cold in the winter, below 10 degrees, waiting in a car while two jw's from the car group get a good conversation going. Unfortunately, they 'forgot' to leave the keys in the ignition, so had no heating for up to an hour or more. Started to honk the horn in the end, they weren't very happy. But I thought it was even stevens since I wasn't very happy either!

But all in all it was more fun that trudging door to door in all kinds of weather.

60

are mixed race marriages ok?

by Star57 in

does the bible say anything about people marrying other races???

im white, and my boyfriend is iraqi, is this okay?

wildfell

The fact that we can interbreed shows that we are of the same race! What does set us apart is culture and religion.

My husband and I are not of the same nationality. If I was you I would learn all that I can about the culture. Learn about how they view women and their appropriate role in life and what would be expected of you. If your boyfriend (?) is a muslim, please learn everything you can about his religion because odds on he (and his family) will demand that you convert to Islam and practice their religion. Your children will also have to be muslim. That may/may not appeal to you. Having said that, there are millions of Christians in the middle east and this may not be a consideration. Marriage of people from two different cultures can be lovely and enriching. (Sometimes frustrating, too!!) But not when one person has to completely conform.

44

did you have CO's with speical dietary requirements ??

by karter in

we hade one if you served him a meal with onions he would not eat it and said to one sister"don't you know i can't eat this!

" no she did'nt.

the latest co around here if you have them for a meal you get a list what they will not eat.

wildfell

EVERY flippin CO and/or his 'fragile' (read spoilt and neurotic) wife has a long long list of dietary requirements. Man, I would have loved to tell those people to their faces that their supposed bad health stemmed from their depression, aggression and misery!

The ingredients that they could/would eat was prohibitively expensive. I got fed up with the expense and the arrogant, unappreciative attitude so I point blank refused requests from the elders to feed the king and queen of the circuit.

We had elders BEGGING the congregation to entertain the CO. No response. So they would hound people after the meetings. Still no-one was willing. It was then explained to the CO and wife that they would have to see to their own meals. Those were the only times I chuckled away at the meetings.

Yeah CO and wife, your sense of entitlement gave US the gut ache!