Gywen

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Posts by Gywen

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  22

  What's with the new Luxurious K.H's?!

  by Lin in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i spent the better part of yesterday afternoon driving from one k.h.

  to the next here in the dallas area (hey you current jw's in dallas, those lambs and flyers were from me!

  ) and was shocked to find the congregation i attended with my family, central/white rock, is now some oriental temple!

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  Gywen

  Hey Lin,

  I know exactly what you are talking about. When I was a dub in So. Cal, the new circuit assembly building was SO luxurious and posh, that all of us dubs commented out loud about it. I mean actually commented inside looking around in awe (with jaw open) and saying out loud "what about all the talk of simplicity, and how we are better than Christendom for having simplicity?".

  I'm talking about cathedral style ceilings, sun roofs with electric open/close mechanisms; MARBLE columns (what is up with that?) and marbel walls, and gold trim. Honestly, this was more posh than any church I have been to since (even if it was a meeting place for circuit assemblies...doesn't matter).

  Oh yes, the parking lot wasn't paved...it was a cement parking lot! Can you imagine how much a gigantic parking lot like that would cost, completly cemented over (instead of simple asphalt)?

  They are so full of it. The WTS is wealthy...and they don't spend a dime of their wealth helping the sick and poor. I hope they all rot in hell.

  Not that I'm bitter or anything...cuz Im not.
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  9

  Jehovah's Witnesses goal of a Utopian World

  by kenpodragon in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when ever i visit with relatives that are still witnesses, i tend to hear one comment more then others.

  that being, "we would really love to see your face in paradise with us.

  " it might not always be in those exact words, but it is along the same thought.

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  Gywen

  Well said, kenpodragon. After 10 years of my life lost due to this fictitious WT view of Paradise, I have come to the same conclusions as you. I believe that one day, maybe 10,000 years from now, the earth will be more harmonious (and certainly heaven will be), but it is a foolish sin to stop living one's life now thinking that if one does, then one will get paradise as a reward.

  I view JW's similar to Islam in this respect. Radical Muslims think that if they just die now, killing the infidel, they will go immediately to a paradise of virgins. JW's think that if they die now (in the sense of not living their life and pursuing WT approved goals only) that they will be transferred to a paradise (though not as much a sexual paradise as Islam).

  Yes, the smart thing to do is live life now, work to make the earth a better place. Be a good husband or wife, father or mother, son or daughter. Get involved helping others - feeding the poor, whatever - make this world a better place when you leave than when you found it.

  Take care, kenpodragon.
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  32

  Attack on Iraq a Bush family thing..

  by kelsey007 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  cnn reports that: .

  and, in discussing the threat posed by iraqi president saddam hussein, bush said: "after all, this is the guy who tried to kill my dad.

  http://www.cnn.com/2002/allpolitics/09/27/bush.war.talk/index.html.

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  Gywen

  You said "stole and killed Native American Indians for their LAND". I don't think you and I are discussing the same things. BTW, My grandmother is 100% american indian and grew up on a reservation.

  I don't care to waste my time with word games.

  My point is this, I have observed that people give so much mental energy to a great conspiracy to take over the world, that they feel powerless to do anything. They give up because they think that the state, or whatever conspiracy is all knowing, and all powerful. But the truth is that they (whoever "they" are) are not all powerful and all knowing. The mess up all the time. We do have power and influence. God is greater than any conspiracy. God is in control, not the conspirators.
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  32

  Attack on Iraq a Bush family thing..

  by kelsey007 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  cnn reports that: .

  and, in discussing the threat posed by iraqi president saddam hussein, bush said: "after all, this is the guy who tried to kill my dad.

  http://www.cnn.com/2002/allpolitics/09/27/bush.war.talk/index.html.

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  Gywen

  Guest 77

  Hi. I'm curious...Northern American indians losing their land during the last 500 years means what again?

  Does this imply that there is an evil conspiracy by a covert group such as Satan, A One World Government, the Antichrist, the Illuminati, the CIA, etc, to take over the world and enslave everyone? I'm curious how you are connecting those two concepts.

  Muslims killed all the Christians in northern Africa, and control the land to this day. Romans took over vast amounts of land until the Roman empire fell. What do all these things mean to you? This is sort of like an ink blot. I am wondering how you interpret people losing their land, and this implies what kind of conspiracy to you throughout time?

  Peace
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  32

  Attack on Iraq a Bush family thing..

  by kelsey007 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  cnn reports that: .

  and, in discussing the threat posed by iraqi president saddam hussein, bush said: "after all, this is the guy who tried to kill my dad.

  http://www.cnn.com/2002/allpolitics/09/27/bush.war.talk/index.html.

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  Gywen

  I mean this in the most respectful way possible.

  Do you fear an evil conspiracy by a covert group such as Satan, A One World Government, the Antichrist, the Illuminati, the CIA, etc, to take over the world and enslave everyone?

  I mean this seriously, and respectfully. But if you answer yes to this, I submit to you that you are suffering from the effects of the paranoia instilled by being subjected to the mind control of cults like the WT. It will require specialized exit-counseling to help you get past. I am saying you need help.

  I am an ex-JW who seriously started studying such conspiracies regarding the One World Government, the Shadow Governement, the Illuminati and so on. Fortunately, I managed to recover. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that there aren't men who conspire... I am saying that there is no such evil conspiracy to take over the world and enslave everyone. God is greater than any such group (if it exists).

  Seriously, check out this site if you suffer from such paranoia. I say this as a concerned friend who is now an ex-JW.

  http://www.freedomofmind.com

  Take care
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  9

  Good Books?

  by freedom96 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  besides the great franz books, anyone read anything else jw related that they can recommend?

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  Gywen

  There are a lot of good recommendations on this post. I would highly recommend "Combatting Cult Mind Control" by Steven Hassan. He is a leading expert on exit-counseling. He has a newer book as well. His works have helped me not only deprogram, but what I learned has helped me in helping my friends and relatives that are still in the JW cult control.

  http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0892813113/qid=1033175609/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/104-0027374-4711140?v=glance
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  10

  WORD MEANING??

  by DJ in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  just what is up with words and their meanings with the jw's?

  the other day, i had the occasion to speak with my mom regarding family business.

  i brought up the issue of shunning.

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  Gywen

  "I don't know if it is???? Do you? If it is used then I really would like to know where! Then I could show her and I think she'd be shocked! She needs a loving shock or two. Let me know?"

  Yes, they do use the word "shun" to describe what they do in their own liturature. Here is a quote directly from the official WT site:

  http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/1988/4/15/article_01.htm

  "Such shunning would be appropriate, too, for anyone who rejects the congregation..."

  While it is in their liturature (as the above shows), I doubt they call it that regularly in the meetings. Check this link out for a list of common buzzwords:

  http://www.jwfiles.com/jw-words.htm

  I wish you well in dealing with your Mother. I have a large portion of my family still in, or coming out, that I am helping still. It sounds like you are going in the right direction.
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  35

  How do ex-JW's actually choose another religion?

  by buffy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ok, here's my question.

  how do you go from being a jw to being a whatever (methodist, lutheran, etc.

  ) i've been invited to go to many churches with friends, but, i have no desire to ever set foot in any church.

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  Gywen

  Buffy,

  I am so glad you are free from the WT with your life and sanity intact. I will pray for you.

  You describe my feelings ("I have no desire to ever set foot in any church") after I got out of the WT (back in 1995 when the "New Light" on the 1914 generation came out). I hear this sentiment expressed a lot, and beleive it is normal coming out of a high control cult like the WT.

  I agree with others in saying "give it time". I went through the phase you describe, and I believe others have too. Even after 7 years, I still don't want to go to church, even though I am a member of one! (and its a great church...don't get me wrong)

  The best thing I can tell you up front, is too get your hands on Steven Hassan's books, like "Combatting Cult Mind Control". (he has a newer book also). He is an expert and a leading Exit-Counselor. He is a survivor from a cult himself.

  http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0892813113/qid=1033165798/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_2/104-0027374-4711140?v=glance&n=507846

  One of the reasons why it is important to read one of his books, is so you do not fall into another cult...as another has already pointed out as being common.

  Personally, I beleive that just about any Protestant denomination would be great for you. Spiritual development is a long road..it is not as simple as reading a red covered "Live Forever" book. Salvation is by Christ's finished work on the cross, through faith, plus nothing. Ephesians 2:8

  "Keep seeking as for hid treasures, and you will find", is what the promise is.

  In Christ
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  21

  JW Zone Trekkies

  by Gywen in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  syn had a funny little dittie about jw's and trekkies here:.

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.asp?id=29001&site=3.

  what do you get when you put a bunch of computer literate star trek fans together on a forum?

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  Gywen

  Hey SYN,

  You are right, that site (JW-zone) is very non-conformist of them. Let's see, JW's that share what they think, as opposed to what the WT thinks for them.

  Yes, Yes, independance it is! Independance leads to the dark side.
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  14

  Recorded telephone conversation with WT

  by Insider in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  although the actual recording of the bill bowen/wt telephone conversation may not in itself be illegal in either the state of kentucky or new york, the broadcast of it on national television across the united states may be subject to other legalites.

  one legality could be the fact that the broadcast of the recorded telephone conversation crossed many state lines, into states where secretly recording telephone conversations in any way is illegal.

  or into a state where the broadcast of a secretly recorded telephone conversation it illegal.. also, if clips of the conversation were played out of context or in such an order so as to misrepresent the facts of the actual conversation, that may also be subject to legalites.. this all varies from state to state.

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  Gywen

  ya, I was referring to Insider. I should have been clearer. sorry.