JimmyPage

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Posts by JimmyPage

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  36

  Since JWs won't go to apostate boards, but they will read the newspaper...

  by JimmyPage in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ... i've written a letter to a local paper.

  i hope it will be printed.

  it says nothing about jws, but it should get the light bulbs to go off in their heads.

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  JimmyPage

  Thank you, Tirebiter. I am determined to do what I can to jolt the JWs in my area into reality. Deep down, their authentic personalities want this to happen. I hope everyone feels the same about those in their area and does what they can to help. We have to try. I have felt beaten down by this religion my entire life. I'm not alone in that feeling. It's time to fight back against the oppression.
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  36

  Since JWs won't go to apostate boards, but they will read the newspaper...

  by JimmyPage in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ... i've written a letter to a local paper.

  i hope it will be printed.

  it says nothing about jws, but it should get the light bulbs to go off in their heads.

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  JimmyPage

  LOL @ Steve! Sad but true.
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  36

  Since JWs won't go to apostate boards, but they will read the newspaper...

  by JimmyPage in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ... i've written a letter to a local paper.

  i hope it will be printed.

  it says nothing about jws, but it should get the light bulbs to go off in their heads.

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  2. 
  3. 
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  JimmyPage

  Yes, Jeff, but you woke up, and so did I.
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  36

  Since JWs won't go to apostate boards, but they will read the newspaper...

  by JimmyPage in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ... i've written a letter to a local paper.

  i hope it will be printed.

  it says nothing about jws, but it should get the light bulbs to go off in their heads.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
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  JimmyPage

  ... I've written a letter to a local paper. I hope it will be printed. It says nothing about JWs, but it should get the light bulbs to go off in their heads. I recommend everyone on the board write a similar letter. The way I see it, it can't hurt, it can only help. Here's how my letter reads:

  "How to Identify a Cult"

  The problem of cults is widespread these days, mainly because of a lack of education about the subject. This is dangerous because mind control groups can draw in members who are otherwise reasonable and intelligent people.

  No one who is in a cult believes that they are in one. They can see the signs of a cult in other groups but not in their own. So what are these signs?

  Former Moonie Steve Hassan identifies these using the "BITE" method: Behavior, Information, Thought, and Emotional control.

  
  Behavior control often includes who a person is allowed to associate with and what clothes and hairstyles are acceptable. Individuality is discouraged in favor of "group think". Major time is committed to the group's activities.

  Information control includes not allowing current members to talk to former members. Often information that originates outside the group is held with suspicion, since outsiders are considered to be outside of God's approval, and therefore, under Satan's influence.

  Thought control includes not being allowed to question the decisions of the group's leaders or doctrines. No alternative belief systems are viewed as legitimate, good, or useful.

  Emotional control involves using guilt and fear to motivate members. Greatest of all is the fear of leaving the group. Many irrational phobias are built around this, and persons cannot picture happiness or fulfillment outside the cult. This is often reinforced by families who shun former members. No reason given for leaving the group is viewed as legitimate. Those who do are looked at as having been "unspiritual" or "weak".

  Hopefully no readers of the (newspaper's name here) ever fall prey to such groups. Remember the "BITE" method... and remember that there is hope out there for those who are trapped in such groups!
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  1

  Zen Living Part 9 (summarized): Learning to Meditate

  by JimmyPage in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  zazen is zen sitting meditation or sitting in controlled conditions to practice mindfulness.. zazen has certain traditional guidelines that make meditation more effective, but in reality, other positions can be zazen if they work better for you, develop your self-discipline, and are practiced with full awareness.. standard zazen posture is to sit on a cushion in the lotus position, japanese sitting pose, half-lotus, or cross-legged, but if these are uncomfortable, you can practice zazen in a chair.. traditionally in zazen, your hands form the cosmic mudra- one hand cupped in the other, your thumbs meeting to form an oval just below your navel..

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  JimmyPage

  Zazen is Zen sitting meditation or sitting in controlled conditions to practice mindfulness.

  Zazen has certain traditional guidelines that make meditation more effective, but in reality, other positions can be zazen if they work better for you, develop your self-discipline, and are practiced with full awareness.

  Standard zazen posture is to sit on a cushion in the lotus position, Japanese sitting pose, half-lotus, or cross-legged, but if these are uncomfortable, you can practice zazen in a chair.

  Traditionally in zazen, your hands form the cosmic mudra- one hand cupped in the other, your thumbs meeting to form an oval just below your navel.
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  121

  Religulous with Bill Maher…I just saw it

  by seven006 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i dont post much at all any more but i had to mention this, i just got back from seeing religulous and cant remember the last time i laughed so hard.

  it was great!!!!!!

  close-minded religious people should save their money and not go see this movie but instead give your money to the next tv evangelist or street magician you see.

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  JimmyPage

  Finally got around to seeing this. Don't know why it took so long. Anyone who doesn't laugh along with Maher just isn't being honest with themselves about the subject.
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  12

  Zen living part 8 (summarized): You've already started living zen

  by JimmyPage in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  your life has already begun, and you can start living in the moment right now.. everything you need to live mindfully and completely is already within you.. doing your job, maintaining personal discipline, and developing devotion toward fellow sentient beings and the care of the world are ideal arenas for practicing mindfulness and letting go of attachments.. zen meditation, or zazen, is simply but mindfully sitting to cultivate full awareness.. meditation is difficult because the mind is in the habit of attaching to thoughts, feelings, ideas, and opinions.

  everyday sitting will gradually train your mind to observe rather than attach..

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  JimmyPage

  I feel that exact same peace myself as I read about zen, FreeFlyingFaerie. I don't say it holds all the answers- but it's helping me right now at this stage of my life's journey.
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  16

  Reverse Witnessing - 101

  by Jim_TX in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  on the weekends, i am usually found - in the mornings - at the local coffee shop - where i study - and madly write my new ideas - or expand on old ones.. it is a time when i put to paper all of the thoughts of the past week - and dream up new ones for the next one.. anyway, on sunday mornings, there is a retired schoolteacher lady who - with her husband show up after their church services and have breakfast.

  she will usually try to find an open pair of seats at the counter next to me - to talk with me.

  this morning, they sat next to me, and she began talking (which usually interrupts my solo quiet time).. during the chatter, she asked me if i was into sports when i was in school.

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  JimmyPage

  But - I was invisible. No one ever saw me during those 4 years of High School.

  A classmate wrote in my high school annual: "I really enjoyed playing with you in grade school. Wish I could have known you better in high school, but you kind of disappeared. I missed you."
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  27

  planning for the future

  by John Doe in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  just a heads up, this thread will contain some personal ramblings and my plans for the future.

  if you're not interested, don't waste your time reading it.. .

  as many of you know, i've been in law school for the last 2 1/2 years, and have 1 semester left to complete that degree.

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  JimmyPage

  Why not take some singing lessons? You'd make a good diva! (Remember to demand only brown M&Ms!)
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  12

  Zen living part 8 (summarized): You've already started living zen

  by JimmyPage in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  your life has already begun, and you can start living in the moment right now.. everything you need to live mindfully and completely is already within you.. doing your job, maintaining personal discipline, and developing devotion toward fellow sentient beings and the care of the world are ideal arenas for practicing mindfulness and letting go of attachments.. zen meditation, or zazen, is simply but mindfully sitting to cultivate full awareness.. meditation is difficult because the mind is in the habit of attaching to thoughts, feelings, ideas, and opinions.

  everyday sitting will gradually train your mind to observe rather than attach..

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  2. 
  3. 
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  JimmyPage

  Often our mind will wander out of control. The key is to tame the mind. One way to attempt this is to concentrate purely on our breathing. It's like practicing scales when you first start learning to play the piano. The more you practice, the better you get, and even when you can play Rachmaninoff, you still spend time on those scales.