Posts by recovering

21

I spoke to Ray Franz for the first time today

by recovering in

jw
friends

i have been feeling very blue and hopeless lately.

i miss my family and needed some affirmation that i am right in my characterization of the jws.

i called ray to hear it from the someone in the know, as to what really goes on in the gb meetings and if they really believe what they say.

I spoke to Ray Franz for the first time today

by recovering in

jw
friends

i have been feeling very blue and hopeless lately.

i miss my family and needed some affirmation that i am right in my characterization of the jws.

i called ray to hear it from the someone in the know, as to what really goes on in the gb meetings and if they really believe what they say.

Yes someday I would like to meet him. I was not sure i could go on with life any more today due to missing family still in the organazation and remembering the terrible things that happenened to me while I was a witness.(child abuse) Ray was a kind voice , It was just enough to keep me from going over the edge.

21

I spoke to Ray Franz for the first time today

by recovering in

jw
friends

i have been feeling very blue and hopeless lately.

i miss my family and needed some affirmation that i am right in my characterization of the jws.

i called ray to hear it from the someone in the know, as to what really goes on in the gb meetings and if they really believe what they say.

recovering

I have been feeling very blue and hopeless lately. I miss my family and needed some affirmation that I am right in my characterization of the JWs. I called Ray to hear it from the someone in the know, as to what really goes on in the GB meetings and if they really believe what they say. He confirmed that this is not always the case. He pointed to the 2/3 majority vote needed to make any changes to doctrine. He revealed that even if a majority of the GB felt a change was needed, due to the 2/3 quorum rule the change could never be made. He spoke of how he sometimes was did not even want to attend these meetings due this fact. He went on to say that he continued to go so that he could possibly present a more moderate view of things. (He used the alternative service with regards to military service as an example)

I thanked him and wished him and his ailing wife well. He was so gracious and humble. He may not realize this but today he saved a man's life. MINE

147

Did You Personally Know Any JWs That Were Sexually Molested By Other JWs?

by minimus in

i knew of a handful (which is too many) that were molested by a jehovah's witness.

it was not typical in my experience.

what about you???.

recovering

I know of an elders family who had a large number of children. 4 boys and 2 girls. They where considered the model family. Oldest boy went to bethel although he was asked to leave for drinking). The middle son (15) however molested his own 13 yr old sister. it was quite the scandel.

12

JW a cult? - what it means to them

by xelder in

with almost 50 years as a jw, i often heard jw's called a cult.

i now realize that to defend this, a kind of straw man has been created.

the wts has simply defined a cult for them as following men (namely ct russel).

recovering

I am not by any means an expert on hypnosis . I don't think Mr Crawley was saying that a cult had to have each and every trait mentioned either .That being said here is what Margaret T. Singer, Ph.D. a Prof. of Psychology says are the methodology of cult hypnosis. I have included how I think the jws use the methods in parenthesis after the ones that I think apply.

(see Ericksonian hypnosis)
speaking patterns (remember how we are taught to read for emphasis in the MS) guided imagery (constant references to a paradise earth) pacing of voice to breathing patterns
parables, stories with imbedded messages ( all the experiances that are related to the congregation)
repetition ( we here talks on the same topic over and over again as well as WT articles on basically the same topic)
boredom (the meetings are boring )
stop paying attention to distractions, focus
inwardly to what's going on inside you
the use of one's voice to get people's attention
focused
Chanting, Meditation
Teach thought-stopping techniques
Work them up emotionally to a negative state:
re-experience past painful events
recall negative actions/sin in past life
Then rescue them from negative emotion by giving them a new
way to live

As I said before i am by no means an expert, so if others understand this process better please comment and clarify.

12

JW a cult? - what it means to them

by xelder in

with almost 50 years as a jw, i often heard jw's called a cult.

i now realize that to defend this, a kind of straw man has been created.

the wts has simply defined a cult for them as following men (namely ct russel).

recovering

Kevin Crawley defines cults as having the following traits. Don't they remind you of how JWs are are cajoled and manipulated.

Three ideas seem essential to the concept of a cult. One is thinking in terms of us versus them with total alienation from "them." The second is the intense, though often subtle, indoctrination techniques used to recruit and hold members. ...

Cultism usually involves some sort of belief that outside the cult all is evil and threatening; inside the cult is the special path to salvation through the cult leaders and their teachings. The indoctrination techniques include

1) Subjection to stress and fatigue
2) Social disruption, isolation and pressure
3) Self criticism and humiliation
4) Fear, anxiety, and paranoia
5) Control of information
6) Escalating commitment
7) Use of auto-hypnosis to induce "peak" experiences
[Kevin Crawley]

25

What Halloween costumes should the dubs wear?

by rebel8 in

jw
friends

if you could pick out a costume for a dub to wear, what would it be?.

i would dress the gb in this.

except i'd put flip flops on his feet.. .

recovering

15

The Ark and shells/creatures

by wantstoleave in

sorry if it's been covered before..... i'm struggling with the flood.

media has reported over the years finding bits of this and that (the ark) on top of a mountain.

seashells are often found high on hills or mountains.

recovering

here is a site that gives very scientific evidence that there was no flood

http://www.skepdic.com/noahsark.html

183

How many of you knew about the"Jesus is not your Mediator" teaching when you were JWs??

by Lady Liberty in

hi everyone.... just curious how many of you knew when you were active, about the societys official teaching regarding jesus the mediator.

i was floored to find in my research, that they teach jesus is the mediator for the 144,000 only.

and it is only by our association with them that we might have salvation.. i don't know about you guys but i was blown away when i learned they taught this.

recovering

I found this out long after I left (read it in CoC ). My immediate question to this was, If Jesus is not our mediator, then why do JWs close prayer in Jesus name?

37

I want to thank you

by Lady Lee in

jw
friends

few of my threads get to 3 pages of responses and i suspect that i am the one who pushes it by responding to everyone.

who posts.. but i know people read my posts.. there have certainly been times when i needed the support and got it.

but those times are fewer now.. sometimes i feel like i am repeating myself and i probably am.

recovering

I may not always post when you are on a thread Lady, however I always read what you have said. I always find something positive in your words. Please be assured you serve a vital role on this site .