Mrs. Fiorini

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Posts by Mrs. Fiorini

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  30

  On the watchtower.org site: Can a Pagan Holiday Be Made Christian?

  by Elsewhere in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://www.watchtower.org/e/20071215/article_01.htm.

  do you find it acceptable that a religious leader would give a seemingly christian meaning to events and symbols whose roots go back to ancient paganism?

  as to the proper course, the scriptures admonish true christians: what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have?

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  Do you find it acceptable that a religious leader would give a seemingly Christian meaning to events and symbols whose roots go back to ancient paganism? As to the proper course, the Scriptures admonish true Christians: “What fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness?”—2 Corinthians 6:14-17.

  The WT may want to ask, "Do you find it acceptable that God would include in His holy bible hymns and poems whose roots go back to ancient paganism?"

  According to the book "Psalms For All Seasons" by John F. Craghan, an associate professor of religious studies at St. Norbert College in Wisconsin, the first several verses of Psalm 19 "was originally a pagan hymn honoring the Semitic god El." And he says of Psalm 29, "Scholars generally agree that this Psalm was originally a pagan composition extolling the Canaanite god Baal, the weather god who through storms and rains brings fertility to the earth...In appropriating this hymn for her worship, Israel substituted the name of her god Yahweh (translated "the Lord") for that of Baal."
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  23

  JW's on Facebook seem like happy people

  by Smoky in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i just recently got a facebook page and started to look up some old jw friends (im a long time fader).

  i see there pictures and comments and feel kinda jealous that they all look happy (im in a rough stage in my life).

  i never was happy as a jw, and since i faded i am more comfortable in my own skin....the future looks bright for me.

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  When I was a JW, I don't remember thinking much about whether or not I was happy. I was too busy trying to keep up with my JW responsibilities. And of course, I thought the time to be happy would be after Armageddon.

  While JWs say they're the happiest people on earth, that's just what they're supposed to say and think about themselves. What else would you expect from the only true Christians on the planet.

  I think happiness means more to those who are trying to live for today than it does for those who are willing to postpone their lives for "the new system."
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  43

  Where did the Watchtower Org learn its Mind Control techniques ?

  by wobble in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this is a little where and when, i am not widely read in chuck russells stuff or rutherfords,the former is quite looney and the latter makes me want to up-chuck.. but i get the impression, i must admit more from isolated quotes rather than proper reading, that chuck hardly used mind-control,apart from trying to convince that his strange interpretation of scripture was correct,and even rutherford didn't use it so much,although the signs are there.. so when,and where from ,did they learn the mind control methods they use,that are so similar to all the other cults, is there a college course being run somewhere on how to build and control your own cult?.

  and do the g.b take extra lessons in it, and pass them on to all members of the writing committee?

  and then down the ranks,the d.os and c.os certainly use it,and i don't believe it is un-consciously,they are taught.. any ideas ?

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  I agree with the posters who say you don't have to take a class to learn mind control techniques if you want to start a cult. The professionals who have discussed these mind control techniques are only describing what they have observed being done. Abusive individuals know instinctively how to control and manipulate others. I believe Hassan pointed out that a number of cult leaders had previous involvement with abusive groups before they started their own cult. This supports the idea that it is similar to abuse in families that gets passed on from one generation to the next.

  As for when in the WT's history it started, I've seen postings on this board of an old newspaper, The Brooklyn Eagle if I'm remembering correctly, that quoted people who were concerned about Charles Russell's policies even then. One interviewee said that a number of families in England were being torn apart because some who had been involved with Russell quit following him, and their family members who were still loyal to Russell were told to cut off any who had left his group. That sounds pretty cultish to me. I think this organization was abusive and dangerous from the beginning, each successive leader or group of leaders putting their own spin on it, but continuing the same methods.
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  17

  i think my df son needs your help...kicked to the curb at 17...

  by oompa in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  he is a good example of what dubs think happens to all who leave da troof.....he has floundered in life, but he was as a teen dub too....he had lost of emotional problems and really hated authority figures....school problems a nightmare starting at 13...then counseling and tons of meds......the dunked for a gf at 16.....and kicked out at 17...it has been five years.

  i hate to admit it but back then i urged him to "go to the elders".....when dfd....i told him and others "it was for his own good".....was that party line or what!?!?!??!.

  now......i am trying to get him to see what a mindfuck it is to lose your entire social structure at that age!!!!

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  Oompa,

  Your son doesn't have to know what he wants to do with the rest of his life to get started. As you mentioned, some people find out what interests them while they're in school. And most people nowadays don't find one career and do it until they retire. People do something for a while, and when they're ready for a change, they do something else. Many people are on their second, third or more career by the time they retire. He should just try something that sounds interesting to him right now and see where it leads. Of course, finding a job in this economy is no picnic. But the recession can't last forever.

  Since he's young, he has his whole life ahead of him. He has a lot of time to put his problems behind him. Many of us would love to have been his age when we figured out the WT was full of BS.

  My best wishes for both of you,

  Mrs. F.
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  5

  Is lying an acceptable option if the truth would hurt the listener?

  by The Berean in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ??

  ?.

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  Personally, I think it depends on the circumstances. While I value telling the truth and would not lie casually, I think doing whatever is loving is the most important thing. Some questions that should be considered IMO are: How big of a lie is it? How big of a hurt would the truth cause? How likely is the person to find out the truth? Would the hurt caused be needless? Would lying end up causing even greater hurt than the truth? Does the person have a right to know the truth about this? What difference will knowing the truth make in that person's life? What will they do with that information? How will lying affect the relationship with that person? What are the full ramifications of telling the truth or the lie? I'm sure there are other factors to consider as well.

  Best wishes to you if you need to make a decision about this.
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  17

  The First Nice Guy I Ever Met...

  by jamiebowers in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  died suddenly this morning of a heart attack.

  he was only 58 and had lost enough weight to cause his doctor to take him off of medications for high blood pressure and cholesterol.

  he was married to my dear aunt, and i feel so badly for her and their 6 kids.

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  I'm so sorry to hear this. Condolences to you and your family.
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  16

  Confusion on what to believe, also guilt.

  by izzysma in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was raised a witness up until i was 16, never was baptized, and now that i have my own child now i am having a really hard time with wanting her to know what religion is.

  as i have gotten older, wiser i am doubting the truth even more...actually i never doubted it until just a few years ago.

  being a witness is the only religion i know so i still have that sense of loyalty to it even though it's not what i choose to be.

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  Welcome to the board. I hope you find your stay here beneficial.

  Regarding your question, ask yourself who benefits from the idea the all religions besides JWs are evil, and that anyone that looks into them is commiting an unforgivable sin. The Watchtower is a real pro at dissing their competition. That position comes from one of insecurity, in my opinion. But that's just my view. You can try a few churches yourself and draw your own conclusions.

  The WT has constructed a mental prison for you with that doctrine. You have a right to be free. And if you do decide to go back to the WT, it will be your choice, not theirs. Isn't that what Jehovah would want for you? Why would He want followers who believe because they have a gun to their head and are afraid of thinking for themselves? Is that the kind of followers you would want if you were God? Don't all parties involved deserve better than that?

  Best wishes to you on what ever decision you make.
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  22

  Sometimes I feel like I am going crazy with the WT teachings

  by verystupid77 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i went to the meetings this week because we have the co's visit.

  i have not been in about five months.

  oh my god some of the stuff you just cannot make this stuff up.. ok so like many of us i feel that there have been things done that are wrong in the "truth".

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  Something I noticed about the WT and those who implement their policies is that they never accept responsibility. Their first response to a problem, complaint, etc. is to blame the one who is pointing out the problem. A legitimate organization would want to hear about any errors in judgement, problems, etc. so they could correct them before it turned into a real issue. Instead, the WT and their representatives, whether they're elders, CO's DO's, etc. will, with few execeptions, blame the victim first. I believe this is so because it allows them to not have to question the system or threaten the power structure. It results in the people at the bottom always having to bear the brunt of the mistakes.
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  31

  Too bad our daughter was born....

  by Albert Einstein in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  "too bad our daughter was born...., otherwise we could jehovah more fully.... ".

  thats what on many occasions our long time family friend (an elder) told us.

  believe it or not, they were saying this in her presence (she was 16 at the time)!!!.

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  This attitude that has been prevalent in JW circles for decades. Many Witnesses have been frustrated by it over the years. I remember hearing a story from back in the forties. A sister commented to another sister, "Look what Satan did to Sister Newly Pregnant." Both wise and quick on her feet, the other sister replied, "And I know the devil who did it too!"
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  7

  Snubbed by a jdub - No surprise there!

  by iveseenthelight in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  sorry i have to vent!

  i havent been on here is months but couldnt think of anywhere else to off load!.

  i reunited briefly with a "sister" who i knew about 13 years ago via facebook.

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  I'm sorry you had to experience the pain of being treated so disrespectfully. On the positive side, better to find out she is not capable of being a real friend to you sooner than later. Too bad she is still stuck in a mind control cult. Stories like this just serve to remind me how thankful I am to have escaped.