Mrs. Fiorini

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Posts by Mrs. Fiorini

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  7

  2012

  by rockmehardplace in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  went to the movies with some jw friends over the weekend.

  a preview for this movie was shown.

  when we left the movie, everyone talked about this preview and how we would see this all happen in our time - minus the govt ships taking people to safety.

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  Thank you for sharing your interesting experience and observations.

  As I look back on my JW life I find it amazing that I didn't realize the full horror of what I used to believe until after I left. I don't think I was an uncaring person. I don't think most JWs are either. But it's hard to look at the full ramifications of what Armageddon would mean without being horrified. WT teachings about Armageddon make Hitler look like he was just aiding in God's work don't they? The holocaust was the worst genocide the world has ever seen. Yet that would be a drop in the bucket next to what the WT imagines God to be planning. The excuse for these beliefs being that somehow God's sense of justice demands this.

  I can only conclude now that it was the mind control that allowed us to believe it. From a clear mind, I could never worship a God who would do such a thing. And I can no longer believe those who tell me He would. The logical thing is to question those who interpret the Bible in this way. But when you are being manipulated not to, you have to come up with other ways to justify it.
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  10

  Donating Blood

  by vikesgirl101 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  okay, so i am guessing this has been posted in the past, but not recently.. after removing myself from the influence of the org, i wanted to do something different to symbolize drift.

  i am thinking about donating blood.

  the reason is not just symbolic, but i heard it can save up to like 25 lives.

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  I have donated blood numerous times since leaving the WT, most recently, a couple of days ago. It is simple and easy, and I feel better knowing it may have saved lives. It seems like a small thing for me to do that can make a big difference to others.

  Most donated blood these days is split into various fractions. Who knows, maybe some of my fractions will save a JWs life!
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  14

  How key was "Releasing the Bonds" in your letting go?

  by lurk3r in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i finally ordered "releasing the bonds".

  being a notorius procrastinator, i finally put it off long enough.ha.

  cognitive dissonance.

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  When I first left the WT I read his book Combatting Cult Mind Control. It was of great benefit in helping me to understand my JW experience. Years later, I came across Releasing the Bonds. It also was very useful, particularly from the perspective of helping others who have been victimized by cults. I highly recommend both of these books. Anyone who has been affected by cults in any way would benefit from reading them in my opinion.

  You asked if it helped to let go once and for all. I would say yes. Because when you see clearly how cults work, you no longer think, "what if they're right?" It is no longer an issue of one religious belief versus another. You realize that the WT, like all cults, is all about manipulation and control, and couldn't possibly be "the truth."

  Some people compare this understanding to the scene in The Wizard of Oz where the curtain is pulled away from the Wizard and he is exposed to be a fraud. I agree with this analogy.
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  11

  NEED HELP: ARTICLES ABOUT JWS VS SHRINKS

  by WuzLovesDubs in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i need quotes from articles they have written about how much they hate and distrust shrinks and how they believe shrinks are trying to blame jws depression on their religions.. i know you guys got the goods...my husband and i are in family therapy with a counselor and i believe he is blowing smoke up her ass, telling her what he thinks she wants to hear to get the hell out of there.

  i want to show her that she cannot believe everything he says and that the jws as they are in court, are disingenuous and liars in front of psychiatrists.. thanks.. .

  ps he announced to her in front of our son, that not only doesnt he love me now but he never loved me...that he said to me while we were courting what he thought i wanted to hear.

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  He announced to her in front of our son, that not only doesnt he love me now but he NEVER loved me.

  I'm so sorry that happened to you. That was a cruelty you did not deserve.

  I have been out of the WT for many years now and don't remember any articles that indicated a distrust for psychologists when I was in. However, I agree with the above poster that she will see the situation for what it is. Sadly, so will your son. An announcement like your husband made does nothing to engender respect for him from anyone who hears it.

  I wish you the best during this difficult time.
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  2

  Great video about cult mentality

  by Mickey mouse in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/ex_moonie_diane_benscoter_how_cults_think.html.

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  Interesting. She says she believes that there would be measurable differences in the brains of people under the influence of cults versus those who are not. She did not site any proof of this however. Has anyone heard of such proof or know anyone who is investigating this? If there is, it could be invaluable.
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  13

  I'm getting married!

  by B_Deserter in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  about 6 months ago i started dating a non-witness.

  our relationship has grown quite quickly and a few weeks ago i proposed to her.

  we are now in the midst of wedding and house-buying plans.

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  Congratulations! I remember when Mr. Fiorini proposed, one of the best days of my life. I hope you two have all the happiness and joy that we have.

  One of the positive things I took from my WT experience was from a circuit overseer who used to say in his talks that a good marriage is the union of two good forgivers. I have found this to be true, especially when it comes to the little irritations that can come up when two people share a home.

  This is unsolicited advice, so take it for what it's worth. But I do try to find the good from my WT past, especially since there was so much bad.

  Best wishes to you both!
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  8

  Kingdom Hall a labor of love - in our local paper today

  by insearchoftruth in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs
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  Mrs. Fiorini

  I have written letters to the editor in the past, and know of no reputable newspaper that will publish them anonymously. They always want to verify who you are and that you are willing to go on the record publicly with your views.

  I am curious, are the two congregations that are going to be moving in to this new one abandoning (selling or otherwise) their current Kingdom Halls, or is this an expansion where new congregations are going to be formed?
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  11

  Morning Worship at Bethel - Social Security and Pensions

  by Bethelite Elder in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  recently,.

  there was a morning worship a few days ago where the gb member spoke about false security.

  he stated that many people look to social security and pensions for their security and how unwise that is.

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  I have heard that Bethelites are required to take a vow of poverty and I don't understand it. Maybe someone can explain.

  I know that some religious orders (for example Franciscans, Dominicans, etc) have their members take a vow of poverty as part of their spiritual path. As a member of those religious communities, they share their material posessions in common. They become like a family, and agree to take care of each other until their deaths. This care continues even into old age when the member is no longer able to be productive. Once a member commits to the order, all understand that it is a lifetime relationship. The order will have a means of income, and often a place, or places of residence. The members will turn over any money they make to the community as a whole to be used for the good of all. It is similar to a husband and wife comingling finances, but on a larger scale. They often, but not always, share housing, cars, etc. This applies to certain religious orders only. It does not apply to the average Catholic priest, who is not in an order and is not required to take a vow of poverty.

  What I don't understand is why the WT uses this, and why a Bethelite must operate under this system. The WT has never promoted poverty as a spiritual path. They don't ask Bethelites to commit to a lifetime relationship where they are expected to spend the rest of their lives in the community (although they seem to have promised that could be available to some). I'm not sure what purpose this arrangement serves except to save the WT money and provide them a loophole from certain financial obligations to their workers.

  Please someone give me futher information about this if I am missing something here. But at this point, it reminds me of how the WT tries to claim clergy penitent privilege on confessions of child abusers. As a court recently found, they don't keep "confessions" confidential or use them only for the purpose of the spiritual benefit of the one confessing. Instead they report and keep detailed records of everything, and try to use the process as an excuse not to tell the police. That is a perversion of the practice (at least from the Catholic point of view). I wonder if the vow of poverty is a similar situation.

  Any infomation that could shed light on this subject would be appreciated.
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  23

  I'm sub-conciously sabotaging the best thing that ever happened to me. How do I stop?

  by palmtree67 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i keep doing things that disappoint him sooooo much.. .

  i know why i'm doing it - i don't really think i'm worthy of his love.. .

  i need to stop before he finds me completely unlovable..

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  Your problem is a common one. Have you sought professional counseling? If not, I can recommend it.

  Good luck!

  PS - If you're recognizing that you're doing it, it's not all that subconscious anymore. You might be in a good position to stop this behavior altogether with a little help.

  PPS - I am not a professional counselor and this should not be interpreted as professional advice, just my personal thoughts on the matter.
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  44

  Restored Worldwide Church of God - Watchtower in 12 years

  by Dogpatch in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this is the watchtower media dept.

  in 12 years, after they lose their minds and start killing their members.. then splinter sects will form, based on the degree of corporate punishment each sect believes in.. some will still kill their errant children.. others will believe in spanking and forcing all meeting attendance,.

  and finally, there will be those, prodded by the holy spirit, who renounce all physical contact with other people, preferring punishment by various eye signals.

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  I'm wondering if this is what the the WT was like after the death of Russell. Is this guy a reincarnation of Judge Rutherford?