Mrs. Fiorini

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Posts by Mrs. Fiorini

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  37

  Woo whooo!

  by lurk3r in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  kinda crazy, but finally being able to get on here almost makes me feel like i have just been released from prison.

  i have had the privledge of doing nothing but read so many of your posts(for a solid 7 months i bet)...and i really wanted to say thank you, to the ones here who wear your hearts on your sleeves.. first off, i would like to thank the warden for making all of this possible (kidding simon...thanks for keeping this board going).

  secondly, every single one of you regular posters here have been a great source of encouragment...looking at the many posts you have have contributed to the site really shows what dedication actually means.

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  Hello and Welcome Lurk3r. I'm looking forward to more of your posts.
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  17

  Have you tried volunteer work since leaving the dubs?

  by yadda yadda 2 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have been feeling urges to try some volunteer work, to do something with my time to help those less privileged than me.

  since i left the jw's, which was quite a few years ago (faded), i've always felt something missing in terms of mingling with a group of people and doing something of a volunteer/charitable nature for others (that's not to say jws do anything charitable really, although some people have been helped to clean up their lives through joining their religion).

  i think it would be tremendously fulfilling to try some volunteer work to fill the vacuum of wanting to do kind things for others, something altruistic.

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  I have done volunteer work with a number of different groups over the years and found it very worthwhile. I recommend trying a few and seeing what fits. Previous posters have mentioned many good organizations and opportunities. I would add Hospice to that list.
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  11

  I Get to Witness About the Witnesses......

  by AllTimeJeff in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for those unaware, this sunday marked the 2nd week i have attended a local unitarian/universalist service.

  i have given them a try because i no longer feel that isolating myself from people is good for me.

  also, they are creed-less, dogma-less, and liberal.

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  What an interesting opportunity. Please let us know how it goes.
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  14

  Why don't they want to know what they don't know they know??

  by oompa in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i did a thread a few months back about how many dubs are just like us....they don't do or believe everything the fds tell them they should.

  such as many dubs do not shun and many dont think only jw's will survive armageddon, many this college is a very good idea etc.

  but i have noticed since i went super vocal trying to enlighten my friends upon my wake-up, that not only do many, many dubs not really know actual jw teachings, but they dont even care what they are or are not!

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  JWs have decided the WT is God's one true religion, and so their salvation depends on being in good standing with it. Since the beliefs change from time to time anyway, they conclude it's best not to get too attached to them. Better to focus on staying loyal to the organization.

  An elder that was once my friend used to say, "I'd rather be wrong with the Watchtower than right by myself." The particular doctrines aren't what they are attracted to. It's the idea that they have found salvation through an organization that appeals. That's why I believe the WT is like a false Christ.
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  27

  What is your mission objective ?

  by KnowlegeSeeker_UK in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  how many people here recognize the jw's as the best organization of christlike people the world has to offer.

  but that the organization, a self admitted manly organization, self admited uninspired and self admitted imperfect organization, has gon awry ?.

  i am here with that prediciment.

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  I did some checking regarding your question about pacifist religions. Wikipedia has a list of pacifist faiths. They show 24 different groups, including JWs, Quakers, Unitarian Universalists, the Unity Church, Buddhists and others. Even groups within religions are mentioned such as Catholic peace movements.

  Some religions tolerate war under certain conditions, but generally discourage it, for example, the official Catholic teaching of "just war." I don't know any legitimate, mainstream religion that likes war. Some have more nuanced positions than others, however.

  Regarding your question about religions that preach, Christianity is a religion of conversion. This is different than some religions that discourage conversion and propagate the faith by passing it on to the next generation (ex-Judaism, Hinduism). Since that is the case, you can expect the vast majority of Christian religions to be doing what they can to proselytize and attract converts. Most have some form of missionaries as well as community outreach for this purpose.

  The WT claims that the only legitimate way to fulfill your duty to preach the "good news" is to go door to door. Most Christian religions would disagree. Christianity didn't get to be the largest religion in the world by accident, or merely because of the Roman Empire either. The religions of Christianity have a long tradition of preaching as Christ commanded. Even so, there are groups who are well know for going door to door, such as the Mormons and Seventh Day Adventists (another pacifist religion, by the way).

  The WT likes to set the parameters of how a religion should be judged and then make sure that only they meet that (their own) criteria. Not only is this unfair, it is misleading. Everyone should do their own research with an open mind, not accepting the WT self-serving view of everything. It is enlightening to see how people of faith from many different traditions have lived out their Christianity.
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  27

  What is your mission objective ?

  by KnowlegeSeeker_UK in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  how many people here recognize the jw's as the best organization of christlike people the world has to offer.

  but that the organization, a self admitted manly organization, self admited uninspired and self admitted imperfect organization, has gon awry ?.

  i am here with that prediciment.

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  We were all taught the "where else would we go?" question by the WT after they had thoroughly trashed the competition, calling them "false" religion, etc. This self-serving line of reasoning is based on a misapplication of scripture. It's not that we don't understand the WT, we recognize them to be wrong. There is a difference.

  As far as no where else to go is concerned, as one former brother used to say, "That's not a reason to stay." If the WT can't give good reasons to be part of them, and can only scare people into not leaving, they don't deserve our loyalty.

  For the first couple of years after I left, I remembered fondly how the "brothers" would treat their fellow JWs well. They would give you the shirt off their back if you needed it. After awhile, I realized that others are capable of kindness too. And, unlike the JWs, they do it for anyone, not just those "related to them in the faith," while ignoring the needs of those suffering around them who were not part of their exclusive group of approved Christians. If you research a bit about cults, you will find these kinds of common experiences among those belonging to an exclusive "in group."

  I have witnessed Christians at soup kitchens and homeless shelters who were trying very hard to apply Jesus' counsel to feed the hungry and care for the poor. In one case, I saw a woman give the coat she was wearing to a homeless person who didn't have one and was cold. They didn't ask those they helped what religious views they had, nor did they try to take advantage of the opportunity to gain converts for themselves. They were merely acting out of love for their fellow man. That is true Christianity IMO.
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  9

  Disassociation of Anthony Munoz

  by still_in74 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  this letter made my blood boil !

  not at munoz but the wts .

  you can see the whole thing here http://www.exjws.net/pioneers/anthonymunoz.htm.

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  This is an excellent letter with many good points. I wonder what those at headquarters think when they read letters like these, and I'm sure they get many. I would hope that it would make at least some think twice.
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  27

  What is your mission objective ?

  by KnowlegeSeeker_UK in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  how many people here recognize the jw's as the best organization of christlike people the world has to offer.

  but that the organization, a self admitted manly organization, self admited uninspired and self admitted imperfect organization, has gon awry ?.

  i am here with that prediciment.

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  There are groups of people like you who are working for reform in the WT. I came across them once while surfing the net. You might try googling Jehovah's Witnesses Reform or something along those lines and see if you can find them.

  Personally, I believe the WT is a cult like many others. I base this view on my experience, and on research I've done on cults and how they operate. I think JWs believe they are more sincere Christians than others, and that "false" religion is somehow inferior to the WT, because of propaganda the society has taught them, not because it is actually true.

  But I also believe that each person must make up their own mind about the WT and come to their own conclusions on how to proceed. Best wishes to you!
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  40

  The Secret Pioneer School Manual

  by WuzLovesDubs in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i saw one up close and personal because the jw annointed sister who was studying with me, told me that if i looked up every scripture in her (illegally gotten before the school started) pioneer school book and cut it out of old green nwts and pasted them in the margins, it would make her a stronger pioneer and jehovah would reward me.

  and in the process i would learn where things were in the bible.. gosh what an incredible honor i was blessed with!

  you know i did it..i didnt know a damn thing.

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  I went. It was over 25 years ago. I don't remember anything particularly secret about any of it though. Amazingly, I still have the book. From what I remember, and after a glance through the table of contents, the descriptions of it being advanced KM/service meeting seem about right.
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  30

  Did you ever have "Real Freinds" in the KH?

  by Quirky1 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm talking about one you can have a beer with, talk to, etc.

  one that won't snub you no matter what.

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  Mrs. Fiorini

  I have had no JW friends for many years now, so that answers that question. What is sadder is that apparently even some of my family aren't "real."