I don't think he got that piece of information from the meetings. Is he willing to look elsewhere for info about the WT? If so, he may be ready for more.
Mrs. Fiorini
JoinedPosts by Mrs. Fiorini
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24
C.T. Russell- yet another amazing prediction
by JimmyPage inmy brother-in-law has been staying with me all week and his strange views of life have been driving me crazy.
just yesterday he informed me that c.t.
russell predicted global warming.
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Counting Time: Is it Scriptural?
by cameo-d inwhat is the purpose of punching jehovah's timecard?.
doesn't wt psychologically imply that jehovah "owes" them paradise because they have "worked" for it?.
it seems there is a scripture somewhere about "love does not keep an accounting".. perhaps one of you can find the scriptural incidence.. .
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Mrs. Fiorini
I used to think that it made sense for the WT to keep track of the work being done so they could better manage it, sending more resources into areas that needed more attention, etc.
Now I realize that there is a more important reason the WT has it's followers report their time. It puts pressure on them to keep performing. Others can see if they are "measuring up." They can be given "goals" to follow that increase the amount that they do. They can "prove" themselves worthy by making a minimum quota. It's all part of being in a cult.
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If You Didn't Have to Count Time
by journey-on in....how many do you think would actually go out in service?
if they didn't think some elder was keeping up with their hours and number of placements, i think most witnesses would avoid it altogether.. ...also, if the brothers didn't have a corporate congregational ladder to climb, would they make any real effort?
i think many of them do it because being an elder or ms gives them a sense of accomplishment and a certain authority they otherwise would not enjoy in the mundane world.
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Mrs. Fiorini
I think Journey-on is on to something saying, "I honestly believe counting time and placements is a way for the printing company to make money, NOT to preach "the good news of the kingdom" like they lead you to believe. Whether the literature is placed or not, it gets bought... the pressure is on the congregation to buy, buy, buy."
Selling literature is and has been their main means of support for their entire existence. Without it, they would have and be nothing. Making their followers go out in FS makes them feel like they have to buy the stuff, whether they actually place any of it or not.
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Attended Episcopal Wedding Ceremony Last Month
by Athanasius inhi everyone.. yes, i attended an episcopal wedding service last month.
my russian fiancee and i finally tied the knot.
we had a beautiful service.
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Mrs. Fiorini
Congratulations! I hope you have many wonderful years together.
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No emotional highs/lows in jw lives
by rebel8 inif you've taken sociology 101 or read sociology books, you've seen discussions of the functions holidays serve.
without consulting my textbooks, here are a few of them.
honor important eventsreaffirm cultural, social, or familial tiesrestexperience joyin essence---enjoy life and have strong ties to the community and family!.
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Mrs. Fiorini
My take on the holidays is that celebrating helps people form their cultural and family identities. To the extent that the WT can intervene in that process, they have that much more control on your identity and therefore your loyalty.
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'Just as important as the preaching work' question. Please respond.
by compound complex ina thread regarding the wt view of the importance of good works, whose title i cannot recall, was posted not too long ago.
there has been talk locally about a watchtower that equates these acts of charity with the preaching work.
is that a correct interpretation of present truth?.
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Mrs. Fiorini
Helping other JWs stay strong in their religion is not charity in any way IMO. True charity is showing love to fellow human beings in need with no consideration to their religious beliefs.
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Why exactly, DO the JWs continue to beat on doors? What is the POINT?
by WuzLovesDubs ini mean...it accomplishes nothing save making them pests all over the planet.
they dont get money from it, not enough to make any damn difference anyway...the magazines are limited to only two a month and they dont do subscriptions any more.
how many people actually are brought in this way?
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Mrs. Fiorini
It is very hard for people to try to convince others of something they don't believe themselves. If you are constantly going out trying to sell your beliefs to others, it reinforces them in you. Whether they ever convert another person or not, JWs further commit themselves to the WT by going out in field service.
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WT Dept of Mind Control????
by Luo bou to inwhat i want to know is "how can such a sophisticated process of indoctrination exist, without experts in phsychological manipulation : men who know exactly what they are doing.
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Mrs. Fiorini
I'm not an expert in cults. I have, however, noticed an interesting common thread among many. Their beliefs are unsupportable.
In the case of the WT it takes only a little effort to shoot down their doctrines. They have preached Armageddon is coming over and over again, each time failing in the prediction. They claim the date 1914 is biblically significant, only to be exposed as having miscalculated using historically incorrect dates for their starting point. They must constantly come up with "new light" when the old light fails to hold up. I could go on and on, and many have on this site over the years.
IMO groups whose dogma is weak make up for it by trying to strong arm their followers into believing, hence the mind control. If their beliefs held any water, they wouldn't care who criticized them or who their followers talked to. The doctrines would stand on their own and followers would stay.
Those who lead cults have a psychological need to maintain the fantasy. The insecurity they feel with their weak beliefs is lessened when others believe too. So they expend a lot of effort trying to get and keep members who reinforce the group views. They also feel very threatened by those who see through it. (No wonder they hate "apostates")
A main motivator for many cult leaders, I believe, is fear of losing control. Lady Lee talked about abusers in family relationships. Nobody has to train them in specific techniques for them to know how to intimidate, abuse and control their victims. I don't think cult leaders need to be trained in mind control to know how to control their followers either. Charismatic leaders have the ability to attract followers, and when those followers start to see through the smooth talk, they resort to deception, manipulation and intimidation.
A recent poster shared articles from the old newspaper The Brooklyn Eagle. It once printed an article about C T Russell that included a letter from a former follower in England. In it he said of Russell, "He has deluded thousands of followers into believing Christ returned to this earth in 1874, though in a spirit body and therefore invisible to the natural eye. Very many have gone so far as to sell up their homes over here, expecting to die before 1914 (at the latest), and many others have so arranged their affairs as to last till that date only. I myself was connected with his movement for twelve years, but my eyes, thank God, are now opened. When one leaves their society because of enlightenment, Mr. Russell at once advises his followers to shun such an one and counsels his followers never to read anything emanating from any other source but his own pen! I could write you for a week telling you of the bitterness and the sorrow that this man Russell has left in many a Christian home here in England." Sound familiar? Change 1874 to 1914, 1914 to 1975 and Mr. Russell to the Watchtower, and you have a letter that many on this board could have written.
The same abusive and dysfunctional pattern has continued with Rutherford, Knorr, Franz, etc. until all those who run the organization today are as much victims as victimizers. It is much like abuse in families which gets passed on from one generation to the next. It has become a very sad situation that is bigger than any of the individuals involved.
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My Latest Freeminds Blog
by AllTimeJeff injehovahs witnesses (jw) are taught to never listen to a word, or read an article by those who have left their former faith.
any critical information is viewed as poisonous to your faith.
it will kill your faith.
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Mrs. Fiorini
Excellent! Such a good analogy from The Matrix too.
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I wish I was Stronger
by apocryphal22 inbut im not.
i have lost everything.. i am a third generation jw on both sides of my family.
all of my family is in full time service, pioneers, elders, cos, international construction, anointed and gb.
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Mrs. Fiorini
aprocryphal22,
I know it's hard now. And there will be more hard times in the future too. But you, out of all your family members, have been the first to "wake up." Cult expert Steven Hassan says that all cult members, deep down, want out. You have opened the door for yourself and also for your family. They may or may not walk through it eventually, but either way, you have. While it's difficult, you can celebrate the fact that you have done it. If you still have a belief in God, pray for them that they are able to follow your example and get out too. If any of them wish to, it will be easier for them because you paved the way.
In the mean time, a whole new life awaits you outside the WT. It's yours to explore. Over time, you will make new friends, find new opportunities for growth, and build a new life for yourself. I don't know how far along in your journey you are, but I speak from experience when I say that it does get better over time.
I have lost many members of my family too, since leaving, but I still don't regret doing it. It is one of the smartest things I have ever done. Congratulate yourself for having the courage to see your way out. Many never do and spend their entire lives in the darkness of that organization.
Best wishes and good luck to you.
PS - If you're still in your thirties, you're doing pretty good. You still have a large part of your life left and time to do something with it. What would you have done if none of your family had been JWs and you were raised in a normal life? Now you can do it! (I'm in my forties and I just graduated from college. Boy did that feel good!)