Mrs. Fiorini

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Posts by Mrs. Fiorini

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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.
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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!