Mr. Ted

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Posts by Mr. Ted

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  263

  Growing up a gay Jehovah's Witness (My Life Story)

  by m0nk3y in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i feel the need to express how i feel and felt about my life as a gay man.

  i was brought up from birth as a jehovahs witness.

  this has played a major part in my life and it has been a real struggle to get past.

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  Mr. Ted

  Hello GentlyFeral:

  All I have is a memory of an old PBS documentary in which a researcher conducted orientation-changing therapy for months or years and put together a paper to be read at a conference. (By the time the conference occurred, he had collected more info which convinced him his own paper was wrong. He tried to take it off the program, but I can't remember if the conference organizers insisted on it being presented or not. Anwyay, he told everyone at the conference that his own "de-gaying" therapy program didn't work.

  Are you thinking of Dr. Gerald Davison, professor of psychology at USC? In 1971 (?) he developed a treatment for homosexuality called "Orgasmic Reorientation." Along with his "research," he made a documentary film of how this therapy would work. He initially believed in his therapy -- but by the time it was shown at the American Psychological Association -- he knew all of his "research" wasn't effective.

  Ted
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  10

  I took my df son and his two df friends to dinner tonite..in my hometown...

  by oompa in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  oh what fun!...i was so hoping some brudda an sistas would be there...or maybe even an elda....but no such luck.

  maybe it is all the threads of hurt here recently...usually parents bitchin at or shunning kids....even grown kids and grandkids, but they just make me want to help as many abused kicked to the curb dubs as possible.

  i love you guys...............oompa.

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  Mr. Ted

  Good for you, Oompa. Parents and children need to stay close -- no matter what..

  Ted
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  19

  New York City

  by sandy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'll be in nyc this month (july) for a two night stay i won through a radio station here in los angeles.

  i am so excited!

  hotel and air are completely paid for.

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  Mr. Ted

  Hey Sandy! Have fun in NYC!

  I'm going to be there between July 8th and 12th -- but my schedule looks quite full or I'd love to meet up. If you're not familiar with the city you might want to check out nycvisit.com -- it might give you some ideas.

  I think they might have those book-of-tickets (or whatever they're called) which includes admittance to many NYC venues: go to the top of the Empire State building; boat trip around Manhattan, museums, theater, etc. Will you have time to take in a Broadway/ off-Broadway play?

  There is a complete spectrum of ethnic restaurants in NYC. (Your hotel will probably have a list.) And 'wha happened' (your name reminds me of a character from a Christopher Guest movie) -- they do have Mexican restaurants in Manhattan. Although I can remember way back in 1968-69, not being able to find one. I couldn't even find tortillas except in a can. I don't think they even had Taco Bell fast-food places then (but they do now). But I was young -- and restaurants didn't really matter to me then.

  Have fun Sandy. Be sure and tell up about your trip when you get back.

  Ted
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  40

  how do you prove to a JW that they they were wrong about 1975?I

  by paybacktime19 in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  i need written proof in their own publications ..

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  Mr. Ted

  Thanks to all who contributed to this thread.

  I was "there" and all these quotes (and recordings) are inducing flashbacks! I was 20 in 1970 (do the math) and a district overseer sat me down at lunch and told me by the time I was 25 -- I'd be living in the New Order! Now my sons are older than that.

  Also, appreciated the Watchtower quotes link.

  Ted
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  18

  mental health

  by martinwellborne in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  sorry if i seem a bit outta sorts, but +#'* me i have had a bad time these past months.

  i honestly thought i was condemned to die (deep down i still think i am).

  i left the borg about a year ago with my wife and family all intact (or so i thought).

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  Mr. Ted

  Hello Martin,

  Sorry to hear that you're having such distress. But it is understandable considering the rigid religious structure that we both lived in for many years. Religious fear and control can be a very powerful force in one's life. It's been my experience that time can be a healer. So hang in there.

  Glad to hear that you're getting some therapy and trying out some medications. I knew lots of active witnesses who were taking anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications when I was a member of the organization. Examining deeply held religious beliefs that you believe with all your heart to be God's truth -- can be very disturbing. It can be hard to leave the beliefs you've come to believe implicitly.

  Have you done much reading outside the society's literature? I found Ray Franz's Crisis of Conscience and In Search of Christian Freedom to be very eye-opening. There are other books that are also very enlightening -- and liberating.

  I'm wondering what you thought of the change about the "1914 generation" that was revealed in 1995? Maybe you're too young to remember the BIG buildup to 1975 -- but I remember it quite well. Also, thanks to the folks here on this site, I've been enlightened about the WTS membership with the UN. Also I was disturbed at hearing about the Society's responsibility in covering up many child sexual abuse cases. Have you heard about these things?

  Feel free to Personal Message me (if that's what it's called). You can do this I've learned by clicking on my name. I do hope you find some relief from your anxiety, Martin. Believe me it is possible. Wishing you the best,

  Ted
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  64

  At risk - I dare a discussion of the gay lifestyle/human nature.

  by AK - Jeff in

  1. social
  2. relationships

  please do not denigrate this thread.

  i intend this as serious/honest/trying to understand human nature discussion.

  i have a very close family member who is bi-sexual.

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  Mr. Ted

  Being gay can be dangerous. This danger affects gay or gay-acting children. Not only with bullying or being physically assaulted -- but even murder. In Feb. 2008, gay eighth-grade student Lawrence King was shot in the back of the head by another boy in Oxnard, California. King had previously been taunted by students and was living in a shelter for abused and troubled youth. Two lives taken: King's and his 14-year-old murderer who will go to prison. There are many such cases including Matthew Shepard and Brandon Teena. Why would a youth choose to be gay?

  I know lots of gay and lesbian people on the West and East coast -- they don't fit any of the stereotypes -- just like Rock Hudson, Richard Chamberlain or Raymond Massey didn't act like Paul Lynde. Most of my friends say they knew they were gay in childhood. Some are in long-term relationships and are raising children and leading productive lives. None of them chose to be gay

  I have a dear gay friend who has been blind from birth. Even though he's never looked at pornography, checked out "sexy" men, or "cruised" anyone -- he tells me he knew he had same-gender crushes and desires starting in middle-school. And this was back in the late '50s and early '60s when homosexuality was definitely taboo. He says when it comes to love and intimacy -- he can only think of being with a man. And no, he was not sexually abused as a child.

  Being gay is not a choice.
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  36

  Sulu, Gay?????

  by BFD in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i bet he was born that way.

  .

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/160515/1.ashx.

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  Mr. Ted

  So Shamus, when is your birthday? Hope you had/ have a great day!

  Shamus wrote:

  Dear posters, Grant me this birthday wish. Ten pages please.... please make this a ten page thread.

  Big Tex wrote:

  Good for him. And about bloody time the state recognizes something that is a reality. Takei has been in a stable relationship for years with his partner. Let the two of them get legal recognition and legal protection.

  Exactly, Big Tex!
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  23

  Hello! Is there a list of WTS changes since 1995?

  by Mr. Ted in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a young friend told me about this discussion forum.

  i completely "stopped" being a jw around 1995. i was wondering if there is a succinct list -- somewhere on-line -- of changes/events that the wts has gone through in the last 12 years?

  i haven't received any of the publications or really spoken with any jws in many years.

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  Mr. Ted

  Thanks for all the information. I've noted the links posted. I appreciate the time you've taken to respond. And, no [laughing] I'm not part of the Governing body.

  With the blood and voting, it sounds like a lot of "yes, you can ..." but really "no, you'd better not." The information about the sealing of the 144,000 is interesting. I was wondering what they were going to do because of the advancing years -- and you can spread 144,000 people just so far throughout 2,000 years and counting.

  I was wondering if their definition of Babylon the Great was still the same; and if the UN would still play a major roll in "her" destruction.

  I assume their understanding of the King of the North and South has had some tinkering since the fall and breakup of the Soviet Union.

  I remember seeing an article about Ray Franz's leaving the WTS in either "Time" or "Newsweek" magazine way back in the early '80s. One remark he made was that the Society would have to change their "teaching" on the 1914 generation. (And, sure enough they did.) When I saw the article, I mentioned it to some elders -- they hadn't seen it and were incredulous even though it was quoting him and in a reputable news-magazine. The Society had already begun its "Believe ONLY what we tell you! Everybody else is lying!" campaign. So I was admonished that I shouldn't believe that Ray Franz had left the organization or had been quoted. They wound up calling the Society and were told, "Yep, it's true that he's left. He's now part of the Evil Slave."

  Once again, thanks everyone. Have a great life.

  Ted
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  23

  Hello! Is there a list of WTS changes since 1995?

  by Mr. Ted in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a young friend told me about this discussion forum.

  i completely "stopped" being a jw around 1995. i was wondering if there is a succinct list -- somewhere on-line -- of changes/events that the wts has gone through in the last 12 years?

  i haven't received any of the publications or really spoken with any jws in many years.

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  Mr. Ted

  Shamus, thanks for the info.

  Yes, I knew about the literature being on a donation basis in the US. No book study? What luxury -- an extra free night.

  It's funny. I've been so distant from the Society. But my friend got me wondering. I guess I need to do more research on the net.

  Thanks again.

  (I assume your name is pronounced like the first name of the Irish poet, Seamus Heaney?)

  TC
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  23

  Hello! Is there a list of WTS changes since 1995?

  by Mr. Ted in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a young friend told me about this discussion forum.

  i completely "stopped" being a jw around 1995. i was wondering if there is a succinct list -- somewhere on-line -- of changes/events that the wts has gone through in the last 12 years?

  i haven't received any of the publications or really spoken with any jws in many years.

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  Mr. Ted

  Hello. A young friend told me about this discussion forum.

  I completely "stopped" being a JW around 1995. I was wondering if there is a succinct list -- somewhere on-line -- of changes/events that the WTS has gone through in the last 12 years? I haven't received any of the publications or really spoken with any JWs in many years. I have read "Crisis of Conscience" and "In Search of Christian Freedom."

  I know there was the change in the "1914 generation" teaching. And I know there's been a scandal concerning pedophilia.

  If locating such a list is a hassle -- forget it. Just thought someone might know if such a list existed and where it could be located.

  Hope all is well with everyone outside the Watchtower walls (life's been great for me!) Thanks.

  TC