For those who tolerate the Bible,
Solomon stated:"that which has been done, that is what will be done, and so there is nothing new under the sun." Ecclestiastes 1:9 NWT
The Berean
JoinedPosts by The Berean
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Guys I've been browsing other ex sites (Ex-Mormons, Ex-Scientologist) to see if they have anything near our experience and look what I found
by StoneWall inbeing born and raised a jw i didn't think any other religion or group of people could come close to having to deal.
with what we do as far as loosing family,friends, workmates etc.
because of beliefs.. when i read on ex-mormon and ex-scientologist sites it makes me sad that they too are going thru some horrendous.
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Relapse: I'm considering returning to the Kingdom Hall.
by Blue Grass ini'm a long time lurking of this site(2 years) and a first time poster.
to provide a little background of myself i was not raised as a witness but started studying when i was 19 and got baptized at age 21. a few months after i was baptized i left due to the constant worship of the faithful and discreet slave and the lack of emphasis on christ.
for reasons i'm not sure about yet i decided to attend the district convention last week.
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The Berean
Hi ...
Can you go back as a visitor or is the matter black or white to you? Many go back simply because others want them to. In my opinion it is not about doctrine. You have the right to choose ya or nay. The KH is a public building. To me, it's not really that big of a deal one way or the other ...
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no clergy class?
by stillin inexcuse me?
i'm sure this has been rolled over many times in here, but aren't the witnesses the most class-conscious people on earth?
especially for not having a clergy class, they have all of the other ones, though!
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The Berean
Clergy are appointed leaders ... laity are those who follow ...
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What positive things can you take from being raised JW?
by Mickey mouse inrather than getting too down about wasting the best years of my life in a cult .
i have a really great imagination.
you have to have one to get through five hours of meetings per week at a young age.
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The Berean
My tale is a generality yet I have encountered many who have related the same experience.
My family was a total mess before religion. Mom and dad had split. With five children, we were poor and going nowhere. Our lot had low self esteem. We were nomads. Then Mother found a way to make us believe that not only were we equal to others but actually superior! In our mind, by joining the ranks of JWs overnight our rag-tag outfit became God's chosen people looking at eternal life! The more difficult our life got in reality, the more we were told by those inside that it was Satan trying to take us away from our righteous existence. We were a prized catch!
Now it worked temporarily because we had nothing else to lay claim to in life. Of course, later for several of us there would be damages caused by living in la-la land, but, we always had food, a roof over our head, rides to the KH as well as conventions, and even employment opportunities from fellow members.
In the overview, I could share common stories on how the organization stole my childhood, but in truth I had little chance for a normal upbringing under any circumstances, therefore whatever fabricated existence I experienced as a Witness, it would have likely been worse on the outside.
Being involved in such an organization also taught me how all groups work. It may not seem this way but JWs control people with the same ageless techniques that have existed throughout history. Now, whether I am voting for President or buying a blender on line ... I am an educated participant.
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What is your best example of Witnesses REPHRASING something to change its meaning?
by BonaFide injw's redefine words.
they change lives as a result, with people actually thinking they are in control, when they are not.. here are some that really have caused me anxiety, arguments, and just complete frustration.
even when i was a "believer" some of these bothered me.. provision (rule).
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The Berean
I've heard it a thousand times. A person is called on to answer a question posed at the KH. Without thought, the first two words out of their mouth are:
"We know"
A more accurate translation might be: "somebody else has told us that this is true. It therefore is the only possibility."
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Do you tend to be a 'keeper' or a 'leaker' ?
by Gregor inof small confidences you have been brought in on.
do (did) you find it irresistable to pass on small tidbits when you have been asked to "keep it to yourself"?.
as in -- "don't say any thing, but...".
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The Berean
I am a leaker. Any time a party shares info with me, they should not expect to tell me what or what not to do with it.
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We are all imperfect and sin many times ... NOT!
by The Berean inwhile i have come to distain religious organizations, i do believe that the practical wisdom recorded in holy writings is of value in determining how things really are.
take, for instance, proverbs 12:15: "the way of the foolish one is right in his own eyes, but the one listening to counsel is wise.
" nwt.
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The Berean
While I have come to distain religious organizations, I do believe that the practical wisdom recorded in Holy writings is of value in determining how things really are.
Take, for instance, Proverbs 12:15: "The way of the foolish one is right in his own eyes, but the one listening to counsel is wise." NWT
Now many of us play the "imperfection card" after it becomes obvious we have miscalculated a matter ... yet have you ever noticed that it is usually done in retrospect? Our kneejerk reaction in the midst of committing a potential error is to fight any source of enlightenment. The truth seems to be that most of us need to believe we are never wrong. We are only willing to discuss mistakes after the fact ... Why? Is it because it gives us time to deflect or "spin" our responsibility? If humans as flawed as we claim, what difference is it if we are right 50% of the time and wrong the other half? Smart in some matters, stupid when it comes to others? Shouldn't we expect to harm each other both by accident and on purpose?
And then there is the matter of correcting one another. It is easy for frustration to set in when another does not see a matter as clearly as we believe we do. But here again the reccomendation seems prudent:" Into the ears of the stupid one do not speak, for he will despise your discreet words." Should we not expect to be ignored?
Finally, Proverbs 16:2 states what I have come to believe is an accurate observation:"All the ways of man are pure in his own eyes ..." Could it be that man is so insecure that this needs to be so?
Of course, I could be wrong!
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Hi, I'd like to introduce myself
by dig692 inafter several months of searching these forums i finally decided to join.
i have to say i feel both nervous and excited at the same time.
but everything i have looked into so far has helped me come to many realizations about the organization so i'm overall very glad to have joined.
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The Berean
WOW ...26 ... that gives you many years to live your life as you decide. Welcome!
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Trickle effect
by 5thGeneration inwell, i guess this was coming since i haven't gone to the kh in quite a while.. the slow stream of decades worth of friends dropping me like a hot potato is picking up steam as the rumour mill is spinning at full force.. any advice on how you all dealt with the inevitable?.
not very fun, not very fun!
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The Berean
Their friendship was conditional. It had to end sooner or later ...
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Why did you pick your avator or username?
by cognac inwell, i picked my username because that's what i saw in front of me and i like the way it sounded.
no real story behind that.
i picked my avator because that's the way i felt.
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The Berean
According to the Bible, the Bereans were a skeptical group who only accepted doctrine after examining evidence. While we all have an opinion, the actual facts should be provable.