hybridous

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Posts by hybridous

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  24

  When can I let my guard down?

  by hybridous in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  quick background:.

  born-in, but never baptized.

  remainder of family still (by all appearances) loyal dubs.

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  hybridous

  Hi there, TD, et al...
  
  Yes, I would say that the kids' exposure to JW nuttery is negligible, thus far, due in part to my steadfast protection of them. A level of protection that has rendered me...somewhat weary over the years.
  
  Thus, my interest in knowing when the kids are sufficiently armed against JW ideology. I'd like to, at least *feel* that they are secure and intellectually well-armed enough to rebuff any attempts to proselytize them. Yes, this a question that is ultimately self-serving in nature. If it should bear out that that I cannot assure myself of such protections, then of course I would continue to insulate them from such influences for as long as it be necessary and I am able.
  
  No prior indoctrination. And I am committed to keeping it that way.
  
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  26

  Dear supporters of Russia's JW Ban:

  by Jehalapeno in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this is the kind of government you are supporting.. over 100 gay men have been sent to concentration camps for homosexuals in chechnya and three people have been killed.. stop supporting fascism.. if you support the russia jw ban, what other thoughts and beliefs are you ok with policing?.

  if you support the jw russia ban, have you read george orwell's 1984?

  don't you realize you are advocating for literal fascism when you support the banning of a belief system?

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  hybridous

  Freedom of religion stops at the point it treads on freedom from religion. And, everybody has that fundamental right too - to be free from religion. How do you satisfy both?

  While this is true, I am not seeing how it is relevant to the discussion. The Russian JWs aren't trying to use the state to coerce members of the public to be JWs, unless you mean the children. of JWs that are coerced into baptism (and the fallout that follows).
  
  I wonder if these issues could be addressed by simply prohibiting any minors from entering into a religious 'contract'. Since the JW Org is keen on childhood baptism in order to assert control, that alone could sap their major source of growth.
  
  How much suffering could be averted if everyone had to wait until 18 to commit?
  
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  24

  When can I let my guard down?

  by hybridous in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  quick background:.

  born-in, but never baptized.

  remainder of family still (by all appearances) loyal dubs.

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  hybridous

  Quick background:
  

  Born-in, but never baptized. Remainder of family still (by all appearances) loyal dubs. They have largely stopped trying to get me into a Kingdom Hall, and have (by all appearances) accepted my decision to leave the cult life.
  
  These days, I have a family of my own. I have been trying to keep a relationship with the JW family, but am VERY wary of any possible JW influence on the kids (10 years old and younger), and have been very rigidly resistant regarding any attempts to give them any religious 'education'.
  
  I recall folks saying that once a young mind is taught critical thinking, that person is mostly insulated against, not just JW nuttery, but all sorts of flawed (damaging?) ideologies.
  
  My question is about timing. This level of scrutiny I am applying to the JW family regarding the kids is exhausting, and I am looking forward to the day that I can stop worrying about the JW influence because the kids will, at that point, have enough sense of their own to balk at the JW nonsense.
  
  What age do you think that kids can stand on their own against this stuff? Thanks.
  
  
  
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  63

  We Pass the Bread and the Wine Just like in the Bible! But, why is forbidden to eat?

  by lusitano o tuga in

  1. social
  2. humour

  see what bridget azaz did!.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzbe5yo7uq4.

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  hybridous

  I always thought that the intent was to underline the notion that the rank-and-file witnesses were NOT in the New Covenant; merely hoping to benefit by proxy.
  
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  26

  My Anointed Grandma’s Wavering Faith?

  by My Name is of No Consequence in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  some quick background information: my dad (her firstborn son) died unexpectedly this past october.

  his death has really hit our family hard.

  personally, i have not totally come to terms with this.

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  hybridous

  Sorry to hear of your loss. Grief is worse, IMO, when we have no time to prepare for it.
  
  My dad also died rather 'suddenly', and while I am glad he did not spend much time suffering, it was difficult to come to terms with.
  
  When it comes to the old folks, I have more-or-less written them off.

  It seems to me that old folks have on some level realized what's truly important and because of their limited time left, are willing to cut through all the nonsense.

  I have seen this at work, but equally, this:
  
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunk_cost#Loss_aversion_and_the_sunk_cost_fallacy

  I am working toward abandoning any expectations of JW family, young and old. I perceive there is a kindness to letting someone's delusions persist toward the end of their life, especially when they have built an entire life around them.
  
  I would merely let grandma set the pace of things, and follow along. Any decisions she makes are hers alone. Enjoy her company while she's there for you. If things get 'real', it might be a time for poignant questions...
  
  
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  17

  Can we support Russian government's ban?

  by intropist in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  글쓴이: 류비 / 시간: 목, 03/30/2017 - 14:48. .

  hi, i want to leave my personal opinion on the matter of russian government's banning on the activity of jehovah's witnesses in their territory.

  i think it's more or less important because bearing a certain opinion is related with the quality of life.

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  hybridous

  As much as I have come to loathe this awful cult, I cannot applaud heavy-handed government sanctions against it.
  
  I don't want it to be seen as any kind of 'forbidden fruit', because in my experiences, people will crawl over broken glass on their hands and knees to have that which is denied them. Given the amount of victims the JW cult has created, I think it's a grievous tactical error to afford it a narrative where it gets to assume the role of victim.
  
  Shine a bright light on it and let the roaches scatter. Make this 'religion' a matter of open inquiry and let the chips fall...
  
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  38

  Anthony Morris - The Higher Education Broadcast

  by pale.emperor in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  last night i had jw broadcasting on in the background while i was working, i like to keep up to date with their crap.

  which is strange because when i actually was a jw i hated reading or watching their material.. anyway, on the streaming section, anthony morris comes on screen telling me that higher education is bad and "the better the university, the greater the danger".

  i never would have believed it if i hadn't seen him say it myself.

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  hybridous

  Infuriating...but I hope a greater good is served by appearing bizarre and directly articulating goofy beliefs and therefore alienating reasonable people who might investigate the religion.
  
  I thought that this might be one line they don't hold, but it's almost like they know they're full of crap...
  
  Stuff like this makes me really wonder just how deceived these deceivers are, If you were truly deceived, wouldn't you welcome full scrutiny by educated people?
  
  
  
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  51

  Why are Republican's so consistantly dishonest?

  by Coded Logic in

  1. social
  2. current

  it hasn't gone unnoticed that the republicans who are saying, "we need to get to the bottom of the obama wiretapping" and "let's investigate this" - are the same people, when it comes to trump's russian ties, who are saying, "we shouldn't look at this at all - it's just a bunch of lies and hype.".

  no evidence whatsoever for claims about obama need a congressional investigation.

  but mountains of evidence about trump with more coming out everyday can be swept under the rug.

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  hybridous

  Quote: 'They are all politicians and the electorate fail to punish them for their dishonesty - that is the reason.'
  
  Maybe Simon intended this as a throwaway comment, but I found it prescient.
  
  Consider the Trump phenomenon: as I watched the Republican primary elections, it was impossible to not see that the party itself regarded D. Trump as more threatening than a Hillary Clinton presidency. The party treated him accordingly, and I perceive that this provoked the ire of disaffected Republicans.
  
  So much so, that, it seemed that part of Trumps ascendency seemed little more than a general attempt to 'punish' the Republican party brand, without much regard beyond that simple expression of express disapproval.
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  5

  Need your honest opinion

  by poopie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this is the scenario there's a guy who is df and being shunned big time.

  we'll he needs a place to stay since he can't stay with his family you know the shunning thing well another jw in good standing says he can stay with him .the df guy is delighted but a little problem the elders are going to find out the df guy car parked at jw house.

  no one in the area knows he's df because it's 90 miles from the cong he was df in so i told him he's takeing a risk but he says i'm going to show love to this person no matter what..

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  hybridous

  Since we're talking about getting around elders, I have to ask...is outright LYING an option?
  
  If confronted, could the JW-in-good-standing just say that arrangements were contracted before the guest's DF status was known?
  
  I am heartened when a JW defies the rules and shows love no matter what.
  
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  52

  My families shunning has gone to a whole new level

  by pale.emperor in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  8 months df'd.

  loving a life of freedom.

  however, my family are all shunning me.

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  hybridous

  Hi, PE -

  I have been following your story. What you're going through is brutal, and I'm glad you have people to share it with, who can identify with some of what you're experiencing...
  
  There's some really good advice in this thread. I was really struck by what Scratchme said...

  'It will get real for her when she realizes that you are no longer trying.'

  I found this to be the case in my own life situation. The 'shunning' thing became a contest of endurance and will.

  And even if you win, the 'victories' seem pyrrhic in nature, when considering what the costs are in terms of time and suffering.
  

  Keep the lines of communication w/ your brother. As has been mentioned, his willingness to break the rules and speak to you is promising.
  
  If you abide your mothers wishes and stop sending her pictures, she will miss receiving them. Whether-or-not she admits it to herself or any else is immaterial.
  
  The only way I found to turn this crap into something positive, is that it steeled my resolve to provide my children with a WT-Free childhood. This poison ends here.
  
  There is a case to be made that what is really best for your daughter, is total separation (or at least as long as WT 'rules' are applied in all their rigidity). Your mom is seeking a comfortable detante of sorts: where she gets to apply the shunning rule but still have access to her granddaughter. You must, at all costs, deny her any comfort - IMO.
  

  Good luck with whatever you decide. Keep us posted.