hybridous

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Posts by hybridous

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  14

  Hate Mail

  by The Bethelite in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm starting to get my first hate mail because of my book.

  two people sent the book back to me (unread of course) with notes about jehovah's vengeance.

  one person tore it up and sent me a note.. however, i know of two born in jws that read it.

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  hybridous

  The flack is heaviest over the most sensitive targets.
  
  You get hate mail because JWs are great at hating (not so good at loving - sorry, Jesus!).

  Keep doing what you're doing. I'd like to read your book.
  
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  9

  Anybody been to the therapist to talk about the Jdub stuff? What did they think of it?

  by nowawake14 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  what was their view of jdub rules?.

  what was their view on the dfing thing?.

  did they get pissed and think it was a cult?.

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  hybridous

  Yes.

  Highly recommend therapy to help get a person thru some of the mental garbage we tend to carry around.

  My counselor didn't offer much in way of offering 'views' on such, since I came there already with my own 'views' and very legit reasons for such 'views'.

  When using the word 'cult', I've been asked about the basis for using the word.

  I merely deferred to experts in the field, and the fact the WT religion does happen to meet several criteria applied to groups and their behaviors.

  I wasn't challenged on that any further.

  My counselor was, fortunately, somewhat familiar with the WT religion, and the damage it does. He was great at explaining the programming I was suffering from; the cognitive distortions I was continuing to labor under, and the tools that exist that a person can choose to employ that 'defuse' those emotional/illogical thought habits.

  My only mistake was not going to counseling 10 years earlier. I was born-in, so the ORG bullshit molded much of the ways I learned to 'think' (it's not real THINKING for the JWs - it's FEELING, and they don't know the difference!).

  I really can't recommend counseling highly enough. Sometimes, separation from JWs isn't enough, because their mental garbage follows you around after you leave their presence. For me, it was an absolute necessity on my road to getting better.
  
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  49

  What’s So Good About Not Being A Jehovah’s Witness At This Point In Your Life?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for me it’s freedom!

  you are not bound by an organization’s man made rules and whims.

  you don’t have to account to mere men for approval.

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  hybridous

  I like not having to hide from information because of what it might do to my worldview and 'beliefs'.

  It's great to merely learn what there is learn, and accept what is true, and then

  deal with the world as it is,

  instead of how I'd like it to be.
  
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  40

  Still dont get the friggin birthdays

  by nowawake14 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have read extensively about the origins of birthdays, and i still don't get it.

  but it's not what it means today.. even wedding veils were used to ward off the "evil eye".

  but it's not what it means today.

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  hybridous

  Like with the prohibition of blood transfusions, they drew their 'line in the sand'...

  They can't backtrack now. It would be a huge credibility hit, even from true believers within.

  Sacrifices have been made...the psychology of previous investment.

  It doesn't matter if it makes one lick of sense or not...
  
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  30

  New Disfellowshipping Picture

  by neat blue dog in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  similar to that recent convention video, this illustrates a mother ignoring her disfellowshipped daughter's phone call.

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  (august 2019 meeting workbook).

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  hybridous

  I would die to see the face of that mother if the daughter's call was something very urgent, like accident!!

  As per the Tower, this girl is 'dead' already. No, no great loss for mom.

  This sure is a great form of Christianity. Who wouldn't want this?!
  
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  30

  New Disfellowshipping Picture

  by neat blue dog in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  similar to that recent convention video, this illustrates a mother ignoring her disfellowshipped daughter's phone call.

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  (august 2019 meeting workbook).

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  hybridous

  Smiling face, no tattoos, no piercings, just a normal, happy life....Is that really the image they wanted to project?

  That's a good question. Maybe the Tower knows that their caricature of former members really doesn't hold water anymore, so they presented a normal, dignified image in the hopes it hits closer to home and is more effective.

  Swastika face tattoos and dinner plate ear gauges might evoke some incredulous laughter, even among the devoted followers, and that's not a chance the Tower is willing to take.

  Not concerning the very cement that holds this cult together. No, sir. No laughing matter.
  
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  79

  JWs Changing "Baptism Questions" Effective May 13?

  by Room 215 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

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  ja2 replies4 retweets12 likes.

  reply.

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  hybridous

  To me this is more than just one sentence in the baptismal question. The whole perception based on spirit direction delves into many stated suggestions the WTBTS has made over the years to keep the flock sweating it out til the end.

  Yes, without all the supposed 'authority' that comes with "Spirit-directed", then the JWs are just another church, and a really shitty one, at that. They simply CAN'T back away from these claim of exclusivity without giving up the central essence of the Organization itself.
  
  I mean, if it's not 'God's Organization' then why put up with all the burdensome nonsense? Regular mainstream churches that do not make such claims rely on other ways to provide value to the members. The JW cult religion was never built to do that. It has to rely on bluster and fear. They don't know HOW to mainstream and be just another church, even if they wanted to.
  
  How I would LOVE to be proven wrong about that...but I don't think I am.
  
  This is the ultimate problem with making such claims in the first place. Eventually, you'll have to make good on those claims.

  Where does this go from here?

  I suspect that the leadership would like to back away from their 'Spirit-directed' assertions (at least in print), as faaaaar as they possible can...without abandoning it. Like a lot of things, their success must necessarily rely on a very delicate balancing act
  
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  79

  JWs Changing "Baptism Questions" Effective May 13?

  by Room 215 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

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  ja2 replies4 retweets12 likes.

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  hybridous

  Claims get challenged.

  Yes, they do. In the case of the WT though, they buy themselves some (limited) relief by a policy of no tolerance; labeling any organizational member who does so, an apostate.

  What might be useful though, is to have this information readily available for any/all potential Bible Studies. Make the study conductor defend the claim as a condition for continuing the study...
  
  It is, after all, THE central doctrine of the Jehovah's Witness religion. Every other crazy thing rests on this crazy premise.

  It would be nice if say some legal precedence get established that opens them up for some legal retribution for their fanatical religious tribunals where they have the upper hand and the members suffer.

  
  

  At the least, it might mean that no MINOR person could enter into such an agreement, since it is being wielded as a binding contract. Can you imagine the numbers, the trends, if no individual could be baptized before 18?!

  Talk about hastening their demise. Stick a fork in 'em.
  
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  79

  JWs Changing "Baptism Questions" Effective May 13?

  by Room 215 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

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  ja2 replies4 retweets12 likes.

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  hybridous

  I like the indication- what spirit is org being guided by? LMS has a good thought there

  Yes, I agree - good line of inquiry.

  I think the ORG would like to claim 'Holy Spirit-Directed', (it is certainly implied to the JDubs), but there's plenty of reason for them to tread lightly here...

  The more grandiose the claim, the more scrutiny deserves to be brought to bear, and 'Holy Spirit-directed' is quite a whopper. No, it's not INSPIRED, but they are kissing-cousins. Any semi-serious Bible student would have to vet this claim.
  
  Where is the Scriptural foundation for such a claim? What is the basis for an individual or group operating under this 'Spirit-Directed' condition. The WT Org cannot tolerate ANY such lines of examination, so they are compelled to surreptitiously offer forth the general idea to be consumed and believed, but not too precisely or stridently, lest a dub start investigating..
  
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  519

  Tony Morris video footage of him buying a dozen bottles of scotch

  by UnshackleTheChains in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  i was howling watching cedars latest video of tm111 buying a dozen bottles of scotch ((maccallans scotch).

  you can't write this stuff.

  right, i'm now off to buy a bottle of maccallans 😂..

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  hybridous

  Tony M. isn't doing anything "wrong" or illegal in my opinion...

  He's doing enough, if he were a no-name brother of little consequence who perhaps had an elder or 2 that disliked him...

  To give sufficient excuse to such elders to ask probing questions, cast suspicions, further investigate with possibilities of reproof...or worse.

  That's why this even speaks so loudly to some of us (who WERE brothers of little consequence), and speaks still to certain sincere, devout JWs...
  
  Who until now, have lived with a certain image/expectation in their heads about Governing Body members.
  
  This event presents an opportunity to credibly challenge such images and expectations.