cantleave

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Posts by cantleave

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  183

  How many of you knew about the"Jesus is not your Mediator" teaching when you were JWs??

  by Lady Liberty in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  hi everyone.... just curious how many of you knew when you were active, about the societys official teaching regarding jesus the mediator.

  i was floored to find in my research, that they teach jesus is the mediator for the 144,000 only.

  and it is only by our association with them that we might have salvation.. i don't know about you guys but i was blown away when i learned they taught this.

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  cantleave

  It was the realisation this fact that made me question my beliefs. It didn't dawn on me until this April!
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  43

  What do you think will happen to cause an exodus or at least push JWs into further obscurity?

  by the_dude_abides in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i believe someday it will be as obscure and strange as say the russelites.

  the meetings will only be attended by ppl over sixty or so and it will hardly be considered anywhere near as significant a religion as it is today.

  i wonder what will begin this process.

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  cantleave

  The mass exodus has has begun!

  Did anyone carry out the August 2009 plan?
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  45

  Confirmation on statement made at assembly this past weekend

  by koolaid-man in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i received a message on my telephone voice mail by a person who attended a jehovah's witness assembly this past weekend.

  i believe the assembly was in michigan.

  the caller told me it was announced from the platform that if a person is not attending the meetings on a regular basis active witnesses should not be associating with them.

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  cantleave

  Bushmills - I'm on the Hobgoblin - wychwood brewery's awesome ale
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  28

  Rorschach test for JWs

  by 1914BS in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  (i think i spelt it right??).

  99 out of 100 jws won't be able to spot the jest ---- why??.

  because they are mentally conditioned thru 5 mind control meetings per week to ignore jests of any kind.. (the gb would never allow jests in the artwork).

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  cantleave

  God I must still be programmed I can't see it.
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  12

  Just Re-read My First Post

  by cantleave in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  four months have past since i made my first post here.

  it generated 9 pages of discussion- thanks to renaai.

  i was called trevor by ninja at one point.........hopefully it is apparent that i am not.

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  cantleave

  Four months have past since I made my first post here. It generated 9 pages of discussion- thanks to Renaai. I was called trevor by Ninja at one point.........hopefully it is apparent that I am not. I am reposting with comments because I want to show others embarking on leaving how quickly progress can be made. Lets see how things have changed, the original post is hightlighted.

  Hi guys and gals,

  I think I can say friends now

  I am a hypocryte. Brought up in the "truth" but know its not. But I can't leave the congregation.

  I had only very recently come to that realisation. I will give my full story one day.

  If I leave I will lose all association with my family and friends. Even if I drift away I would gradually become an outcast, I couldn't cope with that. So maybe I am weak or just too frightened of what happens if I do leave.

  I really was frightened. Everything I ever knew was tied into being a witness. I am now happy to leave it all behind, I still would prefer to fade but if I end up being DF'd I think I could cope now, even though it would mean losing my biggest client and a relationship with my mother and brother.

  I love my wife but she is completely devout as are her family. My mother and brother are very zealous too. I have lifelong friends who I would do anything for, who are part of the fabric that makes me what I am. If they knew what I really felt, they would shun me, not because they are bad but because they "believe all things" as long as it comes from the Governing Body or its representatives on Earth.

  My wife, was herself having doubts and can now see that the organisation is seriously flawed after reading CofC. Mother and Brother don't know anything about my fade, they live too far away. I know my Mother would disown and disinherit me if she even thought I was apostate. Earlier this year she told my kids that they should "love Jehovah more than mummy and daddy" I could have have shot her at that point but i managed to restrain myself!

  My kids are being brought up as witnesses and I do a family study with them. But I encourage them to check everything out in a truly Academic way. I tell them that is what the Boreans did and so should they. I have also stressed that all Humans are imperfect and noone has the right to tell you what is right or wrong unless that can prove it from the bible. I don't want my kids to smoke, take drugs or be dishonest, so I am happy to instill some the principles taught by the org. But I also want them to do the things that will make them feel satisfied with life and don't want to feel that they will be destroyed if they don't conform to the decrees of a man made organisation.

  We have stopped family worship, and my kids have only gone to a handful meetings in the last few months. Our son shares his birthday on our anniversary and we called his presents birthday presents. We won't be celebrating xmas this year but my aim is to do so in 2011. We will make a big thing of new years eve as it isn't so obvious as xmas. I still don't want my kids to smoke, take drugs or be dishonest, but I have learnt that these values are not unique to witnesses.

  I have served as service overseer, pioneered and done everything you expect a model christain to do. It was seeing how elders really treated the flock, with total contempt, that made me question everything. I was castigated for trying to encourage "weak" ones in a non-judgemental way. I was considered soft because I really did do all I could to prevent my brothers being DF'd. I have seen grown men cry and then be cast out because others couldn't detect "true repentance". I have seen a Presiding Overseer (sorry Coordinator of Elders) run a congregation in a truly despotic way and the CO turn a blind eye to it. I have no respect for many of the Elders as they do not deserve any. There are others who are genuinely delightful people who do have the best interest of the congregation members at heart, but they are not heard amonst the voices of those who want to make a name for themselves.

  I was a bit cagey in this first post, I was actually serving as an Elder and going to all the meetings, doing 14hrs + in FS. I have resigned as an Elder, reduced meeting attendance to about 3 a month and have not done any proper FS at all since this first post. My intention is to stop attending altogether after the next CO visit. I will be taking a holiday over the memorial week.

  I have made contact and resumed a friendship with my best friend after 9 years since his being disfellowshipped. I have met with one person from this board and spoken to a couple of others all new friends are welcome to contact me.

  It is essential that I remain anonymous, but I feel alone and need to speak to people who can relate to my experience, please don't judge me for being a hypocryte - welcome me into this community and I will respond with witty postings and any insights that I feel will be of interest. This had better be fun because if the org are right I only have a short period of time!!!!!!

  My comments have opened up to some extent on this board and I am indebted to everyone here who has responded positively to my posts. I no longer feel hypocrytical, but a weight has been lifted. I still have a way to go but I dont intend going back, I have the courage to complete my fade. i am so pleased my wife has seen the light.

  I still do not know how my beliefs will be replaced, I am pretty much agnostic at present. I do know that organised religion is never the answer.

  I'm sorry if this post is a little self indulgent but I really wanted to check my progress and share my findings with you all.
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  15

  Do you keep JW pictures???

  by Albert Einstein in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  after many years of very active live in jw religion we have thousands of jw related pictures ... conventions, jw guests, jw friends ..... so btw - do you keep yours, or did you get rid of them?.

  my wife is still mentally in, so throwing all of them out is not on the agenda, but i dont really want to watch it .... it makes me feel embarassed how stupid i was ... on the other hand, i might want to keep some ... its still part of my life.... albert.

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  cantleave

  I can't just write off 42 years of my life. I will keep my Pics even when my "friends" dessert me. I hope when they see the light I can continue the friendship and we can share the memories once again. Heres to hope!
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  89

  Being Under Cult Mind Control is a Psychological Disorder - Steve Hassan

  by flipper in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  thought perhaps some newer members who haven't heard some of hassan's thoughts on mind control might relate to this from their own experiences in jehovah's witnesses .

  even though mind control is initiated by the cult involved in controlling it's members - hassan points out - it actually becomes a psychological disorder which can entrap the victim himself or herself - all the while - as they are being controlled by the leaders of cults.. on page 55 of hassan's book " releasing the bonds - empowering people to think for themselves " it states what happens in a destructive cult , " in a destructive cult, the locus of control shifts to the group or it's leader .

  the new recruit abdicates his ability to make decisions.

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  cantleave

  I really need to get SH's books.
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  6

  Report: 90% Of Waking Hours Spent Staring At Glowing Rectangles

  by Elsewhere in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  what's scary is that a few minutes before i found this article, i was doing the exact same thing as the guy in the pic below.

  tv, laptop and iphone... all out at the same time.

  http://www.theonion.com/content/news/report_90_of_waking_hours_spent.

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  cantleave

  Sh*t - that sums me up perfectly - apart from I am not an American.
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  26

  Child Molestation and the Two Witness Rule

  by garyneal in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  this morning, as i was fixing breakfast, my wife and i got on the subject of religion (again) and i apologized to her for some of the things i said yesterday regarding the jehovah's witnesses.. in short, i said that given the way she treated me in regards to keeping me in the dark about certain financial situations, overdrawing her checking account and running up $500 in credit card debt due to her overdrafts that i am surprised the elder and his wife would approve of her activities in light of their teachings.

  i said, "when you go to their house and study that book 'keeping yourself in god's love' with them, ask them what they would think of you taking such a nonchalant attitude over how you are managing the household finances and the way you respond to me when i inquire about the situation.

  telling me that 'i should not worry' and that 'i am being fed and have a roof over my head' in such a way that i should just be quiet about it and let you be in charge.

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  cantleave

  Gary, I have been lucky my wife read CofC and her eyes opened. You are doing the right things. Keep asking the questions, encourage he to be bereon like, challenge her to really investigate. You are bound to put some doubts in her head. Point out to her that many witnesses who leave continue to have faith in God, they are leaving an organisation not their faith.

  I wish you the best of luck,

  CL
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  33

  Does the Watchtower KNOW they are using mind control techniques?

  by finding my way in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've read a few other threads about cult mind control as well as steven hassans book comabatting cult mind control.

  i also read a thread questioning the watchtowers motives.

  are they in it for the money or what?

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  cantleave

  I am sure they know what they are doing because the controlling langauge is reinforced by punitive behaviours designed to outcast those who can not be controlled.