garyneal

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Posts by garyneal

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  33

  Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 05-27-2012 WT Review (BEHIND)

  by blondie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  comments you will not hear at the 05-27-2012 wt study (march 15, 2012, pages 25-29 )(behind).

  review comments will be headed by comments.

  jehovahs organization = where is jesus in the picture?.

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  garyneal

  I must admit, the timing of this article really shows that they are up to something.

  Looking at the paragraphs where someone was wondering how his life would turn out had he went to college stuck out in my mind when I read it. Obviously trying to guilt the old ones who really did leave behind college and career only to find themselves struggling.

  It is obvious (at least to me) that they are grooming the flock for something big (perhaps some crazy new light). Or they are trying to do damage control over their last new generation light.
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  15

  If you are dating or married to a JW: A few questions

  by Lady Lee in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  if you are dating or married to a jw: a few questions.

  i am going to be addressing the international cultic studies association (icsa) in july at the conference in montreal.

  my focus is on 3 groups.

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  garyneal

  I will give it another go but I will try to keep it short.

  1. What have been the biggest surprises or problems you have faced regarding your relationship and the impact the JW beliefs have had on you?
     
     For me I think it was the little things that surprised me. I felt that I too was a Christian trying to do the 'right' thing and was surprised at some of the curious things I encountered with them. Things such as:
     
     My mother-in-law sending me a letter telling me how my wife 'left Jehovah' for me. I mean the way she worded it, it sounded like she had left the Lord for good and went back to the world or worse. Yet she and I was going to church and to her meetings and she was still studying and I was studying with her.
     
     She went to church with me and seemed almost afraid to be there. She looked at the stain glass windows and said that the church was being idolatrous.
  2. How have you dealt with religious issues in the home?
     
     For a while, she and I accepted each other's religion and even attended services at each other's places of worship. But she always had something to say about the church I attended. Their beliefs, practices, etc. she always found something 'wrong' with them. I guess that and how the WT had some facts right made me think that perhaps they were the only true religion.
     
     When I found out the truth about the truth, I was shocked and dismayed. When I tried to present this information to my wife, I was even further surprised at how she would refuse to even look at it. Excusing it and downplaying it. Yet, I listened when she was critical of the churches I attended. I could not understand it until I landed on this site, read Steven Hassan's book, and Randy's blogs. That's when I learned what cults were all about and how their victims are paralized with fear.
     
     It became tulmotuous after that as I became real fearful for my children. It has largely subsided now as I have learned how to handle the cult persona with more skill.
  3. How have you been treated because you never were a JW and refused to become one?
     
     Surprisingly good but I do recall some 'wierdness' from them from time to time. Before my wife was baptized, she was invited to a small get together of witnesses who was around her age. We had fun but when I later asked her if she would participate in more of those get togethers she indicated that she was not really qualified to have those associations regularly. I thought that was wierd as most churches that have get togethers don't get too choosy on who comes over, especially if the person already attends their church.
     
     I suspect that even now my family is excluded from a lot of the 'reindeer games' due to my being a non-witness. My oldest daughter was excluded from a kids slumber party and the lady who organized it made it very obvious that she did it intentionally. My wife tried to understand it but was still miffed by it.
  4. What information would you want therapists to know about your situation?
     
     My wife has a lot of irrational fears even for someone who believes in God and the Bible. Most Christians believe they are saved by grace but my wife is in a high control religion that makes her feel that she is constantly not measuring up. I was in a similar high control group many years ago and know first hand its affects on your psyche. I remember being depressed and suicidal and fearful of many many things for fear of the 'invisible demons.'
  5. Any other thoughts?
     
     I guess that is it.
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  15

  If you are dating or married to a JW: A few questions

  by Lady Lee in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  if you are dating or married to a jw: a few questions.

  i am going to be addressing the international cultic studies association (icsa) in july at the conference in montreal.

  my focus is on 3 groups.

  1. 
  2. 
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  garyneal

  I had a long comment to the questions but I am not sure if it is something you are looking for.
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  25

  For me, it was when they kicked out Ray Franz and Ed Dunlap

  by oppostate in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  for me, it was when they kicked out ray franz and ed dunlap.. .

  i knew about the reform movement they started through ed's brother - and stupidly believed it could work.. .

  the clouds were truly parted and i could see it for what it was when they were ejected for nothing but trying to ask for biblical reform.. .

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  garyneal

  marked
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  25

  An ex-Jehovah's Witness turns Cult Leader

  by iamwhoiam in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i can't believe i just now heard of this.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml2oa4oigvo.

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  enjoy!.

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  garyneal

  marked
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  21

  Why You Shouldn't care about offending Jehovah's Witnesses

  by Dogpatch in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  why you shouldn't care about .

  offending jehovah's witnesses .

  [partial quote, please read the whole article with pictures].

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  garyneal

  Hmmm, I was just saying to my sister in law yesterday that today is my wife's birthday. I wanted to buy her a cake, balloons, and a small gift and wish her a happy birthday this year. I know she will not object because she has been going out of her way doing things with me that no witness will approve of. Things like helping me host our daughter's birthday party and having a yard sale at the church I attend.

  BUT, her mother is staying with us and I am not sure what to do about that. I will probably get her the small gift, wish her a happy birthday out of earshot of her mom and save the cake and balloons for after she goes home. In all honesty, I should not have to do this but she is a baptized witness and her mom will report her to the elders if she appears to be enjoying the gesture too much.
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  54

  Brother Hero wants to watch Faith in Action with me this Saturday

  by garyneal in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the question i have is, should i even bother?

  i am not even sure why he wants to watch this particular video.

  ive already seen it with my wife a few days ago and already seen how they leave a lot of details out concerning their teachings of old.

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  garyneal

  Thanks for your responses, Black Sheep and Nugget.

  He called me about an hour before we were suppose to meet and cancelled our meeting. He gave no definite time on when we were suppose to meet again. It looks like it is over for now. When he calls again, I will certainly mention what you mentioned Black Sheep and Nugget.
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  54

  Brother Hero wants to watch Faith in Action with me this Saturday

  by garyneal in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the question i have is, should i even bother?

  i am not even sure why he wants to watch this particular video.

  ive already seen it with my wife a few days ago and already seen how they leave a lot of details out concerning their teachings of old.

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  garyneal

  Frankly, I have not seen the video again since my wife and I watched it. Since I have already seen it, I will probably use that as an angle to insist that we come to an understanding of my questions concerning blood before we look at it again.
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  54

  Brother Hero wants to watch Faith in Action with me this Saturday

  by garyneal in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the question i have is, should i even bother?

  i am not even sure why he wants to watch this particular video.

  ive already seen it with my wife a few days ago and already seen how they leave a lot of details out concerning their teachings of old.

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  garyneal

  Well, I kind of tired of shooting this fish in the barrel but if he wants to discuss the blood doctrine some more, why not.

  I will let you all know how it goes.
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  54

  Brother Hero wants to watch Faith in Action with me this Saturday

  by garyneal in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the question i have is, should i even bother?

  i am not even sure why he wants to watch this particular video.

  ive already seen it with my wife a few days ago and already seen how they leave a lot of details out concerning their teachings of old.

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  garyneal

  Well, just got off the phone with Brother Hero. Tomorrow is the day that he is suppose to bring over the video to watch with me.

  Now, I called him last week and asked him to bring me the answer to my original question concerning blood. For those who did not read my thread documenting our 'bible study,' my question (which he has yet to answer) is, "How come Jehovah's Witnesses believe that they must abstain from blood but permit fractions from blood and if fractions are allowed why are Jehovah's Witnesses forbidden from donating blood for its fractions to be used?"

  He told me that he did not have an answer because he did not know. Honestly, I can accept 'I don't know' as an answer but it leads me to question why should anyone accept any part of this doctrine at all and why believe that accepting blood causes you to be cut off from God's good graces.

  Should I let him over my house to discuss this issue and watch the video?