I don't post much, but enjoy reading some of the threads. As an undergraduate (sociology major) several years ago (before the Internet) I did a study on former Jehovah's Witnesses. I still have a copy of it around here somewhere, and if you're interested, send an e-mail to my office address at: [email protected]
Posts by JAVA
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15Research Study Proposal: Cults and Psych Disorders
by kitties_and_horses_oh_my! ini know i haven't been around for awhile, but a main reason is that i'm going to school for my psych degree and it's a lot of work.
that being said, i have the opportunity to do some undergrad research work funded by washington state university.
i have to submit a proposal and if it's accepted they'll fund my work to a limited amount.
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32
This Is The Wife.
by Englishman inwhy do blokes say this?.
i've lost count of the number of times an aquaintance or customer introduces his partner by saying: "oh yeah, this is the wife".. .
the wife?.
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JAVA
Meriam-Webster:
Husband: a male partner in a marriage....master of a house
Wife: woman......a woman acting in a specified capacity.......a female partner in a marriage
The person I'm married to is my spouse, we do not have the same last names (or first names for that matter) but we share many other things.
I think the terms wife and husband are outdated unless a woman wishes to act "in a specified capacity."
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27
What would you say to a JW at your door?
by Undecided in.
i will say:i don't need the watchtower magazine because i already know what it says: since i'm an apostate, wicked slave class worldly person and don't beleive the new light from the governing body of the faithful and discrete slave class, i will be buzzard meat at armageddon very soon now, unless there is more new light about it not being as soon as predicted, like so many times before.
ken p.
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JAVA
They don't come to our door, and because of something I pulled; they don't show up on my street anymore. A few years ago I got tired of watching, and getting pissed, at the slow-walking JWs working my street. I went outside and joined them! That's right; I walked up to the small group and said, "Hey, how's it going, have you started your time yet?" The looks I got were priceless. I followed this up with, "I'll start knocking on the doors first to let my neighbors know you'll soon follow. I'll tell them I voted in an election, and when the elders found out, they kicked me out of the church, and now I'm shunned by Jehovah's Witnesses I've known for over 20 years." I concluded by, "I'll let my neighbors know that you'll explain why you do this when you get to the door." There was about 4 or 5 JWs in the group, and they looked to the car captain, because they clearly didn't know what to do or say. The guy said, "Lets get in the car." They didn't leave, but stayed in the car talking (the windows were up), so I walked up to the first house and rang the door bell. I looked back at them, heard the car start, and they pulled away. Just my luck, I had a Not-At-Home. :-) This happened one more time about 6 months later with a different group. The car captain said he was going to call the police because I was interfering with their preaching work. I said, "I consider this as part of my preaching work, too. As far as I can tell, I'm not stopping you from going door-to-door, and I hope you're not suggesting that I don't have that same right." The results were the same--they got into the car and left. JAVA (still counting time)
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747
Rutherford Exposed: The Story of Berta and Bonnie
by Farkel init was made by a women who in later years wore crotchless panties and bras which had holes in the nipple areas.
he not only knew the woman in question (she's now deceased), he has met her numerous times.
up until recently this secret of her year's long sexual affair with rutherford was kept by the family.
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JAVA
I just got off the phone with larc (who has the photo of Berta). The picture is somewhere at home in a family album, and he is still looking for it. I'm meeting larc for lunch tomorrow, and if I can get enough beer into him, it might help the process of finding the missing album! :-) This is a great story--thanks Farkel, and to larc, too.
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13
Why do end-of-time beliefs endure? Good article!
by Dogpatch inthe end of the world .
a brief history.
dec 16th 2004 .
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JAVA
Intersting thread Randy. I think folks believe whatever they want in order to cope or fit into the group they associate with. If the Tower came out with an article in the WT saying there is no ends time, but we're God's organization setting an example for all to follow--most JWs would fall into line and fully believe.
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33
What happens when you die??
by mysterio91 init's been over a year now since my dad died.
i feel sad about it a lot because i don't believe i will never see him again.
i realised today that being raised a dub has closed my eyes to different views on death.. what do some of you believe happens after death??
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JAVA
I realised today that being raised a dub has closed my eyes to different views on death.
I think the longer one is in the Tower, the longer it takes to readjust and slowly remove the WT-blinders. I'm sorry about your loss. Dealing with the death of a loved one is never easy, and coping with these issues after exiting the Tower doesn't help.
No one knows for sure what happens after death, other than the body decays and returns to the earth. I see this as a rebirth of sorts. Not as another human, but the continual process of life, death, and from that--life again. Our loved ones will continue to be remembered as long as there is someone to remember them, and in that they live in another realm. Going much beyond this is soft theory about life after death. If that's important to the living, and if it helps the grieving process, so be it. However, believing a theory about life after death doesn't make it fact or truth.
For sure, I believe in life before death, and without those before me, I would not be.
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31
Is There Anything To Admire Jehovah's Witnesses For...... In Reality?
by minimus inyou hear of people saying, "i admire jws for their zeal".
i wonder whether the witnesses' zeal is all that admirable.
al-qaida's got a lot of zeal too......
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JAVA
Admire...............to regard with high esteem..........Merriam-Webster
Those who don't know might "admire." Those who know might not "admire."
Knowledge is something to "admire."
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31
Is There Anything To Admire Jehovah's Witnesses For...... In Reality?
by minimus inyou hear of people saying, "i admire jws for their zeal".
i wonder whether the witnesses' zeal is all that admirable.
al-qaida's got a lot of zeal too......
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JAVA
I think many JWs are very sincere in their spiritual walk, however, that can be said for nearly any religious group.
All in all, I don't know of ANYTHING that sets the Witnesses apart from other groups that can be admired. For sure, there are things that set them apart from others, but shunning, forced service, and viewing non-JWs as followers of Satan is not something one would put into the "admire" category.
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28
Just a thought-Has anyone ever wondered?
by redhotchilipepper inmaybe if there is a god, that maybe he doesn't want us to know who he is?
maybe he only wants to know us through prayer.
maybe the bible is a hoax?
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JAVA
I think the JW's kind of screwed up my view of God.
Fear-based religions have a way a screwing many things up, but that's how they keep their followers in line.
On the topic of god, lets say you're the one that started the ball rolling, and created the world. When it first happened, and there were only a few folks around, you talked to them and gave some direction. As time went on the few became many, problems and religions multiplied and to make matter worse, you became silent.
It doesn't make sense; why would you do that? The idea that the Bible (or any other so-called holy book) has the answers, and god can sit back and wait until you read the directions is a little weird when you think about it. If 100 people read the manual, and come away with 100 different conclusions, all with various results, what does that say about the writer?
If there is a higher power who started the show, I don't think that power has anything to do with religion and their holy books. Your conclusion about god (whatever it is) is just as good as anyones, for indeed--god is in the mind of the beholder.
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50
What Is Your Biggest Regret Because You Were a Jehovah's Witness?
by minimus ingrowing up as a witness makes it nearly impossible to deal with the "world", as a child.
constant pressure is put on witness kids to conform.
most lead a "double life" out of necessity.
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JAVA
I remember being 17; it was great being a JW and having ALL the Answers. That works until a few of life's realities come knocking. My best to you, Sweet_Lullaby!