Diogenesister

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Posts by Diogenesister

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  34

  Seeking advice

  by Mizalisa in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm not a jw, nor was i raised jw.

  for the past three years i have been involved with a man who was raised jw, who at first told me he no longer believed as they did, but who, it has become clear over time, has not told his family or religious community the truth.

  he has strung me along for years, never introduced me to anyone in his life.

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  Diogenesister

  Ok so he’s a little older than I first envisioned. As others have said you need to establish whether he is still a real believer or not. Going to conventions doesn’t actually mean he believes as he will be expected to attend and may be what we call P.I.M.O. Physically in mentally out. Interestingly this years convention featured a boy “tempted” by the world to work for a film company but of course put jehovah first, gave it all up to become a pioneer (spend 70 hours a month working for Watchtower). All Watchtower material uses emotional blackmail and because they don’t want their members to get an education or spend time doing anything they love 1. Because they might wake up and 2. Because they want members to spend time working for the benefit of the cult, the pressure on young ones to conform and reject worldly pursuits is huge. Watchtowers uses behavioural control, information control, thought control and emotional control as do all high control groups who place what we call “undue influence” on their members. Stephen Hassan developed this B.i.T.E. Model as a way of understanding how to recognise a cult and Watchtower ticks all the boxes and then some. His book understanding cult mind control is well worth reading.

  By the way there are quite a few talented exjw writers and even screen writers, has he explored any of their work do you know? A fantastic film is called Apostasy and there is a new book by Amber Socorah called “Leaving the witness”. Amber also works for website Quillian

  The main website people go to learn the truth about Watchtower is called jwfacts.com and I urge you to check it out to learn as much as you can about what you are dealing with. Another excellent resource is exjwreddit and you tubers “The John Cedars channel”and “stop the shunning” and “exjw critical thinkers” and “exjw fifth” with “Kim and mikey “ who keep us up to date with JW news.

  Does he also know about the child abuse scandal currently sweeping the JW community? Much like the Catholic Church Watchtower has been covering up child abuse on an industrial scale but the chickens are finally coming home to roost for Watchtower. The Australian royal commission into institutional child abuse and the Montana case are two good places to start. JW survey blog has some excellent articles by John Redwood on the subject. Watchtower orders elders not to report abuse because they place their reputation above the suffering of kids. They also expect two witnesses to any sin before they will take any action which of course never happens with child abuse.

  There is so much more he should know but I would start with jwfacts.com and a book by ex governing body member Ray Franz called “ Crises of Conscience”. Once he has a chance to see the truth about “The truth” he can then decide if he wishes to give his life to a publishing company or not and whether he wishes to allow his indoctrinated family to blackmail him into a life of survitude.

  Or....on the other hand if he prefers an amazing career as a screen writer and the unconditional love of a good and talented woman and her family. Oh, and genuine friends who won’t dessert you if they don’t believe exactly the same things as you do.🤨👍🏼

  
  
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  34

  Seeking advice

  by Mizalisa in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm not a jw, nor was i raised jw.

  for the past three years i have been involved with a man who was raised jw, who at first told me he no longer believed as they did, but who, it has become clear over time, has not told his family or religious community the truth.

  he has strung me along for years, never introduced me to anyone in his life.

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  Diogenesister

  Unfortunately he was raised in a cult and therefore if he tells his family about you they will go to the elders and he will be called to a Judicial hearing. At very best he will be told to give you up as a “worldly” girl and if he won’t he will be disfellowshipped and shunned by his family, his congregation his friends and everyone he has ever known. He will likely be thrown out of home, too. The chances are he will be immediately disfellowshipped if you have a physical relationship. They will view you as a tool of Satan.

  your boyfriend is playing the long game and hoping to what we call “fade”. That is he hopes to become financially independent and slowly lessen his association with the religion. Given enough time he will move away and establish his own life and if he’s lucky they won’t go after him and he may, if he’s lucky, get to keep some semblance of a relationship with his immediate family at least.

  He is in an impossible situation and I urge you to support him in this difficult journey if you truly care about his welfare.
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  4

  Interesting article for those leaving WT but are still believers and want to heal from being entrenched in legalism

  by NikL in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i really enjoyed it and thought i'd share for what it's worth.... https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/how-you-can-heal-from-growing-up-in-a-legalistic-church.html.

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  Diogenesister

  Interesting that legalism is not just a condition of the Watchtower. Nice post.
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  56

  Montana Supreme Court will hear the $35M case tomorrow

  by Corney in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  the montana case enters the home stretch.

  the state supreme court will hear oral arguments tomorrow, 13 september, at the northern hotel in billings during the state bar of montana’s annual meeting (announcement 1, announcement 2).

  an introduction to the argument will begin at 9:30 a.m., with the argument starting at 10 a.m. (4 p.m. utc, 9 a.m. sf time, 12 a.m. ny time, 5 p.m. london time, 2 a.m. saturday sydney time).

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  Diogenesister

  Jc323. If I am walking down the street and see someone being rapped and in fact have the ability to stop it but I dont guess what, I have not committed a crime and cannot be held liable to that victim. The only time I would be is if I was legally required too.

  In fact there is a law in France called the Samaritan law that you can be prosecuted for this very thing. I don’t know about Montana but the child who won the award was the niece of the original victim whose mother did NOT know he was a molestorThe point is the Watchtower has appointed clergy just like The Catholic Church and are required to report.

  elder = preist

  CO= Bishop

  Branch overseermanager = Cardinal

  The OCTOPOPE = Pope

  Bethelites take a vow of poverty and belong to the order = Monks nuns
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  56

  Montana Supreme Court will hear the $35M case tomorrow

  by Corney in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  the montana case enters the home stretch.

  the state supreme court will hear oral arguments tomorrow, 13 september, at the northern hotel in billings during the state bar of montana’s annual meeting (announcement 1, announcement 2).

  an introduction to the argument will begin at 9:30 a.m., with the argument starting at 10 a.m. (4 p.m. utc, 9 a.m. sf time, 12 a.m. ny time, 5 p.m. london time, 2 a.m. saturday sydney time).

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  Diogenesister

  Ok so no clergy then there is no lawsuit. No person can be held liable to protect a third party.

  JC323 The thing is they are trying to have it both ways. There is a legal term for it that slips my mind. The are now claiming they do have a clergy and therefore clergy-penitent privilege. However in the case of a complaint of child abuse the child is not confessing, no. 1 and no.2 it is far from confidential with many people becoming aware. They are claiming this is part of their normal religious proceeding and therefore they are being unfairly penalised in the way, for example, a catholic confession would not be. However this is all by the by because Montana has a law that clergy must report as indeed everyone must, so whether they have clergy or not is irrelevant.
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  14

  leonard cohen

  by peacefulpete in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i admit i have a soft spot for leonard cohen's music.

  i had a customer come in who sings for funerals, he just told me his most requested is cohen's "hallelujah".

  a good friend used to sing it at christmas in her church!

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  Diogenesister

  Iwantoutknow Without doubt Jeff Buckley sung it best. Ive bought “Grace” 3 times now as I play it so often it gets scratched. always loved his version.

  Bird on a wire is my favourite, though.

  Peacefulpete I also remember my 4 year old son insisting I buy “The Future” many years ago, he was obsessed with it!
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  17

  Every year, on the anniversary of Nine-Eleven ...

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  “get out of here—this is my father’s funeral; you don’t belong here; you are a liar!”.

  the woman’s face reflected terrible pain—the worst pain possible, to the point of breakdown.

  a thousand unanswered questions washed from her eyes by the flow of many tears.

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  Diogenesister

  Wow peaceful Pete that's fascinating! I had no idea! I'm sure glad Horny and President Reagan found common ground, that's for sure.
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  18

  Annual Meeting

  by Lynnie in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  my uber cousin and wife are going back to wallkill this weekend for the annual meeting since they have a daughter and son in law in the inner sanctum so they are always invited.

  cousin said it was going to be broadcast from patterson to wallkill.

  anyone hear anything else about subject matter etc?.

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  Diogenesister

  Apparently, this is to reduce costs since now you can just release a new hard copy of a book to several thousand attendees and tell the minions that there is a loving provision to request it later or preferably just download it later.

  This damn religion gets more like Scientology all the time! There will soon be a premium on these "first edition" hard copies...an a group of "level one" Masonic elites to go with them ( ok ! Ok! Just kidding!) - might even get a copy signed by Stephen Lett to auction for a kings ransome!
  
  
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  17

  Every year, on the anniversary of Nine-Eleven ...

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  “get out of here—this is my father’s funeral; you don’t belong here; you are a liar!”.

  the woman’s face reflected terrible pain—the worst pain possible, to the point of breakdown.

  a thousand unanswered questions washed from her eyes by the flow of many tears.

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  Diogenesister

  Sometimes I honestly think the best thing that could happen to the human race would be to be attacked by aliens.

  We'd pull together in double quick time
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  17

  Every year, on the anniversary of Nine-Eleven ...

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  “get out of here—this is my father’s funeral; you don’t belong here; you are a liar!”.

  the woman’s face reflected terrible pain—the worst pain possible, to the point of breakdown.

  a thousand unanswered questions washed from her eyes by the flow of many tears.

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  Diogenesister

  Fink I was working on the outside of a house that day which was very close to a major airport, watching the planes come in one after other, thinking oh oh this could be something big.

  Fink I take it you must be in Canada? I had no idea what Canada did that day.

  Quiet heroes as usual with Canadians 👍