Posts by Mad Sweeney

48

Went to my first meeting today anonymously!

by TimothyT in

hi everyone.. jack and i decided we would go to his local kingdom hall this morning.

although i have no interest anymore in being a jw, i think its still nice to have regular bible discussions, etc, which can give you something spiritual to think about each week.

i love it and i think its damn good for you.. today, jack and i walked in, a little nervous, but were greeted and welcomed like friends.

Mad Sweeney

It cant all be evil can it?

Of course it can. The members are victims of cult mind control. Whether they think they are genuine is not the issue. We all thought we were genuine. We weren't. We were indoctrinated to behave, think, and feel a specific way and we were fed loaded words and phrases to trigger those thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Returning to the K.H. you heard two hours of those trigger words. Of course you were moved by them. That's how cult mind control works.

It isn't a flaw or a weakness to be indoctrinated, but to be truly FREE is going to take effort, conscious effort and a clear understanding of the methods of cult mind control the organization uses. You can't fight it if you don't even know it is happening.

It appears that you may still have a view of "the world's" churches of "Christendom" that was indoctrinated into you by the Watchtower Society. To think you have to search for a church or religion that's just as spiritual as the JWs is ass-backwards. From my experience, you'd be hard pressed to find a church or religion that's LESS spiritual than the JWs bureaucratic snooze-fest indoctrination/hypnosis sessions.

I would recommend Unitarian Universalists if you really want a religion that is tolerant of your sexuality. If you prefer to hide that part of your life, then there are any number of Christian churches you can explore.

That said, have you explored any non-Christian religions? My personal advice would be to look eastward, but that's just an opinion.

13

The concept of God is fading away

by fade_away in

if you guys look at my first post, you'll notice i said "i still believe in god" even after losing my faith in the wt.

well, it's been 4 months since i wrote that and now i'm not so sure i still believe.

in fact i'm mostly convinced he doesn't exist.

Mad Sweeney

I am in about the same spot, fade_away. I am certain there is no god like the theist's view of god. I haven't ruled out the possibility of some sort of a universal consciousness but I'll even admit that it's because I find Taoist-like philosophy a peaceful and practical way to live and not because of any evidence.

26

Awakes left at work....

by charlie brown jr. in

the awake about music was left behind and ended up at the break station... and one of the girls working was reading it and burst out laughing..... are these people serious listen what it says.... after listening to heavy metal music i abused alcohol and started using drugs......... they can't really believe that?

she asked laughing.......

Mad Sweeney

Sometimes the best protection against Borg assimilation is their own literature.

14

Finished Mystery

by dontplaceliterature in

jw
friends

i just started reading this last night.

i've seen it referred to on this forum a few times.

any weird things i should keep my eyes out for?

Mad Sweeney

dontplaceliterature, The Finished Mystery is THE ONLY book produced by the Borg during Christ's alleged inspection of the teachings of all the religions of the world in order to choose a faithful and discreet slave. It only takes a cursory reading of the thing to show any honest minded person that there is absolutely NO WAY that Christ would have picked the group who taught and believed that stuff. NONE.

As AnnOMaly explained, this book was also unique in that it was published as a book in 1917, AND as part of the Watchtower magazine itself during 1918 - right during the heart of Christ's inspection period.

19

Watchtower Lawyer Fills in the Baptism Blank

by Marvin Shilmer in

jw
friends

watchtower lawyer fills in the baptism blank .

today i uploaded a new article to my blog addressing something important that watchtower does not disclose to baptismal candidates, yet on the other hand is ever ready to point out to persons after baptism if they do something silly like ask for correspondence written about their own person.

my article contains a letter from a watchtower staff attorney informing just such an individual.

Mad Sweeney

The letter mentions that the Freedom of Information Act doesn't apply to the Borg. Is there any similar law that does? Do people have a legal right to the files the organization or local congregation keep about them? I know of instances in other countries where it has been enforced (jwfacts got his Borg files sent to him after applying legal pressure) but I've never heard of an American pushing the issue.

24

Fury after reading Watchtower article for this week

by Eclectic in

i hope i do not repeat thread.

paragraph 15, w2011 6/15 p. 23 states:.

paul set a fine example for christian elders.

Mad Sweeney

Chariklo, circuit overseers have NO JOB. They do not buy their meals. They do not buy their cars. They do not buy their insurance. They do not pay rent or mortgage for their homes/apartments. They go out in service, give talks, counsel the elders, and fill out paperwork for the Borg. They are supported by the people they are supposedly shepherding. It is nothing like what Paul did. AT ALL.

32

Why does an almighty god need to prove himself to mortal subjects???

by highdose in

lets just suspend belief for a moment and assume that we do belive in god.. he supposed to be almighty but he feels the need to prove to his mortal creations that he alone has the right to rule.

he decides to do this by allowing them to suffer unspeakably for centeries.

then he sends his son to earth, so that his son can suffer unspeakably and die too.. his son dying is supposed to atone for the creations sins, but instead of calling it quits there, god allows them to continue suffering.

Mad Sweeney

Why the suffering? For God?

Because gods were invented by primitive people and the first gods were ANYTHING that can KILL YOU. The great predator cats, whatever makes lightning and thunder, whatever causes or witholds rain, the volcano inside that nearby mountain. All those sorts of things became gods BECAUSE THEY CAN KILL YOU. So the M.O. of the people was from the very beginning: DON'T PISS OFF THOSE GODS - APPEASE THEM. How? Well, since their godhood rests in their power to kill, perhaps if we pre-empt the killing of the gods they/he/she will be appeased and not kill ALL of us, or more importantly, ME.

There's the beginning of religion and the basis for all of it ever since.

18

Joliette leaves for New York Bethel tomorrow...ITS ON!!!!

by Joliette in

jw
friends

...well, kinda.. undercover apostate going to new york bethel for one week to just observe, but going veeeeerrry undercover.

the (perverted) elder hosting the trip doesnt know that i'm an apostate, and the whole trip is gonna be a big front, but its still gonna be fun to just get away from milwaukee.

look forward to meeting some of you guys that post on here.

Mad Sweeney

I don't think I'd worry too much about being caught. The "Johnnys" who monitor the Internet are apostates, too. Besides, by the time their reports get up to the big boys your trip will already be over and done with.

25

We can't let them get away with it: HAVING IT BOTH WAYS!

by Terry in

what is the claim of the watchtower society as to the source of their authority to create public messages of dire warning?.

mouthpiece of god.. .

anointed remnant (faithful and discreet slave).

Mad Sweeney

Want to hit them with some cognitive dissonance over the source of the Borg's authority? Explain to them - or better yet, get them to explain to you - that Jesus Christ came in 1918 and for the next year and a half examined the current teachings of all the religions of the world. Based on that inspection of their teachings, Jesus Christ chose the Watchtower's leaders as his faithful and discreet slave and appointed them "over all his belongings."

Once they express conviction in the belief that Christ inspected their teaching at that time and chose them, give them a copy of THE ONLY book that was recently published and was being studied by the Bible Students at that time: The Finished Mystery and encourage them to read it to strengthen their faith in that divine appointment.

There is absolutely NO WAY anyone can read that book and still believe Christ selected the Borg based on that crap. It is available at archive.org, btw.

If they try to backtrack and say they were chosen, not for their teachings, but for faithfulness or because of their preaching work, show them God’s Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached, pages 352-353. It is all about the doctrinal teachings.

20

What is the average cost to build a new Kingdom Hall

by jworld in

i was recently told that the average cost to build a new kingdom hall in the united states rural midwest region was $250,000.

i was shocked to say the least.

i remember when my childhood congregation built a new hall in 1989 for $60,000.

Mad Sweeney

Here is how the RBC scam works as a money maker for the Borg. This is based on some conversations I've had with people who know people - not firsthand info. Someone who knows more, please correct me where I'm mistaken. Anyone who does NOT know more, please don't.

RBCs represent the local congregation or circuit (depending on whether it's a KH or Ass. Hall being built) and hire JW contractors and purchase materials from JW owned companies whenever possible. These contractors and companies may charge full retail prices (or give a nominal discount) to the local congregation or circuit, even when they are donating their goods and services in reality, or keeping only a portion to cover time and expenses. The overage is then donated to the Watchtower - usually to the Worldwide Work. So the local groups are PAYING for supplies and for work to be done but a big chunk of the money ends up in the hands of the Borg.

Clever, isn't it?