FreeAtLast1914

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Posts by FreeAtLast1914

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  3

  "When Does a Religion Become a Cult?"

  by leavingwt in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  mitch horowitz, writing in the wall street journal.

  when does a religion become a cult?

  many academics and observers of cult phenomena, such as psychologist philip g. zimbardo of stanford, agree on four criteria to define a cult.

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  FreeAtLast1914

  1. People are put in physical or emotionally distressing situations;
  2. Their problems are reduced to one simple explanation, which is repeatedly emphasized;
  3. They receive unconditional love, acceptance, and attention from a charismatic leader or group;
  4. They get a new identity based on the group;
  5. They are subject to entrapment (isolation from friends, relatives and the mainstream culture) and their access to information is severely controlled

  (Psychology 101, Carole Wade et al., 2005)

  I think that's when it happens. If the WT isn't a cult, it's a dead ringer for one in my book.
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  27

  A serious Bible contradiction for me

  by sabastious in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  mark 9:.

  38 teacher, said john, we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.. 39 do not stop him, jesus said.

  for no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me,40for whoever is not against us is for us.41 truly i tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the messiah will certainly not lose their reward.. .

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  FreeAtLast1914

  As always, the Bible is a book that polarizes those who want it so badly to be non-contradictory and those who use those passages to rip it to shreds. I see it as a bunch of books sewn together by Jewish believers of two time periods; one in ancient history, the other 2000 years ago. And now all these years later believers are stuck trying to make the texts say what they don't, generally to support their personal faith.

  Don't get me wrong. I love the drama of watching these groups go at each other with passion.

  Get it on!
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  8

  Obeying 'Caesar's' law

  by punkofnice in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  in 's90 skank' by 'big youth' he toasts something along the lines of 'if you drive like lightening.

  yeah yeh yeaaaaahhhh, mek we till yuh, yuh gonna crash like t'under!

  ' (sorry, i do a bad impression).

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  FreeAtLast1914

  When it's convenient the WT Society has no problem condoning the breaking of laws, as evidenced by their baptism of illegal aliens by the tens of thousands.
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  43

  How is it f'n possible JW's biggest religious increase 4.4%

  by troubled mind in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  just saw that on the evening news .

  are they all having babies now or what ?

  is there any stats on how many have left ?.

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  FreeAtLast1914

  "Jehovah's Witnesses have the lowest retention rate of any religious tradition. Only 37% of all those who say they were raised as Jehovah's Witnesses still identify themselves as Jehovah's Witnesses." (http://religions.pewforum.org/reports)

  That's still my favorite stat. It warms the heart.
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  15

  Church that changed?

  by semelcred in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  can anyone please help me to find the link to the church that changed or reviewed its doctrines.

  i remember seeing a documentary somewhere.. many thanks.

  j.

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  FreeAtLast1914

  I remember reading something about that group in one of Ray Franz's books. The leader died and the people who took over basically admitted they had been led astray and would from now on drop the "heavy-hand" treatment of members.
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  31

  what are the rewards for not being a witness any longer

  by Curtains in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if the carrot and stick aspect of being jehovahs witnesses upset you how do you reclaim your desire for reward?

  i'm assumng that you all agree with me that feeling rewarded is a basic human desire.

  how much effort do you think we should put into trying to make our lives rewarding?

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  FreeAtLast1914

  Rewards of leaving the WT: Weekends are something you look forward to, evenings are something you look forward to, you're sick less often, you can question anyone at anytime (if you're self-employed, that is), you lose your fear/hatred of "worldly" people (because you are one now), Vegas is incredible even when you lose money, cigars are amazing, you never have to look over your shoulder when entering/exiting rated-R movies, no guilt about anything really (what is, is), no wasted time around self-righteous people, none of your plans include working around meeting/convention/assembly schedules, you never have to consult the genius of the GB when it comes to sex... In short, you get to live life the way God intended.

  The downside to leaving the WT: Don't know yet.
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  69

  Did you ever think you'd stop being one of Jehovah's Witnesses?

  by sandy in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i'm sure this question has been asked before .

  i've come a long way in my thinking.

  a very long way!

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  FreeAtLast1914

  As a born-in I never thought about life outside the "walls". It was all drug-addicts, whores, rape, and extreme violence, as far as I was told. Yep, I lived in M. Night's "The Village" growing up. I wasn't about to go into the forest. No, sir.
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  8

  Special Day Assembly + Updates Regarding Ft. Lauderdale Assembly Hall

  by pubtruth in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  just want to tell everyone whos not in the program for 2011's special day assembly, which i had this weekend.

  (some titles may not be accurate since i'm translating from a spanish program slip).

  "take refuge in jehovah" ps.

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  FreeAtLast1914

  You must have had one of those bargain assemblies. The last time I was at one, five or so years ago, it was $6k for a single day. I always wondered how they come up with those numbers. I doubt it's random, but I also doubt it is only to "cover" costs.
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  77

  What books, songs, artists, movies, etc were banned in your JW home?

  by serenitynow! in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my mother was very strict about entertainment.

  in school i was doing a project about teen suicide and had checked out some books on suicide and abortion.

  i had alot of explaining to do for that.

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  FreeAtLast1914

  Any movie with a single kissing scene between two unmarried people (immorality), rap music, rock and roll music, most comedies due to off-color humor, sitcoms, soap operas.

  Oddly enough, movies with graphic violence never bothered my dad. Nor country music (filled with depression, adultery, drunkenness, loose living). And he loved musicals.

  Come to think of it, my dad must have been a psychopath.
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  14

  How long did it take until you had that 'light bulb' moment?

  by Crash Override in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  how long did it take for you to realize that something was very wrong with the 'truth'?.

  for me, it was about 2 1/2 years into studying.

  i'm a guy and i'm attracted to both guys and girls.

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  FreeAtLast1914

  Way too late for me. I was a MS and in my early 30s. Bunch of wasted timed, but at least the light bulb moment happened. Once it happened, my lifelong faith in the Society quickly plummeted, so fast that within the first few months of the rift I already realized my JW identity was lost forever.