Crisis of Conscience

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Posts by Crisis of Conscience

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  10

  It's amazing how many things in the publications and even talks are opinion but made to appear as fact.

  by Crisis of Conscience in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  at the convention recently, i can remember different reasons being given as to why the end is near.

  pick whatever one suits you best but basically it goes, 'because this and that has happened, the end is ever closer.'.

  well here are some of my ridiculous opinions stated as fact, just to prove a point.. if you put pepperoni on pizza, there is no way a person will reject it.

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  Crisis of Conscience

  BTTT
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  80

  What is it with all the men waking up but the wives stay in? Why is it the opposite for me?

  by Cadellin in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  this is something i've thought about for a while now.

  it seems like the same story on this board over and over--the husband, who also might be an elder, ms, etc.--starts having doubts and researching, aka miseryloveselders and franklin massey and others.

  he starts to smell the coffee and realizes that this organization isn't what it claims to be.

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  Crisis of Conscience

  I admit to being one of the persons that spoke about feeling and thinking. But I didn't throw the blame on women completely.
  I've based my comments on MY experience and the females that I have been around. And I don't say that men aren't emotional because then how would I explain my situation.
  Logically, I should've left already. But emotionally I fight with the "feeling" of 'what if' at times.
  In my opinion, logic doesn't necessarily involve caring. Emotion does. And in my case I've seen more of that caring, sometimes expressed in the form of worrying, more by women. But not ALL being women. Men too, we can be big emotional babies.
  So at this time, I offer an apology if I've offended, and also kindly ask all to remove the knot from their skid-stained panties. Thank you.

  CoC
• 
  179

  Were you 'alive in '75' and how was that year for you?

  by punkofnice in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i was a junior borgite in 1975. i remeber looking at the calendar at work in october and thinking: 'armageddon isn't here yet.....and it doesn't feel like it will be here anytime soon either!'.

  i was surprised that jehovah hadn't obeyed the superior command to bring the big 'a' as instructed to him by fred franz.

  how dare god disobey the jw leader!!!!!.

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  Crisis of Conscience

  A sister I know that is close to her 60's now recounted her time of being alive during '75. Her unbelieving father got tired of hearing her talk about the end at that time and finally asked, "...and what if it doesn't come? What will you do them?"
  She said, "Dad, if they are wrong and it doesn't come, I will stop being a witness."
  Fast forward 36 years and two kids later, she's still a witness. Apparently, she never told her father WHEN she would stop.
  Amazingly enough, he is still NOT a believer or witness, yet she on the other hand seems to have an unshakeable faith in the org and it's illustrative FDS.
  My words if I were him, "Sweetheart, give it up already. Look, they were wrong about you not growing old too."

  It's great hearing people's experiences about this time because I wasn't even alive to undergo it. Yet it really bothers me that so many fell for it. A dream, a crock. Ah, same thing.

  CoC
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  80

  What is it with all the men waking up but the wives stay in? Why is it the opposite for me?

  by Cadellin in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  this is something i've thought about for a while now.

  it seems like the same story on this board over and over--the husband, who also might be an elder, ms, etc.--starts having doubts and researching, aka miseryloveselders and franklin massey and others.

  he starts to smell the coffee and realizes that this organization isn't what it claims to be.

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  Crisis of Conscience

  I can agree with many, MANY of the comments here. And it bothers me that my wife just can't be logical about somethings despite the fact that at times she does present a balanced view that I can't argue with at times.

  But it's quite often that men think and women feel. Rising up in the JW ranks allowed me to see many things women, and including non-appointed men, wouldn't see. These things just didn't add up in my thoughts. I explain that to my wife and she "feels" Jehovah will take care of it. When? Frustrating to say the least.

  Emotion many times overrides logic and that could be why it seems that a woman does not wake up. But I have realized one thing. My wife DOES listen and even thinks about what I have said. She brings up things that I have mentioned and admits that she agrees with some of them and is bothered by things she has observed herself now.

  There is always hope. Never underestimate.

  CoC
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  10

  Thought Control - Yes, the JW's Use It Too

  by Crisis of Conscience in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  the following highlighted info is taken from pg.

  62 of steve hassan's combatting cult mind control:.

  if information transmitted to a cult member is perceived as an attack on either the leader, the doctrine, or the group, a hostile wall goes up.

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  Crisis of Conscience

  @ alanv - Though I currently still attend the meetings, I do remember getting my first glimpses of the book Crisis of Conscience. To me at the time it felt just as bad as looking at pornography. I was scared!!
  But after I finally gave in to reading it, I too no longer have any regrets. Rather I have confirmed that what I was feeling and thinking regarding the Society is true. And only now have I really come to realize the strong influence they have on people's lives. It's shameful and scary.

  CoC
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  10

  Thought Control - Yes, the JW's Use It Too

  by Crisis of Conscience in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  the following highlighted info is taken from pg.

  62 of steve hassan's combatting cult mind control:.

  if information transmitted to a cult member is perceived as an attack on either the leader, the doctrine, or the group, a hostile wall goes up.

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  Crisis of Conscience

  @ Lunatic Faith - I remember willing myself to push critical words, pictures, or ideas out of mind to demonstrate my faith and keep my mind clean. When I think I was just cleaning my mind for infestation by the WBTS it sickens me.

  I like the way you put that. Regardless of how you look at it, your mind WILL be filled with something. But the right question is, will it affect you in a positive or a negative way?

  I must mention that in my 1st post on this thread, I actually, based on the book, combined thought control with emotional control. Emotional control is where the guilt comes in. Thought control deals more with immediate reaction - only one outcome, what the society says is right.

  And yes, I definitely encourage this book, as many others on this site have also. It's amazing how Steve Hassan, despite not having affiliation with the JW's, offers explanations that relate well to the JW experience.

  CoC
• 
  10

  Thought Control - Yes, the JW's Use It Too

  by Crisis of Conscience in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  the following highlighted info is taken from pg.

  62 of steve hassan's combatting cult mind control:.

  if information transmitted to a cult member is perceived as an attack on either the leader, the doctrine, or the group, a hostile wall goes up.

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  Crisis of Conscience

  The following highlighted info is taken from pg. 62 of Steve Hassan's Combatting Cult Mind Control:

  If information transmitted to a cult member is perceived as an attack on either the leader, the doctrine, or the group, a hostile wall goes up. Members are trained to disbelieve any criticism. Critical words have been explained away in advance as "the lies about us that Satan puts in peoples' minds" or "the lies that the World Conspiracy prints in the news media to discredit us, because they know we're onto them." Paradoxically, criticism of the group confirms that the cult's view of the world is correct. The information presented does not register properly.
  
  Perhaps the most widely used and effective way to control cult member's thoughts is thought-stopping rituals. Members are taught to use thought-stopping on themselves. They are told it will help them grow or be more effective. Whenever a cult member begins to experience a "bad" thought, he uses thought-stopping to drown out the "negativity" and center himself, thus learning how to shut out anything that threatens his reality.

  I found this to be quite interesting. As a JW, you exhibit these very thoughts. And unfortunately, I admit to teaching this style of thinking in the past.

  Perhaps some of you that are still "active" as witnesses recall a few parts on recent assemblies a few years ago.

  A brother is looking up some info on his computer and comes across negative info about the JW's on a website. He IMMEDIATELY turns the computer off, recognizing it as garbage, lies, and worthless talk.

  A brother gets a job offer and after having a short time to STOP and "THINK" , he refuses the offer in his head, realizing that putting "spiritual" things first (JW definition) is what is important.

  A brother is browsing though his emails and comes across something from someone he doesn't know. He begins to view it and recalls the scripture of 'turning ones eyes away from seeing what is futile'. (Pornography was the example, but this applies to apostate issues also.)

  I, in my "faithful" days, had an opportunity to perform some of these demonstrations. Little did I give thought to how the society really pushes their ideas. And I was a willing pawn to show others "how to do it". This is indeed thought stopping because the individual reacts INSTANTLY, there is no pondering over what other options there may be. As far as they are concerned, what they just saw is critical and harmful and they MUST resist it at ANY cost.

  I recall my early days of dabbling with so called apostate info. As others have already mentioned, and the book makes clear, fear is a BIG factor. But it is a natural response when you are taught that anything said outside the walls of the Watchtower walls is a threat.

  Now what I was taught in the past just makes me completely sick - THOUGHT CONTROL.

  Coments anyone?

  CoC
• 
  54

  You Can Overcome WT Phobias!

  by leavingwt in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  early in the exit process, it's very important to begin overcoming irrational fears.

  fear of the devil.

  fear of god.

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  Crisis of Conscience

  Thanks for highlighting these points LWT. They give me a lot to think about.
  I'm glad to say that with some of these things I've made some progress....and have cut way back on the JW fear factor.

  CoC
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  124

  JWN's Night Shift vs Day Shift

  by SweetBabyCheezits in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm sure i'm the very last person to notice the day shift / night shift groups of posters but i kinda think it's funny when i pop in on an evening and discover posters i've never seen, but who have 10,000 posts.. that's all.

  carry on.

  situation "normal".. edit: hi, night crew, i'm on the day crew, btw..

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  Crisis of Conscience

  LOL This is a funny and true thread.

  While I do have a key window of time to post or be on here, I'm like finallysomepride . When I get the chance, I take it. Work, home, the toilet...... Well, you get it.

  CoC
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  19

  Can you say plagiarism?

  by Mebaqqer2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  so i ran across this statement today in doing some research:.

  take, for instance, the stories and legends regarding the origin of man.

  although details vary, the belief that man was made from the dust of the earth is widespread.

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  Crisis of Conscience

  Awesome find!! Thanks. Me likey very muchy!

  Marked for future.

  CoC