Posts by Mary J Blige

29

To DA or not to DA, that is the question?

by dubstepped in

let me preface this by saying that i don't expect anyone here to make my decision for me.

i do however note that like the bible says, in the multitude of counselors there is wisdom, and this is a huge decision, so i wanted to put it out there for discussion.

i really appreciate your words of wisdom, as this affects not just me but my wife also, as we find ourselves in the same boat.

Mary J Blige

I have been out 12 years and have only just contemplated sending in a DA letter. I have nothing to lose - my 'friends' have been absent all these years, I moved towns and critically, my parents have just awoken. However, I feel that a letter of DA will not have the effect I romanticize it would and for that reason, I decided that the fade would allow long lost friends (if ever I was to see them again) to ask me if I was still in and would give me a better opportunity for a "witness." If I was DA'd that would shut the door entirely.

323

Question and answers for fisherperson regardingy time at bethel

by _Morpheus in

so fisherperson sent me a pm asking a bunch of questions re my time at beth hell.

rather than respond in a pm i will post the q/a here as i have nothing to hide.

q:what years did you serve in brooklyn bethel?

Mary J Blige

I am pleased Morpheus posted this because you FISHERPERSON were calling into question his credibility when commenting on other threads that I have read with interest.

The defensive positioning is really quite stark. I like reading the balanced and objective posts as they help me to think on matters critically. You FISHERPERSON are helping me with that.

Thank you all for sharing. The Bethel service clearly has a whole other 'language' that most like me would not otherwise understand.

116

You Tube Video Ex-Betheliite Ex-Walkill Worker Layed Off!

by cha ching in

i am not sure if this guy is really from bethel, or walkill, but if he is....this poor guy really tells it like it is from the heart.

he was surprised.. at the 'oh so fast, pack your bags, get your stuff outta here' layoff !.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk1xh1egjcu

Mary J Blige

"Keep on seeking first the kingdom..."

I feel scarred that I read that and for the rest of the day that damned maladies song is stuck in my head - now that's indoctrination at its best! Anyone else with me on that??

FISHERPERSON - I would consider credible some of your sentiment only I keep coming back to the 100 sheep /99 sheep parable. If 1 sheep is lost, Jesus point was that he would take the time to find and care for that 1 sheep at it was just as valuable as the 99. So how much more so should Bethel (God's organizational kingpin distribution centre on earth) demonstrate that same caring attitude to all persons who have given their time voluntarily - irrespective of the circumstances of their departure. I just struggle with the principles that should be the foundation for all org dealings that are underpinned by love, compassion and FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST when I see no correlation here. The rest as was stated in another comment is just semantics. I keep coming back to the core Christian principal of love.

I wish all persons who have experienced this trauma the very best and healthy recovery.

7

Serendipity

by konceptual99 in

jw
friends

noticed this whilst trawling the stream of convention instagram spam..... http://t.co/ptndxmg8k0.

.

Mary J Blige

Everyone loves a bored/borg/bog selfie!!

56

Hello Everyone

by MarieK in

i hope everyone is having a good saturday.

i've visited this many times in the past month or so, joined yesterday and finally got the nerve to post!

needless to say, i'm super nervous, being new to this whole experience.

Mary J Blige

Absolutely concur with all of these sentiments. How is this for paranoid - even though I have been out for 12 years, I only just learned TTATT last week - from my parents who are still in after 44 odd years. My fear about posting? Came from my fears that this site was actually JW.org trying to ensnare JWs into apostasy and that my parents would be found out by my posts and treated unfairly. How crazy and out right delusional is that? But such is the mind manipulation and programming that we have had being born into the bOrg. A very warm welcome to you indeed from snowy NZ. Good reading for you:

Ray Franz, Crisis of conscience

Anything Steve Hassan

Then JW Broadcasting to reinforce that you have 100% made the right decision. 😲

39

Index of acronyms : help for new forumers

by Mary J Blige in

am finding a whole lot of acronyms that are really foreign to me and i now have an appreciation for what cult language sounds like to non-culters.

wondering please if you can post your definitions so i can get up to speed.

otherwise, as an indoctrinated ex-culter, i am inclined to create my own new light and swiftly it will be gospel.

Mary J Blige

Ahhhh thank you Bonsai - I realise I omitted the 'E' from my original post but that one I was stumped on for ages (COBE).!!!

39

Index of acronyms : help for new forumers

by Mary J Blige in

am finding a whole lot of acronyms that are really foreign to me and i now have an appreciation for what cult language sounds like to non-culters.

wondering please if you can post your definitions so i can get up to speed.

otherwise, as an indoctrinated ex-culter, i am inclined to create my own new light and swiftly it will be gospel.

Mary J Blige

Magnum, I had done some reading on that (RTO) the other day and I was along your thought train : how about desks in a portacom or flying some interpreters to WTHQ for an 'authentic' and economically sustainable experience. I didn't consider resale of the new building though, thought it was more a visual statement in attempt to convert "more" of the masses. Your sentiment makes far more sense; given the climate of needing "more money" and willingness of a voluntary and totally external labour force... those delegates wouldn't need to travel back to these lands to ever see what became of the RTO or KH so it's only the local brothers who have to be fed a line about the RTO work being completed or congregations pooling resources or other. I recall as a child failing to understand why we would build KHs if there was a risk of being destroyed at A. As an adult, I confess that I am struggling with the RTO concept. Certainly food for thought.

39

Index of acronyms : help for new forumers

by Mary J Blige in

am finding a whole lot of acronyms that are really foreign to me and i now have an appreciation for what cult language sounds like to non-culters.

wondering please if you can post your definitions so i can get up to speed.

otherwise, as an indoctrinated ex-culter, i am inclined to create my own new light and swiftly it will be gospel.

Mary J Blige

Here I go again guys - SIL : I have always thought this means sister in law but the context of the post just read infers is a position in the congregation...

14

How to get JWs to listen and REALLY think about TTATT...

by C0ntr013r in

i have been trying to discuss and reason with jws about their beliefs for some time now and it usually ends in "agree to disagree".

i just don't feel like i am getting anywhere, they get their guard up super easy and will dismiss anything no matter how logical or factual.. so the other day i tried another tactic, instead of arguing for another point of view i started to agree with them.

this made them much more talkative and open, their guard went away somewhat.

Mary J Blige

My dad was telling me about cult mind control - the book by Steve Hassan helped him to understand why the defense and how to get the point across without negative reinforcement.

Dad's observations were that close long time family and friends were instantly dismissive with the apostate label but those who were academic of mind (research driven and/or had higher education) either were easy to reason with or would step through the facts to arrive at the same point: they couldn't reconcile the truth of the bible with the teachings of the WT.

Dad's experience has also been that of those who are "in" and "get it" , it is the fear of losing by leaving that keep them in rather than them being ignorant of the facts.

I think that method of questioning in a conversational manner is correct though - in terms of building rapport and trust ones defenses will be let down. If they see it or not after that point....

But dear Lord - give me patience!!

39

Index of acronyms : help for new forumers

by Mary J Blige in

am finding a whole lot of acronyms that are really foreign to me and i now have an appreciation for what cult language sounds like to non-culters.

wondering please if you can post your definitions so i can get up to speed.

otherwise, as an indoctrinated ex-culter, i am inclined to create my own new light and swiftly it will be gospel.

Mary J Blige

Oh my. There's an apostate dictionary? This is so interesting. Thank you all thus far - I will no doubt continue to find and post things and I really appreciate your time in answering without making me feel like a nit wit.

All these changing terms... sounds like a substitution or disguise - creating new terms for new light or (perceived) innovation.