Posts by ABibleStudent

4

Why JWs stay....

by mynameislame in

and probably why a lot of us do what we do.

.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuvgh_n3i_m.

ABibleStudent

Funny video and too true about how effective group pressure is.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

6

What about non JW girls?

by gab_gab in

i'm writing my first post here :) long story short, i feel like i'm making a somehow huge effort to be a jw so i started to wish to take a break from the usual jw activities.

here i am making one step further, i guess .. so, what could be , let's say, the strongest reason for you not to date a girl that isn't a jw?

aand eventually going to the next base.

Welcome gab_gab, Depending on a JW's personal circumstances dating a non-JW could cause JW relatives and friends to mark a JW and consider that a JW is a poor association and possibly to withdrawal financial support. I also would not recommend that a JW date a non-JW if they plan on remaining a JW. IMHO non-JWs are not aware of the severe social consequences of dating a JW and most JWs are incapable of being honest with themselves much less to non-JWs about the WTBTS - the WTBTS is a dangerous cult.

I can think of a very major reason not to date JW women versus non-JW women. JW women are more likely to have more emotional issues that can put a strain on a social relationship. To be a JW, a JW must have unswerving loyality to the WTBTS and conditional love for family and friends as long as one believes that the WTBTS has the "Truth".

How can a relationship be formed with an authentic persona when the cult persona is making a mess of things? Dating a JW is the ultimate ménage à trois nightmare for two lovers.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

87

Over 7yrs as a JW and I just found out I'm not supposed to buy Girl Scout Cookies?

by Maat13 in

i'm still in the matrix(the truth), but 'morpheus' and his team are valiantly working on a way to get me out.

in the meantime, everyday i am discovering so much about being a jw i never knew, like don't buy girl scout cookies, that i keep asking myself "what have i got myself into".. maat.

really lame for a first post, but i figure i should start some where.

ABibleStudent

Maat13 - I have looked at a few sites very briefly, however I've spent most of my time reading posts here trying to figure out a proper exit plan.

Hi Maat13, Have you thought about starting another thread asking for advice about how to successfully fade from the WTBTS with your family?

IMHO a successful plan will have goals to independently research the WTBTS to confirm your suspicions and to help your wife and children to critically think for themselves. It will also have the following elements:

Visit reputable websites such as www.jwfacts.com , www.freedomofmind.com , www.watchtowerdocuments.com , www.jwsurvey.org , www.freeminds2.org , etc. to confirm your suspicions as well as learn how to help your wife and children to critically think for themselves.
Show and tell your wife and children how you love them unconditionally. Also, show them that you will not judge them for believing differently than you do.
Read cult-exit counselor books to help your wife and children to critically think for themselves, such as Steve Hassan's books (i.e., "Combatting Cult Mind Control", "Releasing the Bonds: Helping People to Critically Think for Themselves", and (his latest book) "Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults and Beliefs").
Ask your wife simple questions to learn more about how her authentic persona feels and what her authentic persona believes. To help by-pass your wife's cult persona, you will need to learn how to ask more probing questions like Billy the Ex-Bethelite wrote in the thread exJW Psychology 102--How to Ask a Question When Questions Aren't Allowed. It is better to ask simple questions to learn whether your wife is a"Spiritually Strong" (non-thinking) JW than to tell her what you believe and possibly activate her cult persona. If she is a born-in, then she is more likely to be "Spiritually Strong" (non-thinking).
Ask your wife and children to go to fun places where they will meet more non-JWs who they may share common interests.
Encourage your children to make play dates and sleep-overs with non-JW children who you and your wife like the children and the parents.
Encourage your wife to do time-consuming hobbies that she enjoys and will take more time away from attending meetings and reading WTBTS propaganda.
Do not donate time nor money to the WTBTS. If your wife likes to donate to the WTBTS, then tell her that you will give a donation to the WTBTS. I think a simple note in the donation box, such as "I will donate to the WTBTS when the WTBTS starts following the teachings of Jesus Christ instead of the 8 GB" or "I will donate when the WTBTS is no longer a dangerous cult." would be good donations.
If your wife doesn't use the internet, help her to learn how to locate cheaper hotel, car, and plane deals. This will help you to convince her to use the internet to locate accommodations for assemblies and conventions instead of using the WTBTS approved list. It may also allow your wife to more quickly transition from her cult persona to her authentic persona after the meetings by staying in a nice hotel away from other JWs.
Get more education/training to qualify for a better paying career maybe in a different part of the country to help you fade. Getting more education/training will help you justify lower meeting attendance and FS participation.
Vent on JWN as much as possible to reduce your frustrations as well as write threads to ask for advice with specific issues that you encounter.

The hardest part of leaving the WTBTS is overcoming your fears that the WTBTS has indoctrinated you with. The second hardest part is helping your JW family to critically think for themselves without raising their suspicions that you no longer believe that the WTBTS is the sole channel to God.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

87

Over 7yrs as a JW and I just found out I'm not supposed to buy Girl Scout Cookies?

by Maat13 in

i'm still in the matrix(the truth), but 'morpheus' and his team are valiantly working on a way to get me out.

in the meantime, everyday i am discovering so much about being a jw i never knew, like don't buy girl scout cookies, that i keep asking myself "what have i got myself into".. maat.

really lame for a first post, but i figure i should start some where.

ABibleStudent

Welcome Maat13, Girl Scout cookies are DEMON possessed because they taste SOOOOO GOOODDD! Especially the thin mints!! I have a box of Girl Scout short bread cookies just encase JWs knock on my door.

I'm glad that you were able to see TTATT about the WTBTS. If you want to learn more, please visit reputable websites like www.jwfacts.com, www.freedomofmind.com, www.watchtowerdocuments.com, www.jwsurvey.org, www.freeminds2.org, etc. The following video may be able to help you understand the WTBTS better: Strategic Interactive Approach explained 2003 (1:23:23).

By the way are you married to a JW? If you are, you will save yourself alot of frustration if you wait to tell your spouse about your feelings. Your marriage will do much better, if you do more independent research of the WTBTS and vent your frustrations on JWN until you have a plan to fade from the WTBTS.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

22

Pot...Meet Kettle. Kettle...Pot

by undercover in

jw
friends

from a new wt article (may, i think) about predicting the future.

and i quote:.

religious leaders sometimes predict tragic worldwide events to warn mankind and gather followers.

ABibleStudent

Many people have the tendancy to see their faults in others and like to point it out to other people.

I have a friend whose wife was very upset about him leaving his tooth brush on the bathroom counter-top. My friend went to the bathroom with his wife, looked at the counter top, and put a towel over his tooth brush and asked his wife whose tooth brush did she see now. She was a litle embaressed to now see her tooth brush on the counter top.

I wonder how to show/talk to JWs so that they can objectively see their faults without focusing on other people's faults.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

8

My JW mom is coming for her 2nd visit this year!

by Faithful Witness in

my kids are so excited to see grandma again, after just a month.

she canceled her visit scheduled for 2 weeks ago, when she realized it was the weekend of the circuit assembly.

(they drive 75 miles, to go to the assembly hall, which is 3 miles from my house... we still wonder if they take the long way, or just hold their breath as they go driving by our property unnoticed).

ABibleStudent

Enjoy your time with your family and Mom, Faithful Witness. Building happy memories with your Mom is your best option to strengthen your relationship with her.

If the subject of your sister is brought up by your mother, you could ask your mom if she feels that your sister's attitude is being "unduly influenced" by her husband and/or has your sister's husband become more controlling of your sister.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

55

Research on legal implications of group shunning

by BreathoftheIndianNose in

jw
friends

hey everyone!

i haven't posted here in a while, over a year i think.

just goes to show where i'm at in the recovery stage.

ABibleStudent

Hi BreathoftheIndianNose, In the USA constitutional protections are from government and not from organizations like the WTBTS.

IMHO the only way to comply with the USA constitution and pro-actively influence organizations like the WTBTS is to revise non-profit laws to require that non-profit organizations must report child abuse/molestation ASAP to local law enforcement and to prevent organizations from using "undue influence" to promote shunning ex-members/not associating with outsiders to its members because it promotes religious discrimination and hatred.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

21

Where Do You Shop For Good Deals/Lower Prices?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i know some people swear by ebay.. i like to actually see the product i am buying.

i'm not a big internet shopper.. places like job lots or discount stores like dollar tree are what i usually like.

k&g men's clothes and dsw shoes are other great spots to get big discounts.. where do you shop?.

ABibleStudent

Amazon usually has lower prices if you have a Prime Membership for free shipping and sometimes no sales tax.

Costco is good if you can use the large amounts before things spoil.

Sometimes companies have cheaper prices through their internet websites than they have through their retail stores.

AllStarHealth has cheaper and more recently manufactured goods than through GNC retail stores.

Shop around (including using the internet) and be an informed consumer before buying.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

19

As a JW, What statements made you "stop thinking?"

by Faithful Witness in

thought-stopping platitudes, like "we are in the last days!

"jehovah's witnesses are the only ones with the truth...".

what statements or claims did you use, or hear, that made you feel comforted by the fact that you were part of jehovah's organization?.

ABibleStudent

DATA-DOG - "They are the channel God is using."

JustVisting - "Why bother with researching yourself when the Society has capable brothers assigned to do that for you."

How would JWs react to a person saying the following to overcome the above platitudes:

(Must say in an innocent and inquirying tone of voice)

"How do I respond to Christians, who say, "How can JWs follow God's Greatest Commandment to ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’? If the Watchtower requires JWs to blindly follow the Watchtower’s leaders, how are JWs able to follow the teachings and examples of Jesus Christ when it differs from the Watchtower teachings to fulfill God’s Greatest Commandment?”

(Pause for JWs to respond)

“Please help me to find Scriptures where Jesus Christ condones shunning and not associating with non-believers. I need scriptures to counter what is written in Mt 15:21-28, Mt 22:37-40, John 6:60-70 to prove to Christians that the Watchtower does have the “Truth” and does follow the teachings and examples of Jesus Christ. How can I save other people, when they say that JWs are like the Jews in Mt 15:1-20, who do not use their minds, do not follow the Holy Spirit that God gave each of us, and instead blindly follow blind guides?”

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

57

Please...I need your help

by Strawberryfieldsforever in

jw
friends

my heart is heavy as i write this letter.

i have been trying to live my life as best that i can since leaving jehovah's witnesses.

my dad was not a witness and was my rock when i left the religion.

ABibleStudent

Hi Strawberryfieldsforever, I'm sorry that your Mom is sooo deluded to follow the WTBTS. Her recent e-mail may have been triggered by a meeting that she attended, so it may blow over with time.

How do you feel that your Mom would react to the following:

Why are you asking me about my beliefs? Mom, I love you unconditionally. How much do you love me?

I'm following the teachings and examples of Jesus Christ as is written in the scriptures. Do you remember what Jesus Christ said were God's greatist commandments? They are (Mt 22:27-40: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” If I follow God's greatist commandments, how can I be thinking like an apostate?

(Insert what you are doing today that you want to write to your Mom.)

Love,

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert