Posts by ABibleStudent

63

First Post...Hi everyone! Thanks for all of your help over the years!

by stuckinarut2 in

jw
friends

well... as they say on talk back radio "i'm a long time listener, first time caller"(poster in this case!).

i have been a "lurker" for several years, but never had the courage to take the step and join up...until now.. i really want to thank everyone for their insights and comments throughout the forum.

although i have not contibuted to discussions, i have benefitted very much from all of your comments and observations on all topics.

ABibleStudent

Welcome stuckinarut2, Thanks for sharing your experience. If you could write about what helped to awaken you, it might help other JWs who are visting to relate and awaken. The Friends forum is a good forum to write your introduction.

Since you are a born-in, you might want to read books by cult-exit counselors to help you heal and to better communicate with JW family and friends. I would recommend reading Steve Hassan's books (i.e., "Combatting Cult Mind Control", "Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves", and (his latest book) "Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults and Beliefs"), visiting his website www.freedomofmind.com, and watching his FREE videos on his website. I would recommend watching Steve Hassan's How Big is the Phenomenon of Undue Influence? (2:01) and Strategic Interactive Approach explained 2003 (1:23:23).

If you are married, please be patient and compassionate with your spouse. Vent on JWN so that you do not vent to your spouse about how you feel.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

126

This is my first post

by Make Lemonade in

i wanted to express appreciation to the members of this forum.

there are resources here that are deep.

like we heard from the stage, "what is your depth and breadth of bible knowledge?

ABibleStudent

Welcome Make Lemonade, I'm glad that you are staying positive, and that you supported the victim instead of blindly following the WTBTS.

I'm sorry to hear that the judge dismissed the case in summary judgement because of first admendment rights. I'm glad that other judges have not been as narrow minded, otherwise victims of abuse could not have won judgements against the Catholic Church, or were able to settle out-of-court with the WTBTS and other religions. Was Candace Conti's attorney, Rick Simons (Office phone - 510-582-1080 Ext. 19, [email protected]) consulted about the case?

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

95

Where the need is greater: TTATT in Spanish

by Londo111 in

it seems most of the us growth is in spanish-speaking territory, and of course, there is growth in the nations where spanish is the predominant language.

most sites oriented around ttatt, are english-speaking.

there seems then to be a great need for translators...for instance, imagine if there was a spanish version of www.jwfacts.com.. unfortunately, i dont speak this language.

ABibleStudent

I look forward to trying to read it on jwfacts, ILoveTTATT. You are doing an awesome job in translating the webpage!

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

26

News article: Watchtower buys former motel

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?aid=/20140322/biz/403220306 watchtower buys former motelgroup may also purchase site in tuxedo the former hampton inn on route 300 will provide housing for volunteers working on the watchtowers new headquarters being built in goshen.steve borland/times herald-record.

by james walshtimes herald-recordpublished: 2:00 am - 03/22/14town of newburgh the watchtower tract and bible society closed friday on the purchase of the hampton inn on route 300.. watchtower spokesman richard devine said the building will be used to provide housing for short-term volunteers working on the organization's world headquarters, which is under construction in warwick.. the sale price wasn't disclosed.. another property, sterling forest apartments in a rural area of the town of tuxedo, may also be purchased by watchtower.

that would provide housing for long-term volunteer construction workers at the headquarters.. "we talked to the owner there," devine said of the apartments, "but we're still investigating that.

ABibleStudent

Hi ShirleyW, I know that the WTBTS is currently both a printing/distributing company and a real estate holding company. I am just wondering if the WTBTS plans to do less printing/distributing and buy more real estate.

Why would the WTBTS buy motels? I could think of two reasons. Owning motels would allow the WTBTS to make money from JWs visiting HQ in the future. Also, will the WTBTS convert motels to rest homes for JWs. Since there are more senior JWs in developed countries than younger ones, the WTBTS might be transitioning into operating resthomes for senior JWs. I could easily imagine the WTBTS pitching to JWs, "Come spend your last days with "Spiritually Enlightened, True Christians" in a paradise on earth" and all you have to do make the WTBTS the beneficiary of your house and assets when you die.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

2

Went to visit my parents!

by Kool Jo in

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ABibleStudent

Thanks for sharing Kool Jo. It is good that he can think more for himself. You did a good job of expanding his knowledge or the WTBTS.

Since your father seemed a little surprized by the WTBTS owning stocks, what would your father have said if you told him how to find out which companies the WTBTS owns stock in?

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

26

News article: Watchtower buys former motel

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?aid=/20140322/biz/403220306 watchtower buys former motelgroup may also purchase site in tuxedo the former hampton inn on route 300 will provide housing for volunteers working on the watchtowers new headquarters being built in goshen.steve borland/times herald-record.

by james walshtimes herald-recordpublished: 2:00 am - 03/22/14town of newburgh the watchtower tract and bible society closed friday on the purchase of the hampton inn on route 300.. watchtower spokesman richard devine said the building will be used to provide housing for short-term volunteers working on the organization's world headquarters, which is under construction in warwick.. the sale price wasn't disclosed.. another property, sterling forest apartments in a rural area of the town of tuxedo, may also be purchased by watchtower.

that would provide housing for long-term volunteer construction workers at the headquarters.. "we talked to the owner there," devine said of the apartments, "but we're still investigating that.

ABibleStudent

Thanks for sharing Barbara.

I'm curious what monetary benefit the WTBTS will receive from owning an apartment complex. Is the WTBTS transitioning from a printing/distribution company to a real estate holding/motel company? The WTBTS from one side of their mouth says, "Donate more and do more", and from the other side says "Buy, buy, buy."

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

13

Should Passive Resistance Be The Weapon Of Choice For Those Stuck In The Watchtower Corporation Cult?

by frankiespeakin in

what can a person do who is stuck in the watchtower cult movement but don't want to be shunned or disfellowshipped but want to follow a course of passive resistants, like ghandi did to the brits to get them out of control over india?.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/nonviolent_resistance.

ABibleStudent

While working on my car, I thought of a few more ideas of passive resistance for JWs to use:

Stick permanent QR code stickers on WTBTS propaganda that you distribute and better yet stick them on propaganda left lying around the KH.
Transform into an imbecile when asked to perform tasks for the WTBTS. If a Mic MS, do whatever you can to sabotage a talk, such as slowly lowering the volume so that people get bored and fall asleep, and then suddenly increasing the volume to wake them up. If working on a build or remodel, work very slowly and be a social butterfly with other JWs so that they work slowly.
Do not study the WTBTS propaganda before meetings and when called upon to answer questions read the responses very slowly like you need glasses to read the answers.
When quoting scriptures with JWs, always use scriptures that the WTBTS doesn't use to show how different Jesus Christ behaved with love and compassion, unlike the Pharisees and Sadducees.
When talking with JWs that look for signs that the Big A is fast approaching either help them to see how wonderful the world is today verses years ago, or ask JWs how will Paradise be better with fullofhimself elder and elderette in Paradise.

Have a Great Day! I need to get back to working on my car.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

13

Should Passive Resistance Be The Weapon Of Choice For Those Stuck In The Watchtower Corporation Cult?

by frankiespeakin in

what can a person do who is stuck in the watchtower cult movement but don't want to be shunned or disfellowshipped but want to follow a course of passive resistants, like ghandi did to the brits to get them out of control over india?.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/nonviolent_resistance.

ABibleStudent

Hi frankiespeakin, Here is my list of how JWs could passively resist the WTBTS:

Don't donate to the WTBTS for any reason.
Don't volunteer to build/remodel KHs/assembly halls/WTBTS HQ
Don't commit to remodeling/building a KH unless it is really need and ask probing questions of elders who try to pressure JWs.
Don't make reservations at WTBTS recommended hotels for assemblies/conventions. Find less expensive/better accomodations at other nearby hotels.
Do not loan money to the WTBTS.
If required to meet with elders, meet with elders with other JW family and friends present and in your own home, instead of at the KH.
Stop using WTBTS indoctrinated thought-stopping platitudes when talking with JWs and non-JWs. Help other JWs stop using thought-stopping platitudes by asking JWs simple questions when they use those platitiudes.
Spend more time at coffee shops or going to movies than in FS. Do the bear minimum of FS hours.
If conducting bible studies, study the Bible instead of attempting to indoctrinate non-JWs with WTBTS propaganda.
Do home bible studies without WTBTS material.
Go out, have fun, and associate with more non-JWs than with JWs.
Enjoy time-consuming hobbies.
Get a better education/training so that you qualify for a better paying career.
Partake at the Memorial and tell other JWs you are following Jesus Christ's instructions.
Visit sites like www.jwfacts.com and www.freedomofmind.com to help one criticaly think for themselves.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

19

Overseer's wife accompanied my Elderette, to answer my question, "Who really is the faithful and discreet slave?"

by Faithful Witness in

as usual, i was unprepared for a "drop-in" visit by a jw.

they seem to have a knack for coming when you're in the middle of something, or your house is a complete disaster... for me, both things are almost always true.

it's better if you call me and warn me before you come over.

ABibleStudent

Hi Faithful Witness, JWs (as do other dangerous cult members) use "unhealthy influence" tactics to deflect a conversation. Examples of deflection are asking questions back to make it appear that you have personal issues, switching subjects (especially if they feel that they are unable to prove their position) and quoting unrelated verses to confuse potential recruits. Steve Hassan's video How Big is the Phenomenon of Undue Influence? (2:01) may help you to better understand what I'm talking about.

Too overcome deflection tactics ask them simple questions in an inquisitive tone of voice, such as "Why did you change subjects?", "How are those verses related?" or "How is _____ related to _______?", "Do you know that by switching subjects so frequently you are bringing reproach on the WTBTS, because householders will start to think you belong to a dangerous cult? (show them Steve Hassan's video to prove your point)"

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

16

I just got to play householder!

by Laika in

jw
friends

i was a little nervous and a bit dazed, i think i will do better next time.

he offered me the memorial invite, i told him i had jw family who would invite me and he got interested and wanted to find out more, so i told him i wasn't interested in the jw religion, he asked why and i said i find it too controlling.

he thought i was talking about moral rules so started on about how jehovah doesn't want to restrict us 'blah blah', so i pointed out that i meant they're not allowed to read certain materials which is wrong if it's as true as they are confident of.. he then went on about how satan uses false teaching to manipulate us and so we have to be careful of what we read.

ABibleStudent

You did well Laika! You cared enough for the JW to help him critically think for himself.

When JWs try to give me their propaganda, I just ask if I can give them life saving information in return. It is easy to overcome their objections about not being able to accept religious material by saying that I will not be giving them religious material. I then accept their propagand and write either www.jwfacts.com or www.freedomofmind.com on the material and hand it back to them.

I think that I will now ask them why they cannot accept material about other religions like you did to plant more seeds of doubt in their minds. I might even ask them why they do not follow God's two greatist commandments.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert