Posts by ABibleStudent

75

FORGIVENESS ... You owe it to your health

by ABibleStudent in

i'm cleaning up my home of unnecessary magazines/newsletters that i have accumulated over the years.

while i was working as an employee i did not feel like i had the time to read them.

now that i'm not working as an employee but work as a volunteer to network and maintain workplace skills, i seem to have more time to read.. after reading many threads by former jws, i thought that the following article might help some to heal.

ABibleStudent

talesin - I can choose happiness, I can choose to move on, but I will never choose to forgive those who keep trying to destroy my life, and treting me like dog poo on their shoe.

Accept the wounds, and realize I can't change anything. Let go of caring about what they think. That, for me, is the way to heal. It is 'moving on', not 'forgiving'. . . .

You could use a bit of sensitivity training. Yeah, I grew up being sexually abused in ways that would make you have nightmares for the rest of your life, physically abused, emotionally and spiritually .... and you have the blankety-blank NERVE to say SHIT HAPPENS?

@ talesin, I'm sorry for how you were abused as a child. I use forgiveness and moving on interchangably. I recognize that some people do not like using the word "forgiveness". For me it is difficult to define either sufficiently well enough to differentiate between them. IMHO the most important thing is for people to be aware of how emotions are adversely affecting their lives and hopefully to make changes to live happier and healthier lives.

cofty - So how does that differ from deciding to just let an abuser get off with their crimes?

@ cofty, Interesting question. H'mm, How to differenciate between revenge and justice? Can we agree that law enforcement should be notified about an abuser who has committed a crime? Revenge is biased with a biased individual(s) being the investigator,judge, jury, prosecutor, etc. Justice is more non-biased than revenge with multiple individuals fullfilling seperate roles of investigator, judge, jury, prosecutor, etc. I prefer justice over revenge.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

21

People Think JW's are Bat-Shit Crazy

by AlphaMan in

had an interesting discussion at work today.

sat down at a table with 4 of my younger workers.

somehow it came up that one's mother was a jehovah witness, and one had dated a jw girl before.

ABibleStudent

When I first got to know a JW, I thought that the WTBTS was just a kooky religion. Most of my friends think that JWs are strange and harmless.

Now, I have no doubts that the WTBTS is a dangerous cult that victimizes JWs with BITE control techniques. I'm also convinced that anyone can be unduly influenced by dangerous cults.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

75

FORGIVENESS ... You owe it to your health

by ABibleStudent in

i'm cleaning up my home of unnecessary magazines/newsletters that i have accumulated over the years.

while i was working as an employee i did not feel like i had the time to read them.

now that i'm not working as an employee but work as a volunteer to network and maintain workplace skills, i seem to have more time to read.. after reading many threads by former jws, i thought that the following article might help some to heal.

ABibleStudent

cofty - ABibleStudent - I think "forgiveness" is a fuzzy term. I'm not sure people mean the same thing by it as others may mean.

It is commonly perceived to be a virtue but I'm not convinced.

Of course bitterness is harmful - that's obvious.

I have no feelings about the Watchtower organisation, no emotional reaction, but I don't forgive. Why should I?

Hi cofty, I agree with what was written in the article that I quoted in my initial post to this thread.

I agree that "forgiveness" is a fuzzy term and is interpreted differently by people, which is why I liked what was written in the article that I quoted (see excerpt below of the articles' advice about how to forgive).

HOW TO FORGIVE:

• First, realize that forgiving does not mean that you condone or forget offenses. And it doesn't necessarily mean you need to reconcile with the offender. The act of forgiveness simply means moving beyond feeling aggravated and angry. It means giving up the desire for revenge.

• Accept that you cannot control other people's behavior.

• Look at the hurtful incident in perspective. It isn't always possible, but if you can, try to see what happened from the other person's point of view - or at least from a neutral viewpoint.

• Gradually move away from blame to accepting that what happened, happened, and that it is in the past. You can't do anything about the past.

• Try writing your thoughts down in a letter (that you don't intend to send). It's a non-hurtful way to vent your feelings.

Although some people consider "forgiveness" a virtue, I was hoping that readers of this thread might consider health benefits to themselves rather than considering 'forgiveness" as a virtue or for some religious dogma.

I also agree with you about not forgiving the WTBTS, but possibly for a different reason than yours. How can someone forgive an organization that has no mind? It would be like forgiving the gun/knife that was used to kill someone.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

75

FORGIVENESS ... You owe it to your health

by ABibleStudent in

i'm cleaning up my home of unnecessary magazines/newsletters that i have accumulated over the years.

while i was working as an employee i did not feel like i had the time to read them.

now that i'm not working as an employee but work as a volunteer to network and maintain workplace skills, i seem to have more time to read.. after reading many threads by former jws, i thought that the following article might help some to heal.

ABibleStudent

ABibleStudent - As others have already written, organizations are not individuals and therefore cannot be forgiven. Although I might forgive leaders of dangerous cults like the WTBTS, I would never trust those leaders to behave any differently than as a dangerous cult.

OUTLAW -

[Although I might forgive leaders of dangerous cults like the WTBTS.......aBiblestudent]

Seriously Robert?..

You would Forgive the WBT$ Leaders who have Destroyed the Lives of so many JW`s??!!..

Many of them are Right Here on Our Forum..

Then tell us what a Big friggin Help you are to Our Community????!!!!!..

Hi OUTLAW, How would you feel about someone cherry-picking what you write so that they can write emotinoally laden words to create a diatribe to rationalize their perspective? When quoting what I write, at least quote my entire sentence (and preferably the entire paragraph) and not just a single phrase.

Since you have some very strongly held emotions about the WTBTS (and my lack of JW experience), how long were you a JW and how long have you been holding on to those feelings? I was adversely affected by the WTBTS in 2010 and I moved on sometime in 2011. Since you DA'ed in 1974, how has the WTBTS adversely affected you in the last 40 years?

From the thread A question about those who are disassociated by OUTLAW -

When I disassociated myself I just walked out and didn`t come back.I gave the elders no explanation,I just told them not to bother me again,that was in 1974.When I read the posts on this forum,it seems as though some feel the need to give a formal explanation.Why is this ?Are the jws demanding an explanation if you leave?If so why would you go along with this invasion of privacy?I would appreciate it,if someone could bring me up to date on this...THANKS...OUTLAW

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

10

Faithful and Discreet slave class. Challenge the definition

by stuckinarut2 in

ok, so we all know that the basis the org uses for its power, authority, and supposed ability to speak on behalf of god is matt 24:45.

"who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics to give them their food at the proper time?".

but how can it possibly define the wt org?.

ABibleStudent

Is it a prophesy or a parable? When Mt 24:45 is read in context with Mt 24:36-51, it seems to be more of a rhetorical question for followers of Jesus Christ to treat people as Jesus Christ taught instead of abusing people.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

75

FORGIVENESS ... You owe it to your health

by ABibleStudent in

i'm cleaning up my home of unnecessary magazines/newsletters that i have accumulated over the years.

while i was working as an employee i did not feel like i had the time to read them.

now that i'm not working as an employee but work as a volunteer to network and maintain workplace skills, i seem to have more time to read.. after reading many threads by former jws, i thought that the following article might help some to heal.

ABibleStudent

cofty - I'm wondering what we mean by "forgive".

Perhaps that's another thread.

Hi cofty, Please post your thoughts to this thread if you like, or start another thread and post a link to it in this thread.

I enjoy respectful and interesting conversations that make me examine my values and beliefs.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

75

FORGIVENESS ... You owe it to your health

by ABibleStudent in

i'm cleaning up my home of unnecessary magazines/newsletters that i have accumulated over the years.

while i was working as an employee i did not feel like i had the time to read them.

now that i'm not working as an employee but work as a volunteer to network and maintain workplace skills, i seem to have more time to read.. after reading many threads by former jws, i thought that the following article might help some to heal.

ABibleStudent

I started this thread to hopefully help people to see how anger and hatred can affect their health and lives. By forgiving injuries that one feels were inflicted on them in the past (or moving on from them, if you prefer), it may help someone heal and live a happier and healthier life. If this thread has done nothing more than increased awareness of someone's feelings and how it may affect their health and happiness, then this thread IMHO has had a positive effect on people. It is up to individuals to choose what they do with that knowledge.

As others have already written, organizations are not individuals and therefore cannot be forgiven. Although I might forgive leaders of dangerous cults like the WTBTS, I would never trust those leaders to behave any differently than as a dangerous cult.

OUTLAW has stated his opinion and I disagree with him. He has not hurt nor injured me, therefore there is no reason to forgive him for anything.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

22

Just asked for a bible study on jw.org

by trujw in

my name was false prophet.

my address was october 1968 awake is it later than you think.

my town was this generation will by no means pass away may 15, 1984. to be honest i am going to request again but this time with my real name and address.

ABibleStudent

Hi trujw, Best of wishes helping JWs to critically think for themselves.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

75

FORGIVENESS ... You owe it to your health

by ABibleStudent in

i'm cleaning up my home of unnecessary magazines/newsletters that i have accumulated over the years.

while i was working as an employee i did not feel like i had the time to read them.

now that i'm not working as an employee but work as a volunteer to network and maintain workplace skills, i seem to have more time to read.. after reading many threads by former jws, i thought that the following article might help some to heal.

ABibleStudent

OUTLAW - Wrong

The major difference between You and almost Everyone here is..

You`ve Never been a JW.

Your constantly Giving Advice about Something you have Absolutely No Grasp Of..

You Pretend to Know things,You Don`t..About us..

After a while,it gets pretty Friggin Annoying..

Hi OUTLAW, You are right that I was never a JW and I cannot fully comprehend what the WTBTS's BITE control has done to JWs. However that does not mean that I was not adversely affected by the WTBTS. In 2010 I felt intense emotional pain because of the WTBTS's undue influence over someone who I loved and I believe that she loved me at that time. I have since moved on from my feelings of hurt and anger to hopefully help others to critically think for themselves and not be victimized by the WTBTS and other dangerous cults like the WTBTS.

How does having different experiences from a JW make my opinions less helpful than yours? Is it wrong to offer a different perspective than yours? You wrote "Your constantly Giving Advice about Something you have Absolutely No Grasp Of..", can you be more specific what you feel is wrong with advice that I give? Is it wrong to welcome new members with advice to make their own plans about fading from the WTBTS, independently researching the WTBTS by visiting reputable websites, to offer suggestions that other members do not make that may be helpful to someone, and to recommend that people read information from exit-cult counselors like Steve Hassan? Steve Hassan wasn't a JW either, but I do feel that he has very valid advice for helping exJWs/JWs to heal and to communicate better with JWs.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love (or Regards, if wishing you peace sounds too offensive to you),

Robert

25

Can & Do j.ws receive Welfare payments?

by Composer2005 in

can & do j.ws receive welfare payments?.

i would especially appreciate watchtower publications, articles etc if available, no matter how old?.

thank you.

ABibleStudent

My former friend, who is a "Spiriutally Strong" (non-thinking) JW and occassionally qualifies as an aux pioneer, was living in subsidized housing with another JW sister. Sometimes I wonder if my former friend spent more time building up her personal training business, whether she would qualify for subsidized housing. I do feel that she is capable of earning more money as a personal trainer because she is knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

When I encounter people, who accept government assistance and are able to work 40-wk, but choose to work less, I feel that something needs to be changed in how people qualify for entitlement programs.

I wonder if time records reported to the WTBTS are admissible in court or whether government agencies would investigate individual JWs.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert