Posts by ABibleStudent

9

Which Steve Hassan book?

by Tornintwo in

jw
friends

can anyone recommend which steve hassan book to read, i see there are 3.. my mind is all over the place during this process of finally acknowledging and researching my doubts, ive been recommended his books on here, but which one is best?.

ABibleStudent

Tornintwo - Can anyone recommend which Steve Hassan book to read, I see there are 3.

Hi Tornintwo, Depending on what is your objective, I would recommend the following:

"Combatting Cult Mind Control" (1st edition spell with 2 "tt" in combating) - Does not label the WTBTS as a cult nor JWs as cult members, so might be helpful to help JW's to critically think for themselves. Also, very good to help people to understand the power of BITE control so that they are more empathetic towards JWs and to forgive themselves.
"Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves" - Provides more information about how to overcome BITE control indoctrination.
"Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults, and Beliefs" - fills in gaps and provides more information about helping people critically think for themselves.
"Combating Cult Mind Control" - Provides more information about how dangerous cults use social media and more examples of helping people to critically think for themselves. Downside for helping JWs is that it does label the WTBTS as a dangerous cult or JWs as members of a dangerous cult.

I would also recommend visiting Steven Hassan's website to read summaries of his books at https://freedomofmind.com//Info/books.php or view his videos that he presents information about helping individuals at https://freedomofmind.com//Media/videos.php .

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

29

Getting married when you are spiritually out

by 1tMakesNoSence in

i met this amazing girl about 6years ago at my local congregation.

i was 100% in back then.

about 3years ago i woke up spiritually and kept it undercover till a few months ago.. this girl is still very in (but she doesnt really do the things a reaaal jw should do.

ABibleStudent

Welcome 1tMakesNoSence. If you GF will not watch Strategic Interactive Approach explained 2003 (1:23:23) or read books by Steven Hassan, then move on. I know my advice sucks!

Why put your emotional and financial future in jeopardy? if your GF will not choose to critically think for herself and will blindly follow the WTBTS instead of unconditionally loving you, that is what you will be doing.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

6

The Guardian: 1,400 investigated in child sex abuse inquiry, including politicians

by AndersonsInfo in

1,400 investigated in child sex abuse inquiry, including politicians .

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/may/20/1400-suspects-operation-hydrant-politician-and-celebrity-child-sex-abuse-inquiry.

sandra laville.

ABibleStudent

Tom Watson, Labour MP - “We are only just beginning to understand how as a country, over many generations, we managed to turn a blind eye to Britain’s child abuse scandal. The survivors deserve justice and future generations require greater protection.”

Thanks Barbara. It is not just U.K. politicians that have ignored the problem. If citizens don't contact politicians to pass laws to protect children or eliminate SOL, nothing will be done.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

20

help catagorize my wife: I truely believe she suffers from cognitive dissonance and other things this stupid cult causes.

by goingthruthemotions in

i find it hard sometimes to get a good idea has to how to communicate with my wife when it come to this stupid cult.. she is born in and stopped attending for many years and got baptized later in life.

i truely believe she suffers from cognitive dissonance and other things this stupid cult causes.. here is a breakdown of what i gather to be where she is mentally.. * she calls the borg her faith.

here are actions that she does that go against her thoughts:.

ABibleStudent

Hi goingthruthemotions, Have you read any of Steven Hassan's books such as his revision to his first book "Combating Cult Mind Control" or watched any of his videos such as Strategic Interactive Approach explained 2003 (1:23:23)?

Your best options are to:

help your wife get involved in time consuming hobbies that she loves where she will meet more non-JWs.
Learn when your wife's authentic persona is in control, how to enable it to become stronger, and how to turn-off her cult persona.
Learn how to overcome thought-stopping platitudes without making your wife suspicious.
Ask simple questions to help your wife critically think for herself like Billy the Ex-Bethelite wrote in
exJW Psychology 102--How to Ask a Question When Questions Aren't Allowed

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

40

Spiritual AMNESTY -- Return to Jehovah

by FusionTheism in

basically, from what i can tell from the new return to jehovah brochure, is that the governing body is now offering amnesty to anyone who has been gone from the congregation but now wants to return.. it claims it doesn't matter what sins you've done, or what caused you to leave, if you repent to jehovah and ask the elders to help you, and return to the meetings, you'll be warmly welcomed with no disciplinary action or judgment against you..

ABibleStudent

Hi FusionTheism, Where can I get a copy of the Return to Jehovah brochure? It wasn't available on JWN.

Depending what it states, I would like to file a compliant by sending it, an IRS form 13909, and a couple of other Watchtower publications to the IRS.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

34

No More Money!

by Hold Me-Thrill Me in

jw
friends

as of this june (i've already given my may contributions which are substantial) i am no longer giving money to support useless building projects that serve no good purpose.

i am no longer giving money at conventions or assemblies.

i am no longer giving money toward the circuit overseers upkeep.

ABibleStudent

Hold Me-Thrill Me. I wish other JWs (including those that you help) would stop contributing to the WTBTS.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

16

How many child abuse cases?

by LHS123 in

does anyone know where i can find numbers of how many child abuse cases have been brought against jws or settled out of court?.

i know that 1 is too many and statistics don't reflect the horror suffered, but i would like some numbers to use when explaining to others the reasons for my decreased activity and to have support for my reasons for 'stumbling', facts which might make others think too.. im from uk so it helps that the charities commission is investigating there and also there's a paedophiles exposed website which names 32 jws convicted in uk since 2012, horrifying!

http://ukpaedos-exposed.com.

ABibleStudent

Hi LHS123, The Watchtower is a dangerous cult and JWs are indoctrinated to follow its leaders no matter what. Please refer to 15 Nov 2013 Watchtower (Study Edition), "Seven Shepherds, Eight Dukes - What They Mean for Us Today", page 20, paragraph 17 about Watchtower instructions to JWs to blindly follow its leaders.

Your best option to maintain relationships with JWs is to say nothing other than you are waiting on Jehovah to guide you, move away from your current congregation, fade, and start living your life to its fullest. Writing a complaint with a request for annonimity to the Charities Commission about what you needed to do to keep your sanity and maintain relationships with JW relatives might also help

What bothers you about the Watchtower may not bother other JWs. When they are ready to critically think for themselves, they may or may not.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

4

Hurrah for Georgia! Two-Year Statute of Limitation (SOL) Reform Window Signed into Law by governor.

by AndersonsInfo in

hurrah for georgia!

two-year sol reform window signed into law.

residents of georgia have a two-year window to file lawsuits against perpetrators and institutions starting july 1, 2015. .

ABibleStudent

If JWN members felt like Georgia's 2-year SOL law could help cause the Watchtower to lose it's property in New York to pay lawsuits, would more members tell JW's in Georgia about this law and post comments to this thread?

According to NBC New York when California passed a 1-year SOL window in 2002, Catholic dioceses were required to pay $1.2 billion in legal settlements/judgments. Considering that many abuse victims are not emotionally ready to file lawsuits for numerous reasons including low-self esteem/shame, a 2-year window could result in significantly more lawsuits and larger payments than California's 1-year window.

If Georgia's law results in a flood of abuse lawsuits, it could help pass 1-year window legislation in New York. If the Catholic Church is afraid of 1-year window legislation in New York, imagine how the GB must feel with so much of the Watchtower's corporate property and GB's retirement resort located in New York?

More members posting to this thread results in more people reading it and possibly more JW abuse survivors in Georgia finding the courage to file a lawsuit.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

70

If They Stopped Shunning Tomorrow?

by cofty in

imagine that the cult decided to stop shunning family members on the proviso that the dfd person was not actively trying to attack the cult.. (please don't debate whether or not this is likely - it's hypothetical).

how would you respond to your family?.

personally i think i would be less than cooperative.

ABibleStudent

Hi cofty, I think that your approach is understandable and reasonable. It is not based on past grievances but on future probabilities.

Besides who wants to listen to a JW talk about Watchtower infomercials/doctrines if one is not allowed to express ones own opinion.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

4

Hurrah for Georgia! Two-Year Statute of Limitation (SOL) Reform Window Signed into Law by governor.

by AndersonsInfo in

hurrah for georgia!

two-year sol reform window signed into law.

residents of georgia have a two-year window to file lawsuits against perpetrators and institutions starting july 1, 2015. .

ABibleStudent

Does anyone know JWs in Georgia?

I realize that this is a sad and depressing topic, but isn't it important to help another person to seek justice and possibly heal more. If you feel it is, please write comments to this thread.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert