Posts by augustOne

There are people I am very close to in the same situation you are in. I was there myself before I was in a position to leave and have the freedom I have now - and remember it very well! Maintaing sanity when you're in that position can seem impossible - but I truly believe we all have a "sacred ground" within us that can help us get through seemingly impossible things. Have you ever watched Viktor Frankl videos on Youtube? If not, I highly recommend it. For me it has always been a reminder that people survived much worse and came out healthy.

Yes, the pressure that social situations put on all of us can be incredibly powerful - it is very fascinating to me. The most fascinating part is that if asked, most of us will deny that we would be affected by social pressure - when years of research shows we are very succeptible to it. There are always exceptions - but they are just that - exceptions. Have you ever heard of the Asch conformity experiements? There is a lot of information online - and videos also - amazing what people did becasue of socail pressure.

I'm very glad I have the opportunity to receive an education now - and learn the things I am. It is an opportunity I wish everyone could have - but know cannot happen. That is why I'm doing this project - and trying to present it in a way that appeals to the most people while incorporating real research that can help to understand and heal.

Yes I used to watch Bill Maher a lot (I have less time with school right now). It would be great to have a wider audience. Since I'm not trying to make money off this project I don't know if anyone big in the media or news world would ever want to pick it up - but I have been encouraged to try and reach out by others also. Maybe there would be a way to make it work...thanks for the idea and for your support!

~ Mani

37

If you want to see Episode 1 of the new XJW documentary, "Belief," here are links

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

belief: episode 1 - sacred ground.

belief: episode 2 trailer.

the video it looks better in full-screen version so click on "box" at right bottom.

augustOne

to Denial

I don't listen to the radio. I guess since music is so personal to me the radio never appealed to me (you know, someone choosing for me what to listen to) - maybe it was growing up so controlled... Buying records, 8 tracks, tapes, and CDs, and now downloading music has always been preferable. I was glad to have just bought the remastered Beatles CDs to use in Episode 1.

If you know any musicians you can point my way - or have any creative ideas of your own you'd like to share - I always welcome it.

~ Mani

37

If you want to see Episode 1 of the new XJW documentary, "Belief," here are links

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

belief: episode 1 - sacred ground.

belief: episode 2 trailer.

the video it looks better in full-screen version so click on "box" at right bottom.

augustOne

to leavingwt

Thank you! It was fun using music I have loved for so long in something that means so much to me. I'm anxious to release more episodes and hope people enjoy them!

~ Mani

37

If you want to see Episode 1 of the new XJW documentary, "Belief," here are links

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

belief: episode 1 - sacred ground.

belief: episode 2 trailer.

the video it looks better in full-screen version so click on "box" at right bottom.

augustOne

to truthsetsonefree

Hi Isaac! It was so great having you there! Readers stay tuned for a future Episode giving you more of Isaac's story - quite amazing!

~ Mani

37

If you want to see Episode 1 of the new XJW documentary, "Belief," here are links

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

belief: episode 1 - sacred ground.

belief: episode 2 trailer.

the video it looks better in full-screen version so click on "box" at right bottom.

augustOne

to VampireDCLXV

I'm glad you didn't suffer abuse and PTSD as a child. You mentioned your last crash into depression - which is something I commonly hear from people. I battled terrible depression for SO LONG - and though I'm better now I feel it still lives in me like a black hole I've learned to distance myself from - or be sucked it. This may have been harder on all of us than we realize...I only say this in the interest of your emotional health - so if painful things are interfering with your ability to live a happy healthy life you get all the help you need to deal with them. It took me some years to realize that I could expect a better life than paralyzing depression - and even a lack of paralyzing depression. I could be happy and thrive. The sadness that remains is sadness anyone SHOULD feel dealing with the kind of loss and conditional love we have all experienced. I don't know enough about your situation to say much more than that - out of genuine concern and from a very clear memory of just how hard it was for me to get out of bed and funcion for several years.

I don't think the people in the group we were in are terrible. There are some who knowingly manipulate, abuse, and prey on others - yes those kind of people that exist in pretty much every group are terrible. That behavior is TOTALLY inexcusable! One of the biggest helps to me was studying the work of social psychologists - understanding how social influence works - how incredibly powerful it is. Thier belief is that in a social context like Jehovah's Witnesses a lot of the behavior we see, and things we may have even said and done and believed - were a reasonable choice (maybe even the best choice) considering the circumstances. At first it was hard for me to think of my past life this way - but it eventually helped me to make more sense of the overwhelming confusion and sadness that was most of my life.

The best comparison I can think of is when people are in an extreme situation that threatens thier life - they behave in ways that make sense in the situation - but out of that context would not. The trapped Chilean miners survived for 17 days on a 2 day supply of emergency food. An associated press article I read reports they did this by living on "two spoonfuls of tuna, a sip of milk and a bite of crackers. Every other day." In their situation it makes sense to eat like that - though it is not healhty - they need to SURVIVE! But now they are recieving more food - and when they are hopefully free - they will eat in a "normal" way that is healthy. Really - we were like those miners for so long - rationing the bits of healhty things around us to SURVIVE - but in an environment that is only so healthy, of course unhealthy things will take place. Read the article but imagine the mine as the religion and the miners as the members, it may help: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/08/trapped_chilean_miners_lived_o.html

I don't have a set time scale to release Episode 2. I have a couple of trailers coming out soon. I'm starting graduate school next week so hope to get it out before I get too busy in the next couple of months. There will be significant improvements (I hope) in Episode 2 so I'm trying to balance giving the quality I want to the Episode with getting it out ASAP. I'll post a message on here when the trailers are ready - and even better - the full episode.

Thanks for your comments. I said more than I planned - I hope it helps in some way!

~ Mani

37

If you want to see Episode 1 of the new XJW documentary, "Belief," here are links

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

belief: episode 1 - sacred ground.

belief: episode 2 trailer.

the video it looks better in full-screen version so click on "box" at right bottom.

augustOne

to jwfacts

Thank you so much! Please embed it at jwfacts.com. I'm glad you liked the poem as well - that realization is what led to the film so it is very meaninful to me. I have a website about "Belief" that is down right now - when it is up and running again I will post a link to jwfacts.com. Thanks again for your words - I'm glad my work is having the intended effects.

~ Mani

37

If you want to see Episode 1 of the new XJW documentary, "Belief," here are links

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

belief: episode 1 - sacred ground.

belief: episode 2 trailer.

the video it looks better in full-screen version so click on "box" at right bottom.

augustOne

to AndersonsInfo

Barbara - your support means so much to me - thank you! I have gained so much strength from your example of tireless work to educate and bring comfort to others. I will pour it into this work so I will hopefully have a large impact like you have!

~ Mani

37

If you want to see Episode 1 of the new XJW documentary, "Belief," here are links

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

belief: episode 1 - sacred ground.

belief: episode 2 trailer.

the video it looks better in full-screen version so click on "box" at right bottom.

augustOne

to SixofNine

Thank you for the information! I will look it over carefully. As a musician and budding movie maker I still prefer to support newer people trying to make an impact on the world...but this helps lessen my anxiety a bit for sure!

Thanks again!

~Mani