Giordano

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Posts by Giordano

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  63

  Are we all still FAMILY? Yes or No?

  by Greybeard in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  here is why, even though i no longer agree with most of what the gb/wt/jw's teach, i still feel especially close to all of us who were apart of this group.

  born in or converted.

  we all have had the same life experience of being raised in a over bearing mind controlling cult.

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  Giordano

  I've been out for forty plus years but this is the only place I understand what everyone is saying and what they are feeling.

  Family maybe, friends yes.
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  79

  Do you think Witnesses would drink the "Cool-Aid" if told to do so...like Jonestown?

  by Witness 007 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  jonestown 1970's, jim jones brainwashed his 900 member cult into committing mass suicide by drinking cyanide cool-aid.

  only three escaped.

  {the smart ones} one man hid under a building....another escaped into the jungle while armed guards dragged another member to get injected by force.

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  Giordano

  Newchapter is right .

  Todays witness barely has a grip on what they believe. They do put up with a lot but notice how many are walking out .........especially born-ins.

  Being trapped in a KH is a lot different then being taken to a foreign country, living in an isolated location, underfed and overworked.

  Beside which the growing consenous is that they were murdered................ forcing people to drink the poison at gunpoint is murder.

  Remember they had practiced this before many who drank willingly might have assumed that it was another dumb practice session. You can heard the tone change when their loved ones started to react to the poison.

  What is similar is how many witnesses refuse fractions and whole blood and die each year. I consider that murder as well plus they have allowed themselves to die in that manner since 1945. Any estimates on how many have died? I've heard upwards of 200,000 world wide.
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  220

  Are you sick of conspiracy nuts?.....9/11

  by Witness 007 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  yes apparently the staff at the twin towers on 9/11 didn't notice the explosives strapped to all the beams on each floor......of course a plane fully loaded with jet fuel going so fast it nearly flew through the building {blew out the otherside} would not be enough to cause a collapse.

  the building were glowing red!

  people jumped due to the heat and smoke.

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  Giordano

  When it comes to politics and conspiracies never trust an ex J.W. who's on a mission to convince someone about something that lacks a factual basis. Oh, pardon me, in this age of the internet you can have your own facts.

  Remember when you were a witnesses? You believed it because you could read it! The thinking was done when the Watchtower printed it. We were conditioned to believe in their crap and to gladly spread it around. Apparently some can't shake loose of that conditioning having proudly marched on to distribute additional versions of bullshit.

  This forum is home to more nut jobs then I realized. We have a members only section I vote for a wack job section.

  Pathetic.
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  4

  Transfusion or Murder?

  by iamwhoiam in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  let's say a couple is told by a doctor that the odds are good that thier baby will die prematurely unless a blood transfusion is given.

  the parents decide not to go through with it due to thier beliefs.

  if the baby dies from not getting a transfusion, is that considered murder on behalf of the parents or atleast criminal neglegence?

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  Giordano

  Generally the courts will step in under the same principle that has the courts stepping in when children are abused. We are a nation of laws and the law supersedes harmful religious beliefs.

  Religious freedom stops when young girls under legal age are 'married' off to extreme Mormons who want their child brides (starting at age 12/13). and take umbrage at being called pedophiles.

  Children who are encouraged to handle deadly snakes during a religious service. Children who have experienced the old 'spare the rod' and who require a visit to hospital.

  The mother that hid her son so he wouldn't get the Chemo treatments that would save his life (his cancer was treatable).

  Extreme cases where prudent medical treatment can save a life or at least prolong a life are the common reasons the state will step in.
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  42

  Did YOU Change In Your Personality After You Left The Organization?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  we knock a lot of things about the witnesses.

  i wonder if we're really all that much different in our personalities as exjws.. .

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  Giordano

  I've been out since I was 23 that's four decades ago. But I havn't changed other then to mellow. I am still considerate of others and fair minded, married to the same great lady who used to pioneer with me, gratefull not to have raised our son and now grandchildren in the tooth. I am a regular prince of a person!

  Why no real change? I've come to appreciate just how much I didn't belive when I was a JW.
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  50

  "All religious belief distills down to faith in utterly unprovable stories."

  by Franklin Massey in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i read this today on the board and want to ask, is the statement true?.

  all religious belief distills down to faith in utterly unprovable stories.

  i feel this way sometimes.

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  Giordano

  Yes they are unproven, a blend of myths, cultural inventions etc. The interesting thing about these storries is that many people are willing to believe (especially if you were brought up with them) in writings dating back 3500 years or as modern as 2050 or so years ago. Considering how far mankind has come in science and other areas it's amazing how many still cling to this stuff.

  But there is good news according to PEW the third largest group in the world Following Christians and Muslims are Non Affiliated with any religion!They now number 1.1 billion person's and I imagine they just might be the largest group since people don't feel comfortable saying they are non believers etc.

  It's not a race it is the inevitable result of access to knowledge and the growth in mankinds understanding about the nature of our world.
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  79

  For the board atheists....

  by Jack C. in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this is a personal observation and certainly not representative of all atheists.

  i enjoy discussions with folks of this persuasion; in general they appear well read and somewhat more educated than many believers.

  as a group most atheists cringe and become insensed when discussing the existence of a deity with believers especially fundamentalists.

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  Giordano

  Do believing Hindus and non believing Hindus have these same tiresome debates? Jews, Catholics. Mormons?

  It's a cultural belief with holy people looking and sounding like the culture that invented them.

  It's a great effort and belief is very successful but meaningless. Made up stuff really doesn't carry the day.
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  22

  What good is punishment after you die?

  by Lore in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when your child disobeys, you punish him.

  simple answer: so he will listen next time and won't disobey again.. if the child has a learning disorder and is incapable of learning from the punishment, odds are you will stop punishing him and will deal with his condition in other ways.. we punish children in order to change their behavior.

  if the punishment does not promote a change in behavior the punishment is useless and possibly evil.. .

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  Giordano

  Who the hell is Tom, how about sticking to the name posted next to the picture.
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  51

  Not Raising My Hand at Tomorrow's WT Study.

  by compound complex in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  greetings, friends:.

  wishing you all a pleasant weekend.

  committed to attend tomorrow's meeting at the kingdom hall, i've decided that i am going because i love my friends and family.

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  Giordano

  Wantingtruth many are still in because of the shunning issue, family etc. Many here hold positions including being Elders as well as former Bethelites.
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  51

  Suggestions for finally talking to my parents about my doubts?

  by stillstuckcruz in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i'll give my story again:.

  i was raised a believing witness.

  i had a normal life and very loving parents who would do anything for me and my brother(who is 21).

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  Giordano

  Most everyone has given you good advice. Including not getting into a debate with your parents. Especially while you are living in their house. If anything as soon as they see this is a serious falling away they will want you out of the house and away from your brother.

  You haven't mentioned education and a career. If it was me I'd tell your Dad that the time has come for you to make a living........ will he help with a trade school? Or community college?

  You could also apprentice with a business or trade that interests you. Maybe work evenings something that would justify missing meetings because you have to play catch up (if you have no higher education or job training). Live at home only as long as you need to. When you can the best thing is to move some distance away, change congregations and then change again. Make sure you are no ones congregational responsibility, say nothing against the WTBTS if you don't want your family to shun you.

  Your going to have to be an adult about all of this.