InterestedOne

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Posts by InterestedOne

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  63

  Jehovah's Witnesses are not a CULT ...

  by Fatfreek in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  according to 30% of the following definitions.

  that leaves 70% that show quite the opposite.

  so -- are they a cult?

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  InterestedOne

  Concerned JW wrote:

  Is this where I am supposed to fall into the trap of answering a question that by answering it would mean I accept that Steve Hassan's book which doesn't mention Witnesses applies to them in anyway?

  There is no trap. Have you read it? Yes or no?

  If someone asked me whether or not I have read a book, I would have no problem answering. Have I read the book? Yes. See, it's that easy. Now, anyone interacting with me about this topic knows I have read the same information, and we can have a dialogue about it. That's why people having a discussion ask each other what they have read. If you have not read it, that's fine, and those interacting with you will not assume you know the same information. It means they might have to fill you in on some things if you haven't read it. It is a simple yes/no question to facilitate communication. Can you please answer yes or no?
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  63

  Jehovah's Witnesses are not a CULT ...

  by Fatfreek in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  according to 30% of the following definitions.

  that leaves 70% that show quite the opposite.

  so -- are they a cult?

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  InterestedOne

  Concerned JW, it was a simple yes or no question. Very simple. Have you read Combatting Cult Mind Control by Steven Hassan?
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  160

  I'm new here..... Studying with the Witnesses

  by PenelopePaige in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi- i just wanted to say that i have been checking the website out for a few weeks and have read some horror stories and some sad ones.

  but i have been studying with witnessess for about six months and can't help but feel that they're completely sincere and maybe even, the true religion.

  i love the watchtower and awake and to me, none of that seems crazy.

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  InterestedOne

  Hi Penelope. I lost my network connection, so I couldn't respond right away. Thanks for sharing some more of your background. We all have gaps in our knowledge. I have an electrical engineering degree, but I am embarassed that my knowledge of the basic history of Western civilization is sorely lacking. I wish I had taken more college-level history courses. Don't be afraid to be up front about any gaps in your own knowledge, even things that most people take for granted. Regarding your interest in religion, when you were in college, did you take any courses that might be related to it? Like any history classes?
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  160

  I'm new here..... Studying with the Witnesses

  by PenelopePaige in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi- i just wanted to say that i have been checking the website out for a few weeks and have read some horror stories and some sad ones.

  but i have been studying with witnessess for about six months and can't help but feel that they're completely sincere and maybe even, the true religion.

  i love the watchtower and awake and to me, none of that seems crazy.

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  InterestedOne

  Penelope - No no. I was not implying anything by my question. I was literally asking about your background to better understand your frame of reference.
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  30

  JWs always deny the information control

  by AuntBee in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  an active witness on fb just told me that they are taught to "always question what we are taught" and use not only the wt publications, but any research materials, and come to a conclusion about what they find!

  this is not what i've heard from you guys!

  does she go to some unusual-type kingdom hall, or is she mesing with my mind?.

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  InterestedOne

  NC wrote:

  I never felt like I couldn't research in outside sources. . . . As long as it wasn't "apostate" they didn't seem to have any objections.

  Something seems wrong there. The first time I heard that JW's expect their fellow JW's to refrain from reading anything written by a former member, a red flag went up in my mind. If your social group expects you to refrain from reading something written by a person who disagrees with your current beliefs, something is wrong with your social group.
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  160

  I'm new here..... Studying with the Witnesses

  by PenelopePaige in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi- i just wanted to say that i have been checking the website out for a few weeks and have read some horror stories and some sad ones.

  but i have been studying with witnessess for about six months and can't help but feel that they're completely sincere and maybe even, the true religion.

  i love the watchtower and awake and to me, none of that seems crazy.

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  InterestedOne

  Penelope - To help me get an idea of where you are coming from, I was wondering something: do you have a college/university degree?
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  98

  New here

  by Tuber in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hey all.. .

  thought i'd introduce myself.. .

  first, a disclaimer: i'm an athiest.. .

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  InterestedOne

  Tuber - I liked the original matter you brought to her attention which was:

  I replied:
  
  I'm confused...
  
  You say religion is mankinds biggest problem... but in the same breath you are quoting from (paraphrasing) one of the most famous religous texts of all time?

  I don't think her first response brought any clarity to the issue you raised. Instead it went off into more religious text. This led you into things like interpretations and names of God, etc. I spent a year studying and "studying with" JW's for a similar reason to yours, although in my case it was a friend not family. I found that they would easily go off track from my original line of thought. I'm sorry to see that this is already starting to happen in your back & forth with her. It can get really exhausting. Do you think you can get her to answer your original question? It might help clarify her thinking. I would be curious to see what she says.
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  83

  I'm scared sometimes that the WTBTS might be right about everything.

  by Chemical Emotions in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i wake up thinking: what if my boyfriend and i die a terrifying death during armageddon?

  with no hope of any life afterwards?.

  do any of you ever feel that way?.

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  InterestedOne

  godrulz - Note posting guideline #10.
• 
  83

  I'm scared sometimes that the WTBTS might be right about everything.

  by Chemical Emotions in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i wake up thinking: what if my boyfriend and i die a terrifying death during armageddon?

  with no hope of any life afterwards?.

  do any of you ever feel that way?.

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  InterestedOne

  Chemical Emotions - I'll type out some excerpts from the section about phobia indoctrination in Steve Hassan's first book that helped me and that I think are relevant to your post. I don't know much about copyright, but I assume it's ok to type excerpts with reference to title, author & page #'s.

  Do you know anyone who has ever had a phobia? Yourself, perhaps? The most common phobias include fears of flying in airplanes, public speaking, taking elevators, driving in tunnels or over bridges, and certain animals like snakes, spiders, and even dogs.

  Basically, phobias are an intense fear reaction to someone or something. . . .

  What do phobias have to do with cult groups and mind control? In some cults, members are systematically made to be phobic about ever leaving the group. Today's cults know how to effectively implant vivid negative images deep within members' unconscious minds, making it impossible for the member to even conceive of ever being happy and successful outside of the group. . . .

  The unconscious mind is made to contain a substantial image-bank of all the bad things that will occur if anyone should ever betray the group. . . .

  Of course, these thoughts are irrational and nonsensical. However, keep in mind that most phobias are irrational. Most planes don't crash, most elevators don't get stuck, and most dogs aren't rabid. . . .

  - from Combatting Cult Mind Control by Steven Hassan pp 43-44.

  And here are some excerpts from a later section on undoing it:

  I helped Phil to begin to unlock the phobia indoctrination by asking him to visualize a picture of the future that he would really enjoy. . . .

  In other cases, I often ask the member, "If you had never met this group, and you were doing exactly what you wanted to be doing, what would that be?" . . .

  By taking this step, I am able to begin neutralizing the cult member's programmed negative feelings about doing anything other than being a member. Once a positive personal reference point is established, the cult-generated picture of a dark, disaster-filled life outside the group begins to be altered. When a positive picture is in place, a bridge to other possibilities opens.

  - from Combatting Cult Mind Control by Steven Hassan pp 165-166.
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  160

  I'm new here..... Studying with the Witnesses

  by PenelopePaige in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi- i just wanted to say that i have been checking the website out for a few weeks and have read some horror stories and some sad ones.

  but i have been studying with witnessess for about six months and can't help but feel that they're completely sincere and maybe even, the true religion.

  i love the watchtower and awake and to me, none of that seems crazy.

  1. 
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  InterestedOne

  Concerned JW wrote:

  Not closed in the sense that people are stopped coming on here to defend witnesses but look what happens now I have defended the witnesses.

  Yes. Look what happened. In the two posts before you posted the above. I simply pointed out that it is not a closed forum, and the second poster invited you to share your views.

  The sheer weight of numbers on here against Witnesses stops it being a fair debate forum. Therefore this site is very one-sided and closed against Witnesses.

  I believe the numbers are due to active Witnesses choosing not to come here. Regardless of the numbers, you are free to disagree with the majority, express yourself, and others are free to express themselves. That's all this site is - just people expressing themselves on the subject of JW's and WT.