Retrovirus

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Posts by Retrovirus

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  7

  how do you help a JW get out?

  by visitor 525 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a little background info.

  i have never been a jw always felt the "cult" was not something i wanted to get involved in.

  anyway i hired a young man about a year ago to do a little remodel on my house i found out later he was a jw.

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  Retrovirus

  Hi and welcome, Visitor!

  I'm another non-jw, and would dearly like to get my SIL and a couple of others out. Unfortunately it is very difficult to do.

  As you've found, everything has to be done the jw way. Of course this young man will arrive in a suit and "study" the "Bible" with you; that is, he'll bring a book called "What does the Bible really Teach" and that's what you'll study.

  Then he can count time.

  If you are not amenable to this, you are under Satanic influence and not good association. He will be fearful of contamination and being seen to be "weak" and willing to associate with "Worldlies". Cannot count time, so he's not keen on this.

  Sending books (they call it "apostate literature"!) will probably make him even more wary; now you are trying to convert him! He'll avoid you like the plague.

  Bottom line is, unless he's willing to spend time with you you have little chance. And if he is, simply encourage him to relax and have a good time. Talk about sport or cars or something. Any mention of religious stuff and all the warning bells go off.

  Can I , why is it important to you what he believes? And does it relate to your own beliefs or spirituality?

  Retro
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  40

  Telling a Depressed Person It's Demons!

  by NewChapter in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when a person is depressed, their cognitive abilities are depleted.

  they are processing reality through a very negative filter and need help getting balanced.

  they often experience fear, guilt, hopelessness and anxiety.

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  Retrovirus

  ((((NC))))
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  40

  Telling a Depressed Person It's Demons!

  by NewChapter in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when a person is depressed, their cognitive abilities are depleted.

  they are processing reality through a very negative filter and need help getting balanced.

  they often experience fear, guilt, hopelessness and anxiety.

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  Retrovirus

  NewChapter,

  just saw this! Of course it's reasonable! My take on it may or may not be correct. . .I just empathise a lot with lurkers and newbies

  Peace to us all, Retro
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  40

  Telling a Depressed Person It's Demons!

  by NewChapter in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when a person is depressed, their cognitive abilities are depleted.

  they are processing reality through a very negative filter and need help getting balanced.

  they often experience fear, guilt, hopelessness and anxiety.

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  Retrovirus

  NC and Sizemik, I understand.

  bad advice is always bad, and when it's from an "authority" like a parent or elder it can well be lethal. No excusing that. But the comment didn't seem to be intended as advice, but as exploration, IMHO. Still not appropriate on thread!

  But there's lots of depression among jws (my relative who's in has chronic depression), and this newbie may have been exploring from a personal perspective and attracted to the thread because s/he has a problem also.
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  40

  Telling a Depressed Person It's Demons!

  by NewChapter in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when a person is depressed, their cognitive abilities are depleted.

  they are processing reality through a very negative filter and need help getting balanced.

  they often experience fear, guilt, hopelessness and anxiety.

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  Retrovirus

  I don't disagree with the OP, NewChapter, but the poster was new and may well have grown up believing implicitly in demonic inluences.

  Likely no harm was meant, although it shouldn't have been brought up on that thread.

  Retro
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  91

  VERY depressed

  by youngbro in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have severe clinical depression and right now, for whatever reason it is really acting up....

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  Retrovirus

  Hi Youngbro, I've had a few rounds of depression myself. Though I'm not a jw, what i've found is that each preceded a fairly major change on my life path.

  now whatever the cause(s), depression is simply a treatable illness. In addition to meds, I was greatly helped by RET counselling, and would recommend a good counsellor to anyone. Also excercise helps (especially when I least feel like it!) and relaxation CDs. You can't be stressed once your body is relaxed. Even just a few deep breaths help.

  Finally if you are not well, you should not be guilted into going to meetings, fs or having deep conversations with elders, or anything else that you don't feel up to.

  Take care of yourself, and as you recover your balance, things will become clearer.

  Retro
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  18

  Hurt Email or Hate Email

  by Snowboarder in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well recently i got a long email from a jw in vancouver, she read my blog ( http://sochiolympicgames.blogspot.com/ ) and attacked me hard!

  can anyone tell me what i am doing wrong?

  my blog simply states the truth, she can't understand the whole picuture.

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  Retrovirus

  Hi Snowboarder, and happy birthday for the 25th (?)

  My experience of jws is similar, even the ones who seem nice, attack the messenger as soon as the message isn't what they want to hear.

  just reply that if they think it's an apostate blog they shouldn't read it!

  person used a really stupid illustration he said he really wants to fly so he flaps his hands and nothing, he said that like my goals unattainable and unrealistic

  Sounds like a poor sick turkey jealous of an eagle!

  Zum Wohl! Retro
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  49

  Anyone wanna place a bet on what will happen to me when I have to go to the Kingdom Hall this Saturday??

  by Coffee House Girl in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well since there is no "betting" (as it reeks of gambling) in jdub land, lets place a friendly wager on what will happen to me when i go to my father's "memorial" service at the kingdome hall this saturday..... to give you newbies background info: i am neither df'd or da'd- i left 2 years ago with no explanation.

  i have been hounded by elders in my cong because they have suspicions that i am living with a man, but they have no proof (well, no proof in jdub land- you know...two witness rule).

  after many attempts to get me to meet with them- i finally sent the elders a "cease & desist" letter after one of them spied in my miniblinds to see me eating breakfast with someone (they couldn't identify who).

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  Retrovirus

  As a non-jw, I'll disqualify myself and just have a for you!

  My deepest sympathies on the loss of your father, and kudos for going to the KH with your mother!
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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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  Retrovirus

  Hi PenelopePaige and welcome!

  I can relate to a lot here. I've had an unexplained experience that affected me profoundly, and I've also "studied" with two very pleasant and sincere jw ladies. Since I failed to make satisfactory progress, I'm now "bad association" and very rarely see them.

  My take on "supernatural" events is to regard them as "unexplained". Science has taught us a great deal but there are still unanswered questions and always more to learn. And as with Sizemik's example, something can affect us profoundly at an emotional level but have a simple, prosaic explanation.

  The jw literature is easy to read and seems to provide authorative answers - at first glance only. Here are a few aspects you might consider when you could be persuaded by any source of information:

  Does it persuade or provide a balanced perspective? Is it complete? Are all reasonable objections addressed or only the "easy" ones?

  Are sources given for quotes? (and not just Bible quotes). If they are from authorities, are they authorities in that exact field? Are they representing the mainstream viewpoint?

  Is it objectively written or is the language loaded? (eg, "honest hearted people will. . .opposers deny. . .)

  If the Bible is quoted as an authoritative source, which version is used? is the quote in context and applicable? If the bible itself is "infallible", why does it have internal contradictions?

  Most important of all - keep thinking,learning and questioning. The wt will not want you to do that, but if we don't grow, we stagnate. . .

  Best wishes and hope you keep posting,

  Retro
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  61

  Never, ever posted to a site before-Scarec silly

  by PaintedToeNail in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi, i'm scared to death writing this that i will be discovered and have major problems.

  i had a good life being raised as a jw child.

  many good memories of people, places and times.

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  Retrovirus

  Hello and welcome, PaintedToe Nail!

  I'm a non-jw with some family in the org, and also "bad association" because I didn't progress well with my "Bible" study.

  However! I'm a also drug-free, VD-free non-smoker who raised my children equally healthy in mind and body. I can relate to the "addictve personality" thing - I enjoy good food rather too much, and that means a lot of exercise!

  It's great to hear that your child will go to college!

  I'm very sorry to hear you were abused as a child, and am sure that going out in service on Christmas must have been a nightmare.

  I know some genuine, good people among the jws and I'm sure there are some good things to be found in the religion. I wish they would let me be a friend; I'd be entirely happy to avoid any contentious subjects.

  I respect your courage in reading and posting here. Remember, truth has nothing to fear from examination and discussion.

  Hope you stay around, Retro