Retrovirus

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Posts by Retrovirus

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  18

  One baptism...

  by NeverKnew in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i just realized, i have to explain the joke so you guys will get it.

  in some churches, communion is open to anyone who has been baptised regardless of denomination or church affiliation at baptism.

  so, even though one may be confirmed or baptised at one church, it can be acceptable to go to another church and receive communion.

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  Retrovirus

  Steve2 said

  Now if JWs approached you on the street and, unsolicited, boldly declared your baptism to be invalid, your reaction would be understandable

  But . . that's what they do, isn't it? Except for the "boldly" part. They accost people in the street and at their doors, unsolicited. They disguise the message "you are not a true Christian" until they have established ascendency in a "bible study". They invite unsuspecting believers and atheists to their "memorial" as a first step to telling them how bad and wrong their belief system is. And . . .is the baptism of a non-jw ever regarded as valid?

  In my case their only interest in my beliefs was to pick them apart and try to convince me of flaws. Of course, it wasn't a reciprocal exchange of views.

  Showing them how their beliefs and practices look to an unindoctrinated outsider might just give them a glimpse of the real world.

  Retro
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  18

  One baptism...

  by NeverKnew in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i just realized, i have to explain the joke so you guys will get it.

  in some churches, communion is open to anyone who has been baptised regardless of denomination or church affiliation at baptism.

  so, even though one may be confirmed or baptised at one church, it can be acceptable to go to another church and receive communion.

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  Retrovirus

  As another non-jw, I think this be interesting. Any thoughts from jws and ex-jws?

  Retro
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  39

  Is it disrespectful to call God by his name?

  by BU2B in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this seems to me to be yet another flawed reasoning from the wt.

  god is supposed to be jw's "father".

  it always seemed a bit strange even when i was mentally in, the argument they used to support using the name jehovah.

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  Retrovirus

  I askedthe jw ladies who "studied" wit me about that, especially given the instruction and example of Jesus. Their opening and closing prayers were full of "Jehovah God" this and that, as if He needed reminding. They avoided answering directly, as so often.

  Slightly tangential, they justified "Jehovah" rather than "Yahweh" as it was the most popular usage in the world. I asked "in Satan's world?" Another change of topic followed.

  Retro
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  43

  Recorded Judicial Meeting by 19 year old

  by BlindersOff1 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  .

  he runs circles around the dogmatic elders.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lko0vmqfyau.

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  Retrovirus

  From AnnOMaley's post:

  Some of his defense in the JC sounded disingenuous - he hadn't just been 'asking questions' in his videos, but he had been large as life, no attempt at disguise, 'brazenly' attacking the org and its teachings. His commentary about the JC segments showed how cocky he was about it all. How he expected to pull off a successful 'I'm just an innocent being picked on for asking questions' act, I don't know.

  Sure, he was no innocent. That's shown by the recordings. He had indeed been 'brazenly' ( ) attacking the Org, but his point that the Org trains its ministers to attack any and all other belief systems is valid.

  I think the videos were aimed at the public, rather than jws and be very glad to recommend them to anyone considering studying with jws.

  Retro
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  23

  Curious About My Disfellowshipping.

  by vajeni82 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i recently read an interesting thread (is there a 'third' way to leave?

  ) that talked about fading instead of being df'd or da'd.

  i myself had planned to fade, but was df'd instead.

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  Retrovirus

  Vajeni82, welcome!

  I had only been out of the battered women's shelter for a few days when the elders came to visit. They knocked on the door and then moved so I couldn't see them through the peephole. When I opened the door they said they need to speak to me and gave me a time to meet them at the KH

  This is just shocking. And this is the religion that claims it can be identified by the "love among them". . .
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  23

  WT wisdom - Same sex attraction does not mean you are gay

  by irondork in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  given the confusion faced by gay youth in trying to navigate through a larger, hetero culture, the last thing these kids need is for a religious "authority" to come along and tell them they don't really exist.

  that is exactly what the wt has done with this article at jw.org:.

  http://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/family/teenagers/ask/pressure-to-be-gay/.

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  Retrovirus

  Agree, Magotan, it is insulting.

  I'm glad you've come to see the control and propaganda for what is is, and that makes you free.

  Retro
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  40

  Non JW involved with a JW

  by LostInTranslation in

  1. social
  2. relationships

  i am a non jw who has been doing a fair amount of research on my own in hopes of finding some answers and understanding for my current heartwrenching situation:.

  i have been dating a man for the last while, and we grew very close, very quickly.. .

  suddenly he has pulled away from me, gotten very skittish and says he feels like he is leading a double life, and isn't ready for a relationship.. all the while stating that his impending divorce is the reason for his cold feet, which could be understandable except the marriage was very much "over" long ago.

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  Retrovirus

  Welcome from another non-jw, LIT!

  May i suggest you read jgnat's posts, especially her story, here? She is a non, married to a jw, and he also wasn't forthcoming about his involvement. You will also get a perspective on the cult and normal personalities that might help.

  It must have been very hurtful to find that an old friend, more than friend, who reconnected so well with you, was so secretive about a most important part of his life.

  JWs target people with problems as low self esteem lets them impose their way of life. They also do not respect personal boundaries, nor are they necessarily honest with those outside what they call the "truth".

  it's good that you are researching the jws. Please do nothing in a hurry.

  All the best, Retro
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  12

  How do I keep from being an enabler while not appearing like Satan

  by marriedtoajw in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  one thing that i havn't mentioned in any of my posts is that i have a 26 year old son along with the 4 kids that my wife and i have together.

  i became a father very young, 15 to be exact.

  that's a whole other issue but not on this post.

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  Retrovirus

  Garyneal has a point but. . .

  he has yet to get his first job, wants to go to every meeting, does not have a good sence of reality and is overall just like his mother. I love my wife, but she has always been taken care of either by her parents or me

  it doesn't sound as if he'll be easy to dislodge. Yet it can be done; my youngest was similar but has now moved out and is earning a living. Perhaps, in your wife's avbsence, appeal to what interests him. Does he enjoy music and concerts? Would he like to have a decent car? Travel? Does he plan to marry one day?

  Present financial independence as desirable - which, after all, it is. Then discuss a plan and motivate him. No pocket money or handouts, he needs to earn it! By all means involve the older brother and anyone else who might help.

  Leave the religion and meetings right out of this. How could you be Satan when you're just enabling him to become the head of his own household one day?

  There's a good chance that as he develops a life the meetings will become less important to him.

  Good luck, Retro
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  56

  If you wanted to go to College/University, how do you think you would fair, after paying off your Student Loans?

  by LoisLane looking for Superman in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  if you go to college/university...where do you see yourself in 20 years, 50 years?.

  if you do not get higher learning, where do you see yourself in 20 years, 50 years?.

  or loss/saving for 40 years = $480,000.00.. someone else can compound the interest.. do you have a 5 year plan?

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  Retrovirus

  Welcome, Villagegirl!

  I was shocked by the article Ravens posted above, where the wt groups higher eduacation with underage smoking and indiscriminatel publishing personal information on the Net. The two ladies I was "studying" with assured me it just meant that people should make a considered decision; didn't read like that to me!

  Hope to see more posts from you,

  Retro
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  30

  Help!!!

  by marriedtoajw in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have come here for any advice and support that anyone can give and i really need it now.

  i don't talk about these issues with my siblings anymore because they have already told me that they have no advice and can't help.

  feelings of anxiety have been overwhelming me the lat 2 years and it makes me feel like a scared little child.

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  Retrovirus

  Hi Marriedtoajw

  I know of no one who has delt with being with being married to a JW as long as I have withoug getting sucked in.

  My brother was; his wife was "studying" when they married and is still totally in. Their marriage didn't survive - jws don't compromise - but both children avoided baptism and are "out". They always had his worldview as an alternative.

  Hopefully you have read the Cameron books. In any case, the way to win your children is to maintain the moral high ground. Be calm and respectful or everyone's beliefs, but . . ask questions. And ask difficult questions of your wife when the children are there.

  I'd guess she'll try all the typical jw tactics - changing the subject, answering something else, demanding the source of your information and dissing it. Never give her an "apostate" source or link to work with; use the dissinformation in the literature itself, or articles such as Candace Conti in the media.

  End with "I'd like to believe, but in all conscience, unless . . . . is cleared up, it's not possible".

  Do your children attend school? The evidence for evolution, and against a worldwide flood, is overwhelming.

  Finally, it seems you are feeling powerless - truly, you are not. Counselling might help here; it worked for me!

  Hope this helps, Retro