Lunatic Faith

Joined

• started 30 topics
• posted 297 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by Lunatic Faith

• 
  10

  Thought Control - Yes, the JW's Use It Too

  by Crisis of Conscience in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  the following highlighted info is taken from pg.

  62 of steve hassan's combatting cult mind control:.

  if information transmitted to a cult member is perceived as an attack on either the leader, the doctrine, or the group, a hostile wall goes up.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Lunatic Faith

  I agree, Coc. I remember willing myself to push critical words, pictures, or ideas out of mind to demonstrate my faith and keep my mind clean. When I think I was just cleaning my mind for infestation by the WBTS it sickens me.

  On a similar note, we got together with my brothers (JW's) for dinner tonight. It's our ninth anniv. and they were treating us. They both know we aren't doing anything about the dubs but I don't let a lot out because I hope I will make the right comment that makes them think. My brother was telling me how effective the ministry work is and how many thousands get baptized every year and that even if it is just the young, inexperienced, we are told to keep going from door-to-door to re-validate the "truth" in our minds. So we can make a defense when the Great Trib. comes. I was sickened! I would've said the same things a short time ago. But, now that I am on the outside looking in, I actually felt clausterphobic at the idea of submitting to such narrow, controlled thinking. I wanted to say, "No! They want you preaching to reinforce the cult mind control!" But I didn't want to create obstacles so I bit my tongue.

  Anyway, like you said, at least we are no longer under the thought control. And others are learning the real truth every day.

  Thanks for the quotes. I haven't read that book yet but I can see the need to
• 
  54

  You Can Overcome WT Phobias!

  by leavingwt in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  early in the exit process, it's very important to begin overcoming irrational fears.

  fear of the devil.

  fear of god.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Lunatic Faith

  Thank you Troubled mind. And I owe it all to the 30+ years training in the theocratic ministry school
• 
  54

  You Can Overcome WT Phobias!

  by leavingwt in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  early in the exit process, it's very important to begin overcoming irrational fears.

  fear of the devil.

  fear of god.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Lunatic Faith

  Fear of close friendships

  A sad feature of JW relationships is the encouragement by the leadership to spy on one's brothers, and if anything is unbecoming in their lives, they are to be confronted or turned in to the elders, or both (usually it is simultaneous). There is a "pecking order" in the organization, with the Governing Body on top, followed by Bethel workers and Circuit and District overseers, then the local elders, then the pioneers and ministerial servants, and the "publishers" on the bottom (women being least favored). Since confidences cannot officially be kept, and personal struggles admitted only at great risk of being chastised or "counseled," Witnesses cannot confide in their own, but ironically turn to non-Witnesses for confidences.

  This was the one that started the fade on my hubby and I. We got so tired of trying to be friends with ones in the congregation and meeting constant barriers. Everyone at the Kingdom Hall, who had any privileges, were all so two-dimensional. They seemed literally afraid of revealing too much about themselves. The only ones we found to be genuine were the ones on the outside-looking-in. You know, the weak publishers who weren't viewed as superior christians. When I think how JW's are actually undermining their own organization with this pseudo-socialist/deep throat informant culture it makes me glad I'm not there anymore trying to scratch the surface of plastic people.
• 
  42

  What are your favorite supernatural movies?

  by JimmyPage in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  "paranormal activity", "the ninth gate", "the orphanage", "1408", and "the others" are a few i like to get the ball rolling..

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Lunatic Faith

  MidWichcuckoo-Paranormal Activity 1 wasn't real jerky like Blair Witch. My hubby can't take those either because they give him headaches and motion sickness. He couldn't finish District 9 or Hurt Locker but didn't have any problem with PA. The editors and the camera they use seems top notch and for being a basically homemade film is surprisingly well done.
• 
  15

  spoke to an old ex-jw friend , damaged goods ?

  by man in black in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  when i was a witness i was good friends with a recently baptized guy who was always trying to reach out to help, run the microphones, work behind the counter with the literature, attendant at the assemblies, etc.. the big problem here was that he is a police office, has been one for over 30 years, so the org.

  would not allow him to do anything exept clean the toilets during assemblies .

  his wife and him divoriced ten years ago and he was df'ed.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Lunatic Faith

  Omg, thanks for posting this story. I have actually been thinking this same thing. Once I got over the disappointment of not seeing my parents in a resurrection, or living forever, the one thing I still obsess about is: where will my funeral be held, who will officiate, and will anybody come? I am very well known in the area I grew up and have fancied I would have a well attended funeral, but I was surprised my dad's wasn't better attended last November. I mean, all the important people came but I guess I expected more. The whole talk was about his long years of faithful service and the legacy he left in his children and grandchildren. I worry, if I die, I will be buried in some cold mortuary home, with only a few people present and some stranger offering my eulogy.
• 
  42

  What are your favorite supernatural movies?

  by JimmyPage in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  "paranormal activity", "the ninth gate", "the orphanage", "1408", and "the others" are a few i like to get the ball rolling..

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Lunatic Faith

  Jookbeard-Yeah, I watched Salem's Lot not so long ago, right after I read the book.

  Blair Witch was a surprisingly bad movie--in my opinion. The kids and their constant fighting and cussing started pissing me off so much that by halfway through I was rooting for the witch and actually cheered when they all supposedly died. Big Disappointment!
• 
  42

  What are your favorite supernatural movies?

  by JimmyPage in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  "paranormal activity", "the ninth gate", "the orphanage", "1408", and "the others" are a few i like to get the ball rolling..

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Lunatic Faith

  Paranormal Activity actually gave me nightmares and I am tentatively looking forward to number 2.

  The Entity was pretty cool
• 
  39

  Jehovahs Witnesses have a lot more mental problems and much higher suicide rate

  by TastingFreedom in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  jerry bergman, ph.d. .

  the first american study.

  the watchtower influence was often not positive, and there was no evidence that it had in the long run helped those who had emotional problems when they joined.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Lunatic Faith

  I was doing some research for a college paper last term and came across this paper by Bergman as well as another that was basically the same. As he was not considered a credible, peer-reviewed, source I could not use him in my paper. So I got on the college database and looked up Jehovah's Witnesses with mental disorders and found other reports by credible scholars and psychologists backing up much of Bergman's claims that JW have high incidences of mental illness. Whether those are born-ins who developed the neuroses from long exposure, isolationist lifestyles, and frontal attacks in the ministry; or are possibly people who are drawn to JW because of their mental illness is yet to be determined. Findings are that many who respond to the message of the JW's and convert are usually those with victim complexes and a desire to come out on top when everyone else dies at armageddon.
• 
  3

  New Health Worker Rules

  by Juan Viejo2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. medical

  the obama administration on friday (2/18/2011) eliminated key provisions of a george w. bush-era rule that allowed health workers to opt out of medical services they find objectionable on religious or personal grounds.

  the rule was widely interpreted as allowing workers to refuse to participate in a range of services, including providing the emergency contraceptive plan b and treating gays and lesbians.

  the new rule leaves intact previously established "conscience protections" for workers who do not want to perform abortions or sterilizations.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Lunatic Faith

  I have a friend who is married to an elder and is a nurse. She doesn't have to be in the surgery room as she is not that kind of nurse, but whenever anyone receives blood more than one health care practitioner is in the room for the IV process. So, she sets up the IV and allows the other person in the room to do the actual connection. Her conscience allowed that and it seems to have worked as she has been a nurse for over a decade.
• 
  16

  Friends dad committed suicide...

  by MrFreeze in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  an old friend from in the jw's dad (who was a non-jw) committed suicide the other day.

  i've been trying to call him for days but he doesn't answer.

  probably doesn't want to talk to someone "lawless and demon-infested".

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Lunatic Faith

  After the death of a relative things can be pretty crazy. When my dad died, and it was natural, I didn't return phone calls or want to talk to anyone. He may be existing in a sort of haze right now. I would go to the funeral and leave a card with your sincere regrets and sympathy. He can then take it or leave it when he is in a better place to cope.