The Rebel

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Posts by The Rebel

• 
  212

  Why Do You No Longer Believe in God?

  by Tenacious in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i know this question has popped up from time to time but i really would like to know how you guys, those that no longer believe, came to that conclusion?

  was it the wts and all its crap?

  was it something you read?

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  The Rebel

  That which is supported by mere opinion can also be dismissed by mere opinion.

  So here is my challenge, how can we prove or not prove this existence of a being whose non existence is inconcivable?

  The Rebel.
• 
  43

  Did Jesus really die on a cross?

  by macys in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  being raised a catholic we had lots of crosses around the house.

  when my family converted to this cult they were all removed and destroyed in case they had demons in them lol but at this juncture in my life i do not even know if jesus as the way he is portrayed in the bible was real.

  yes a man named jesus did live and die 2000 years ago and probably on a cross but he was definitely not the son of god.

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  The Rebel

  If Christians believe Jesus was an innocent victim of the death penalty, then why are so many Christians pro the death penalty?

  The Rebel.
• 
  212

  Why Do You No Longer Believe in God?

  by Tenacious in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i know this question has popped up from time to time but i really would like to know how you guys, those that no longer believe, came to that conclusion?

  was it the wts and all its crap?

  was it something you read?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  The Rebel

  Anyway as we are coming up to Xmas, let's get in the Christmas spirit and assume Santa Clause is the all powerful God. I mean it could be argued that he controls almost 20% of world fiscal activity. But then again point taken " Cofty" this is is not really adding to " a useful conversation"

  The Rebel.
• 
  12

  The Psychological Manipulation of the Watchtower.

  by The Rebel in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when someone interacts with you they can influence your thoughts and also manipulate your thinking.

  i became aware that this is what i was doing with householders on the ministry.

  we chipped away at householders with manipulation, and called it a return call.

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  The Rebel

  Darkknight757 " By what you are saying I see why."

  Absolutely, and this is why when the watchtower is willing to disfellowship "YOU", to preserve its secrets and prevent exposure. Therefore we need to be aware of the psychological manipulation and not be intimidated by the threats. Also I think it's important that if possible we do not become angry and unstable, as this is only giving the watchtower the victory.

  The Waychtower controls " YOU" by threats, fear and humiliation. One of the strongest threats and fear it controls " YOU" by is the consequence of disfellowshipping, which can destroy " YOUR" family relationships.

  The Rebel.
• 
  212

  Why Do You No Longer Believe in God?

  by Tenacious in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i know this question has popped up from time to time but i really would like to know how you guys, those that no longer believe, came to that conclusion?

  was it the wts and all its crap?

  was it something you read?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  The Rebel

  Punkofnice " This so one of THOSE threads!

  Agreed, when I play chess it's always with an end game in mind, and I have never read a thread that proves or disproves the existence of God. Maybe both sides need a better lawyer?

  The Rebel.
• 
  15

  It had sounded to good to be true.

  by The Rebel in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  because it wasn't true anyway.

  it was a dream.

  the insanest dream, to believe that i was going to live forever.. but today i am alive, and i am determined to travel the seconds between life and death aware of my mortality.

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  The Rebel

  Anyway this thread is proof that " sometimes things that are too good to be true,can be true" This thread is therefore dedicated to all the posters, and lurkers who won't let the Watchtower stand in their way to a better future.

  There is no better way to live life than being true to yourself.

  The Rebel.
• 
  212

  Why Do You No Longer Believe in God?

  by Tenacious in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i know this question has popped up from time to time but i really would like to know how you guys, those that no longer believe, came to that conclusion?

  was it the wts and all its crap?

  was it something you read?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  The Rebel

  Q) Why do I know longer believe in God?

  A) Historical criticim.

  Anyway I don't feel I need a label, I am who Iam and that's me.

  The Rebel.
• 
  212

  Why Do You No Longer Believe in God?

  by Tenacious in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i know this question has popped up from time to time but i really would like to know how you guys, those that no longer believe, came to that conclusion?

  was it the wts and all its crap?

  was it something you read?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  The Rebel

  Tenacious " Jesus In mark 4:30 said the mustard seed was the smallest of seeds"

  I believe the explanation for that statement, was that it was the smallest seed a Palestinian farmer might have sowed in his field. So talking in everyday terminology it was correct. For example yesterday I saw the most spectacular sunset, but technically and scientifically that statement is wrong, as we know the sun doesn't set.

  The Rebel.
• 
  12

  The Psychological Manipulation of the Watchtower.

  by The Rebel in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when someone interacts with you they can influence your thoughts and also manipulate your thinking.

  i became aware that this is what i was doing with householders on the ministry.

  we chipped away at householders with manipulation, and called it a return call.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  The Rebel

  When someone interacts with you they can influence your thoughts and also manipulate your thinking. I became aware that this is what I was doing with householders on the ministry. We chipped away at householders with manipulation, and called it a return call. The aim wasn't to achieve a bible study, the real aim was to get a house holder to attent the Kingdom Hall.

  It was at the Kingdom Hall that the psychological manipulation really took place. This is the place where our thoughts were influenced, and manipulated. This is the place we learnt to " tune out" the conversation and follow watchtower thinking and behaviour. So it was in the Kingdom Hall that our self-esteem was lowered and the mind control increased.

  Therefore I now realise it was at the Kingdom Hall I was manipulated by fear, and became afraid that i had to live up to Watchtower interpretation of truth, and if i didn't do this i became afraid of the fear and humiliation of being marked or disfellowshipped. I therefore became judgemental and my thoughts became conditioned.

  Lets take homosexuality for example, the group conditioned me to believe homosexuality was wrong and all practising homosexuals would be killed by Jehover at Armageddon.

  in conclusion as I mentioned in my first paragraph in my opinion the most effective way to get a householder to become a witness was not the bible but attendance at the Kingdom Hall. I therefore also believe the most effective way to get out of the psychological manipulation of the watchtower is to reduce meeting attendance, as then slowly the effects of the mind control will be replaced with more independent thinking.

  it should be noted there was once a Watchtoer that had on the front page " Beaware of independent thinking" Quite ironic when you think about it,because surely " independent thinking" is the only form of thinking we should have.

  Any comments?

  The Rebel.
• 
  10

  How would you/did you categorize the elders in YOUR hall!

  by Truthexplorer in

  1. social
  2. humour

  i would consider some of the elders in my hall genuine shepherds ( though g men) there are a couple others i would consider robotic/wooden (boring) but ok. then of course there is the complete knob (pharisee wannabe) who grinds my wife and i's gears.

  every hall seems to have one!!!

  so how do/did you view the elders in your hall?

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  The Rebel

  I would catagrise the elders in my " former" congregation as wolves. Whilst the elders were the dominant leaders, the congregation was actuallya pack of wolves, and co-operation between wolves within the pack was apparent. And when the weak were hunted down and hounded out of the congregation, another was soon found to be hunted down.

  It should be noted the dominant leaders in the pack would never try to lower themselfs to a compassionate level and this spirit was passed on throughout the congregation. As generally being a witnesses is all about image and superficiality, I think describing them as wolves in sheeps clothing is an astute and fair observation.
  

  The Rebel