I just learned that psychoactive drugs were common in the first century. Also, there is a fungus that grows on grains that in the unsanitary environments before the industrial revolution has certain psychoactive effects (and that's why in the Middle Ages, there were reports of whole towns seeing things that never existed).
Anony Mous
JoinedPosts by Anony Mous
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13
If John and Paul were alive today wouldn't they be put on medication and kept in a loony ward?
by highdose inserioulsy read some of their stuff and theres clear symtoms there of either drug taking and or mental insanity.. these days men claiming to have god talking to them, seeing mythical animals, rambling for chapters and chapters at a time in such a way that not even your contempories can figure out.
are given medication for their troubles, conseling and if needed put in a pyshco ward..
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Anony Mous
Hey, I have recently re-discovered the repressed physical abuse I went through and the repressed memories of sexual abuse of other people (3) in my age group, one that confided in me as their last hope when I was ~16 years old. I was always told to keep it silent (no reproach on Jehovah's name you know) and for the sake of those people I do not want to publish their names to either the elders or here as they are all adults now.
Those people are all messed up now. The one that talked to me started cutting and got tattoos (virtually no job opportunities in a business setting later in life), all 3 have attempted suicide and one succeeded. Even though I was "just" physically abused, I do carry the scars and I am scared to raise my own child for fear of repeating what I have learned.
Abusers (any type) have no recourse in my eyes. They MESSED SOMEONE UP for life, they should carry the consequences as long as their victims and any other potential victims (thus any child) are alive or you can (through incarceration or science) have a 100% success rate of removing the access they have to potential victims. There is also a high rate of recidivism especially when you place them in a closed, internalizing community like Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons etc. Children cannot protect themselves against these monsters (and many abusers are psychopaths or sociopaths), society as a whole has this responsibility to protect them and the best way to do this is by having a letter or a mark (like Cain in the bible) follow them wherever they go so other communities can be careful and protect their children as well.
My abuser seems like one of the nicest persons around and even got remarried. But as soon as he finds out he has full control of the situation, he changes. You can see this for example with older people he "helps" - the nicest person and always offering to help but as soon as he finds he got control over them and they trust him he starts bullying.
Some warning signs to look out for:
- Very, very nice to you and always trying to help out
- Attempts to be alone increasingly as time goes on with his potential victims by taking them out to movies or gatherings
- Frequently asks how they are doing and as time goes on, is very nosy about certain subjects
- Frequently talks about him/her being normal and the 'normal' things he/she has done recently
- In case there was alleged abuse but no conviction (as often the case among Jehovah's Witnesses), they will actually sometimes go to the extent of getting certificates from the State, FBI or other authorities that they are certified to work with children and bring it up whenever their allegations or even allegations against others are brought up.
- They attempt to have jobs (if possible) that are eerily close to their victims or bring them into contact with people that have gone through these situations (they attempt to relive their past offenses by proxy)
- Creepy, stalkerish behavior. Showing up out of the blue (no appointment or call ahead), lingering to the point of being socially awkward, nosy, pushy. Know-it-all and offering help if you have issues with certain subjects that have to do with their potential victims.
- They seem to enjoy stories about rape or other abuse and frequently bring the subject up and extend it. They even derive rape from other stories and bring it out (eg. when JW's in Africa were persecuted and the subject is touched on briefly in the Watchtower, they would have a comment "Our brothers and sisters were beaten, killed even raped - can you imagine being raped by a group of soldiers while your family has to watch? Even young sisters as old as 12 being raped?")
Yes, there are those wrongfully convicted when they 'rape' their 17yo girlfriend or they pee at the side of the road and a redneck cop sees it but these cases are far and few in behind. Those are also usually offenders that are not publicly listed and after a while don't even have to report it anymore. Sometimes, simply going to court again with a better lawyer after some time to remove the 'tag' is possible in some jurisdictions.
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Still no pant suits, for sisters
by Quarterback ini was watching the cnn this evening..watched hilliary clinton walk towards some dignataries in a foreign land.
i saw that she was well dressed in a pant suit.
she is the us secretary of state, and what she wore was dignified.
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Anony Mous
The "Who are Jehovah's Witnesses" tract with the two people on the front (which is still being distributed by the way) says it all.
The rules won't change and they are hemorrhaging their young members. I've discussed the silly rules before. In the 80s and 90s it was "to look like we were serious" as business people sometimes still dressed that way. These days the reason is "because we're different" and with that reasoning they will stand out like Amish in a decade or two while everyone else is wearing tight space suits.
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Homeless, laid off Bethelites living in tents in VA.
by koolaid-man ina regular caller to our six screens of the watchtower conference call david w. contacted the six screens tele-network on sept. 1, 2011 and reported that allegedly some laid off bethelites were living in tents behind a giant food store in virginia.. david stated their were two well dressed men and a young women around 30 years old temporally living behind the supermarket.. the woman according to david said she was trying to get to florida but did not have the money for the trip.. david said the police arrived and questioned the homeless people and they told the police that they were recently released from the watchtower org in ny.
the police made no charges.. has anyone else heard of this happening?.
david w. will give more details on the dialogue program sat.
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Anony Mous
If someone gave them the tent, do you think it will be announced at the next convention? It may be and then the punch line would be: "Do you see how God blesses his loyal servants" *clapping*
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Rick Fearon Is Kewl
by minimus inyou know, i like rick fearon.
he's his own man and he's kewl.
i just wanted to say something nice on this labor day weekend.
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Anony Mous
Rick Fearon is just as a Witness when it comes to convincing others. Except he's against them.
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I am out (finally) - done with the Witnesses
by Anony Mous inhi, long time no see.
i am finally out of the borg.
had a talk with an elder-friend-family member today who said i should just do it if that's what i want to do, and my wife says if that's what i want to do that she's fine with it.
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Anony Mous
Well, I told her my life story (and abuse) as a Witness - I never did before to anyone and things have been coming back to me lately - and it got through to her that I have my reasons and I'm not against her or any Witness and that I don't seek to change her or anyone (which I don't). I can't say very much publicly right now for fear of revealing too much about myself, maybe I'll post later when the storms have subsided.
I told her that I'm going through some psychological issues because of the abuse and she understands that I said things I didn't mean. We agreed to raise our child according to biblical morals and to leave her with a choice later in life but that I, for now, would support her. She does not expect me to start returning as a Witness and would understand if I never do. I feel right now that I can never support the organization unless some major changes in policy happen as far as abuse, sexual abuse, judicial cases, ex-members and medical treatment choices. The biblical interpretation is irrelevant to me, all churches believe something different and who am I to say they're wrong?
We'll see what happens over the next few weeks. I've been able to spend a lot of time with my child and her by myself (no oversight) though which is the most important thing and because of it, we've been able to communicate and things have returned to a level of normalcy. She is still not back in the home but at least it seems she's not afraid of me anymore as a loonie apostate and there is a chance that she will return.
I've also opened up to people at my job and told them I was a member and that my wife had left and family started shunning me and they've been great as far as support goes. Those worldly people are genuinely caring. I've even been invited to someone's house for dinner.
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Watchtower teaching have all the bases covered?
by trailerfitter ini am not sure if you are aware of the proposals by pastor micheal stahl who wants to get a register of atheists started so they activities like boycotting their businesses can be engaged in.
i mensioned this to my jw wife who already who i am trying to show that the wt policies are just a nutty as other american religious influences however she just retored that this is the sign of the end because there is a war going on.
i cannot get through to her and everything goes back to her newly found belief being the only true one.
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Anony Mous
The rhetoric has indeed all the bases covered. If it doesn't fit with WT material it's apostate and therefore dangerous and from Satan. You trying to show her is you having Satan and she might be coerced to leave you (just happened to me a few days ago).
What you have to show her is that you and other people can be nice too. Show her you're NOT against her and start asking questions, questions about the differences in faith you had before and their version of it. Once she gets in seventh heaven that you appear interested start asking the questions that the Watchtower has no answer for.
Be genuinely interested and then further down the road ask: so how do you know this is the right way to go, can you show me that Witnesses are chosen from the Bible. They'll mention they're neutral in war (but other religions are too, find out which ones) or they preach from door to door (but other religions are too, find out which ones) - there are still Bible Students around (the original Russelites) say you found them and ask why they are not the right religion as Witnesses split from them after 1914. Also ask later where in the Bible they can substantiate that God has chosen the 144,000 and why Jesus is only a mediator for them. Blood transfusion policy cannot be substantiated from the Bible either.
jwfacts.com has a great cache of information. ajwrb.org as well. Read up on cults and see the parallels in how they work and guard yourself against it.
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Will the door to door presentation ever change?
by RULES & REGULATIONS ini haven't been out in door to door service in years.
my name is rules and this is brother john.
we are in your area today talking to your neighbors and asking this important question.
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Anony Mous
People don't care, the conversations don't happen. I've been using the same one for years - Hi, name is x and I'm here with y, I have this magazine for you about (read title). Are you interested in reading it? If they are, I say, "I might stop by another time to see what you thought about it, goodbye". The last year or so I haven't gone back to anyone.
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Homeless, laid off Bethelites living in tents in VA.
by koolaid-man ina regular caller to our six screens of the watchtower conference call david w. contacted the six screens tele-network on sept. 1, 2011 and reported that allegedly some laid off bethelites were living in tents behind a giant food store in virginia.. david stated their were two well dressed men and a young women around 30 years old temporally living behind the supermarket.. the woman according to david said she was trying to get to florida but did not have the money for the trip.. david said the police arrived and questioned the homeless people and they told the police that they were recently released from the watchtower org in ny.
the police made no charges.. has anyone else heard of this happening?.
david w. will give more details on the dialogue program sat.
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Anony Mous
Oh please, Rick, you're still a pawn of the Watchtower even if you think you're no part of it. This type of thing is EXACTLY what they want - unsubstantiated rumors and accussations just make you look more like an enemy and persecuter and drives the flock back into the arms of their abusers. The first time I went looking for alternatives to the cult, I came across the Six Screens site and it validated all the Witness claims about those 'opposers' and I stopped looking.
If you have HARD evidence (police reports or court transcripts), that would be great but I doubt you can substantiate this claim as you can any other. Especially Bethelites are demi-Gods in the WT organization, ANY Hardcore Witness family no matter how poor would rather give up their apartment and sleep outside in the middle of a harsh winter with a newborn than let a Bethelite (even an ex-Bethelite) sleep on any type of hard surface.
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First day of university!
by breakfast of champions ini think this is going to be fun!.
interesting though.... i'm taking a required english comp course and the prof says above all we want you to develop your critical thinking skills!.
it's been a looooooong strange trip...... .
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Anony Mous
Where are you going? Inquiring minds want to know. I work at a University in research, even though I don't do research myself (I'm technical support) it definitely helped me see the contrast between the scientific mindset and the religious one.
Especially when you consider how really bad engineered the human body really is or how primates are really a lot like little children you start thinking to yourself, well why would God do such a thing and why if we're invidually specied is there so many overlap in children and primate research (actually one of the labs I support does exactly that - look for the overlap and where/when the human mind starts to differ).