This is what I've been saying all along. Trying to keep opposing beliefs in your head at the same time is what the WT is all about. In Psych, we call it cognitive dissonance. Like a bad chord on a piano. What's he doing with a pistol? About 15 to 20 years ago, didn't all the JW's who carried a gun as part of their job have to find other jobs? I thought guns were bad. What changed? This ought to set the local witnessing work back a few years. It only take one to spoil it for the rest. (Insert sobbing and who's gives a damn here.) I am going to get a good laugh watching them get out of this one.
mcsemike
JoinedPosts by mcsemike
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20
GUN TOTING ELDER CHARGED MULTIPLE FELONYS (murder)
by DannyHaszard ininjured woman's husband arraigned
hartford courant, united states - 57 minutes ago .
... but the police report offers no reason ambrose - a self-employed carpenter and elder in the canton congregation of the jehovah's witnesses - attacked his wife ...
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How Suicide Will Increase Among Jehovah's Witnesses
by metatron ini'm not a psychologist but a little logic tells you that somethings got to give.. i see too many witnesses who are falling into the "escalating commitment" trap.
your life is a mess, so you find the "truth"!.
next, you commit yourself further by dropping college.
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mcsemike
Regarding Metatron's post: I'm not an expert but I do have a BA in Psychology. I had a pc crash and lost my links to some material on this issue. JW's have up to 40 times the rate of mental illness than the general population. Depression is one of the most common mental disorders. I myself had my daughter raped at the age of nine until she was 13. The elders covered it up and I lost my temper. My criticism of the WT cost me my wife, who moved out a few years after we found out. She took my daughter, who was then 16. I have seen her once in the last 3 years and I moved from NJ to FL to live with a family member when I couldn't stay there anymore. She is now 20 and has gone through several bouts of eating disorders, cutting herself, and other things. She barely finished high school at the age of 20. I was on medication for 4 years and still am. I was in therapy for 2 years. If NJ had more liberal gun laws, I would absolutely have killed myself. I am now safe from that in FL since I am better, at least not suicidal. Most JW's are "the walking dead", no matter what they say or how they act at the hall. It's just a mask. They are all afraid to speak their doubts since they don't want to be DF'd.
Most of the posts here, except for the person who needs therapy himself, have been right on the money. JW's have no lives, no matter what they think. College, better jobs, everything mentioned already is lost to them. They plod through life chasing a dream. There is no vitality in their spirit, they are like the character in the book "1984" after the "thought police" got through with him. I usually post longer than this, but I think everyone before me said it quite well. Thank you.
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WALKING IN THE PATH OF INCREASING LIGHT - WT STUDY
by Mary infor those of you not "keeping up with the organization"botchtower deals soley with all the bullshit instances of "increased light" on this joke of a religion god's organization.
it asks many drone-like thought-provoking questions as i've listed below.
incredible that these guys claim to be the sole ownership of what is absolute "truth", yet change doctrines like i change lipsticks.
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mcsemike
I think I know some of these, being that I've been around the "RetchTower" for 35 years.
1. What have God's people experienced as a result of increased spiritual light from Jehovah?
Poverty, Dunkin Donuts for breakfast, McFries for lunch, 3 shares each of Wal-Mart stock, polyester suits, alimony, and therapy bills.
2. What arrangement went into effect in 1919 and how was it beneficial?
God killed 20 million people using the Spanish flu (but forgot to restrict it to Spanish people).
3. In 1931, what resolution was adopted, and how did that affect the Kingdom-proclamation work?
Rutherford instituted a 7 drink daily minimum for all JW's and a ten drink minimum for new people coming to the hall to "drink waters of life" which included the option of "on the rocks" or straight.
4. In 1972, what arrangement was instituted and why was that an improvement?
Now a group of 6 or 8 "elders" could bully the congregation and act like God instead of just one. They also attained divinity, so the publishers now had more than one "god" to look up to. Or is that the answer to number 5???........
5. What arrangement was implemented in 1976?
People disappointed about 1975 called NASA and asked if they could start a T-PLUS countdown forward in time AWAY from the date set in 1975. In addition, Jimmy Carter was elected President and suddenly toothpaste became a "holy relic".
6. What refinement was introduced in 1992 and why?
Child rapists and groups of elders who molested children could now remain elders. Why? Since they all think they are God, they were trying for another immaculate conception. I mean, let's face it, one of them could end up fathering the Second Messiah, since the first one obviously can't be found.
7. In the 1920's, how did Jehovah illuminate the path of his people doctrinally?
He showed them that although aluminum cookware was wicked and apostate, aluminum drinking cups to use while going through a bottle with Rutherford made fine whiskey glasses. They were light and didn't break if you dropped them while you got drunk with Rutherford.
8. What doctrinal truths were clarified in the 1930's?
That NONE of the WT's doctrines were truth or would ever be truth. Also, Rutherford officially stated that whiskey from Canada was more "theocratic" than the whiskey made in bathtubs of people living in Bethel because imported is always better.
9. What increased light was shed in 1962?
Disneyland built more rides for night-time visitors so they used more search lights in the sky. In NYC, near Bethel, new bridges were being built, so more lights shined all night near Bethel. They also tried to decide whom to send their electric light bills to: Jehovah and Jesus because they were the "superior authorities" or to Caesar, because the government, especilly LILCO, should have to pay because the WT had no money. (Drinking imported whiskey for over ten years does put a large dent in the budget for Bethel.)
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im hurt, desperate, confused and considering this religion - advice?
by very_confused inlike the subject title says, i'm hurt, desperate and confused and don't know what to do anymore.
i'm so desperate to have something to live for that i'm considering converting to something like the jehovah's witnesses.
i know this might seem a bit extreme but please hear me out.
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mcsemike
To very_confused: First, I'm sorry for your situation. I'm not a professional therapist, I only have a BA in Psychology. But I strongly recommend that you see a professional ASAP. Making any major change in your life while you are in this state could be disasterous. But joining the JW's is about the worst I can think of. I was one for 25 years and after my wife left me and took my only child, simply because I quit this religion when it covered up my child being raped at the age of 9, I ended up with most of the problems you now have. In other words, many JW's find that BEING a JW or leaving the JW's turn them into the person you are now. So the question might be asked, "Why would you want to get worse?"
It may seem that they care, but it is "love bombing". The JW's are very good at finding and snagging people who are "ripe" or drifting through life without a purpose. Often people are on drugs, or alcohol, just get divorced, had a death in the family, or something else. Maybe a job loss. In any event, by going to the meetings, you get an "instant family" (just add water--the "water of life") who seems to care about you more than your real family does. Many JW's come from very dysfunctional families and by going to the hall, they find the "perfect" family. Why? Because everyone's on his best behavior. But after you join, you will find that YOU must always be on your best behavior, or perhaps I should say THEIR DEFINITION of what your best behavior better be (or else).
Now if you decide to leave them, you will lose EVERYTHING and I fear the consequences. Suicide is rampant among ex-JW's, especially young people. It almost touched my family. Often, people go back to drugs, alcohol and mental disorders that might make what you now have look like kindergarten. I can't tell you what to do, but the people on this board are very intelligent and knowledgeable. They also have much experience with the WT. I would read all the posts and do as much research as possible. I personally am active on the child abuse site www.silentlambs.org . But Freeminds is the biggest site I know to get the most information. I'm very impressed with Randy's work here and the people who participate. I have learned much from them. I hope you can find peace and make the right decision for you. Strange as it may seem, some people are better off as JW's. I can't defend that logically and I cannot understand why, but some have quit and gone back and are happier. It may be for the wrong reasons, but sometimes being at peace is more important than being "right", if there can be a "right" or "wrong" in this issue. Good luck to you and please take care of yourself.
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SELF ESTEEM in the organization
by justice for all indid your self esteem increase or decrease after being in the organization for a while?
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mcsemike
This is an excellent issue. At first, my self-esteem went way up since I felt superior to the rest of the world. I didn't think I felt that way in a mean manner, but it was there anyway. It's difficult not to. "I'm saved and you're not!!" Nyahh, nyahh, nyahh. That type of thing. I was "promoted" rapidly, being made a book study conductor about 2 years after getting baptized. I was then 30 years old and there were elders left over who didn't have a book study to conduct but I was such a "talented, spiritually-gifted" ministerial servant, as it was explained, that they used me. Whenever the elders were out of town, I ran things. It was obvious that I was going to be the next elder. Many MS's had been there years before, but I was always appointed or used first. So all these privileges do go to your head. Then people, especially the sisters, come up to my wife right next to me and say, "You're so blessed by Jehovah to have a husband He is using so much." You get the picture. But all along, and I didn't see it until I got out and got a degree in psychology, I was being set up for a fall. I had NOT learned humility, I learned what I call "goat gloat". Rejoicing that others were goats and weren't going to be in paradise. Being happy that the world, that I was unable to deal with or succeed in because I was the one with the problems, not other people, was wrong all along and MY way of looking at life was right in God's eyes. Then when I got out, I realized how un-Christian the whole thing is and how emotionally crippled most JW's were when they joined, are now, or were when they left the WT. That's why the rate of mental illness among JW's is many times higher than the world in general. I know this from a clinical viewpoint. It seems that half the JW's in the world suffer from depression, even though many don't know it. But when I watch them or they tell me their problems, it's obvious. If this is the truth, why no happy faces? Why do I see JW's putting on a plastic Halloween mask the second they drive into the KH parking lot and taking it off when they leave, and then either mentally, emotionally, or really begin weeping because they "know" something's wrong, but don't know what, how, or if to do anything. They are stuck in neutral and won't touch the shift lever. I really feel sorry for them. And this outlook is obvious to others. Many in my family have told me exactly what's wrong with me, why I joined, and why I quit. And these people have no college training in psychology. It's just plain common sense. The WT either makes you crazy or reinforces your already when you join insanity. There is no successful treatment unless a person leaves the WT. It's called "cognitive dissonance". Trying to hold two conflicting thoughts or feelings in your head at the same time when those two thoughts contradict each other. Try to say "2+2=4" and "2+2=5" one after the other for 30 years and see what happens to your brain. Any thoughts, anyone? Thank you.
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Spokesman-Review article "Cut off by Faith"
by Mr Rocky inhttp://www.spokesmanreview.com/tools/story_pf.asp?id=96267.
i posted this yesterday in friends but it never showed up in friends.
without a link it died a very fast death in active topics.
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mcsemike
Some people said "repent from what?" You are exactly right. You haven't done anything wrong according to the Bible. But what we have to keep in mind here, is that the WT doesn't follow the Bible. They follow their OWN beliefs and the two are NOT the same. If you asked them to show you a scripture forbidding anyone to go to the media, they couldn't do it. You can't do certain things, not because the Bible is against it, but because it would make the WT look bad. That's a pretty poor reason to DF someone. If Einstein attended a meeting and the current teaching was that 2+2=3, he'd have to conform or be a "goat". If he was already baptized and they said 2+2=3, he'd be DF'd. The next year when they said it's "4", do you think they'd say "sorry" and take him back?? Fat chance. We are dealing with egomaniacal, mentally ill people here in the WT. They don't think as humans do. They make up their own brand of logic. My sympathy to any and all who deal with them. They are truly to be pitied, despised, and destroyed.
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Is the Watchtower Society strong enough to win this war with the internet?
by jack w incould it be that the wts actually thinks it can win this war?
i mean, they are forcing sites to close down, suing the people that run them etc.
i wonder if this is the way they want to "handle" the internet problem.
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mcsemike
Danny: Love your stuff. Happy New Year to you too.
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Is the Watchtower Society strong enough to win this war with the internet?
by jack w incould it be that the wts actually thinks it can win this war?
i mean, they are forcing sites to close down, suing the people that run them etc.
i wonder if this is the way they want to "handle" the internet problem.
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mcsemike
Another reason they will lose is psychological. People don't like being lied to, it insults their intelligence. It makes me mad when the WT says it does the most careful research in the world and then lies and twists anything and everything to win the point. Now, JW's are different. They don't necessarily like being lied to, they might not know it's even happening. And even if they do, the WT isn't "lying", it's "spiritual warfare". "Mommie" told them to listen and believe, so they do. Idiots. They deserve what they get. I don't know if it was Danny or someone else, but if anyone is worried about the WT harming your family, move down here to Florida. Our laws are much more in favor of the homeowner or innocent person now. I'm not giving legal advice, but about one out of 50 people have concealed weapons carry permits. If someone threatens you or yours with lethal force, you can shoot him cold, no problems. If someone breaks in your house, I have read that Grannies cleared the doorway with a shotgun. No JW is going to attack anyone down here. They don't want to get into the new system by means of the resurrection. On another forum, an ex-sister said she thought a few WT goons had taken a shot or two at her and warned me to be careful. I told her I have taken all necessary precautions. The only way those cowards can stop me is shoot me in the back. But I don't think they play that way, they are too gutless. They do their "warfare" in court by lying and DF'ing victims and other weasel behavior. Happy New Year to all and make it a good year. Tell everyone you know about anything the WT has done wrong. It will get around. Believe me. Bye for now.
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Spokesman-Review article "Cut off by Faith"
by Mr Rocky inhttp://www.spokesmanreview.com/tools/story_pf.asp?id=96267.
i posted this yesterday in friends but it never showed up in friends.
without a link it died a very fast death in active topics.
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mcsemike
I emailed the person who wrote the article and gave her the Silent Lambs information. Whoever said that publicity is important is correct. The more people who learn of this outrage, the better. I don't know if Danny will read this, but he said to me "All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." I would like to alter that as I remember it in high school. "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for ENOUGH good men to do nothing." If all of us do something, tell someone, email someone, we start becoming "enough good men" and then the WT will die for good. I hope I live long enough to see Brooklyn shut down, JW's outlawed in the USA, and if any of them are found working underground, that may be a good place to make sure they stay, UNDERGROUND. Happy New Year to everyone.
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Is the Watchtower Society strong enough to win this war with the internet?
by jack w incould it be that the wts actually thinks it can win this war?
i mean, they are forcing sites to close down, suing the people that run them etc.
i wonder if this is the way they want to "handle" the internet problem.
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mcsemike
The WT can NEVER win. There are 6 Billion people who are NOT JW's, and 6 Million who are. That's one thousand to one odds. They may have a lot of money, but the world has more. For every site they close down, ten will pop up in their place and 999 sites will still have been untouched. Every time they close a site, they create untold public relations nightmares. The word is spreading about these perverts and they can't stop it. Their own members are quitting in droves. Their rates of growth are level or going down in lands with the Internet, thus showing that the Internet IS very effective. More and more people are taking their stories to the media. The media will crucify them soon if they don't stop their arrogant nonsense. They can't say "we never said that" when their own books are out there contradicting their current teachings. They cannot find every last book they published from the year 1880 until now. They will just tighten their control over whomever is stupid enough to remain as a JW and DF more people. Remember, of all the people alive today who were ever baptized or came close to getting baptized, far more are NOT currently "publishers" than ARE. That means that if you take all the people who ever learned enough about the WT to make any type of intelligent decision, the majority said NO!!! Whether by being DF'd, quitting, DA's, postponing baptism indefinitely, whatever. It doesn't matter. And these people are all telling their friends, family, and the media what they know about the WT. The dam is breaking rapidly and they can't hold back the water any longer. There may be a small pool of water behind the broken dam ten years from now when it's all over, but that's all they'll have, a small group of diehards. It's like a pyramid scheme. Eventually everyone on earth will have been a JW and quit or heard their garbage and said NO WAY. In either case, they'll run out of people to witness to and that will be that. All we have to do is keep warning everyone we know. Happy New Year and good luck to all.