acsot

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Posts by acsot

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  2

  Bible verses JWs wouldn't want to find because they want to dis you!!!

  by elumn8 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this is an essay on how dissfellowshipping is wrong.

  men have wrote the words of the bible and it's the very few words of jesus our leader that we must follow.

  dissfellowshipping hinders the person more than helping.

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  acsot

  Missing relitives and friends in an attempt to gain back the dissfellowshiped person is wrong. The person should feel like he wants to go back because he is serving god and not because it is a social gathering with family and friends there. Dissfellowshipping a person wouldn't allow for reason to go back. Family and friends are not the reason a person worships god.

  elumn8: you are absolutely right. I always felt that way also. Many people return to the witnesses, but it's because they miss their families, not because of God. So the Watchtower attempts at manipulating people only prove how far away from God they really are, they couldn't care less about whether a person really loves God, they only want numbers to increase. They are so shallow, and sadly many JWs are sincere and kind and do not realize what type of organization they are living under.

  Good post!
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  It's my birthday, born May 3, 1956.

  by Sadie5 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it will be a busy day today, so the kids put together a little celebration for me last night.

  the eleven year old baked a cake.

  it was chocolate with green frosting and sprinkles.

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  acsot

  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

  WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO CELEBRATE YOUR SPECIAL DAY! If JWs could only glimpse what they're missing, and not because of God's dictates, but a bunch of grumpy old men in Brooklyn, maybe some of them would be able to crawl out from under the burdens they're being made to carry.

  It's great that you're out and celebrating in such a loving way!

  Have some chocolate on me!
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  13

  sister Df'd 26 years ago, wants to come back now

  by ApagaLaLuz in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have an older sister who is 48. she was a regular pioneer and married a ministerial servant.

  26 years ago she was df'd and divorced him.

  she had moved away before i was even born.

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  acsot

  What happened to me, to settle my doubts that maybe, just maybe, they were still right somehow, in spite of the hateful attitude of many, the power-wielding elders, the light blinking on and off and changing colors every few months, was reading many of AlanF's essays, as well as checking out Beans' website (http://quotes.jehovahswitnesses.com). Ray Franz’ essay on the Flood was much more logical to me than the JW/fundamentalist version of a world-wide flood. After reading these treatises, any doubt or fear I had that maybe I was turning my back on something good disappeared completely. Check out the links, maybe print them and see if your sister will read it.

  If there’s no love in the WTS, and doctrinally they aren’t telling the truth, what’s left?

  http://www.premier1.net/~raines/jwsci.html

  http://www.freeminds.org/psych/gbfeeds.htm

  http://www.commentarypress.com/essay-flood.html
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  2003 DISTRICT CONVENTION OF JW'S ?

  by Blueblades in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  from the authorized site of the office of public information:.

  in turbulent times dominated by fear and insecurity,those who attend the 200 upcoming three and four day programs of bible education in some 62 cities across the united states can expect to be spiritually refreshed and rejuvenated.. jw's 2003 d.c.will carry the theme"give god glory".. does anyone know why there are three days and then four days in different cities?will they cram four days of spiritually refreshing and rejuvenating programs of bible education into three days in some cities and then stretch it into four days in some other cities?.

  are they also talking about their" own "turbulent times dominated by fear and insecurity.. blueblades

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  acsot

  This year certain "privileged" cities are designated as International Conventions, and therefore will have foreign delegates, missionaries and the like on hand to give "upbuilding" experiences and "encouraging reports" to all in attendance. This is in addition to the regular Spiritual Food so indispensable to the crowded throngs, therefore, the International Conventions will begin on Thursday afternoon, 1:00 or 1:30 or something like that. So it's actually three and a half days, but for the poor saps who have to travel from out of town it's an additional expense for an extra night at a hotel. But that's okay, because it's all for Jehovah, right?

  Excuse me now, I have to hurl.
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  17

  Just got home from my FIRST day of work :D

  by Jesika in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well, i didn't know what to expect.

  you never know what kind of people you will be working with untill you are aleady working there.

  i spent most of the evening laughing.

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  acsot

  Congrats to my Jesika! Way to go! You'll definitely add a sparkle to the place! I'm happy for you!
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  51

  Irreverent in the Hospital

  by blondie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my husband went into the hospital tuesday night with heart arrythmia.

  he was given a shock treatment which lowered the heart rate considerably.

  he had catherization done today which showed no arterial blockage.

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  acsot

  Dear Blondie I'm so sorry to hear about Irreverent! Give him a hug for me. My boss also has heart arrythmia, and also went through shock therapy on his heart about a year ago. He's fine, still the Managing Partner of the firm where I work, still traveling, still working out, so although scary it's manageable with medication and other treatments.

  What a scary time for you - my thoughts are with you (((((((((((((((Blondie))))))))))))))
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  12

  can this be real?

  by SPAZnik in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm so excited i could burst!

  my sibling and i have been reunited, not only irl .

  please give breal a much deserved hearty welcome y'all!

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  acsot

  Welcome Breal! What a happy story/reuniting! Ain't this place great!
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  33

  Help! Spouse thinks JW religion the most logical

  by bittersweet in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  my husband and i were discussing what makes some people become jw's last night.

  i was saying that if i hadn't grown up in it, i would have never been drawn to it at all.

  i'm not a very spiritual person.

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  acsot

  Bittersweet said:

  The problem I find with most active jw's is that they won't even listen to anything contrary to what the FDS says. They think that if they listen even for a second they are apostate. It drives me mad!

  Yes, it drives me mad also, even though I was one of those people who wouldn't dare listen to a negative word about the FDS. However, at the same time, I had this nagging doubt that if it was the truth, and so logical, then it could stand up to any amount of scrutiny, any type of criticism levelled at it. If a belief system is so fragile that it crumbles under even the tiniest criticism, then, logically, it can't be truth.

  These type of doubts, along with the horrendous lack of love in the WTS, eventually led to such cognitive dissonance that I figured that if JWs did have the "truth", I'd rather die at Armageddon than worship such a petty, nit-picking, changeable god as the one described by the FDS.

  Maybe if you suggest to your spouse that the truth can stand up to any type of assault, he'll listen. On the other hand, if just by listening to or reading something which they feel comes from Satan can overthrow Jehovah's truth (i.e. criticism of their confidence in 607 b.c. as being the destruction of Jerusalem), in a sense it's like saying that Satan is stronger than Jehovah.

  Don't know if the above makes sense, but the boss asked me to do something so wanted to finish this off in a hurry.

  Keep us posted.
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  5

  What have you read that helped you?

  by yesidid in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my journey out began with this and other ''eyeopening" internet sites [thank you simon].

  i have since read ray franz's two books and greg stafford's "dissertations".

  although i am very grateful to have found out that my years of questions had a solid base and i now see the wts for what it is, i have decided i need more positives in my life.

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  acsot

  yesidid, I've started reading the book JamesT has suggested. My initial response was "good god this is weird!", now I already have experienced a few fleeting moments of what is described, this peaceful feeling that comes with being in the Now. I know, it sounds goofy, but I knew I had to break down my initial JW automatic knee-jerk rejection towards something completely different from what I've been used to experiencing, so I've kept reading and believe me, it's worth it!

  Thanks JamesT
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  4

  Man's Search For Meaning.

  by Blueblades in

  1. jw
  2. friends

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  i just finished reading victor e. frankl's book,"man's search for meaning".at the core of his theory is the belief that man's primary motivational force is his search for meaning.. the american journal of psychiatry says this about the book,"unconditional faith in an unconditional meaning is dr.frankl's message to the reader".. for myself,i did not find closure in man's search for meaning.dr.frankl also wrote,"the unheard cry for meaning"and "the unconscious god"which i will read next in hopes of finding some kind of closure in my search for meaning.. what about you,have you found closure in your search for meaning?if so, would you please share it with me, and anyone else who might be interested in this subject,thank you.. blueblades

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  acsot

  JamesThomas suggested "The Power of Now" as a good book to read. I've just started it, though it's not really a "closure" type of book, more along the lines of peace and connectedness. It's sort of weird that I find "Christian" writings to be rather narrow and limited in scope now that I've broadened my viewpoint (I never would have imagined being at this place in my life a year ago!). I look for more all-inclusive writings, perhaps I should say more philosophical lines of reasoning in what I now read. I've also read True Believer by Eric Hoeffer, which helped explain the workings of high-control groups, and therefore aided my understanding in how the WTS works and how and why people get trapped by it.

  I want to read Man's Search for Meaning as well. It does seem rather overwhelming - all the things to catch up on once freed of Borg restrictions!

  I believe that "closure" is a bit restrictive, in that we try and arrive at a "place". I think that as we read more and reflect for ourselves, we grow and change, and consequently will never really "arrive". It's more liberating than restrictive. I'm still angry at the Borg for what they've done, but am unsure if I'll "arrive" somewhere definite. I guess right now I'm searching more for tranquility and peace of mind more than anything else.

  This is probably too rambling to be of much good! Sorry about that, it's just that your question kind of struck a chord - a few months ago I wanted closure, now I'm not sure if that's the right word to describe where I'm at now or what I'm looking for.

  Acsot