Re debt comments- not correct in UK student loan repayment more of a tax most all never be repaid. No repayment until wages hit 23k then you are looking around £50_75 a month hardly going to ruin anyone. Dont count against you for any other loan except in terms of affordability. Don't be caught up in scare mongery about student debt its all rubbish.
SummerAngel
JoinedPosts by SummerAngel
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37
You or Family at Uni? Bye bye Ministerial Servants Position
by snugglebunny inkingdom ministry school.
2018 service year.
programme for congregation elders: file:///c:/users/michael/downloads/kms-tk18-e_no8.pdf.
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What's out there?
by Jrjw insomeone asked me what does the world have to offer if left the truth?
'coz i'm still in the process of leaving i just said i don't feel i fit in the truth or the world.
she's known me for 12 years and she's the 3rd person recently to say i've changed.
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SummerAngel
You could flip the question is what is there for me in WTS. Totally agree with comments re map and 'outside there be dragons' watch the film The Village' its basically how JWs work.
They sell you the false premise of 'jam tomorow' except tomorrow never comes and probably never will at least in your life time. While you're waiting for tomorrow to come you pretty much have to give up everything in the here and now which is why so many elderly JWs are grumpy and fed up they have made poor choices re education,jobs no pension plans given up hobbies they love but they are still here and now face death which was never part of the deal. Is that what you want in your life??
I look at what my kids have compared to my own childhood and my brothers kids. They have a good education which is leading to a professional career, the younger is too young yet, that's not some short sighted worldly bauble that's setting them up for life. They have had time to learn a musical instrument, plan in sports teams, mix and be friends with kids from all cultures and have both done the scouts, guides system with camping. They both understand what it means to help those less fortunate and overall have a full and fulfilled life as do we.
I compare to JW kids- no hobbies or interests, no education, poor career prospects, don't mix with those whose beliefs differ so not exposed to other view points. No celebrations at all, nothing to mark the years or puncuate the long dreary existence.
You gain about 5 hrs a week as well as freedom of your own mind to weigh up pros and cons or any decision.
I suggest you dip your toe in and plan your escape, feel what its like to make your decisions based on your own ethical code.
Be open to actually how much self sacrificing goodness there is out there of course the other exists too but it does in all walks of life, plenty of corruption in WTS too.
Accept that it feels a bit odd, people who have been kept chained in basements for years find the light difficult and the outside world odd at first it doesn't mean their previous existence was good for them. I've been out 30 yrs I still find some things odd, but the benefits vastly outweigh this fleeting feeling xx
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New to the truth
by MatthewHewey ini have been meeting with member's of the kingdom hall, and i have attended a few times now on sundays.
i'd like to discuss experiences with this group since i'm new.
so far, i love it.
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SummerAngel
Hi Matthew
Most people are on this forum because they experienced like you initial love bombing and were taken in by how wonderful it all appeared then they got bitten. If you get baptised it is very hard to leave. The usual trajectory to new comers they offer all the practical help you need accommodation, work clothes and belongings- so far what's not to like ehh? Then you are gradually ' encouraged' to leave behind old friends, family anyone who doesn't believe the same as them. They basically make you totally reliant then when you want to leave it all disappears and those new friends etc will shun you, that job will go as will the accommodation etc.
I'm born in but left approx 30 yes ago family all in. I've chosen to be Christian that's not a popular choice on this site but if you feel you want an option you could look at an alpha course but I'm not here to promote any other religion i m just suggesting you have choices. Just because the JWs appear nice don't assume you cannot find that elsewhere without the other issues.
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My younger brother officially Disassociated today
by pale.emperor inhi guys.
just wanted to share this with you as it's kind of got me worried.
my brother who was also raised in "the truth™" met me in town today for a coffee.
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SummerAngel
Hi Pale
SS should be able to help or certainly offer signposting to an org that can. As a potential vulnerable adult this could come under safeguarding process if he has any emotional pressure and definitely withdrawal of care. Social services will also support with finding a carer and depending on benefits may fund some of the support. Also strongly consider an advocate for him again there should be a local org that deals in this. Advocates are usually free and their role is to ensure the persons voice is heard. MIND may be able to help
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What’s The Strangest Belief of Jehovah’s Witnesses?
by minimus inthere’s a lot.
i think one strange view is how only 144000 go to heaven.
since the number is mentioned in the symbolic book of revelation, you would expect that the number would be viewed as figurative, but jws say otherwise.
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SummerAngel
Obsession with anything that could be construed even remotely as demonic. Example we went to disney this year , the disney corp send out a guide to their parks its called .....
’the little book of magic’
its co ered i. Pics of mickey, cinderellas castle etc however my mother wouldnt even touch it due to the title she had decided i was i to witch craft.
Over the years they echucked perfectly good furniture and toys because they ‘made them feel odd so must be demonised’
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So my PIMO Younger Brother Tried To Kill Himself Today
by pale.emperor inwe all know that this cult will drive those trying to leave to desperate measures, and today by brother was very nearly one of those statistics.
he slashed his thigh with a kitchen knife and was bleeding out until he called the police.. i got a call on my way home from work from a police officer, coincidentally it was one of my old friends from school who's now a cop.
he told me my brother is in hospital after an attempted suicide and has lost some blood but will be ok. but i should get to the hospital as he's asking for me.
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SummerAngel
Hi Pale Emperor. Really sorry to hear whats happening for you and your brother. I have quite a good knowledge of mental health system. Hosp stays can be very short die to pressure on beds. He may benefit from a non Jw. Advocat the ward manager can support him to get this they dhould provide a neutral person to ensure his wishes rather than his families are heard. Try and ensure you are a visible presence on the ward and that they have you as a main contact to be involved in discharge plans. It may be helpful for him to have ongoing support from the community MH team im thinking they will be a non JW influence to help him decide direction. My experience of MH teams was they are quite anti religion but tend to see them all the same so wouldnt necessarily twig that JWs were a cult so may be helpful to i form them this is more than just family being over protective. Pm me if you need to. Ive lived and worked around MH for years
This cult regards loyalty above life.
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14
Great music video from Apostate chick
by ToesUp inhttps://youtu.be/cafygzb1geo.
maybe she can help out watchtower with their monthly videos.. great job.
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SummerAngel
That is brillient so spot on
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Pale.Emperor Meets A Born Again Christian
by pale.emperor inof all the religions out there one religion that's always filled me with exasperation was the born again christian belief system.
to make matters worse, the street preachers i see and hear here in liverpool always tend to be crack pot, loud mouths, attention seeking and just plain annoying.. this idea that "im going to heaven, you're going to hell" is enough to make me not want to worship their god even if he did exist.
but today i met two.
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SummerAngel
I was in 2 minds about posting a reply to this as i have identified as evangelical Christian for the last 2/half decades which on this site isnt popular.
When i hear the stuff people encounter from cerrtAin faith groups i cringe. Unfortunately the fruit loops and fanatacists are always the most visable and the 2nd guy you spoke to although slightly inept is probably more representative of those i mix with. I dont know of anyone in the churches i have gone to that would shout abuse down the microphone in the street and ive met some pretty fundy christians
but im not doubting you. As regards evangelising myself i have a total adversion to both giving and receiving it and think its a dreadful witness. My church is heavily involved in community work which involves monthly messy church which gets around 40 kids and 20 adults, and an annual community week of entertainment usually for kids and families. Loads have joined from these. We had about 6 baptisms in the last year in a church of 60 people- bit better than JWs. All adults.
Regarding the comment about jesus giving him something to live for. I wouldnt agree with this, i have family, friends life etc i dont think his view is that representative but it may be that if that church encounters a lot of depressive suicidal people then that view is expressed commonly but i wouldnt say most christians i know would feel thar way.
I think what you encountered was one of the very fundementalist versions possibly new fronteers which tend to be more that way. Extremism of any type is ugly and there are plenty of extremely devout atheists on this site who can be quite offensive to those who do have faith too.
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Normal things you missed out on as a kid (besides holidays)
by Are you serious insince me and my siblings had to go to service every saturday, and i mean every saturday, i missed out on something so normal as watching good ole saturday morning cartoons from the 70's and 80's.
i remember wishing i could stay home just one saturday so i could watch cartoons.
but noooo we had to go save lives!
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SummerAngel
Being an angel in the school nativity
decorating a xmas tree
Smelling and seeing a firework display for real
relaxed clothes
parties
attending dance classes they were saturday mornings
doing gym classes they were also saturday mornings
learning to do ballroom that involved dancing with boys -i was 7!!
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12
Freak out over a magic 8 ball toy
by charity7 injust had a jw freak out over some magic 8 balls that i have.
next thing you know i turn my head and it was thrown into a box to get rid of it.
is it because it has the word magic in it?
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SummerAngel
My mum saw the Disney holiday handbook on the table which was entitled 'The little book of magic" she was then convinced it was about witchcraft. The cover had a picture of Micky mouse on it!