Thank you everyone for your thoughts and experiences.
Xanthippe
JoinedPosts by Xanthippe
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17
Do you ever contact those who shun you?
by Xanthippe indo you ever test the water and see if your relatives or friends still feel the same way?
i don't have mobile phone numbers or email addresses for my family because we left a long time ago.
long before facebook.
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17
Do you ever contact those who shun you?
by Xanthippe indo you ever test the water and see if your relatives or friends still feel the same way?
i don't have mobile phone numbers or email addresses for my family because we left a long time ago.
long before facebook.
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Xanthippe
Thank you Cofty. I remember your thread and how awful it was that your parents were still shunning you even though you were very ill. Did they keep in touch? I notice that your final post on the subject was they hadn't been in touch for six months.
Did it get to a point where it was just you phoning them and they just tolerated it as if you are not worthy of a phone call? I have been at that stage for some years and refuse to contact them anymore because it's disgusting being treated like that. I like your point that it made you feel better to tell them how you felt about their treatment of you. That might be what I need at this stage.
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17
Do you ever contact those who shun you?
by Xanthippe indo you ever test the water and see if your relatives or friends still feel the same way?
i don't have mobile phone numbers or email addresses for my family because we left a long time ago.
long before facebook.
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Xanthippe
Simon and done4good (Couldn't keep away huh?😀) yeah you're right it probably would cause me pain and what would we talk about anyway.
Thanks for your perspective Marina.
I'm on Facebook but I doubt if they are dbq407, but thanks that sounds like fun.
Anyone else ever done this, please?
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17
Do you ever contact those who shun you?
by Xanthippe indo you ever test the water and see if your relatives or friends still feel the same way?
i don't have mobile phone numbers or email addresses for my family because we left a long time ago.
long before facebook.
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Xanthippe
Do you ever test the water and see if your relatives or friends still feel the same way? I don't have mobile phone numbers or email addresses for my family because we left a long time ago. Long before Facebook. I have landline numbers for my brother but for only one of my two sisters. Sometimes I wonder if they have the same attitude, but they have my landline of course. Just wondering what your experience has been of this?
The problem I have is I'm sure in the past they have enjoyed shunning me and my efforts to make contact have just caused me pain. I know the most obvious answer is don't do it, what's the point. But is it possible that their cruel treatment was caused by their pain in losing us plus the cognitive dissonance they experience when someone they knew as very strong in 'the truth' leaves and they've now learned to live with those feelings? Occasionally over the years, when things are tough, like now when my cousin and theirs is dying of bowel cancer, I just think, life's too short for this nonsense. You know?
So I'm just wondering have you got anywhere making the first move with long-time shunners?
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31
The GB know it's all lies and wants to dismantle the WTS ... then what?
by Simon inso imagine the gb have a sudden attack of honesty and realize "crap, this whole thing is lies - we're not god's spokespeople at all !".
how do you dismantle a religion that has +8 million members in a responsible way?
you can't just publish a watchtower saying "we were wrong" because that would be irresponsible - you need to let people down gently, put people off gradually.
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Xanthippe
I think it's quite easy to imagine my possible scenario without the GB feeling they are being dishonest turning it into just a religion and still allowing the R+F to finance their lifestyle. After all the party line they are feeding them now is well whenever the paradise comes it is still the best, most moral, most happifying way of life.
Even if they think they've got the prophecies and the timing all wrong and they're not the spokesman of God they could still believe they deserve a comfortable lifestyle for giving people the best religion on earth. As for the rest, they might think, whenever Armageddon will come, we'll leave that to Jeho....whatever his name should be.
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The GB know it's all lies and wants to dismantle the WTS ... then what?
by Simon inso imagine the gb have a sudden attack of honesty and realize "crap, this whole thing is lies - we're not god's spokespeople at all !".
how do you dismantle a religion that has +8 million members in a responsible way?
you can't just publish a watchtower saying "we were wrong" because that would be irresponsible - you need to let people down gently, put people off gradually.
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Xanthippe
or loosen them to make people less devoted and zealous?
Well I would get rid of the midweek book study; call the TMS our life and ministry reducing emphasis on preaching; reduce conventions to one day; make FS into just standing around handing out leaflets instead of stressful d2d work and turn it into a TV evangelist religion to keep regular money coming in.
Then it's well on the way to becoming just a religion with church on Sunday and my position as a GB celebrity would be securely financed in my brand new out of town home in beautiful landscaping for the rest of my days. Oh .......
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27
You Are Unsuitable!
by Divergent intoday's text -.
sunday, january 24. they collected the fine ones into containers, but the unsuitable they threw away.—matt.
13:48.. understanding the lesson of this illustration helps us to avoid being overly distraught or disappointed if a bible student or one of our children does not make the truth his own.
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Xanthippe
avoid being overly distraught or disappointed if a Bible student or one of our children does not make the truth his own."
Revolting mind control. If you don't hate your children who reject the cult you will be destroyed. Somebody please tell these inhuman monsters that normal people love their children more than any sodding beliefs.
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224
Where Are You From?
by finallysomepride inalot of members don't have a flag or country name beside their user name, and well frequently one doesn't know where that particular person is from, tell us your country, state, county or what ever you feel like giving out.
if you are going to post please at least devulge your country.. me, i'm originally from taranaki, new zealand via auckland.
for the most of this decade i have been living & working in brisbane, queensland, australia.. .
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Xanthippe
You have been away awhile. Nice new avatar!
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224
Where Are You From?
by finallysomepride inalot of members don't have a flag or country name beside their user name, and well frequently one doesn't know where that particular person is from, tell us your country, state, county or what ever you feel like giving out.
if you are going to post please at least devulge your country.. me, i'm originally from taranaki, new zealand via auckland.
for the most of this decade i have been living & working in brisbane, queensland, australia.. .
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Xanthippe
Hey there finallysomepride! I missed you. -
42
No more pain sorrow or crying in new system!!!!!!!
by atomant in"and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.
for the old world and its evils are gone forever.
" rev.
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Xanthippe
Reality is hard to cope with but crazy religious ideas of removing everything difficult and painful from our life experience is not the answer. Mental health is the answer, which is the ability to cope with human life and whatever it throws at you. Strengthen that and there is no need to wrap yourself in the cotton wool of religious ideas of perfect happiness.