longgone

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Posts by longgone

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  8

  Why Do People Join Cults? A TED Talk -- JW's to a T

  by daringhart13 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  https://youtu.be/kb-djacxaxa.

  great video for showing how to define a cult.

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  longgone

  I agree, it fits the organization like a glove!

  A picture of a Kingdom Hall with that cheap looking JW.ORG sign on the front would fit right in.

  Thank you, I'll pass this on to my few ex-jw family members. 😊
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  8

  Householder invited to KH luncheon

  by compound complex in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  greetings, friends:.

  the following is one of those now-i've-heard-everything field experiences.. this morning i went to a client's home to collect on work done.

  while we were talking, the phone rang, she picked up, and told me she didn't recognize the caller id.

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  longgone

  I've never heard of anything like that either. It's just one strange thing with them or another. 😕
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  25

  Whats in it for them?

  by Moster in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i have been out for nearly 40 years now - baptized at 14 (although not to the org), but faded away.

  but i am wondering about this:.

  aside from the obvious power they wield, what's is in it for the gb?

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  longgone

  I have an honest question to ask about this.

  If the GB really believe they​ are teaching their followers the "truth" and are God's channel to do so, why do they need to use mind control methods? Can that possibly be coincidental?

  I don't personally think so, but then again all my beliefs were wrong for 57 years. So, I just keep an open mind to the possibility that they are completely deluded.
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  9

  Family dynamics and cult influence

  by longgone in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the following incident is nothing unusual to any jw, but i wanted to add on to the list of reasons to never join, and sympathize with those stuck in it, and again a reminder that you can never get away from the mayhem when you have family still in.

  in a recent conversation with my jw sister who i love very much, i was reminded how complex and abnormal relationships can become within a jehovah's witness family.families relationships can be difficult with any religion or none, but once we throw in the various labels and restrictions within the jw family it becomes really cultish.

  no one outside it could begin to understand.

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  longgone

  You're right jp, thanks for the reminder. 😊
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  9

  Family dynamics and cult influence

  by longgone in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the following incident is nothing unusual to any jw, but i wanted to add on to the list of reasons to never join, and sympathize with those stuck in it, and again a reminder that you can never get away from the mayhem when you have family still in.

  in a recent conversation with my jw sister who i love very much, i was reminded how complex and abnormal relationships can become within a jehovah's witness family.families relationships can be difficult with any religion or none, but once we throw in the various labels and restrictions within the jw family it becomes really cultish.

  no one outside it could begin to understand.

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  longgone

  The following incident is nothing unusual to any JW, but I wanted to add on to the list of reasons to never join, and sympathize with those stuck in it, and again a reminder that you can never get away from the mayhem when you have family still in. In a recent conversation with my JW sister who I love very much, I was reminded how complex and abnormal relationships can become within a Jehovah's Witness family.Families relationships can be difficult with any religion or none, but once we throw in the various labels and restrictions within the JW family it becomes really cultish. No one outside it could begin to understand. In the following case it's within an extended born- in family group. I'll try to keep this short. There are those active, or inactive, or maybe a Witness who married an "unbeliever." You are treated differently depending on which of the above. Let's add those currently df'd and those who were at one time, but have been reinstated. Is the person baptized, or never "made the truth they own." Living a double life? Does this or that one special privileges, or have they "stepped down?" It goes further, are they spiritually weak, or never baptized, if they were never baptized they might get limited association regardless of their behavior. Yet at least they can included in family activities, but of course if you were baptized at ten years old and were disfellowshipped at sixteen, there will be no invitation. But the children are invited if they attend meetings. It gets plain ridiculous and this is just the tip of the iceberg. Here's a small example from the conversation I mentioned at the outset.My youngest daughter who was never baptized, and who hasn't gone to meetings for years, and does multiple things a Witness would be kicked out for is having a baby. Simple right? No. My other daughter, who was disfellowshipped, then reinstated, yet never attended one meeting after that, had her baby *while disfellowshipped.*So now, my sister says she feels bad that she can buy an (expensive) gift for the never baptized one, but didn't get anything for the other because she was disfellowshipped at the time. Huh? Yet, not long after the birth of my grandchild she sent a long letter to the never-a-Witness husband with advice on how to raise him (her great nephew, my grandson, in case your getting lost, and even still reading, lol ) then also added that hopefully the df'd niece would return to the organization. I'm speechless. My daughter and I decided that though doubtless, well intentioned she counted the time for her pioneer report! Well, that particular part of the conversation probably took ten minutes, then it moved on to her strained relationship with our two never baptized sisters, and the maybe gay relative. All of the different JW status above we're also included.Exhausting to read, and it was so hard to get through. I did learn one important thing, that unfortunately I will be sticking with the occasional text and email. That was actually our first conversation in months as I've been keeping under the radar for the past year. I'm only getting away with unofficial shunning because I live so far away. 😕As I said it's just not normal, and anyone even considering becoming involved with Jehovah's Witness, for the sake of yourself and your family, please erase that idea from your mind while you can still think for yourself. 😮 The End. 😮
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  14

  “Winning the Battle for Your Mind”

  by SAHS in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  “winning the battle for your mind.” that is the title of an article in the latest watchtower magazine, of july 2017, pages 27-30. wow, how ironic!

  here is the direct link:.

  https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2017488.

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  longgone

  One more vote here, they know exactly what they're doing. Despicable frauds.😣
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  42

  Told My Parents Yesterday That I Don't Want to Be a JW

  by Saethydd in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i wasn't entirely sure what to expect when i made the decision to tell my parents how i really feel, but i was prepared for the worst, fortunately, it didn't come to that.

  after i told them i didn't want to go to the meetings anymore it led to a long talk with them.

  they made a number of irksome and woefully uninformed statements but at least they were not aggressive and have said that they won't force me to move out over this, though, i can tell they are hoping they can convince me to "accept the truth," as long as i still live with them.

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  longgone

  Yes! 🌟 So proud of you! You were able to have a reasonable conversation with your parents. Seems you were respectful and made some valid points since things worked out in your favor for the time being at least. Enjoy your new freedom to begin the life of your dreams! 🌟
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  52

  Gas or Electric Stove

  by just fine in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am getting new appliances.

  i have decided on black stainless for the finish.

  the house is stubbed for gas and electric for the range.

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  longgone

  Gas! Hands down, for all of the above reasons. Plus, on a cold winter day you can toast a marshmallow on it for fun. It works! 😄
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  51

  Did you ever have a discussion with an apostate that helped your journey out.

  by jwfacts in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  there seems to be a number of different ways that apostates try to get jehovah's witnesses realise they do not have the truth, ranging from subtle comments to aggressive attacks.

  do you have any that looking back helped you finally leave.

  some of the methods include:.

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  longgone

  No, I had been taught all of my life that apostates are dangerous and if we listened to them or read their literature we would be pulled into Satan's"system" immediately.This was reinforced because as a child on several occasions over the years someone would rush up to the stage at the district conventions yelling things out. Several brothers would have to literally pull them back and out of the stadium, it was quite a scene. Also, it was really scary for me as a little kid who had no idea what it was all about. I hope anyone who considers this tactic will seriously think about the feelings of small children and the many sensitive and sincere Witnesses in attendance.

  I realized the Watchtower Society was wrong by what few critical thinking skills I had learned outside of it. Also, the small number of family members who left years before were always respectful of my beliefs. They were the ones I went to with my doubts. Fortunately, the very first site I came across after that, when I dared to look on the internet was JW facts. Thank you with all my heart, Paul.Just as it is called, it's all facts. Solid information backed by references to their own publications confirmed that my doubts were valid. The video Growing up a Jehovah's Witness was excellent. Later, this support forum is what got me through the initial stages. Thank you so much, Simon. My view is that angry and/or sarcastic ex-jw videos, tactless words to any current members, or any level of aggression to wake up individuals has the very opposite effect. I hope it ends.
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  52

  last convention before global attack on witnesses

  by Phoebe in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so it's not enough that i'm dealing with post traumatic stress/anxiety and panic attacks all related to my life as a jw (50 years baptized -- i stopped going a couple of months ago) at 3 a.m. i get an email from the other side of the world.

  'you have to go to the convention.

  bro sanderson says we must watch the news, things are happening.

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  longgone

  Hugs to you Phoebe, you will heal from this! Many have as you see from the comments above.

  I'm also on your journey, it's been a year last month. I'm still working to overcome the mind control. Especially the fear aspect of the FOG methods. I have no feelings or guilt or obligation, in fact the opposite. I'm relaxing and educating myself rather than wasting hours every week on that ridiculous "spiritual routine." You will too, it's great. But the fear, it's harder for me and it seems maybe that way for you too.

  I really had a hard time with the Russian ban though, I actually got to thinking that it would happen here as well. What a stretch! Just because my name is still in the files in New York, I thought I'd be a target too. It went on for days, finally I talked with my daughter, a long time ex -jw. She reminded me of the very things this thread is about. We've been taught paranoia over things like this our entire life. For me even though I absolutely know the Watchtower is wrong, wrong wrong, it kicked in anyway. 😒

  The programming runs deep through our minds. The set of lies that we've been taught is not only damaging intellectually but to our emotions as well. Including losing the mythical Paradise we hoped for. It's going to be alright, we'll​ get better little by little! Best wishes and love to you, pm me anytime if you like. We can share notes of our progress. 💙