Great article. Thank you. I think if someone was in one religious group and has the urge to be in another religious group I don't see anything bad in it. Even though I don't belong to any religious group. For me the most important is that the religious group needs to be peaceful and not claim that they are the only one like JW. The idea of being the only one without evidence is very bad for mental health - schizophrenia. I don't mind if somebody thinks they know the answer, but they have to prove in and out. A good example is a local pentecostal church. A people few from that church are my friends. And for the last 8 years I never felt that they judge me, they invited to their church once, they don't talk to me about their beliefs, they don't give me magazines or leaflets, they don't make me feel as they are the only one and I am doomed. Maybe this is the only one Pentecostal church where people behave like it. Basically I don't go to any church etc. But if people want to go I don't see a problem as long as they don't belong to a group like JW
Alex Bogdanov
JoinedPosts by Alex Bogdanov
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British Psychological Society Research Digest Article: What are the psychological effects of losing your religion
by AndersonsInfo inhttps://digest.bps.org.uk/2018/04/06/what-are-the-psychological-effects-of-losing-your-religion/amp/.
what are the psychological effects of losing your religion?.
bps research digest.
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Do You Use Facebook As Much As You Did In The Past?
by minimus init seems that instagram is the new thing.
a lot of my friends use that now and prefer over facebook.
in addition, there is the privacy issue..
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Alex Bogdanov
I have FB, IG and Twitter. I use all of them a lot for different reasons. FB owns IG. Hence IG is packed with the same rubbish ads. Not planning to stop using FB. At the same time if a new platform will arise because of FB scandal hopefully it will be ad free.
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My Personal Atheist Manifesto?
by dubstepped inso, i have a guy that is emailing me after listening to my podcast series "this jw life" about my life story before, during, and after being a jw.
this guy happens to be an elder and pioneer serving where the need is greater.
i love this guy.
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Alex Bogdanov
Dubstepped quite a letter you wrote there. And I understand you it is nice to have a chat with someone who has a different opinion but is flexible. Like I can't prove does God exist or not. But even if God exists it doesnt give the right to people to speak on Its behalf. I think if God was bothered about our opinion It would have done everything to make It self known. Since we don't hear from It, it means it is absolutely fine and doesn't need random people to do sacrifices for It. Especially wasting their time on the ministry instead of their children
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Retirement Planning
by Whynot insince waking up i can't help but look at the future in a different way.
while i was working i felt it was ridiculous for me to start a 401k because i thought for sure the end would come before i retired.
but now, i'm a stay at home mom with very small children and it bothers me that i have done nothing to prepare for the future.
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Alex Bogdanov
I really cant give any advice as I am still to young (30). Just try to do as much as you can. Save as much as you can. Even if your first steps look little don't worry. Most important things in life take years to arrange. So retirement is definitely one of those things. Even if you can't see the end result. Even if you will think that small steps is a waste of time don't stop and continue to do everything possible to create a good retirement. What now seems small after 10 years can give you a lot of benefits. It took me nearly 10 years to establish the business the way I wanted it. But even 5 years ago I was hesitating and thinking I am wasting time. I wish you all the strength and courage. 👍
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Looking For Your Words of Wisdom and Encouragement
by new boy inthis one seems to sum up what religious ideologies have given the world.. i have very deeply looked into the endless destruction and genocide that religious ideologies and dogma have inflicted upon human beings.
i have seen how damaged human souls are, how deeply depressive, meaningless, and prone to exploitation are the lives that many live.
religious dogma is at the root of this epidemic meaninglessness.
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Alex Bogdanov
Scratchme1010 😂 thats ok. No problem. I fully agree with you on shortcuts. That is one of the ways religions control people. Like JWs. The GB says "Go for a walk for 2 hours a day. Have a chat with people, drink tea and Jehovah will bless you" Basically do nothing and you will support Gods plan. Thats insane. But its easier to pass over responsibility on GB and when JWs will realise its all a scam they wont blame themselves they will peacefully say that its not their fault and they were betrayed by GB. And most likely they will find another "God's faithful slave" who will look after them 😂
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JW Persecution in Murmansk, Refugees hit Finland
by Slidin Fast inyou know, disagreeing and with and hating all the cultish beliefs and practices that mark out jwdom doesn;t make it ok to treat them like russia is doing.
this is one time i find myself defending these largely goodhearted but misled people.
if only the gb members and their squad had stayed around to face what they are expecting their followers to face.. https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/life-and-public/2018/04/fsb-starts-detaining-jehovahs-whiteness-kola-dozens-flee-finland.
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Alex Bogdanov
What is happening in Russia is fully GB fault. I was born in Latvia under USSR. And I know Russian culture quite well. Russians love when everything is their own. Italian Fiat became Russian Lada etc. Some countries in the west like to do it. For example British Walkers crisps and Worldwide Lays crisps. Why the name is different? Only because British people so desire. I know for a fact Russian government asked Jehovah's Witnesses to 1. Change their name into a more Russian. (Macdonalds in Russia called differently depending on the county) 2. Change the name of the magazines into more Russian. 3 And most of all make a centre for JW work in Russia in Russia. Not a Bethel. But an office that won't constantly report to USA. If the GB really wanted to continue the ministry they could have changed a few rules and make the life of Russian JW easier. But they don't care about the people. Sort of like a dictator when sending troops to die with out any concern. They are stubborn people without any empathy. 😪
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Looking For Your Words of Wisdom and Encouragement
by new boy inthis one seems to sum up what religious ideologies have given the world.. i have very deeply looked into the endless destruction and genocide that religious ideologies and dogma have inflicted upon human beings.
i have seen how damaged human souls are, how deeply depressive, meaningless, and prone to exploitation are the lives that many live.
religious dogma is at the root of this epidemic meaninglessness.
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Alex Bogdanov
I love life so much that I don't care what religions say. And since nobody can prove that they communicate with God we dont know what is after death. If there is life its excellent. If there isn't I am still happy. I am so grateful that I was born on this beautiful planet with many great people that surround me. I appreciate if I will live my hopefully 100 years. The idea that I might have never been born is my motivation and inspiration. I will use my years to the full. And if there is life after, and if God will find me good enough I will be extremely happy. But if it doesn't exist I am still happy to be here. 😃
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Do you miss that initial "high" ??
by stuckinarut2 indo you remember the first time you found out "the truth about the truth"?.
yes, it was confronting, shocking and life altering.
yes it was hard to deal with.. but, along with that, many have said that they experienced a sense of thrill, euphoria, or joy when realising the facts about the religion that held us captive mentally and physically for so long.. it was liberating to learn some of the controversial teachings etc.
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Alex Bogdanov
Stuckinarut2. I understand what you mean. I was excited to learn more as I love to develop. First I was in Orthodox church when they could not explain trinity I left. After I was a New Born Christian when they could not explain their "angel language" I left. When I became a JW it seemed that they were able to answer, but the longer I was the more I read and developed and the more my questions were becoming difficult. My moto is - if it is not proven or disapproven I can believe in it. But after elders and circuit overseer and the bethel could not give me an answer, but forced to believe in their theories my excitement went away. I am happy though, life is an experience and thanks to all these churches that I have been to I understand what systems they use to manipulate people. I still learn and continue to develop. At the moment I research the connection between British culture and Freemasonry. There is a good book "Builders of the Empire" very fascinating. Basically I try to have this "high" feeling by experiencing, exploring and enjoying new phisical and mental things in life 😆
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Are the 8 superstar Popes planning a purge?
by Sour Grapes inthere are over 8 million jdubs and i would venture a guess that at least 20% to 30% are pimo.
in my opinion, the kingdom hauls are only half full for two reasons....many have left but the majority are pimo and any little excuse will keep them home and they will report their token ghost hours in service.
all it takes to stay home is being tired, too much school homework or i will go next week, no doubt many have taken part-time jobs and the fear of working the second shift and the guilt of missing meetings is gone.
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Alex Bogdanov
Pale. Emperor. Good throwback. Its crazy how can they write sentences like that. But what is even more crazy is that people will obey it. When even from the Bible's point of view that type of advice only can come from false prophet aka Satan. How people don't see that is a mystery!
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Are the 8 superstar Popes planning a purge?
by Sour Grapes inthere are over 8 million jdubs and i would venture a guess that at least 20% to 30% are pimo.
in my opinion, the kingdom hauls are only half full for two reasons....many have left but the majority are pimo and any little excuse will keep them home and they will report their token ghost hours in service.
all it takes to stay home is being tired, too much school homework or i will go next week, no doubt many have taken part-time jobs and the fear of working the second shift and the guilt of missing meetings is gone.
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Alex Bogdanov
I think there is really no need to worry about what will happen with the Organisation. I think it will survive everything. The only difference will happen is everyone who has some desire to find the truth will leave it. And the Organisation will be left with people who plainly don't care if the Organisation make sense or not. They will go there because their parents used to go and they have friends there. The Organisation already turned into a basic religion. It doesn't give any hope, it has dogmas and the flock is fed up of boring, same old talks. People go there to get together, drink tea and pretend that the Armagedon is coming. That sounds pathetic. Yes, I know. But what can we do? If people want to play games and think they are God's friends let them do it. I just feel sad for them. The real creator made such an outstanding world, but they waste their life because some Governing Body says that it has connection with Jehovah 😪😪