Great illustration NE. What we can see from this picture is how much Sparlock has let loose and is carrying out judgement. I also was able to appreciate from the picture how girl scout cookies can cause harm. We would do well to heed the warnings contained here.
problemaddict
JoinedPosts by problemaddict
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27
OMG...I missed the whole SPARLOCK craze....
by Pyramid Scheme ini hadn't been on the board to visit much last year, so i have been going back and poking around through the older threads since i started to post here.
i was on jwfacts.com, and noticed paul had posted a brief article about the jw video and the evil sparlock the warrior wizard.
we have no children, and i never got those videos anyway (even when i was still an elder), so when i went back and read all of the old threads, i was crying laughing.
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48
No one who leaves "the truth" is ever happy?
by El_Guapo infor years, i was told this..... " anyone who leaves the org is bitter, sad, and worse off, why do you think they come back???
guess what guys i am the opposite, now i quit cold-turkey (looking back, i should have faded correctly) i am planning on going to the memorial this month just to hear all "the friends" tell me how much they missed me.
since i have left the meetings, (jan. was my last meeting, i think).
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problemaddict
You know I think it works both ways. Some people are bitter from their experience and their leaving does not help them but isolates them. It may not be 100% their fault of course. But there are people that really need some sort of anchor in their life, even if it is in my opinion, the wrong anchor. So when they lose it, they start trippin. In addition, there are alot of people that leave after beign raised a JW, and they jsut want to do all the things they couldn't do. So they go off the deep end into partying, drugs, etc... This is not uncommon.
You, and most of the people here are introspective and leaving for different reasons. THAT is what enables you to have left and be happy. Its a perspective thing.
Congruently, there are people who are in.....that are miserable. True. But there are many more that are very happy. I certainly was. I enjoyed my time, and the bad times were more than made up for by the good times. I had (and have) great friends, and I met my wife whom I love.
So to speak in definite terms about anyone, doesn't do anyone any good.
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Hi to EVERYONE, I LOVE being here in JWN land with y'all! & Family UPDATE
by Newly Enlightened inhi to everyone on here, my name is kim, i have been on here anonymously for about 6 months now giving our family's story.
if any of you haven't read my daughter gojira's post about the latest, here's the updates.
the witch hunt is on..... http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/246388/3/the-time-is-near-for-my-families-crucification.
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problemaddict
Sorry about the witch hunt. Mine is steadily coming for me. Take solice in the fact your family is supporting you. It is more than many get. I have to indulge the elders for the time being because of my wife still being in. It is hell. I certainly wish i could just not take the calls. it is actually the advise I give others!
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POLL: How long did you remain a JW from point of baptism to leaving the KH
by Terry ini was baptised --1963. left in 1978. fifteen years.
pre-baptism, another 5 years.
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problemaddict
Im still around, but fading as best I can. It will be 24 years. I was baptized pretty young.
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138
A question about lying and the Jehovah's Witnesses
by Change Name ini have seen questions regarding how much jehovah's witnesses lie all the time on yahoo answers.
here is the latest question:.
jehovah's witnesses, is lying at any time something jehovah approves of?.
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problemaddict
Hello Change name,
Sorry i missed out on all of the fun so far. Let me attempt a short redux that may funnel these points. Because we are all arguing over semantics. First, it would help if you come clean that you are one of Jehovah's Witnesses, instead of pretending you are not. We won't judge you for being here despite that. I myself as a JW apologist for quite some time. Probably argued with some here even at one point. That was several years ago. I believe I even argued this exact point. So just a few things to consider to boil this down.
1) Would I lie if I was hiding a brother in my home, and someone was coming to get him (ie: Rawanda).....you bet. Would I think less of anyone doing the same? Nope. In my mind the sin of lying woud be trumped by the sin of aiding in the murder of my fellowman. I think most here would agree. So essentially, we are saying there is a time it is ok to lie.
2) "Every lie is an untruth, but not every untruth is a lie". This is a direct quote noted earlier. So this to me is very clear. Allowing or even fostering deception is ok, when it is against those deemed in "opposition" to their work. I have been one of JW's my entire life. I NATURALLY hid cetain things we believe or aspects of our history. The video you see, has elders dancing around the fact there is a book that while technically is not a secret, is not made available for anyone other than an elder to see. So it is a semantic arguement ove rthe difference between "confidential" and "secret".
Think about this for a second. The society is saying that when it comes to preaching or dealing with those opposing you, untruths are all good. You can withold information (ommision is not looked favorably in a court of law), and you are still just fine because of the REASON you do it. So if not outright lying, can we at least agree it is at best disingenuous and not true to the spirit of the bibles command to not have a "false tongue"?
P.S. - Your comment regarding those who leave the organization not caring about their families is offensive. It is offensive on many levels and you should apologize for it. The ACTUAL POLICY of the religion I have been and am still a part of for my entire 30+ years on this earth, is that is you vocalize distrust in the Governing Body or their appointment by God (despite they claim no inspiration from God), is that you are to be disfellowshipped and your friends and family cannot speak to you under threat of them too being disfellowshipped. The policy breaking up families is one sided. If someone even just changes their mind, says nothing, moves on with their lives and continues to lead a moral and giving life.......it is very likely they will still be unofficially shunned by friends and loved ones because they are taught it is what jehovah wants them to do.
You should apologize. Perhaps ignorance caused you to mispeak?
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Will the Watchtower Society benefit from the looming financial collapse?
by redvip2000 inif you have your eyes and ears open and can put 2 and 2 together, you have like many of us, have figured out that there is an impending financial collapse in the united states.
the type of financial collapse that likely has never been seen.. whether you believe this is being done intentionally by global power hungry groups bent on bringing us to our knees, in order to push their agenda, or whether it is being done out of carelessness and stupidity is hardly relevant at this point.. the writing is on the wall.
experts (and all who want to) can see it , high level officials expect it, and are already implementing the contingencies that are needed in order handle the civil unrest that will ensue.
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problemaddict
Ah yes the economic armagedon! It is "looming" as they say. Glenn Beck made 30 million last year fear mongering with about 300 thousand dummies.
There are real problems. Lots of them. But as someone already pointed out, just because the problems are big, doesn't mean we won't find a way around them. Housing is ina mini-bubble again (at least in Cali), but the banks will be releasing more inventory. They are selling in bulk to real estate investment trusts which are in a rent and hold mode of investment. The more properties come out and are sol the more the housing will stabilize. Maybe over the course of 2 years. The US economy is strangely linked to housing. Unemployment is high, but going down slowly. Entitlements are out of control and that is being argued currently.
Lots of problems. Possible solutions. Armagedon is not coming for the US.
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Jack JWs - is this common?
by new22day ini've heard about jack mormons.
are there jack jws (folks that partially believe but their lives are pretty worldy) ?
what are your thoughts about these peeps?
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problemaddict
Yeah. They are a silent majority. Certianly anyone under 30 is more likely to be of this sort that not. Just sayin.
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Snarky Question
by earthfire inso i have a question that's been bothering me for years.
i know this is extreme but i think you'll see where i'm going with this.
so ex-jw's are evil we're on "satan's side" as my dad told me and we aren't worth a hello.
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problemaddict
This is where you can clearly see the conditioning. Just calling it hypocricy doesn't quite do it justice. I have afamily member who dables in the weed consumption. Edibles.....what have you. He isn't a model JW, but a good person through and through. He FREAKS if he hears the word apostate (usually used by me as a joke). I could easily start showing him articles about how MJ is supposed to open your mind up to the demons and all that BS. But he is conditioned to think some things are ok for him to hide, but he can judge other things (like thoguhts and disbelief) more harshly.
I honestly almost don't blame him for it. He is part of a high control group, and I did the same for quite awhile. The majority.....VAST majority of JW's give themselves passes all the time. i know servants that go see Harry Potter, Elders that enjoy the occasional cigar, families that take off meeting for "family night" at a restaurant. All of these people will be on the train of disconnection if they knew I wasn't feeling our official teachings.
Hypocricy? Yes. But its not just that.
Also, following craziness to its illogical conclusion, simply can't go well in your situation. It doesn't sound reasonable. Don't get sucked in. Stick to reason and empathy. Be better than them. You after all are the only one with control over YOUR mind. They cannot say the same.
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Social aid and the Witnesses
by Aaron Eldridge in*** g 5/08 p. 21 is philanthropy the answer?
***by fully addressing the root causes of human suffering, god will accomplish what is well beyond all humans, individually and collectively.
accordingly, rather than set up philanthropic organizations, jehovahs witnesses, in imitation of jesus christ, prefer to devote their time and financial resources to announcing the good news of [gods] kingdom.matthew 24:14; luke 4:43.. i have collected a few quotes like this one but could use some more.
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problemaddict
They do not forbid it. However like you have noted, it would be considered a waste of time. Now if the charity is ran by a religious organization........you may have something. I don't recall anything in print. You might be able to call the society about that one.
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Who pioneered with the promise of having 'Jehovah provide' and ended up dirt poor anyway?
by Julia Orwell ini ask this because the wt always bangs on about if you trust in jehovah and make that leap into pioneering, you will always be provided for.
at the time i joined the cult, a friend was continuous aux.
pioneering.
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problemaddict
My wife pioneered for 16 years. She is only in her early 30's. She was absolutely poor. Didn't have a high school diploma. Didn't know how to do many jobs and always looked for part-time.
Fast forward though a bad marriage to a rogue PO's son that lasted a year, a crazy family, and multiple issues to detailed to get into, and yours truely steps in. She continues to pioneer, we serve in other countries, and I manage our funds and help her get her high school diploma.
One day after we had been serving for over a year where the need was great, an elder in our hall said her cards were out of order and he would need letters from her previous congregations explaining why she was not able to make her time in certain years (divorce, death of parents, etc...) in order for her to continue.
She was crying on the phone....I noticed.....I took the phone from her and asked who this was. He was caught off guard, and I told him you are making my wife cry behind your legalistic pharisaical need to control things under the guise that Jehovahs organization wants you to do so. My wife and I have discussed it, and she will be coming off the list immediately. Do not ever speak to my wife questioning her record of service again, or without me present. Do you understand what I just told you?
Yep.
6 years later, I am working on her exit. She is about 50% of the way there.