john.prestor

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Posts by john.prestor

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  16

  Would it be right to post Memorial Zoom codes?

  by ExCircuitOverseer in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have come into possession of memorial zoom meeting codes for tonight that cannot be traced back to me.

  i will not be attending.

  what are your thoughts on posting these codes so activists can join tonight and maybe say something?

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  john.prestor

  I might tune in, I got invited. If I do, I'll have a beer in my hand.
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  6

  Do Jehovah's Witnesses "target" non-Witnesses they want to convert?

  by john.prestor in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i took a break from posting, but i'm back, and i wanted to share a story.

  i grew up in a fundamentalist baptist church, i was never "one of jehovah's witnesses.

  " what i know about jehovah's witnesses i learned from books, from attending services as a researcher, and from ex-witnesses like the posters of this site.

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  john.prestor

  I'm pretty vulnerable. Vulnerable enough to join up? Never. But I don't know if they know that.
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  6

  Do Jehovah's Witnesses "target" non-Witnesses they want to convert?

  by john.prestor in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i took a break from posting, but i'm back, and i wanted to share a story.

  i grew up in a fundamentalist baptist church, i was never "one of jehovah's witnesses.

  " what i know about jehovah's witnesses i learned from books, from attending services as a researcher, and from ex-witnesses like the posters of this site.

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  john.prestor

  Thank you for this information, you've put my mind at ease.
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  6

  Do Jehovah's Witnesses "target" non-Witnesses they want to convert?

  by john.prestor in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i took a break from posting, but i'm back, and i wanted to share a story.

  i grew up in a fundamentalist baptist church, i was never "one of jehovah's witnesses.

  " what i know about jehovah's witnesses i learned from books, from attending services as a researcher, and from ex-witnesses like the posters of this site.

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• 

  john.prestor

  I took a break from posting, but I'm back, and I wanted to share a story.

  I grew up in a fundamentalist Baptist church, I was never "one of Jehovah's Witnesses." What I know about Jehovah's Witnesses I learned from books, from attending services as a researcher, and from ex-Witnesses like the posters of this site. I know a lot, but I don't know everything. That's why I want to share this.

  About a month and a half ago, I went through a difficult day at the hands of the professors in my department (too long of a story to share). I feared that word of this spread in my community, but I couldn't tell for certain, and still can't. Within the next three days, I ran into Jehovah's Witnesses I knew twice, once on the street by a cart, and once at a bus stop. By the cart, the Jehovah's Witness pointed out the cart and said, "There's those people out Jehovah's Witnessing." I said, "You're one of Jehovah's Witnesses, what do you mean?" She told me, letting her sentence drop off, "They're handing out literature, so if you want to take something," and then she walked away. I felt like she commanded me to take a magazine without saying it directly. I know that approach isn't typical for them: that they're told not to approach people when they "cart witness."

  A few days later, I called for an uber to take a hike. The uber driver moved an Awake! magazine from the front seat to the back when I got in. He knew things about me and told me them, such as that I struggle at times with mental health, and he tried to make me feel better. He didn't talk about Jehovah, didn't give me the magazine, but I found it strange that he knew those things because I didn't know him. I visited the closest congregation for two Memorials. He could have seen me there, who knows? But although he did make me feel better, I felt... monitored.

  About a month passed. Two days ago, I got a text from a Jehovah's Witness I knew at the third congregation I studied. He doesn't text me almost at all anymore (used to, two years ago). Today, I got a call from the small town where the first congregation meets. They didn't leave a message, but I backtraced the number. I know no one in that town but Jehovah's Witnesses with who I haven't spoke in years.

  Does any of this make any other poster uncomfortable, or is it just me? Be honest, I need perspective on this. I can jump to conclusions at times.
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  22

  One of the points of conventions: obedience training

  by john.prestor in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i think a lot these days about people who train you to be obedient without telling you that's what they're doing.

  the thought occurred to me that that could be part of the idea of regional conventions.

  it's not like they present much of anything new to the audience, it's the same old talks year after year, the same old information, yeah, repackaged a little, different themes, different illustrations, but the same information, obey the faithful slave, armageddon is imminent, go door-to-door, the usual.

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  john.prestor

  Yes, exactly. That's what I'm getting at.
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  77

  Advice on Disassociating

  by HiddenPimo in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  hello my exjw/pimo/pomo friends,.

  i am working on penning my da letter and wondered if i should use it as a tool to maybe wake up individuals as the boe will have to read it.. anyone have any advice on what i should say versus what i should leave out?

  i am not going to fade as my family can either be loyal to blood or loyal to a man made religion.

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  john.prestor

  Why are you leaving? Explain your reasons, don't hold back. Don't make it a form letter, tell them exactly what they need to know.
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  8

  Fading challenges

  by Addison0998 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so the past few months since we’ve been married, we’ve hardly been going to the meetings.

  and my mother says that an informer has been calling her to “tell on us” for not going to the meetings.

  we’ve told some people that we have been attending meetings in a different area and hall since we are considering moving there.

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  john.prestor

  Tough as it might be, I'm going to suggest you bite the bullet and disassociate. You don't want to have to deal with the paranoia that comes from worrying about who's talking about you and what they intend to do. Seriously, cut these people off. My family raised me fundamentalist Baptist, and I realized this week nearly 12 years after leaving that that's what I need to do. They dont accept me, they criticize me living my life, and they talk behind my back. I wont put up with that any more. Fuck people who claim to love you and try to control your life
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  20

  The Organizations obsession with image.

  by BourneIdentity in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  as we all know, the highest priority or concern in the religion isn’t about adhering to god’s word or obeying jehovah and jesus, but rather the image of the organization and all its members.

  just yesterday there was a talk where the brother stated how important it is to keep our homes clean, yards free of junk piling up and cars clean, because it could possibly detract from the message.

  besides those things he mentioned, they want all males to never grow a beard or goatee.

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  john.prestor

  With you 100% Finkelstein, but that's attention they don't want. They don't want the elders watching them. They do want the world watching them, supposedly to see how different they are, how righteous they are, how special they are. That kind of attention can feel positive if you truly believe people watch you for being different. Different to them means good.
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  20

  The Organizations obsession with image.

  by BourneIdentity in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  as we all know, the highest priority or concern in the religion isn’t about adhering to god’s word or obeying jehovah and jesus, but rather the image of the organization and all its members.

  just yesterday there was a talk where the brother stated how important it is to keep our homes clean, yards free of junk piling up and cars clean, because it could possibly detract from the message.

  besides those things he mentioned, they want all males to never grow a beard or goatee.

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  john.prestor

  Sometimes it seems to me that the main point to rhetoric like that is making Jehovah's Witnesses think that they're so important, that everyone watches them, everyone monitors them.
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  27

  I Ended my Bible Study

  by Maria Nieves in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i ended my bible study today.

  several months ago, i began to feel that the truth was not the truth.

  as the months progressed, my feelings intensified.

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  john.prestor

  You made the right decision, and making the right decision is always hard. If this person cuts you off and stops talking to you or spending time with you, they weren't your friend to begin with. And if they weren't your friend to begin with, you shouldn't care what they think of you.