gingerbread

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Posts by gingerbread

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  45

  Deteriorating content of the WT

  by His Excellency in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  has anyone noticed the recent deterioration in the quality of wt's contents lately?..

  the spiritual food seems to be getting more and more shitty these days.

  i have given a thought to what could really be going wrong, and if it is likely that some on the wiriting committee is consciously dishing out those nonsense to facilitate more poeple seeing ttat.

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  gingerbread

  Maybe the writing department has had a flash of "New Light"..... no one (not even the faithful) is taking the time to read the articles.

  The mags used to be structured in a "Readers Digest" format.

  Now they're just Cliff Notes for the Bible.
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  33

  December 15 Watchtower --- A New Low in WT Anti-Intellectualism

  by Room 215 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i wonder whether any of you took note of the article in the 12/15 study edition wt "the simplified watchtower .. why introduced" i couldn't believe they actually had the temerity to put such tripe into print and onto the record.. i was flat-out astonished with its put-down of vocabulary building and self-improvement:.

  one egregious example: " the time spent looking up words and explaining expressions (ostensibly from the "smart people's" watchtower) is now spent gaining an understanding of the scriptures and how they fit into the lesson.".

  one jw cited in the article actually blames her college education for causing her to fall into the bad habit of "speaking and thinking a way that was more complicated than necessary.

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  gingerbread

  These sort of statements appeal to the undereducated and underemployed publishers. The thought that choosing WT's directions about limited career and education is the best choice anyone can make - putting personal interests secondary (or third/fourth/fifth...) in life. We're told repeatedly that improving oneself is short sighted & selfish. Remember that "personal study" means studying WT publications. Forget critical thinking!

  And, I firmly believe that the simplified WT was developed for the children of undereducated JW parents - for the throngs of "homeschooled" Witness kids.
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  10

  There is NO Polite Way to Say it to a JW

  by OnTheWayOut in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  there are so many recent joiners to this forum and many have the same questions about helping their loved one leave jehovah's witnesses.. we can try to cushion our statements.

  we can approach the subject with thinking questions that seem to be disconnected to jw issues, but really are not disconnected.

  we can state so-called "apostate" positions from a "doubter" view instead of one that is convinced of the lies.. we can learn all there is to learn about cognitive dissonance and dangerous mind-control cults.. we can read all kinds of things about jw history and doctrine and secret practises of the organization.. we can and should do what we can from the above to help someone we care about to free themself from the jehovah's witnesses.. but many of you newbies (and still a bunch of us oldbies here) want to know how to politely say .

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  gingerbread

  Thanks for the honest and realistic advice!

  I've learned this past year that is sometimes better to keep quiet. I'm doing a gradual "fade" - I have nothing to prove / nothing to argue about. I figure that the best approach for me is to be an honest, caring, good person with out all the rules.
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  Using online archives as a research tool.

  by gingerbread in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it's been a while since someone posted on jw.net about the internet archive.. this website is a great resource for research of the wt society with scans of out of print wt books, pamphlets, booklets, magazines, posters, and recordings.. it has been very helpful for me to build evidence in my mind that what i trusted and believed has been changed ad nauseam by this relgious printing group for over 125 years... i'm reading some scans of wt's printed just before 1925 (another armageddon year) and the scare & fear tactic is the same now as it was then.. a search of "jehovah's witnesses" on this online library brings up over 500 documents - scans, video and audio.. and it's free!.

  gingerbread.

  .

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  gingerbread

  It's been a while since someone posted on JW.net about the Internet Archive.

  This website is a great resource for research of the WT society with scans of out of print WT books, pamphlets, booklets, magazines, posters, and recordings.

  It has been very helpful for me to build evidence in my mind that what I trusted and believed has been changed ad nauseam by this relgious printing group for over 125 years... I'm reading some scans of WT's printed just before 1925 (another armageddon year) and the scare & fear tactic is the same now as it was then.

  A search of "Jehovah's Witnesses" on this online library brings up over 500 documents - scans, video and audio.

  And it's free!

  Gingerbread

  www.archive.org
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  50

  "Why Do Many Male Jehovah Witnesses Who Learn TTATT Grow Beards"?

  by ÁrbolesdeArabia in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the year once 1983 and the brother who use to study the bible with me drove by and had a full on "charles manson" looking facial hair and beard.

  i asked tina, a friend what's up with him?

  tina was 19 and a hot red-head woman who was partially in the religion but had problems with fornication.

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  gingerbread

  Growing out facial hair is a great way to show that you aren't buying into the "rules" anymore. And, you won't get asked to do anything at the hall - a real positive thing. I've heard that in Europe it's quite common to see brothers with beards.

  The anti-beard policy in the society comes from J.F. Rutherford wanting to eliminate the Russell look from those in Bethel and the traveling "pilgrims". Knorr pushed for all publisher to look like businessmen - the Mad Men look. Jesus also became clean shaven in Watchtower illustrations. In the 1960's & '70's the beard came to represent (in WT literature and talks) the promiscuous, stoned, anti-establishment, university educated, free thinking hippie type. When a young man was studing and was "making progress", one of the things that would show his sincere desire to please God was to shave that beard.

  Growing a beard is clear indication to JW's that person is "like a dog returning to his vomit." It's your appearance that really counts!
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  34

  Is the grass greener on the other side?

  by What Now? in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  hi all.... so my mom phoned me up this morning and said she needed to talk to me about something.

  she asked me whether or not our (worldly) family thought that my husband and i were witnesses anymore.

  one, someone in my family said to her, "i didn't know you guys wear short dresses like that" - commenting on a slightly above the knee dress i had worn to a family event.

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  gingerbread

  Your Mom is probably worried that you might put yourself in the position of getting disfellowshipped. She doesn't want that to happen - she will be forced by WT policy to cease communication. It's my guess that she isn't afraid of losing you to "the world." Your Mom is afraid of being cut off from you and her grandchild because of others in the congregation. This happens to witness families every day. It's a real fear.

  Maybe you should assure her that you love her. Take time to visit with her - more often now than you have in the past. Telling her that you guys are just taking a little "break" from the hall might calm her concerns.

  Fade smart!
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  38

  I'm writing a DA letter...need advise

  by nolongerconfused in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hello, so i have decided to da myself and will write a da letter to the body of elders.... do you have any ideas of what i can include in this letter or samples?...

  i really want to make a huge impact with this letter.. i appreciate your help everyone....

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  gingerbread

  You will not win. You won't prove anything.

  Just stop playing the game - in your heart and your mind....and in your behavior. Allow yourself to just be a good person. That's true freedom.
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  30

  My ex JW sister is an APOLOGIST!!!!!

  by joyfulfader in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i have had a few conversations with my sister who left the org several years ago and has been dating a non jw for several years now.

  she celebrates the holidays and everything.

  so the other day i brought up some of the things i have learned since leaving.

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  gingerbread

  joyfulfader - It's a good idea to let well enough alone for the time being. Remind yourself of how much the "mother" organization encourages divisive behavior. In the "truth" we were (in our minds) separate from the world. Exemplary families are "united" in their service (as stewards). The culture supports shunning of those that aren't fully vested - even within families. Perhaps your sister believes that "the truth" is the only right way to live. Do you feel she should have been judicially disciplined? Being patient with your sister (and with your own transition) may be the positive approach to this difficult situation.
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  30

  My ex JW sister is an APOLOGIST!!!!!

  by joyfulfader in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i have had a few conversations with my sister who left the org several years ago and has been dating a non jw for several years now.

  she celebrates the holidays and everything.

  so the other day i brought up some of the things i have learned since leaving.

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  gingerbread

  Leaving is a process. It takes time, sometimes years, to make the final cut. The progress is incremental. In my observation, a person who's involvement as a jw is only about meeting attendence, service time, giving talks, being around family, etc. can often stay "out" for some time and later jump right back in without blinking an eye. And these folks are always welcomed back with arms wide open.
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  8

  The Making Of A Jehovah's Witness

  by Bangalore in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the making of a jehovah's witness.. .

  by victor escalante.

  http://www.jwfiles.com/wt_professional_look_at_jws/making_jw.htm.

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  gingerbread

  "In all fairness those were kinder and gentler time and the people that I came in contact were for the most part sincere Christians. They were followers of followers and they did not know the long term consequences of their choice in religion."

  How true! When my parents decided to become part of "the truth", they did it for very good reasons. It was the first time anyone took the time to sit and talk about the bible. They found "answers" to many of their questions. I know the resurrection hope appealed to them. And, as socially aware people they found the apparent peace, love, harmony between people of all nationalities, races, economic position and backgrounds to be a "dream come true" - as young folks in the late 1960's. We were a stable and honest family. They (thankfully!) chose to walk to a different drummer than the other "hook, line and sinker" witnesses. They planned their retirement. Encouraged each of the kids individually to pursue education - in order to be independent, happy adults.

  We were some of the few fortunate kids - with balanced parents. Unfortunately this is rarely the case amoung JW kids I grew up with. It can be hard to decide to act on ones beliefs - to be honest with yourself. Everyone has different circumstances. Leaving (or fading in my case) takes courage and restraint!