return of parakeet

Joined

• started 15 topics
• posted 686 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by return of parakeet

• 
  207

  Ripping a person’s faith away, a heavy responsibility?

  by Seraphim23 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  [if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng /> </o:officedocumentsettings> </xml><![endif].

  [if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>normal</w:view> <w:zoom>0</w:zoom> <w:trackmoves /> <w:trackformatting /> <w:punctuationkerning /> <w:validateagainstschemas /> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:saveifxmlinvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:ignoremixedcontent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext> <w:donotpromoteqf /> <w:lidthemeother>en-gb</w:lidthemeother> <w:lidthemeasian>x-none</w:lidthemeasian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>x-none</w:lidthemecomplexscript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables /> <w:snaptogridincell /> <w:wraptextwithpunct /> <w:useasianbreakrules /> <w:dontgrowautofit /> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark /> <w:enableopentypekerning /> <w:dontflipmirrorindents /> <w:overridetablestylehps /> </w:compatibility> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont m:val="cambria math" /> <m:brkbin m:val="before" /> <m:brkbinsub m:val="&#45;-" /> <m:smallfrac m:val="off" /> <m:dispdef /> <m:lmargin m:val="0" /> <m:rmargin m:val="0" /> <m:defjc m:val="centergroup" /> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440" /> <m:intlim m:val="subsup" /> <m:narylim m:val="undovr" /> </m:mathpr></w:worddocument> </xml><!

  [endif][if gte mso 10]> <mce:style><!

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  return of parakeet

  Qcmbr -- the quiet voice of reason. Kudos.
• 
  207

  Ripping a person’s faith away, a heavy responsibility?

  by Seraphim23 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  [if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng /> </o:officedocumentsettings> </xml><![endif].

  [if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>normal</w:view> <w:zoom>0</w:zoom> <w:trackmoves /> <w:trackformatting /> <w:punctuationkerning /> <w:validateagainstschemas /> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:saveifxmlinvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:ignoremixedcontent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext> <w:donotpromoteqf /> <w:lidthemeother>en-gb</w:lidthemeother> <w:lidthemeasian>x-none</w:lidthemeasian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>x-none</w:lidthemecomplexscript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables /> <w:snaptogridincell /> <w:wraptextwithpunct /> <w:useasianbreakrules /> <w:dontgrowautofit /> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark /> <w:enableopentypekerning /> <w:dontflipmirrorindents /> <w:overridetablestylehps /> </w:compatibility> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont m:val="cambria math" /> <m:brkbin m:val="before" /> <m:brkbinsub m:val="&#45;-" /> <m:smallfrac m:val="off" /> <m:dispdef /> <m:lmargin m:val="0" /> <m:rmargin m:val="0" /> <m:defjc m:val="centergroup" /> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440" /> <m:intlim m:val="subsup" /> <m:narylim m:val="undovr" /> </m:mathpr></w:worddocument> </xml><!

  [endif][if gte mso 10]> <mce:style><!

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  return of parakeet

  In my first post in this thread it was a call to balance not indifference to ignorance. I trust that clears up the confusion.

  I wasn't attacking you, Seraphim. It is a very heavy responsibility to cause someone to question what they've always believed to be true. No one here takes that lightly.

  Bringing in the heavy artillery to "rip away" a person's faith is a bad tactic. If the dub is an entrenched believer, nothing will pry him loose. If the dub is on the fence, TTATT bombs may knock him back into the enemy camp.

  From ocean metaphors to war metaphors. I'm all over the place today.
• 
  207

  Ripping a person’s faith away, a heavy responsibility?

  by Seraphim23 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  [if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng /> </o:officedocumentsettings> </xml><![endif].

  [if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>normal</w:view> <w:zoom>0</w:zoom> <w:trackmoves /> <w:trackformatting /> <w:punctuationkerning /> <w:validateagainstschemas /> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:saveifxmlinvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:ignoremixedcontent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext> <w:donotpromoteqf /> <w:lidthemeother>en-gb</w:lidthemeother> <w:lidthemeasian>x-none</w:lidthemeasian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>x-none</w:lidthemecomplexscript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables /> <w:snaptogridincell /> <w:wraptextwithpunct /> <w:useasianbreakrules /> <w:dontgrowautofit /> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark /> <w:enableopentypekerning /> <w:dontflipmirrorindents /> <w:overridetablestylehps /> </w:compatibility> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont m:val="cambria math" /> <m:brkbin m:val="before" /> <m:brkbinsub m:val="&#45;-" /> <m:smallfrac m:val="off" /> <m:dispdef /> <m:lmargin m:val="0" /> <m:rmargin m:val="0" /> <m:defjc m:val="centergroup" /> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440" /> <m:intlim m:val="subsup" /> <m:narylim m:val="undovr" /> </m:mathpr></w:worddocument> </xml><!

  [endif][if gte mso 10]> <mce:style><!

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  return of parakeet

  I remember when I first began to realise the JWs world view was floored and wrong. It was devastation to me and my entire world view. It felt like being lost with no lights on to show the way.

  Everyone who leaves a cult feels that way at first. My own metaphor was a raft drifting on the ocean with no horizon in view. It's a painful but necessary step toward freedom.

  I would not want to damage someone as a result of carelessly kicking their rocks from under them and watching them drown ...

  I'm plenty bitter about the WTS, mostly on account of the damage it did and continues to do to my mother and sibs. But I have never tried to pry them away from their beliefs. Whenever the subject comes up (very rarely now after all these years), I merely defend myself if attacked without attacking in return. If they had ever offered to discuss their beliefs with me, I would have been glad to speak up, but unfortunately, that never happened.

  What about a realising that any world view can be wrong?

  I agree that trying to force other belief systems onto others is wrong. But one does not have to push their own "world view" onto another in exchange for the cult's world view. The goal, if the cultist is ready to hear it, is to free them from their bondage and allow them to form their own opinions in a state of freedom. Getting to that point can be traumatic. But living as a slave is even worse.

  I hope no one is offended by what I have written here.

  No offense taken. However, whenever one sees others in a state of bondage, one wants to help. I find it hard to ignore the damage the WTS does to its adherents. That's why I find it hard to stay away from this site for any length of time. Every day newbies come here to ask for advice. They're already questioning the WT beliefs. It would be wrong NOT to help them.

  Do you, Seraphim, regret leaving the WTS because it was a painful process? Would you rather have stayed and been content with lies?
• 
  36

  Trying to handle my JW mom

  by KatyMomof2 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my mom is a recent widow.

  she, being a jw does not have means to support herself and does not seek higher education ( because that would take from her studies ).

  so, she is living ( sponging off of ) me.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  return of parakeet

  I feel for you, KatyMom. However --

  Your children ALWAYS come first. If your mom can't help herself despite your warnings, you MUST follow through. I'm sure one of her "loving sisters in the Truth" will be glad to take her in. (Watch how fast they will run away when they hear that!) But that's not your problem.

  When my son was small, I had a similar problem with my dub mom (but not nearly as severe) . She had her own home, thank goodness, but whenever my son went for a weekend visit there, she would give my son dub books to read and talk to him about the truth, despite my repeated warnings not to.

  I explicity told her that her continued relationship with her grandson was dependent on her not trying to turn him into a dub. Thankfully, I was able to counter any questions my son had about dubs. My mother knew I meant business about dub indoctrination and had the sense to only go so far and no further. If she had started in about demons, that would have been a deal-breaker.

  The funny thing is -- my son (now in his thirties) still has those books my mom gave him. He never read them, but keeps them because he likes the colorful covers. He says they look nice on his bookshelf!

  WTS propaganda as tasteful interior decorating. I still think lining the bottom of a bird cage is the best use for them, but to each his own.

  Good luck with your dilemma.
• 
  150

  YHWH v YHVH - yes, V not W

  by *lost* in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  god's real name and identity yhvh.

  yhwh - fraudulent identity.. .

  can we all sue wt for evidenced fraud and deliberate deception ??

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  return of parakeet

  YHVH is how they pronounce it in Sweden.
• 
  9

  Recommend Reading: How to Be A Friend to A Friend Who is Sick

  by blondie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-04-21/features/ct-prj-0421-letty-cottin-pogrebin-how-friend-sick-20130421_1_printers-row-journal-activist-sick-friend.

  q: one of the first hurdles is knowing what to say and what notto say when a friend is first diagnosed, when the friend gets bad news, or when the illness goes on for months or even years.

  give us the three most essential of your "10 commandments for conversing with a sick friend.".

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  return of parakeet

  bump
• 
  18

  Mouthy

  by still thinking in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've been thinking about you.

  and i'm sending you lots of love across the universe.

  hope it reaches you soon.... .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  return of parakeet

  Thank you, Mouthy. It's on my calendar.

  I hope you don't mind, but I started a thread to tell members you're not feeling well and to send you their love. Please don't feel that you have to respond if you don't feel up to it. Just read it whenever you want.
• 
  89

  Mouthy Grace is not well. Please send love.

  by return of parakeet in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  in another thread, mouthy said she was "not well" and mentioned "kicking the bucket.

  i believe she needs some encouragement and well wishes.. mouthy, you don't need to respond to this thread if you don't feel up to it.

  just consider it an exceptionally long get-well card..

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  return of parakeet

  In another thread, Mouthy said she was "not well" and mentioned "kicking the bucket."

  I believe she needs some encouragement and well wishes.

  Mouthy, you don't need to respond to this thread if you don't feel up to it. Just consider it an exceptionally long get-well card.
• 
  9

  Recommend Reading: How to Be A Friend to A Friend Who is Sick

  by blondie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-04-21/features/ct-prj-0421-letty-cottin-pogrebin-how-friend-sick-20130421_1_printers-row-journal-activist-sick-friend.

  q: one of the first hurdles is knowing what to say and what notto say when a friend is first diagnosed, when the friend gets bad news, or when the illness goes on for months or even years.

  give us the three most essential of your "10 commandments for conversing with a sick friend.".

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  return of parakeet

  It's often hard talking to a sick friend because their illness affects their moods and how they respond to well-meaning friends. They may feel they have to put on a smile so the visitor doesn't feel uncomfortable. That can be a terrible strain. Sometimes all sick friends want is to be left alone for a while. Being open and responsive to these changes is crucial to helping them.

  Good advice, Blondie. I hope the health gods are being kind to you, too.
• 
  18

  Mouthy

  by still thinking in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've been thinking about you.

  and i'm sending you lots of love across the universe.

  hope it reaches you soon.... .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  return of parakeet

  Is this the right place, Mouthy?

  http://www.bmcr.org/brochure.pdf

  If it is, what event(s) do you recommend?

  BTW, I grew up near there. It's only about an hour and a half away from where I live now.