Will Power

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Posts by Will Power

• 
  53

  Some scripture you will hear on 21 May at very many churches

  by A Paduan in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i no longer call you slaves,.

  because a slave does not know what his master is doing.. i have called you friends,.

  because i have told you everything i have heard from my father.. it was not you who chose me, but i who chose you.

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  Will Power

  Would a JW accuse you of making that up?
  
  wp
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  7

  QUOTES ban confirms CULT status

  by hamsterbait in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  got this from a french government website for countering cults.

  do any of you think this sounds familiar?

  lurkers - dare you read this???.

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  Will Power

  EXCELLENT point elsewhere.
  that reply should be put everywhere there is a question whether the WTs rights are being violated. grrrr.
  
  also sent to all gov't agencies, radio stations, etc. where this issue affects many different types of media.
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  6

  An Afternoon with Sheldon Kennedy

  by Uzzah in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  i had the opportunity to spend the afternoon with sheldon kennedy.

  you may remember him best as teh nhl player that came forward about his being abused by his hockey coach.

  he played for detroit ( best known as well as for the bruins).. he has partnered with the red cross in canada and their respect ed program which is designed to address bullying and abuse of all kinds.

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  Will Power

  thanks for sharing this Uzzah.
  the damage that this type of abuse causes can take on many forms - suffer in silence and feel so alone - creating another personna just to get thru everyday life.
  I'm glad that public awareness is growing and there are more places for victims to reach out for help.
  
  wp
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  2

  Polygamy & shunning

  by Will Power in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  last night i caught a few minutes on cnn.

  they are still covering all angles of the warren jeffs/polygamy story.

  an edict came down from "the top" that some decided to follow.

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  Will Power

  can someone move this to the open part of the forum?
  I didn't realize I'd started it in the private box.
  thanks
• 
  2

  Polygamy & shunning

  by Will Power in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  last night i caught a few minutes on cnn.

  they are still covering all angles of the warren jeffs/polygamy story.

  an edict came down from "the top" that some decided to follow.

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  Will Power

  Last night I caught a few minutes on CNN. They are still covering all angles of the Warren Jeffs/Polygamy story.
  An edict came down from "the top" that some decided to follow.
  In the family they were interviewing, (1 husband, 4 wives - 1 deceased - 35 children - and over 114 grandchildren)
  10 of the children (and their extended)
  will have nothing to do with the parents or the rest of the family - because they were told not to associate with those that ...(thats the part I missed)
  but had to do with Warren Jeffs' leadership & the loyalty he demands.
  
  CNN has been touching on this topic of shunning, excommunication & the divine loyalty - shaking their heads in amazement. (like we do here LOL)
  the language is so similar - chilling.
  any here with JW family at home - this is a conversation starter for sure!
  Would the JW be able to discuss without seeing themselves or pgs in the WT - would they be able to voice an opinion one way or the other about the polygamists?
  I'd love to hear it.
  
  wp
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  13

  It's not upbuilding! It only tears down!

  by under_believer in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm sure many will recognize the subject as a criticism frequently levelled against critical or "apostate" statements: it doesn't build up, it's not encouraging, it only tears down, it's negative.

  in other words, don't listen to it, or it will harsh your mellow.. has anybody come up with a reasonably acceptable response to this criticism?

  i have already heard it a couple of times in talking to various friends of mine.

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  Will Power

  hahaha nothing showed up ahahahahaha
  
  what I was trying to say was....
  
  """"How many "upbuilding" things did Jesus say about the Pharisees in the gospels?""""
  
  thats a keeper!
• 
  13

  It's not upbuilding! It only tears down!

  by under_believer in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm sure many will recognize the subject as a criticism frequently levelled against critical or "apostate" statements: it doesn't build up, it's not encouraging, it only tears down, it's negative.

  in other words, don't listen to it, or it will harsh your mellow.. has anybody come up with a reasonably acceptable response to this criticism?

  i have already heard it a couple of times in talking to various friends of mine.

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  Will Power
• 
  23

  My mother started preaching on me today...

  by digglina in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  my mother has just been preaching to me for over an hour (the usual circular reasonging: i have the truth - if i have the truth they will oppose me - they oppose me - so i have the truth...).

  the one point she seems to have is the thought that god has a people to serve him.

  the bible does speek of him using individuals, but most of the time he also has a special people.

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  Will Power

  Once again here is a piece written by Tom Cabeen titled
  
  "Does God work Through an Organization?
  
  you'll have to paste into the browser, I can't make it clickable. Its about 1/2 down the pg.
  http://www.brci.org/publications.html
  
  
  wp
• 
  20

  Need some good reasoning points

  by mavie in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i need to try and get my wife to examine her beliefs.

  i hope to do this by getting her to think on her own.

  i've already tryed doctrinal issues with no success.

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  Will Power

  thanks Blondie,
  I copied that list yrs ago and didn't have a url to go with it.
  
  I just rec'd a back issue of the sceptical inquirer that has the article "Why Bad Beliefs Don't Die"
  but here is the online link:
  http://www.csicop.org/si/2000-11/beliefs.html
  great conversation starter!
  
  wp
• 
  20

  Need some good reasoning points

  by mavie in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i need to try and get my wife to examine her beliefs.

  i hope to do this by getting her to think on her own.

  i've already tryed doctrinal issues with no success.

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  Will Power

  there might be a question or 2 here ......
  
  1. Does your group discourage doubts, criticism or ideas that differ from their belief system?
  Yes____No___
  2. Do you tend to rationalize whatever the group does even when it goes against your sense of right and wrong?
  Yes___ No___
  3. Do you often feel exhausted from lengthy group activities, meetings and projects?
  Yes___ No___
  4. Does your group have its own unique words, cliches, slogans, chants, prayers and doctrinal phrases that reinforce the group viewpoint?
  Yes___ No___
  5. Are doubts viewed as a lack of faith, dedication, commitment or disloyalty?
  Yes___ No___
  6. Have "your thoughts" become "the enemy?"
  Yes___ No___
  7. Do you often find yourself doing more and more things in the group or because of group peer pressure that you would not have done on your own?
  Yes___ No___
  8. Does your group publicly humiliate or criticize members?
  Yes___ No___
  9. Does your group have a system of punishments and rewards for behavior?
  Yes___ No___
  10. Group paranoia: Does your group obsessively think other groups or people with different beliefs are out to get them?
  Yes___ No___
  11. Does the prospect of leaving your group seem scary, difficult?
  Yes___ No___
  12. Do you feel the need to leave in secret?
  Yes___ No___
  13. Have you been told something bad might happen if you leave?
  Yes___ No___
  14. Does your group/belief system think they have/are the only or highest truth, or have the solution for the world’s problems?
  Yes___ No___
  15. Are your leader’s ideas or belief system considered beyond reproach or sacred?
  Yes___ No___
  16. Do you follow a particular individual or belief system that requires unquestioning obedience and loyalty?
  Yes___ No___
  17. ) Do members of your group feel specially chosen, superior, exclusive, elite?
  Yes___ No___
  18. Do you feel the need to save or convert others to your belief system or ideology?
  Yes___ No___
  19. Is your group secretive to outsiders about its inner workings, teachings, activities or beliefs?
  Yes___ No___
  20. Does your group equate purity and goodness to being in your group, and impurity or evil to those outside your group?
  Yes___ No___
  21. Do you place your group’s mission or agenda above your own goals and ideals? Do group interests come before your own interest
  Yes___ No___
  22. Do you find yourself thinking in a we-they, us-versus-them mind set?
  Yes___ No___
  23. Does your group/system have a clear outside enemy?
  Yes___ No___
  24. Do you see less and less of your family and friends who do not belong to your group or who do not subscribe to your group’s belief system?
  Yes___ No___
  25. Does your group use frequent public testimonials, confessions, or sharings that reinforce the group’s mission or agenda?
  Yes___ No___
  26. Is communication within, into and out of your group controlled or censored in any manner?
  Yes___ No___
  27. Does your group criticize, shun, abandon or demean individuals who leave the group?
  Yes___ No___
  28. Do members seek approval or get permission from group leader(s) for personal life choices?
  Yes___ No___
  29. Do you feel pressured to attend meetings, events, lectures, seminars? And do you feel guilty if you don’t attend?
  Yes___ No___
  30. Do you feel pressured to give a portion of your income to the group, or spend money on courses, books or special projects?
  Yes___ No___
  31. Are the group’s financial needs more important than your own economic well-being?
  Yes___ No___
  32. Does your group discriminate against anyone regarding race, gender, belief, or sexual orientation?
  Yes___ No___
  33. Does your group have a totalitarian structure: a strict, top-down centralized control?
  Yes___ No___
  
  Do you wonder if you have been in a destructive group?
  Do you...
  
  ...have difficulty forming new friendships and intimate relationships?
  Yes___ No___
  
  ...have low self-esteem, poor self-image or loss of identity?
  Yes___ No___
  
  ...have difficulty making simple decisions and choices?
  Yes___ No___
  
  ...often feel depressed, anxious and nervous?
  Yes___ No___
  
  ...feel isolated, lonely, guilty, cynical?
  Yes___ No___
  
  ...feel like you are just now growing up, becoming a mature adult?
  Yes___ No___
  
  ...have short-term memory difficulties?
  Yes___ No___
  
  ...feel you have nothing to believe in?
  Yes___ No___
  
  ...often feel anger and rage towards the group?
  Yes___ No___
  
  ...have nightmares or unpleasant dreams?
  Yes___ No___
  
  ...find it difficult or impossible to stop mental or other group ritualistic practices?
  Yes___ No___
  
  This quiz has no scientifically predetermined number of "yes" answers to indicate a distructive group. However, answering "yes" to any of the above questions means you may need to examine your group and its influence in your life in those areas.