I just finished reading a long article about the young people wanting to break free of Islam in Australia and the problems they face in leaving their high control religion. The similarities between us and them is quite clear, as is how they woke up. It's worth a read.
no-zombie
JoinedPosts by no-zombie
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The problem of being (or wanting be to) an Ex-Muslin
by no-zombie ini just finished reading a long article about the young people wanting to break free of islam in australia and the problems they face in leaving their high control religion.
the similarities between us and them is quite clear, as is how they woke up.
it's worth a read.. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-09/double-lives:-the-secret-ex-muslim-network-in-australia/9811340.
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So What Drastic Money Change is Next?
by OnTheWayOut inokay, they cheapened the product by getting rid of hardcover books.
they reduced printing of mags.
they drastically reduced the number of pieces of printed paper that members would "place" in people's hands in various ways, the biggest one being that they put them on a cart and don't encourage people to take them.they cut d.o.
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no-zombie
The age of free labor to build kingdom and assembly halls in the western world is over. With the demographics the way it is, any work sites are going to hazard with all the zimmer frames.
Joking aside, the mass of younger volunteers is just not there anymore.
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Pseudonyms
by no-zombie inone of this things that constantly reminds me of the extent and the reach the organization has into our lives, is the fact we all need pseudonyms to have a conversation or to make a comment in this even here in this place.
even when people have left the society (by however it has occurred), its rare to see somebody change their online presence to their personal name.. now i'm not expecting people to do that of course, fore we are all free to do what we like (which is the real beauty of this forum) but the fact that it doesn't occur that often, shows how much we've all been effected by being told over and over again, "not to be critical of god's organization".
of course there could be an number so side issues at play here; with some people not wanting to burn their bridges in an attempt to keep what reputation they have left intact and sadly a small minority others, do enjoy the anonymity to just talk trash ... but if a person can not feel free to stand up and respectfully make a critical comment or ask a thorny question without fear of repercussion from their religion, then doesn't it show that there is no real freedom in that faith.
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no-zombie
I just wanted to basically make the point that, that even here, we are not sometimes totally free because of the power the Organization has over others in squashing the genuine discussion of theological questions or operational policy. And by no means was I inferring that we don't need to be invisible from time to time, particularly those who may be reaching out for some kind help or support from this community.
I remember when I made my first reply to a post, I was petrified that somehow it could be traced back to me and be burned because of it ... and that's the saddest part of it all. That's what I've was tying to say.
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Pseudonyms
by no-zombie inone of this things that constantly reminds me of the extent and the reach the organization has into our lives, is the fact we all need pseudonyms to have a conversation or to make a comment in this even here in this place.
even when people have left the society (by however it has occurred), its rare to see somebody change their online presence to their personal name.. now i'm not expecting people to do that of course, fore we are all free to do what we like (which is the real beauty of this forum) but the fact that it doesn't occur that often, shows how much we've all been effected by being told over and over again, "not to be critical of god's organization".
of course there could be an number so side issues at play here; with some people not wanting to burn their bridges in an attempt to keep what reputation they have left intact and sadly a small minority others, do enjoy the anonymity to just talk trash ... but if a person can not feel free to stand up and respectfully make a critical comment or ask a thorny question without fear of repercussion from their religion, then doesn't it show that there is no real freedom in that faith.
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no-zombie
One of this things that constantly reminds me of the extent and the reach the Organization has into our lives, is the fact we all need pseudonyms to have a conversation or to make a comment in this even here in this place. Even when people have left the Society (by however it has occurred), its rare to see somebody change their online presence to their personal name.
Now I'm not expecting people to do that of course, fore we are all free to do what we like (which is the real beauty of this forum) but the fact that it doesn't occur that often, shows how much we've all been effected by being told over and over again, "not to be critical of God's organization". Of course there could be an number so side issues at play here; with some people not wanting to burn their bridges in an attempt to keep what reputation they have left intact and sadly a small minority others, do enjoy the anonymity to just talk trash ... but if a person can not feel free to stand up and respectfully make a critical comment or ask a thorny question without fear of repercussion from their religion, then doesn't it show that there is no real freedom in that faith. And we are real slaves, body and mind ... no better that robots.
And if that was what God really wanted in the first place, why did he give us an inquiring mind and a personal conscience?
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KH hall 4 sale just whose waters are supposed to be drying up again?!
by nowwhat? inavon lake ohio.
while new mega church being built right down the street!.
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no-zombie
In the world's most isolated capital city of Perth Western Australia, congregation mergers and Kingdom Hall sales are occurring too. A recent one to go, was the hall for Embelton Congregation, bought for AU$2.1 million by Hindus which is to be renamed into a new temple.
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The 1993 Proclaimers book, PDF available again? (Atlantis, where are you?)
by FatFreek 2005 ina thread began some 10 years ago when our friend atlantis made a pdf available of jws modern history book.
yes, that book is available on my 2015 library cd but only certain chapters.
naturally, wt eliminated certain entire chapters and you can only guess why.
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no-zombie
I've just gone through my CD version of 2015 Watchtower Library and it seems all there. Could FF be referring to another edition?
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Are you better off as a worldly person or a JW?
by Jules Saturn ini was having a conversation with a relative who has been inactive for several decades (part of the ‘75 generation) and he argued that a person that is a born in is better off staying in the organization rather than someone like him who lived as a “worldly” person but then became a witness later in life.
he argues that when you’re born in, all you know nothing outside of the organization, so you’re better off in than out, that’s why when born ins leave the org, they always come back.
i agree that as a born in, your social circle is composed of witnesses but i do feel that even born ins would be happier outside of the org than being in.
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no-zombie
No one can be "genuinely happy" all the time because happiness is a transitory, at the moment, type of emotion, like pleasure, joy or euphoria. And if you were to be actually found smiling constantly 24/7, its a pretty good bet that you've got some fairly serious mental health or wiring issues that need to be addressed.
However, we all can be "genuinely content" with our lives. This because its a reflective feeling that does not need external stimuli for it to be generated. Helping us to look back at our lives and feel good about the decisions we've made.
Now, are Witnesses more "genuinely content" than worldly people? If a survey was honestly held, I'd expect not. As nearly every brother and sister in the Kingdom Hall I've met in my life, has expressed in either word, action or facial expression, their tiredness of the Theocratic grind, while longing for the bus to paradise that never comes.
Where as "worldly" people on the other hand, having same family, health and financial pressures as JWs, enjoy the extra freedom and time to express their personal wishes, in a fuller way.
no zombie
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Sign JW Data Protection Form Or Else!
by AverageJoe1 inin spain (and the rest of europe), the "improved" data protection laws come into force on 25th may 2018. this is a good thing and sadly america is still lagging behind; not surprising with their current president!.
watchtower legal department are hot on the case and have instructed elders to hand out the new "release" forms out to all the publishers in their groups, whilst making it clear to them that they won't have any privileges if they refuse to do so!.
note these points in the instructions:.
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no-zombie
I made a comment in another thread, but if the Organization does actual roll out a global publisher database, then surely these kind of documents must appear due to the fact the by its very nature, required data would flow across international boundaries and their respective privacy laws. Its very 'Big Brother'.
no-zombie
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6-BOEs-Just Arrived!
by Atlantis in2018-03-31-general data protection regulationhttps://we.tl/z1g1kyveqg2018-04-01-assisting in seldom worked territorieshttps://we.tl/vjspmlzrag2018-announcements and remindershttps://we.tl/hz9omncxib2018-consent for personal datahttps://we.tl/wnlmxqfp7n2018-instructions-for-use-of-personal-datahttps://we.tl/c1ftcszyk22018-oclam-may-7--28--answer sheethttps://we.tl/ieggkojrsyatlantis!.
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no-zombie
Those personal information letters are unbelievable. But what is more scary is the reaction against publishers who refuse to sign those documents. Talk about being Orwellian. And while it may not be a worldwide policy yet, it wouldn't be hard to see its application or linkage to global publisher database that be talked about.
no zombie
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Social Media
by Emily1987 inas some of you may remember from a previous post of mine, myself and my husband are in the process of fading.
we began our fade in jan 2017 and haven't been to a meeting since may 2017. to say this time has been a struggle is an understatement.
it has been a lonely time for us, losing all of our so called friends.
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no-zombie
Hi Emily1987,
I seem to recall something about 'unfriending' inactive ones, but it was probably just a one line comment that might have not been actually written in the talk outline. Somethings COs and other righteous ones tend to ad-lib their parts a llttle. Its also not that unreasonable though, for it to get around the congregation that a person has decided to cut off a certain person from social media, and others end up copying it too.
As hard as it is to adjust, you should start thinking about joining a club. An outdoor one, like a sports based one or something. We all need company, and you'd be surprised how friendly and genuine some 'worldy' people can be.
no zombie