StrongHaiku

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Posts by StrongHaiku

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  51

  CO has been coming to my door. Would like 1 or 2 solid and easy arguments.

  by The Laser Viking in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i am 6th generation.

  i have been out for a few years.. back story on the situation:.

  i had a co come by while going door-to-door in the neighborhood.

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  StrongHaiku

  Not sure if this will help but sometimes it is better to sidestep a doctrinal issue and come at it in a way that hits at whatever is left of their humanity (I know, a small target).

  Some have already noted the pedophile situation. And, that can be addressed outside of the minefield of doctrine. However, here is another example:

  I once asked my mother "If Jehovah (through his spirit direct organization) asked you to kill me, would you do it?" She said "Yes". That is the only appropriate answer for a JW. An answer of "No" means that they have set boundaries. If they have set limits on what they will or won't do for the "Organization" then maybe they have boundaries in other areas that can be explored. Just a thought.
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  52

  The beginning of the end for shunning?

  by Saltheart Foamfollower in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  the borg seem to prepare for changes by missing explanations out for a while then presenting a "new understanding" which doesn't contradict the most recent discussion.check out the most recent references to gog - no identification as satan.. in today's wt study, paragraph 15 concerning benefitting from the prodigal son stated "if we meet a person who has strayed from the congregation, will we offer loving and practical help to assist him to return?

  " there is no footnote or other qualifier saying not to go to disfellowshipped ones (who are definitely the ones being talked about) which is still the official policy.

  i know this isn't an ending to shunning, but it may signal the start of the preparation for a change.

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  StrongHaiku

  steve2 - Very powerfully stated StrongHaiku. You da man, in my book.

  Lol! Thanks for the kind words, steve2. You made my day.

  On a somewhat related note, for the past 25 years or so, my family would never contact me unless they needed money. A couple of years ago I told them that my money came with a condition - "that they openly have a relationship with me". Have not heard from them since.

  I don't think I am alone here. Many exJWs I would bet are much more successful than the families they left behind. It is sometimes good to remember that they may need us more than we need them. Hey, "theocratic warfare" works both ways.

  
  
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  21

  JUST WONDERIN BOUT THE G.B..... again.

  by brandnew in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  growing up, i never ever even saw these guys faces, or even knew their names.

  all of a sudden they're on my computer screen, tv, and on every other magazine coming out of the watchtower machine.

  why all the glamour now?

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  StrongHaiku

  I get the sense that they are trying to rebrand themselves as a "Cult of Personality". But that only works if you have a strong and compelling vision that you can communicate in a charismatic way. Kinda like Steve Jobs was for Apple. However, they neither have a strong vision nor do they have any charisma, neither as individuals or collectively. I may be wrong, but sometimes it looks like there is a bit of wrangling between them as each of the GB try to vie for that top spot.

  Just get a bag of popcorn and a coke and watch the freak show.
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  22

  You are invited to sit down with the GB members..

  by James Mixon in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  you have the opportunity to sit and discuss what's on your mind.. what would you tell them??.

  my question, do you men have a heart, how do you sleep at nights??.

  why do you think jehovah pick you to feed the sheep??.

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  StrongHaiku

  "What's with the pinky rings?" I mean, really."
  
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  52

  The beginning of the end for shunning?

  by Saltheart Foamfollower in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  the borg seem to prepare for changes by missing explanations out for a while then presenting a "new understanding" which doesn't contradict the most recent discussion.check out the most recent references to gog - no identification as satan.. in today's wt study, paragraph 15 concerning benefitting from the prodigal son stated "if we meet a person who has strayed from the congregation, will we offer loving and practical help to assist him to return?

  " there is no footnote or other qualifier saying not to go to disfellowshipped ones (who are definitely the ones being talked about) which is still the official policy.

  i know this isn't an ending to shunning, but it may signal the start of the preparation for a change.

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  StrongHaiku

  This may be off topic, so I apologize upfront. But the subject got me thinking...

  After years of having my family and the "Organization" kick me around like a soccer ball with the shunning practice, I am not sure if I would immediately embrace changes in this area if it came. Maybe in the past I would have.

  I think I have a bit more pride now and they don't have the high-moral ground they had in my mind before. I don't think I would be so quick to act as if all is forgotten and try to go back to "normal".

  I am not sure if I would want to associate with people (my family) who turn off their love so easily and capriciously. And, based on all of the scandals, I am not sure I would want to associate with JWs. After all, I have a reputation to maintain. Who knows? Maybe I should put them through a reinstatement process...

  I know many don't feel that way and I totally understand that. I think in my case, I am tired of being subject to the "Organization's" whims and always having to act according to their terms.
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  5

  Stephen King Freakouts?

  by cappytan in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i have this memory of deciding to get a stephen king novel (tommyknockers) from my high school library.. went home and started reading it.

  first few chapters were pretty amazing.

  felt guilty because i had heard urban jw legends about people who owned stephen king books having demon problems.

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  StrongHaiku

  Yep. Had similar experiences with Stephen King. I read "The Stand" in high school and had to hide it from my mother. Read it under the covers with a flashlight. On a side note, "The Shawshank Redemption" is my favorite movie of all time. And, for me it was a perfect allegory of what it was like to get out of the "Organization".
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  33

  All things considered, when will THE JW religion end?

  by sowhatnow in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  id give a guess of maybe another 15 to 20 years ,.

  nothing will be the same , if there even is a headquarters.. opinion?.

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  StrongHaiku

  I have to agree with other posters. They will be around for a long time. They are a niche religion and there will always be personality types that will fit it quite well.

  If the GB got up tomorrow and said right out "We are a sham", someone below them would cut/paste a bunch of scriptures to show that this was part of prophecy and ret-con their history again, etc. My mother and the rest of my family would buy it as they are so invested that they will ride this bus all the way down the precipice.

  I have day dreams where I get to see my family again. But it is just that. I am pretty much resolved to the idea that I will not get to see any of them or for that matter bury my own mother when the time comes.
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  13

  Take a Break With a Bit of Humour

  by Finkelstein in

  1. social
  2. humour

  lets see what we can find on youtube or elsewhere that tickles your funny bone .

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyv-qyewpkk.

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  StrongHaiku

  This may or may not have been posted before, but it killed me...

  Remember to laugh. Enjoy.

  http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a96_1413683127
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  50

  Look at this fear mongering graphic from latest WT

  by cappytan in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  .

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  StrongHaiku

  millie210 - my eyes go to the guitar case by the door on the right

  Is that a guitar case or a skateboard? Sorry, my eyes might be screwed up.  I guess it really doesn't matter as I'm sure both will probably become disfellowshipping offenses at the next convention.
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  14

  The New Gog of Magog Understanding Proves They Never Teach The Truth

  by minimus in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  they insist that their understanding of the bible is correct.

  if you challenged their current view, you would be considered an apostate.

  what they teach as the truth, constantly changes.

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  StrongHaiku

  Nice pic.  Is that the new "Call of Duty" edition?  Really love the inconspicuous lack of any type of "time line" info (e.g. years, etc.) under their "Major Events".