GloomySunday

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Posts by GloomySunday

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  18

  Improving Critical Thinking Skills

  by GloomySunday in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm out of the jw religion, but still have trouble thinking critically.

  when i was in, i had no idea what a logical fallacy was, i used all sorts of false arguments, yes, even "if man evolved from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?".

  i would fall for just about everything.

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  GloomySunday

  Wow! Thanks for all the links and suggestions, everyone! I'll be looking into these for certain.

  ~GloomySunday
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  18

  Improving Critical Thinking Skills

  by GloomySunday in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm out of the jw religion, but still have trouble thinking critically.

  when i was in, i had no idea what a logical fallacy was, i used all sorts of false arguments, yes, even "if man evolved from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?".

  i would fall for just about everything.

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  GloomySunday

  I'm out of the JW religion, but still have trouble thinking critically. When I was in, I had no idea what a logical fallacy was, I used all sorts of false arguments, yes, even "If man evolved from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?". I would fall for just about everything. Including conspiracy theories, aliens, and all of that.

  I was homeschooled, and raised in the religion from birth. When I entered my teens, I started to notice flaws in the arguments, and left, but I still have trouble spotting fallacies (mainly because I don't know about all of them). Although, I have spotted a few on my own.

  I feel intimidated when debating, but I've only been out for less than a few months, so I may not know too much. I have this left over instant-obey-and-submit wiring burned into my mind, because they would use intimidation to persuade me.

  I was just wondering if anyone else had trouble thinking critically when leaving, or if anyone could recommend some books on how to spot propaganda, or to think critically, and so forth.

  ~GloomySunday
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  18

  Getting Rid of Left-Over JW Superstitions

  by GloomySunday in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i've been only out for about a year now, but still have some left-over superstitions, that i was hoping someone could help me get rid of.

  firstly, i'd like to say that i don't think these are rational, but they keep bothering me, and i have some anxiety/paranoia problems that most likely are the cause.. i'm embarrassed by these silly things, and am young and have not been out long, so i'd assume this is to be an expected symptom.. what i usually keep doing is looking for patterns in everything, like if jws come to the door, i start interpreting it to mean that god sent them, or some such silliness.. or when watchtower or awake!

  magazines come out, i keep applying the topics to what i've been thinking about, or what has happened recently.

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  GloomySunday

  @WTWizard

  Thank you. I did try that once or twice. Like, this one time, they said that "atleast one scholar" supports their 607 date. Some guy named Rolf, or something. So I looked him up, and it turns out he's a JW, and all the other scholars think he's nuts. I find their failure to mention that he's a long time member rather deceptive... And this is something that I just did on my own.

  I've noticed they tend to twist science to make it appear that it agrees with their doctrine. Like by misrepresenting how all of the continents were once united. They said that that's how the Kangaroos could've made their way back to Australia, even though it's absurd to say that these were all together a mere 4,000 or so years ago. And they did this twice. They know what they're doing. It's obvious.

  @Narcissistic Supply

  Haha! I like your thinking.
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  18

  Getting Rid of Left-Over JW Superstitions

  by GloomySunday in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i've been only out for about a year now, but still have some left-over superstitions, that i was hoping someone could help me get rid of.

  firstly, i'd like to say that i don't think these are rational, but they keep bothering me, and i have some anxiety/paranoia problems that most likely are the cause.. i'm embarrassed by these silly things, and am young and have not been out long, so i'd assume this is to be an expected symptom.. what i usually keep doing is looking for patterns in everything, like if jws come to the door, i start interpreting it to mean that god sent them, or some such silliness.. or when watchtower or awake!

  magazines come out, i keep applying the topics to what i've been thinking about, or what has happened recently.

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  GloomySunday

  @LisaRose

  Yeah, I've heard those stories before, along with the demon stories. I've gotten over the demon phobia though. The coin tossing thing never has consistency. I think it's just an illusion, or bad chance.

  I know. You're right. I mean, tons of other religions claim the same thing. They've even written books on the matter. I'm just being silly, really. It's just part of my disorder, I suppose.

  @rebel8

  Thanks, Rebel. I'm planning on trying that very soon. I have some doctors who may be able to help.
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  18

  Getting Rid of Left-Over JW Superstitions

  by GloomySunday in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i've been only out for about a year now, but still have some left-over superstitions, that i was hoping someone could help me get rid of.

  firstly, i'd like to say that i don't think these are rational, but they keep bothering me, and i have some anxiety/paranoia problems that most likely are the cause.. i'm embarrassed by these silly things, and am young and have not been out long, so i'd assume this is to be an expected symptom.. what i usually keep doing is looking for patterns in everything, like if jws come to the door, i start interpreting it to mean that god sent them, or some such silliness.. or when watchtower or awake!

  magazines come out, i keep applying the topics to what i've been thinking about, or what has happened recently.

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  GloomySunday

  @exwhyzee

  Thanks.

  Yeah, I figured that might be the case. I have noticed that tactic they pull. Sometimes they do it the other way around, like when about to discuss boogeymen like "apostates" or evolution, they start out by saying things like "Remember when you first found out about the truth? How it made you so happy, and was sound in logic?", then they bring in the scary stuff by saying "Well, some people want to rob you of that." Then they bring in the enemies. Which is really emotional appeal.

  You're right. I remember trying to get help all the time, and only getting "Well, Rome wasn't built in a day, y'know.". None of them recommended doctors, or therapists.

  @BluesBrother

  Thanks. I couldn't quite recall. It sounds like something they'd do.

  My Mother always looks at things like that. She blames every bad thing that happens in her life on "Satan", and every good thing on "Jehovah".
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  18

  Getting Rid of Left-Over JW Superstitions

  by GloomySunday in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i've been only out for about a year now, but still have some left-over superstitions, that i was hoping someone could help me get rid of.

  firstly, i'd like to say that i don't think these are rational, but they keep bothering me, and i have some anxiety/paranoia problems that most likely are the cause.. i'm embarrassed by these silly things, and am young and have not been out long, so i'd assume this is to be an expected symptom.. what i usually keep doing is looking for patterns in everything, like if jws come to the door, i start interpreting it to mean that god sent them, or some such silliness.. or when watchtower or awake!

  magazines come out, i keep applying the topics to what i've been thinking about, or what has happened recently.

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  GloomySunday

  @Miss.Fit

  I noticed that this never happened when I was in. It seems like something that I'm over-thinking.

  I've heard it's normal when leaving high-control groups. We're just pattern-seeking creatures, I suppose.
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  18

  Getting Rid of Left-Over JW Superstitions

  by GloomySunday in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i've been only out for about a year now, but still have some left-over superstitions, that i was hoping someone could help me get rid of.

  firstly, i'd like to say that i don't think these are rational, but they keep bothering me, and i have some anxiety/paranoia problems that most likely are the cause.. i'm embarrassed by these silly things, and am young and have not been out long, so i'd assume this is to be an expected symptom.. what i usually keep doing is looking for patterns in everything, like if jws come to the door, i start interpreting it to mean that god sent them, or some such silliness.. or when watchtower or awake!

  magazines come out, i keep applying the topics to what i've been thinking about, or what has happened recently.

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  GloomySunday

  @Perry

  Thank you, Perry, for the kind words.
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  18

  Getting Rid of Left-Over JW Superstitions

  by GloomySunday in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i've been only out for about a year now, but still have some left-over superstitions, that i was hoping someone could help me get rid of.

  firstly, i'd like to say that i don't think these are rational, but they keep bothering me, and i have some anxiety/paranoia problems that most likely are the cause.. i'm embarrassed by these silly things, and am young and have not been out long, so i'd assume this is to be an expected symptom.. what i usually keep doing is looking for patterns in everything, like if jws come to the door, i start interpreting it to mean that god sent them, or some such silliness.. or when watchtower or awake!

  magazines come out, i keep applying the topics to what i've been thinking about, or what has happened recently.

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  GloomySunday

  @rebel8

  I've done that so far. I just quit reading them.

  I know, I know, insane, right? I've been diagnosed by doctors as having O.C.D.
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  18

  Getting Rid of Left-Over JW Superstitions

  by GloomySunday in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i've been only out for about a year now, but still have some left-over superstitions, that i was hoping someone could help me get rid of.

  firstly, i'd like to say that i don't think these are rational, but they keep bothering me, and i have some anxiety/paranoia problems that most likely are the cause.. i'm embarrassed by these silly things, and am young and have not been out long, so i'd assume this is to be an expected symptom.. what i usually keep doing is looking for patterns in everything, like if jws come to the door, i start interpreting it to mean that god sent them, or some such silliness.. or when watchtower or awake!

  magazines come out, i keep applying the topics to what i've been thinking about, or what has happened recently.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  GloomySunday

  I've been only out for about a year now, but still have some left-over superstitions, that I was hoping someone could help me get rid of. Firstly, I'd like to say that I don't think these are rational, but they keep bothering me, and I have some anxiety/paranoia problems that most likely are the cause.

  I'm embarrassed by these silly things, and am young and have not been out long, so I'd assume this is to be an expected symptom.

  What I usually keep doing is looking for patterns in everything, like if JWs come to the door, I start interpreting it to mean that god sent them, or some such silliness.

  Or when Watchtower or Awake! magazines come out, I keep applying the topics to what I've been thinking about, or what has happened recently. This is something I used to do when I was in.

  I've even gone so far as to do things like flip coins and see if when I say "If the JW religion is correct, may this land heads-up" then seeing if it lands heads-up. Which is usually seems to do, but one time I decided to write down each time, what it lands on to see if there is any consistancy, turns out there wasn't. Not too suprised there.

  I can't even remember if JWs believe you can test god like this, or ask for a sign. Do they? Again, I think this is all some silly illusion, but I want someone to help me out.

  Can anyone help me out of this sillyness?

  With love,

  GloomySunday~
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  46

  Former Unbaptized Publisher, New Here

  by GloomySunday in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  former unbaptized publisher, here.. i'm new to the forums and have hesitated for months to join this forum.

  i was raised in a jw family, and was never baptized, because one of my parents didn't think i should be baptized early.. my mother became inactive, but i eventually went back for social contact, eventually starting a study.

  i raised a few questions, only to find that the conductor would get irritated and defensive when my questions would get deeper into the topic.

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  GloomySunday

  @Badfish

  Their rules are just so insane. My Father would always say that he'd never join because then he'd have to shave the beard he's had for years, but that was just a joke of his.