Faithful Witness

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Posts by Faithful Witness

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  5

  Are JWs making themselves sick?

  by Faithful Witness in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am reading steve hassan's book, freedom of mind.

  on page 120, he lists some ways that a cult member will elicit their authentic identity.

  1. creating illnesses, such as skin problems, asthma, or allergic reactions, that give the cult member an excuse to sleep or take time off from work.. my mom has had a mysterious rash, creeping and reappearing on her face and body, for months.

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  Faithful Witness

  I am reading Steve Hassan's book, Freedom of Mind. On page 120, he lists some ways that a cult member will elicit their authentic identity.

  1. Creating illnesses, such as skin problems, asthma, or allergic reactions, that give the cult member an excuse to sleep or take time off from work.

  My mom has had a mysterious rash, creeping and reappearing on her face and body, for months. The doctors can not figure out the cause or find a good remedy. She has other health problems that flare up under stress, but this one is new for her.

  Anyone else have any observations of this type of response? I know the JWs I knew locally, seemed to have many health issues. Many don't have good insurance plans, due to their chosen line of work, so I always chalked their problems up to lack of self-care. Now I see it could have another root cause, or at least an irritating factor to an existing condition.
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  35

  Why doesn't the GB come out with specific rules on counting time

  by trujw in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i think we all know the reason millions of less hours.

  when i was in we went to a rv by the kingdom hall then drove 30 minutes out to the country to knock on a door then back to the city for one more door.

  god must be so proud!

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  Faithful Witness

  Talking to an unbaptized publisher in the car counts as time? Haha

  I never quite progressed to the privilege of riding along in field service, but I know my mom loves it. I think the socializing and bonding make it fun for my parents. They brag about the funny stories and things that happen in service. I get the impression that there might be too many fun people in their congregation. They are always gushing about their friends, and yucking it up.

  My mom could not think of a single person who had joined the congregation, as a result of their flourishing field work. I found that quite interesting.

  It is busy work and indoctrination. Building and reinforcing bonds with others in your cong. Keeping the grips tight, controlling your behavior. The implied or real accountability and definitely at least a hint of competition with your brothers and sisters. Prove yourself to be faithful and worthy. Don't waste time on fruitless pursuits, lilke spending time with your non-believing grandchildren. The time we have left is too short! You are better off loving the people who are going to survive Armageddon.
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  7

  Cause and effect...

  by msconcerned in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  its been going on for years but tonight it really hit home.

  i have to drink after my meeting, its the only thing that calms my nerves.

  the things said tonight made me distort my face so much the brother saw me during the highlights and obviously wantedto say something to me from the stage.

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  Faithful Witness

  What was so distressing, at this meeting, that caused you to make a face? I can totally relate to your feelings!
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  23

  Donating to charities discouraged by the WT

  by lambsbottom in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  hi everyone,.

  im trying to find articles from the wt and awake that show when the writers are discouraging charity work or giving.

  from any books would be good also..

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  Faithful Witness

  I asked my JW sister, about the parable of the sheep and goats. I noticed that the recent article left out the portion of Matthew where Jesus describes the sheep as the ones who fed the hungry and helped the poor. I asked her why the JWs didn't do that, if they are supposedly the "sheep."

  Her reply: "That was just an example. What we do for people is much more valuable. A food drive is a great thing, but we give people a chance at eternal life. Our work is much more valuable."

  I don't find this spelled out quite so clearly in the literature, but what I read in the magazine cited by emeth, shared examples of how they help JWs who are affected by natural disasters. They help their own first, which is not what I have found to be the case in other churches I've known. Most of the evidence of their lack of charity for fellow man, comes from anecdote and out of the mouths of JWs themselves.

  My bible study conductor explained this to me also, while complaining that her coworker was trying to raise money to help rescue abused animals. She was just appalled that someone would waste their time and money on anything but the preaching work. She went on a little tirade about it, in fact... but again, anecdotal, with no scripture or literature referenced to give credibility to her opinion.
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  10

  Finding Faith

  by andrew.riener in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i went to a few jw meetings and talked to some of them and had a few bible studies but stopped going and just returned everything after pressure from my family.

  i am thinking of going back but any advise on how i should do it?.

  i also had a question regarding the jw faith.

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  Faithful Witness

  Yes, you must be baptized into the JW organization, or you will not be saved from destruction.

  Great questions! I hope you will continue doing your own research. Check their story... the truth does NOT fear examination.
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  36

  No one in JW religion has a title that elevates them above others! I did not know this fact!

  by Faithful Witness in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  from jw.org (while waiting for new bible to download, i clicked on the link for "christian," which asks the following question...).

  "are we christians?

  we are christians, for the following reasons.

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  Faithful Witness

  You all are missing the point... it's written by the society, so it is truth. There are no titles! No one is elevated above anyone else... they are all just brothers and sisters.

  Do you get the point?
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  7

  Ive just had a "Ooooooh sh@t" moment

  by DS211 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  im reading steven hassans "combatting cult mind control" and ive just had an "oooooooh sh@t" moment.

  so ive been learning about the differences between mind control abd brainwashing and also how much the wt correlates with these things.

  now according to festinger, whom hassan quotes a lot, cognitive dissonance (three componants to mind control) requires only a change to behavior, thought, or emotions and the other two will follow suit.

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  Faithful Witness

  I am reading the same book. It is enlightening and disheartening to read how a person can be transformed to such an extreme.

  I have a friend who was explaining to me today, how she literally thought she might get electocuted if she visited an ex-jw website, back when she was a teenager trapped inside the organization. She has been out for a long time, but she actually started shaking when she was telling me about it.
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  15

  What do you think of the word:"THEOCRACY"

  by Rip in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  when i come accross these coined phrase like "theocratic school" i wonder if it really is time to live a theocracy on earth, and it it is not an exageration by gb to make people think they occupy a undisputable place in that theocracy where anybody who challenges them, challenges theos.. is the theocratic attitude on earth christian?

  what do you think guys?.

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  Faithful Witness

  Song 125: Loyally Submitting to Theocratic Order

  As Jehovah's people sound throughout the earth

  Truths about the Kingdom and its priceless worth,

  Theocratic order they must all obey

  And remain united, loyalty display.

  Loyal submission in recognition,

  This to our God we owe.

  He gives protection, tender affection,

  Loyalty to him we show.
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  30

  Well an Elder told me why all the new revised NWT bibles are grey/gray in color

  by StoneWall in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  while in discussion with an elder from my old congregation, he asked if i had been given an opportunity to see the new bibles yet.. i told him yes that a family member had showed me one a few days back and some of the improvements (changes) that were in it.. as our conversation went along he asked me what i thought of the color.

  i said well its certainly different from the black cover i was so used to or even going back further a few decades the green covered bibles when i was a child.

  (we both got a chuckle out of that).

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  Faithful Witness

  It could actually be a hypnotic suggestion, and I could see them using it effectively.

  Relax. Jehovah. Truth. Gilded pages. Silver. Relax. Give. Sacrifice. United under Jehovah. We are one. Relax.
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  36

  No one in JW religion has a title that elevates them above others! I did not know this fact!

  by Faithful Witness in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  from jw.org (while waiting for new bible to download, i clicked on the link for "christian," which asks the following question...).

  "are we christians?

  we are christians, for the following reasons.

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  Faithful Witness

  I always wondered why they got so giddy when the CO was coming to visit the cong. They always rolled out the red carpet.