Happy birthday!
Gentledawn
JoinedPosts by Gentledawn
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22
Happy 21st!!!!
by KateWild in21 years ago today, was the one of the most special days of my life.
i gave birth to my precious daughter.
who knew it would pass so quickly!
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76
What is the biggest regret or source of resentment because of being a Jehovahs Witness?
by stuckinarut2 ini'm sure we could all write long paragraphs about this question, but in a few words, what is your biggest regret, or frustration in life due to being a witness?.
what missed opportunities did it cost you?
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Gentledawn
The lies, lies and more f--cking LIES.
Deceptive recruitment practices.
The fake-ass love-bombing from the get-go.
Being around people who are just as worn out, struggling, depressed and wondering why as you, but their best advice is : "service will fix it!".
Wearing dresses or skirts in sub-zero temps, with the wind (and snow) whistling up my wahoo for hours on end whilst knocking at not-at-homes. Ya know, because it's still the 1950s and pants grow cocks betwixt the wearers legs, apparently.
The fact that as a woman every male in the building had a say-so over every specific of my fucking everything. Nothing beats having some random male visiting the hall getting upset by a game my child plays (didn't have the game with us, but was mentioned in passing during discussion with this same man). He goes into a dry-ass tirade about the evils of said game (pokemon). And snitches to the congregation elders about the convo, too.
Next up? Two-- count em : 2 -- sheep-herding calls made on me and my kid by "concerned" local eldubs. Threw away all of our related video games. Surprised they didn't ask us to throw away our gameboy systems, too.
It's a cult. <--- end of discussion.
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Why are some of you guys calling this new arrangement tithing?
by neverendingjourney inat the risk of being shouted down, i thought i'd point out that "tithing" means giving 10 percent of your income to a church.
it comes from the old english word teogotha meaning tenth.
i've seen nothing that establishes tithing in the watchtower.. while i'm all in favor of pointing out the watchtower's lies, hypocrisies and faults, the language we use matters.
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Gentledawn
Tax-free organization that outright owns the buildings and property and has its maintenance done by the real slaves (not oxymoronic leadership "slaves", who can't be questioned nor denied aka a supposed prophet of god, who do f--k-all as far as real work and/or door-to-door knocking goes).... so what exactly are the expenses for a kingdom hall per month? the electricity to light it up?
Interesting reading regarding money and scams pulled:
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$2.5 million solicited and collected(!) for an assembly hall build, only to deny build going forward 4-5yrs later on:
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US Brooklyn headquarters couldn't afford to build a Bethel Branch and printing facility in Spain, so people in congregations there donated whatever they had: cash, jewelry, savings, what have you. Then when building was sold years later, all monies go "back" to... US Brooklyn headquarters??
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/175871/1/Spanish-JWs-Upset-Over-Bethel-Move#.U0ohv_ldUWY
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back to topic and for the record:
March 29, 2014
TO ALL CONGREGATIONS
Re: Adjustment to financing Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide
Dear Brothers:
On September 1, 1983, the Kingdom Hall Fund was created to help finance the increasing need for Kingdom Halls. For more than 30 years, this arrangement has served to expand the construction of Kingdom Halls worldwide in a tremendous way by means of Regional Building Committees and the program for lands with limited resources. Having sufficient, adequate places of worship is vital, as Jehovah continues to ‘speed up’ the gathering of “a mighty nation.” (Isa. 60:22) In order to meet these ever-increasing needs, the Governing Body has directed that an adjustment be made in the way Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction projects are financed.
In harmony with the principle at 2 Corinthians 8:12-14, congregations will now be asked to pool their resources worldwide to support the construction of theocratic facilities wherever they are needed. Congregations and Assembly Halls will no longer be asked to repay a loan, and use of the separate contribution box labeled “Kingdom Hall Construction Worldwide” has been discontinued. Instead, all congregations will have the opportunity to support Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide by resolving to make a monthly donation from congregation funds. If individual publishers wish to donate specifically to support Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide, such donations will be accepted gladly and used wisely by the branch office. From now on, all funding for approved projects will be provided by the branch office from the funds that have been donated by you dear brothers and sisters.
The need for Kingdom Halls and Assembly Halls is greater than ever before. At this time, over 13,000 Kingdom Hall projects and 35 Assembly Hall projects are needed worldwide. Much of this need is in parts of the world where the cost of property and building materials is high. A tremendous amount of funds is needed to care for this work. However, we are confident that Jehovah will provide what is needed by your generous support. Time and again we have seen this take place. For example, it has been 24 years since we began offering literature under the donation arrangement, yet Jehovah’s blessing on this adjustment has been obvious. We are confident that by means of Jehovah’s continued blessing and the generosity of the worldwide brotherhood, the new arrangement for financing Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction will be a success as well.—1 Chron. 29:11-14; Ps. 127:1.
May Jehovah continue to richly bless your hard work and loyal service as you generously support Kingdom interests.
Your brothers,
Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses----
::: The following pages are NOT to be read to Congregations nor posted to bulletin board::::
***PAGE TWO***
Re: Adjustment to financing Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide March 29, 2014 Page 2
PS to body of elders:
At the Service Meeting for the week of April 28, 2014, the congregation should be informed that use of the contribution box labeled “Kingdom Hall Construction Worldwide” will be discontinued on May 1, 2014. and that further information will be provided at the following Service Meeting. This letter should be read to the congregation during the local needs part on the Service Meeting for the week of May 5, 2014.(Congregations having an assembly the week of May 5 should have the letter read the following week.) This postscript should not be read to the congregation, and this letter should not be posted on the information board. After the reading of the letter, either a resolution should be presented to the congregation or the survey described below should be taken. The December 7, 2009, letter to all congregations should be removed from the congregation permanent file of policy letters and be destroyed. Updated congregation accounting instructions and forms will begin to be provided in May 2014.
Resolved donations: All congregations are asked to establish a monthly resolved donation to support Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide by no later than May 31, 2014.
• What amount should be used for this new resolved monthly donation?
The elders in congregations currently making loan repayments would likely propose a resolution that is at least the same amount as the current monthly loan repayment, keeping in mind that donations will no longer be received from the “Kingdom Hall Construction Worldwide” contribution box. The elders in congregations without loans or those having standing resolutions to support Kingdom Hall construction worldwide should take a confidential survey of all publishers to determine the amount of the new resolution. This can be done by passing out slips of paper to be filled out anonymously by the publishers indicating how much they are able to contribute monthly toward local congregation expenses, including the resolution to support Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide. At the time the survey is taken, it may be helpful to also review with the congregation the average monthly operating expenses that need to be covered.
Elders should review this resolution annually in May to ensure the amount is what the congregation is realistically able to donate on a monthly basis. For example, there may be a significant increase or decrease in the number of publishers in the congregation, or the local economic conditions may appreciably improve or deteriorate, thus affecting the amount that the congregation can reasonably contribute. If necessary, the elders may take a new financial survey, as described above, to determine whether the resolved monthly contribution to Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide should be adjusted for the coming year.
• What should be done with other existing resolutions?
Any previous resolution to support Kingdom Hall construction should be discontinued. All other resolutions, such as those for contributing to the worldwide work, the Convention Fund, the Traveling Overseer Assistance Arrangement, and the Kingdom Hall Assistance Arrangement, should continue to be honored. Where more than one congregation shares a Kingdom Hall, resolutions to contribute to a shared Kingdom
***PAGE THREE***
Re: Adjustment to financing Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide March 29,2014 Page 3
Hall operating account to cover the operating costs, minor renovations, and repairs may be adjusted as needed.
• How should this new resolved amount be submitted to the branch office?
Each congregation should establish its own resolution to contribute to Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide and submit the resolved amount with its monthly remittance to the branch office. These resolved amounts should not be submitted through Kingdom Hall operating accounts. If revised forms for congregation accounting are not yet available in the language of the congregation, the resolved donation amount for Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide may be recorded on the line “Kingdom Hall Construction Worldwide (Resolution)” that appears on the form(s) currently being used.
• What should be done if congregation funds are not sufficient to cover resolved donations?
If sufficient funds are not available for all resolved donations in a particular month, additional funds should not be solicited. The elders should determine what amounts from the congregation funds that are available at the end of the month will be applied toward the resolved monthly donation(s) and whether the shortfall should be made up in future months. However, it would be appropriate for the elders to remind the congregation of the resolved monthly commitments. If the congregation can no long¬er contribute the amount(s) they resolved on a regular basis, the elders may consider the situation at the next annual review of the resolution for Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide.
Contribution boxes: As noted above, on May 1, 2014, each Kingdom Hall should have only two types of contribution boxes, one labeled “Local Congregation Expenses” and one labeled “Worldwide Work.”• What should be done with existing “Kingdom Hall Construction Worldwide” boxes or boxes set up to accept donations for a local building project?
These boxes will no longer be used for accepting donations in support of Kingdom Hall or Assembly Hall construction. They should be removed or relabeled to accept donations for the worldwide work on May 1, 2014.• What type of expenses can be paid from funds received in the “Local Congregation Expenses” box?
These funds should be used to pay approved congregation expenses, including Kingdom Hall operating expenses, minor renovations, and repairs (through the operating committee, if applicable), as well as for all monthly resolved donations that are sent to the branch office.• Are there any changes to the existing “Worldwide Work” box?
No. Funds received in the “Worldwide Work” box will continue to be forwarded to the branch office each month. No congregation expenses or monthly resolutions should be paid from these funds. -
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The Creation of Eve
by jws infor those of you who believe in the bible, have you ever seriously thought about the events that led up to the creation of eve?.
genesis 2 - 18 the lord god said, it is not good for the man to be alone.
i will make a helper suitable for him.. .
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Gentledawn
XY = male; XX = female. But no such thing as a "YY" super-uber male. Just saying
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During Metaphase I of meiosis, the sperm or unfertilized egg can incorrectly separate the duplicated chromosomes and have additional copies of sex chromosomes in one egg or sperm, and then no copies in another egg or sperm. Most of the time it causes a spontaneous abortion (miscarriage), or the sperm/egg will not continue with fertilization (undergo apoptosis), but rarely the fertilization will occur with a defective gene count, and fertilized fetus will be viable. Here's a brief but not all-encompassing list of the conditions:
XY male, normal (included as a reference) XX female, normal (included as a reference)
X0 Turner Syndrome: Affected persons are phenotypically female, but smaller and may or may not undergo sexual maturation; even at sexual maturity sterility is common. Cognitive ability and other capabilities usually are normal, but some mental impairment is possible.
XYY: Double Y karyotype, usually taller than normal, may have slight cognitive impairment, but are otherwise normal, sterility is common. Behavior, mood, and criminal tendencies are not higher than others in the population.
XXY: Klinefelter syndrome, pheontypically male, usually tall, but do not undergo sexual maturity, however may have large breasts, nearly always sterile. Also usually have mild-moderate cognitive impairment.
XXXY: Normally not viable, but in extremely rare cases when an individual survives pregnancy they are similar to Kilnefelter syndrome.
XXX: Trisomy X, phenotypically female, symptoms vary from completely normal to moderate behavioral and cognitive dysfunction.
XY (Female): Defective SRY gene, so genetically male but a defective SRY gene in fetal development blocks development of the testes (and male physical features). Otherwise normal.
YY: Not viable, the X chromosome is required. If an ovum were to somehow still survive the mitotic [meiotic] checkpoints and be present for fertilization, the fetus would abort spontaneously.----
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1wi4wz/if_men_have_xy_and_women_have_xx_what_would/
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technically, humans are female by default. Not the other way around.
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Yet they baptize and df children...
by cultBgone ininteresting comment box from a 2012 wt mag...found this when looking for something else.
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sure, "they realize that when a child becomes an adult, he or she will make a personal choice with regard to worship" but if their decision is to not be a jw, they are cut off from their family.. talk about deception, these guys are masterful... .
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Gentledawn
A. Morris to parents of 16yr olds: no baptism = no drivers license (1 min 35 second mark)
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Past couple years of being awake might be catching up with me
by noonehome ini was a little too honest with a super close friend who is one of the most important people in my life.
my mistake.
she talked to an elder about my doubts...i know she had my best interests in mind and i hold nothing against her.
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Gentledawn
Re-Neducation: "Just relax. Let the hooks do their work".
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FORGIVENESS ... You owe it to your health
by ABibleStudent ini'm cleaning up my home of unnecessary magazines/newsletters that i have accumulated over the years.
while i was working as an employee i did not feel like i had the time to read them.
now that i'm not working as an employee but work as a volunteer to network and maintain workplace skills, i seem to have more time to read.. after reading many threads by former jws, i thought that the following article might help some to heal.
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Gentledawn
I am a naturally forgiving and trusting person. I don't hold grudges and move on quickly from disagreements. But this has ended in more heartache in some cases, because I trust people again after they have hurt me. I need to be less trusting. I need to separate forgiveness and trust.
^This.
Unfortunately, a member of my family is a textbook sociopath. How anyone can live like that is beyond me, but it's a learning experience to say the least. You cannot make the mistake of ever trusting the person to be legit with their affections, empathy or loyalties. Zero.
It is perfectly natural to expect basic goodness and human decency from fellow humans, but that doesn't mean we must blank out our memories as to what some people are perfectly capable of doing (a small list of what this person did in the past):
- sleeping with brother-in-laws (including my boyfriend at one point)
- dangling their own infant son off the side of a bridge
- lying, cheating, coaxing information from people, only to distort it and spread it as half truth rumors later on. Try weeding your way through that, only to have people believe the made up shit anyway!
- ever apologizing (if caught) but never adjusting behavior if he/she can get away with it next time
And on and on it goes.
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Watchtower deserves zero forgiveness in my book. The poor zombies who recruited me into JW-dom have my forgiveness, because they'd been bitten first and did not have their faculties fully functional at the time.
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Let's tally up, what has the WTS sold and how much money did they receive?
by skeeter1 inthe wts is begging poor relatives of mine for money, more money, and more money.
but, the wts has to be awash in money!.
1. does anyone know what the wts has sold?
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Gentledawn
serious questions:
• What would happen to all the land assets and money if the leadership were to suddenly call it quits?
• Could they get away with embezzeling everything or no?
• Is it possible for the watchtower legal dept to assess/bill the society itself into a massive amount of debt (kinda like how scientology does to defectors), making it so that particular group/faction of the leadership (the lawyers) could walk away with everything scot-free?
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Avoid Going back to the JW's - Educate Yourself about Mind Control
by flipper ini've talked with some good friends on the board about this before and we seem to be in agreement : one reason ( among many ) that some disfellowshipped jw's go back and return to the wt organization is because they are full of uneeded guilt or uneeded fear because they haven't educated themselves about how the wt society uses mind control tactics to deceive them into thinking they have " nowhere else to go " .
i understand that some dfed ones may go back to the organization for family and friends- however- it's an exrecise in futility because once you learn the truth about the truth you cannot undo what you heard.
so some may just go back and live a fake jw life to appease family- but just think of how that can damage a person's emotional and mental health playing the fake jw game the rest of their lives !
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Gentledawn
Heaven wrote - I think the school system needs to specifically teach critical thinking skills.
Agreed. Lifton's criteria is a very nice list to work from.
Another resource:
http://www.workingpsychology.com/cultdef.html
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Flipper replied (to me) - Don't feel alone my friend. All of us are " works in progress " after exiting such a controlling cult as Jehovah's Witnesses. But we all have our freedom of mind and no one can take that away from us now- unless we let them.
Thank you.
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Why?
by SuperBoy inwhy does the wtbs do what it does?
if it's just to make money, they are easier ways.
online bingo websites for example.. what is the motivation to have millions of followers "voluntarily" giving of their time?
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Gentledawn
Imagine how it feels to be a pope?
Pope Francis is making the governing body look like a bunch of chumps, as far as doing 'god's work' goes. Haha.
But holy crap, whoever thought making Ratzinger pope ("Benedict") ahead of Francis must've been smoking something. The man looks like a real life doppelganger of Simon BarSinister. He was also the guy handling all the child sex abuse cases prior to becoming the pope.
