baldeagle

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Posts by baldeagle

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  13

  Old Light - New Light

  by Vanderhoven7 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  terry walstrom posted this exceptional link on another thread.

  i think it so amazing that it should have a thread of its own so everyone can have clear and easy access to the document.

  terry wrote:.

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  baldeagle

  Thanks, for the reminder Vanderhoven7.

  Thanks to Terry and all who were involved in cataloguing this information for us.
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  19

  CL&M part Jan 4 - annual meeting service report - our outstanding experiences

  by loneranger in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this was the first part in the "living as christians" section of the meeting tonight.

  speaker had two pioneers on the stage to relate their outstanding experiences for 2017. we have 23 pioneers and over 160 publishers in the hall.

  our territory is densely populated with single family houses, apartments and condominiums.

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  baldeagle

  Some hilarious experiences, how truly lame.

  That celestial chariot is certainly on the move. We realize it’s very hard for many of us to keep up with it our dear brothers & sisters.

  The end is imminent, we are on the very threshold of entering the new system and remember this is the Best Life Ever… so Don’t Give Up.

  Praise Jah.
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  21

  Birthdays are Evil - so they said

  by EverApostate in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  last week i celebrated my birthday.

  accepted well wishes from people near and far.

  had been happily accepting wishes from people since i quit the cult.. as a jw, (brainwashed ) belief that birthdays are evil was the stupidest belief i had in all my life.. when in, i had a hard time to explain to people that i don’t celebrate birthdays.

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  baldeagle

  EverApostate said, “As a JW, (brainwashed) belief that Birthdays are evil was the stupidest belief I had in all my life.”

  LongHairGal said, “Pay no attention to what the religion said (pagan nonsense) because they just want to isolate you from non-JW relatives and friends. They are afraid if you experience happiness around people who aren't judging you - you won't want the religion anymore.”

  Great observations above. When one is awake and looks back at what they believed in, it is truly astonishing at how duped we were. With the Watchtower goggles removed, the lunacy and total absurdity of JW beliefs we used to live by becomes disconcerting indeed.

  I always ask myself, “How in blazes did I fall for all this crap?”

  #WhatAGullibleFoolIWas

  #INeedATimeMachine
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  64

  Wave your phone lights and dance at the Assemblies!

  by days of future passed in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  my sister sent me this youtube.

  in it are witnesses waving their phone lights and dancing in the aisles.

  sorry if this vid has been posted before.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4k7iw-zisgw.

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  baldeagle

  “Magnum” you are right with your observations.

  This religion is truly lame and embarrassing. I cannot wait for more craziness in the year 2018.

  I think many of us will be very surprised at how much this religion will continue to morph in order to remain relevant and hang onto members.
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  52

  What Made You Decide To Finally Leave The Organization?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  was there one certain event or was it more a cumulative thing?.

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  baldeagle

  I concur with many here like OnTheWayOut, Sunworshipper805, and Magnum. For me it was cumulative and produced nagging doubts it was like, “What in blazes am I hearing from this WT study, public talk, assembly program etc.”

  The retooling of the “generation” teaching in 1995, 81 years after 1914 was a red flag. This was a benchmark teaching that many Witnesses used to make crucial life-altering decisions. It was simply torpedoed out of existence and replaced. My lingering doubts were now crystalized that the leaders of this religion were clearly fabricating their doctrines. As the years and decades marched on with no end in sight, they were using a piecemeal approach to make modifications.

  Regrettably, I remained active until the nonsensical teaching in 2010 that two groups of anointed from 1914, overlap to make up a continuous generation. I knew it was all a falsehood 15 years earlier, what was I thinking? Aside from the obvious fear of losing your entire family and social network in a heartbeat, something else is at play in the JW mindset.

  It’s what is called herd mentality. This is defined as, “The inability or refusal to listen to one's own instinct or 'gut feeling' but to instead follow the majority for fear of being wrong, ostracized or ridiculed.”

  While we are nurturing doubts, we feel guilty when we observe our fellow congregants and their apparent faithful lifestyle. We are surrounded by pioneers, elders, servants, CO’s and Bethelites etc. We go to large conventions and see literally thousands of people, many that we respect and admire that tirelessly soldier on in their JW activities. We wonder could all these families be duped and I’m right. On the other hand, could I be the one that is seeing things incorrectly?

  Therefore, the direct anxiety of being shunned along with the “herd mentality” literally causes many years or even decades to go by, before we can break free from the grip this religion has on people.

  The GB leadership whether today or 80 years ago has a lot to answer for; they have indeed ruined a countless number of lives of people who were mostly sincere and believed they were doing God’s will.

  #WhatAGullibleFoolIWas

  #INeedATimeMachine

  Sorry for the double post.
  
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  52

  What Made You Decide To Finally Leave The Organization?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  was there one certain event or was it more a cumulative thing?.

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  baldeagle

  I concur with many here like OnTheWayOut, Sunworshipper805, and Magnum. For me it was cumulative and produced nagging doubts it was like, “What in blazes am I hearing from this WT study, public talk, assembly program etc.”

  The retooling of the “generation” teaching in 1995, 81 years after 1914 was a red flag. This was a benchmark teaching that many Witnesses used to make crucial life-altering decisions. It was simply torpedoed out of existence and replaced. My lingering doubts were now crystalized that the leaders of this religion were clearly fabricating their doctrines. As the years and decades marched on with no end in sight, they were using a piecemeal approach to make modifications.

  Regrettably, I remained active until the nonsensical teaching in 2010 that two groups of anointed from 1914, overlap to make up a continuous generation. I knew it was all a falsehood 15 years earlier, what was I thinking? Aside from the obvious fear of losing your entire family and social network in a heartbeat, something else is at play in the JW mindset.

  It’s what is called herd mentality. This is defined as, “The inability or refusal to listen to one's own instinct or 'gut feeling' but to instead follow the majority for fear of being wrong, ostracized or ridiculed.”

  While we are nurturing doubts, we feel guilty when we observe our fellow congregants and their apparent faithful lifestyle. We are surrounded by pioneers, elders, servants, CO’s and Bethelites etc. We go to large conventions and see literally thousands of people, many that we respect and admire that tirelessly soldier on in their JW activities. We wonder could all these families be duped and I’m right. On the other hand, could I be the one that is seeing things incorrectly?

  Therefore, the direct anxiety of being shunned along with the “herd mentality” literally causes many years or even decades to go by, before we can break free from the grip this religion has on people.

  The GB leadership whether today or 80 years ago has a lot to answer for; they have indeed ruined a countless number of lives of people who were mostly sincere and believed they were doing God’s will.

  #WhatAGullibleFoolIWas

  #INeedATimeMachine
  
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  76

  Hi, all...I'm a faithful JW who is sick of lies about us

  by James Donalds in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i was baptized 30 years ago and have been in the faith for over 35 years.. our organization isn't perfect.

  but i'm sick to death of seeing stereotypes about us.

  we are not mindless automatons.

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  baldeagle

  Geez (Jeez) Louise …JAMES DONALDS you are bloody hilarious indeed, what a load of drivel. I give you points though for your imagination in concocting such a pile of crap. You must be sitting there howling with laughter. I can see that smug look on your face.

  If you’re getting your jollies over all of this, knock yourself out already. All of us here know the true realities of being a JW. We are aware of what is endorsed and what is demonized in one’s personal life. Read for yourself what the numbers truly reveal for all the sincere JW’s that obey and trust their illustrious leaders unconditionally.

  JAMES DONALDS says, “Many of us ARE highly educated. I have a Masters Degree.”

  http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/11/04/the-most-and-least-educated-u-s-religious-groups/

  JAMES DONALDS says, “We are not all scraping to get by. I have a comfortable six-figure income.”

  http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/10/11/how-income-varies-among-u-s-religious-groups/

  Congratulations JAMES you are earning more and living exceedingly better and higher than your fellow congregants.

  All for simply disobeying the guidelines and loving counsel coming directly from the Almighty through his spokesperson the GB.

  Pick-up your hero cookie on the way out and have a nice life.
  
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  19

  Greetings everyone! Newly signed up but not new to the site.

  by GTSfromSY in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  my (very fake) name is gabriel syme or gabe for short.

  i have been lurking in the shadows for many years and i want to give all here a heartfelt thank you for all your indirect support.

  this website, as well as youtube, and eventually reddit, were all key in me finally accepting the “truth” being not that at all.

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  baldeagle

  Welcome Gabe. Enjoy your freedom and the rest of your life.
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  28

  So here is my long winded story....

  by GTSfromSY in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  thanks for the warm greetings all.

  wow!

  i am very moved, really.

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  baldeagle

  Welcome, I enjoyed your story, thanks.
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  26

  gb, PLEASE, PLEASE UP THE ORGANIZATIONAL HARSHNESS IN 2018

  by steve2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  sometimes i have expressed a longing for jw organization to tone down its rhetoric and become, well, nicer and more loving.

  i have not been alone in my hope.

  some posters have even said that if a wave of kindness washed over jw organization and, say, the shunning doctrine was modified (e.g., left up to the individual's conscience without fear of retribution from elders), they'd go back.

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  baldeagle

  LongHairGal: “Yes, the harsher they are the more people will wake up!”

  I totally agree with LongHairGal and others who commented on this subject. There is no sign of kindness or tolerance in the near future. The doubling down is on the upswing, the micromanaging and controlling of many aspects of people’s lives is relentless.

  Repeatedly JW’s are warned about, remaining loyal…be obedient…listen intently to the “faithful slave” in all that they say.

  2013 November 15, Watchtower Page 20 Par 17.

  English Simplified Edition

  (3) At that time, the direction that you receive from Jehovah’s organization may seem strange or unusual. But all of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether we agree with them or not, because obeying these instructions will save our lives.

  (4) If any are putting their trust in the education of this world, material things, or human organizations, they must change their way of thinking now. You must be ready to help any who may not be putting their complete trust in Jehovah.

  English Study Edition

  (3) At that time, the lifesaving direction that we receive from Jehovah’s organization may not appear practical from a human standpoint. All of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether these appear sound from a strategic or human standpoint or not.

  (4) Now is the time for any who may be putting their trust in secular education, material things, or human institutions to adjust their thinking. The elders must stand ready to help any who may now be wavering in their faith.

  I posted these comments before, the relentless demonizing of higher education and the constant reminders of shunning your family has gone beyond anyone’s personal comfort zone, families are truly sick of it.

  It’s been said here before that the WT leaders presenting themselves monthly for everyone to see has backfired. The mystic is gone; individuals can clearly see their failings, poor speaking skills, and insincerity.

  Extreme apathy in many congregations worldwide is the result! So I say to the GB bring on the lunacy, keep begging for money, lay off more of your most loyal followers (Bethelites, Special Pioneers).

  It will only serve to be a catalyst for many, many more in their awakening process.