Posts by umbertoecho

48

OF DOGS AND BITES AND BIKES AND THINGS

by Terry in

the thought suddenly struck me plain and obvious: "these dogs won't stop until i'm good and bloody.".

there were two of them; a mixed breed of boxer and pit bull; clean, white--collared, tagged and--for some inexplicable reason, ferociously intent on tearing me to shreds!.

ah, but i'm getting ahead of myself.

umbertoecho

Terry, I count that as very good writing too. It's hard to engage my interest at times, but your choice of sentance structure made me keep reading, wondering if there was some metaphor on the horizon. And so I read to the end. It was still a good story/event.

In the Australian out back, many dingoe's have bred with cattle dogs. The only language they understand is being savagely growled back at. There is an added element to that. You need to be prepared to kill it. I experienced this twice. It was so odd, so enlightening as to how close we still are to our basic nature. A great account. Thank you

15

Please change my username, Simon =)

by Divergent in

hi simon, sorry to disturb, but i would appreciate it very much if you could kindly change my username for me - from just kidding to divergent.

i've decided to change my username because i'm not the same person i was when i first joined this site.

back then, a part of me still believed, and i thought that if my doubts were wrong and the religion actually turns out to be true and i posted negative stuff here... hey, i was only just kidding!!!.

umbertoecho

Welcome to the forum Divergent. You had the guts to change your mind in public. Not bad not bad at all.

Juliette

14

Found Nephew. Sisters incredible reaction.

by umbertoecho in

i won't make this long.

i went out again and found him.

got in through the back door, pushed him to wake up, got him out, fed him, watered him and said he was family and i have a plan.. we talked all day, i let him do what he does, in order not to scare him about the future change that could happen for him.

umbertoecho

Lets hope he gets well and becomes a healthy, happy, balanced and educated individual, free from cult guilt and fear

Sadly, this is not going to happen. She was horrifically cruel today and she called her son to warn him of my sinister motives. When I arrived to finish up some plans, it was as though I was Satan incarnate. I'm tired now and very sad. I won't talk about this again as i will really lose it. I just want to disappear, hide, and feel nothing

14

Found Nephew. Sisters incredible reaction.

by umbertoecho in

i won't make this long.

i went out again and found him.

got in through the back door, pushed him to wake up, got him out, fed him, watered him and said he was family and i have a plan.. we talked all day, i let him do what he does, in order not to scare him about the future change that could happen for him.

umbertoecho

Emma died from an overdose. I tried to keep her safe from the age of thirteen to twenty-five. In the end, she died in the toilet of a railway station. Our last words were " I love you Emma, are you coming home now?" " I love you too mum, and I'm on my way, see you soon mum. I love you and we love each other:" She never made it home. I died the morning she died.

6

Stock Up! The End Is Near!

by LevelThePlayingField in

about four paragraphs down in the article... source: http://www.westernjournalism.com/stock-up-the-end-is-near-or-so-say-mormons/.

cults quite commonly use made-up prophecy to bolster their membership.

for example, beginning around 1918, the watchtower bible and tract society today commonly known as jehovahs witnesses began teaching that the old testament saintsabraham, isaac, jacob and king david, etc.would all be returning from the dead in 1925!

umbertoecho

Iv'e got some tuna and a capsicum. Will that do?

7

How intelligent people get recruited and psychologically trapped in manipulative groups like Jehovah's Witnesses.

by Island Man in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iauhr-trkhy

umbertoecho

I really needed this after the horrible rage of myJW sister today. Leaving me stunned.

36

Hello to everybody!

by John Free in

jw
friends

i wanted to introduce myself.

like many of you i was born-in, am married with one child.

after 36 years of this cycle: doubts-thought stopping- suppression- indoctrination-cult mode i realised enough was enough.

umbertoecho

Pleased to meet you, John and family. I am relieved for your child as she will have some happy days and hopefully you can celebrate the day she was born.

225

Cult or Religion

by Richard C B in

what is a cult and what is a religion?

its open to debate.

who has the authority to say for certain what is a cult and what is a religion?

umbertoecho

The point when applied to an organised religion is ppl misinterpret what they are taught and put themselves under inmence pressure which could lead one to become depressed etc. which I agree is dangerous. hence the misinterpretation of the religion upon leaving

Richard: So you are saying that children are deliberately misunderstanding what they are learning? Because many JWs are born in and never experience the right of developing their spiritual views in a moderate, gentle, questioning manner. They are literally coerced by many parents who have a stake in this Apocolyptic religion. They are raised with the dilemma of having to grow up, love their neighbours, love God, obey..........And all the while they are also being taught to avoid their neighbour, avoid living fully in the moment of each day and consider this religion's version of God to be kind and holy and even joyful........But! At the same time, they have to expect their friend at school to die at Armageddon, to isolate from the worldly people....How confusing is this? Some grow up, having been baptized and realise they want to experience life and it's many facets. The price for such god given curiosity?

SHUNNING. FAMILY EXPULSION AND ISOLATION LEADING TO MENTAL BREAKDOWN AND EVEN SUICIDE.

This is cultish, clannish, sectarian and unloving. It is a cult.

225

Cult or Religion

by Richard C B in

what is a cult and what is a religion?

its open to debate.

who has the authority to say for certain what is a cult and what is a religion?

umbertoecho

... weight of oppression they have put on themslves is gradually removed and they become more balanced in there life on later reflection they then start to resent there time in the religion and believe they where mentally conditioned which caused them harm thus they believe it to be a cult.

Richard C. "Now look what you made me do!" Said the father beating his son, wife, daughter or visa Versa.....Thus. the abuser is able to convince the victim of his tyranny that it was always their fault, that they were hurt. Translate that into doctrines that beat genuine people into the bloody ground of deep suffering...

Richard. You say (loosely quoting you) "....they" start to resent in hindsight". Well good on them, but you have blundered into making very broad statements, in assuming that these people were always baptised and you hint very cleverly that there is some fault on the part of those who have left. Thus, they became bitter and suddenly labelled it a cult...Is this.apologetic speaking on behalf of WT or are you ill informed about the entire thing. It is your' responsibility to know your' topic very well if you wish to debate it.

You are not doing well so far. I can't debate with someone who isn't aware of the history of this religion, sect, cult or whatever unless that person is well equipped to give substantial evidence, articles, supporting why they take a certain stand.

You may well be trying to waste time and laughing up your sleeve, or you think we are bloody stupid on this forum.

225

Cult or Religion

by Richard C B in

what is a cult and what is a religion?

its open to debate.

who has the authority to say for certain what is a cult and what is a religion?

umbertoecho

@ bonsai why are you being defensive? please post your resonings and i will consider them. im open to debate iis not about getting one over on each other. Ive never viewed those you mentioned as charismatic leaders or figures.

Richard C.

Charles Taze and Rutherford etc were absolutely charismatic leaders who insisted on being believed. If you didn't believe then you're out.

Being asked in so many differing ways, cunning ways if you believe the GB to be the ones who are dishing up dinner at the right time. Is another way to test loyalty to men and is cultish.

To be told off for choosing Christ as the actual mediator over any GB is going to get you disfellowshipped. Being told you can't go out preaching because you don't look quite up to WT standards, is very controlling. Having every part of your life surveyed and noted is cultish. Being told you may "Not share your meeting notes with anyone outside of the congregation:" Is cultish. Being told you must not be unevenly yoked and have them tell you this means you must marry in the faith is cultish.

Come on Richard. Do some research. For the sake of argument, let us not include other religions or whatever they are. I recall when young that WTBTS shied away from the "religion title" as they thought they were better than everyone. Until they saw the value in a tax exemption. All of us are hurt to some degree, but that does not mean many are bitter. We may be bitterly disappointed though.