under the radar

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Posts by under the radar

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  21

  Help what should I tell my mom?!

  by Butterflyleia85 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  little background.

  i'm dfed been dfed for about 4 to 6 years if you include the first dfment and getting back in for 6 months then 2008 dfed second time.. i did alot of research in 2010 to now and well from getting dfed for a total different reason just makes me look like a sinner who is unrepentent in my family.

  the only people who know my researching is mainly my sister and mom.. .

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  under the radar

  Unfortunately, your sister probably won't listen, but you could try asking her if the "Faithful Slave" meant it when it said in the July, 2009 Awake! "...no one should have to choose between their family and their beliefs". If they didn't really mean it, or try to claim that it doesn't apply to JWs because "we have the truth," then they have institutionalized hypocrisy. Either that article meant what it said, or it didn't. They can't have it both ways.

  None of Jesus' brothers or sisters followed him until after his death. There is no record that he ever shunned them. On the contrary, there is every reason to believe that he treated them the same as anyone else with good sense would treat his siblings.

  The only other organization I know of that says once you're in you can never leave is the Mafia. The JWs are the biggest whiners of all when relatives of newly interested ones try to persuade them to stop their studies. They're the first ones to cry "Persecution!" and make a lot of noise about freedom of religion. But if a Witness should do independent research and decide they don't want to be JW anymore, that's a whole different story. There's a BIG price to be paid. Like I said, they're hypocrites.

  You don't have to make your mom choose. Just let her know that, come what may, you will always be there for her. Unconditional love means just that... unconditional.

  My best to you and yours,

  Radar
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  162

  No more 3-day DCs starting in 2013?

  by respectful_observer in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  apologies if there is another recent thread on this, but i have heard from 4 different people in 3 different geographic areas (including someone who does advance work for the dcs), that beginning in 2013 the three day dc program will be replaced by a second two-day circuit assembly.

  some people were passing the info along like a secret, others seemed to think that everyone already knew.. if everyone in j-dub land is already talking about this, how is it not all over this forum??.

  anyway, can anyone confirm or deny?.

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  under the radar

  This may be a case of waning interest in many areas coupled with the lackluster economy. Gone are the days when the average "publisher" could uproot his whole family and traipse to New York for a delightful 8 day festival of spiritual gorging. Just think what such a thing would cost today. Again, partly because of the economy in general but also largely because of the Society's discouragement of higher education and the careers that go with that, most of the "brothers" simply couldn't afford something like that. Oh, some would wreck themselves financially to try to make it, but I doubt nearly enough could actually pull it off to make it worthwhile.

  I was in NYC as a child for both the 1958 and 1963 for the International Conventions. They were indeed 8 long, long days. Everyone, including the most ardent adults, was exhausted both mentally and physically at the end of each day. I doubt anyone retained very much from the ceaseless pounding of spiritual drivel into their skulls.

  Anyway, reducing the conventions from 3 back to 2 days may be a back-door way to try to increase attendance. Of course, I haven't been to a JW meeting of any kind in about 10 years and will never go to one again, but I can see why they may want to try this out.
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  47

  Trust me ...I'm a doctor ;-)

  by Kudra in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as of this morning, i *am* a doctor!.

  dr kudra, phd!.

  la de da!.

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  under the radar

  Congratulations Dr. Kudra! That is a major accomplishment. Few can really understand the dedication and hard work it requires to earn a doctorate. I don't know you, but I am SO proud of you!

  It is a crying shame that many otherwise capable young people are stifled by the Faithless Indiscreet Slave's policy that they should get "only enough education to meet their basic needs." I am so glad to you didn't fall victim to that repressive, mind-controlling, and ultimately self-defeating dictum.

  I am happy to say there are some JWs who don't lap up everything the "Slave" disgorges. I have a cousin whose daughter is pursuing her doctorate in one of the life sciences at a major university here in North America. She is doing very well and I have no doubt that big things are in store for her. Her parents are still "model" JWs and rarely mention her activities outside the family, but I know they're practically bursting with pride over her accomplishments. It's such a shame that they can't see the contradiction in values. Cognitive dissonance is powerful force... When you add that to the social coercion and emotional blackmail that are the hallmarks of JW control tactics, you can see why it is so hard for so many to accept the real truth about the Watchtower.

  On a happier note, congratulations again on earning your doctorate! Best wishes for a long and happy career.

  Radar
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  54

  Whoa - stop the world - I just got the joke!

  by Qcmbr in

  1. social
  2. humour

  finally - i get it.

  oh my gosh.. .

  why did the chicken cross the road?.

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  under the radar

  Bill Clinton: I did not cross the road with that chicken.
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  61

  Summer reading

  by mrsjones5 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ok folks, it's that time of year.

  school's out, the kids are running around (well actually staring at the video screen), the days are longer and the night are cool.

  with the lazy hot days of summer ahead what's on your reading list?.

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  under the radar

  I am just now reading 11/22/63 by Stephen King. Can hardly put it down.

  Interspersing that with a fairly recent biography of FDR by Ted Morgan. Pretty wordy, more minutia that I'd bargained for, but still interesting. I'm on page 306 out of 774, and he only just got elected governor of New York. It's worth continuing to wade through because I'm looking forward to the World War II years. Seems there was lots of skulduggery and infighting by just about everybody on all sides.

  For light summer reading, I can recommend Between, Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson. Excellent book with lots of uncannily accurate descriptions of what life in a small town in the deep South is still like. People are people, no matter where they live and what their accent. By the way, if you can find the unabridged audio version, the author narrates her own book and her accent and voice inflection for the different characters is absolutely delicious. Cracker Barrel restaurants may still have some you can rent for about $3.50 a week. What a deal!
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  20

  Letter about using iPads at meetings

  by under the radar in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  first of all, i really appreciate it when official, especially "secret," boe letters and the like are posted here.

  it's great to have that stuff on hand, straight from the horse's... uhh...mouth, when certain "friends" deny the slave would ever do or say such and such.... anyway, there have been some references to a letter they sent out about using ipads and the like during congregation meetings.

  could anyone provide a scan or link to this letter?

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  under the radar

  Hello all,

  First of all, I really appreciate it when official, especially "secret," BOE letters and the like are posted here. It's great to have that stuff on hand, straight from the horse's... uhh...mouth, when certain "friends" deny the Slave would ever do or say such and such...

  Anyway, there have been some references to a letter they sent out about using iPads and the like during congregation meetings. Could anyone provide a scan or link to this letter? That would be really nice to have.

  Thanks in advance to anyone who posts a copy.

  Regards to all,

  Radar
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  23

  Female Householder Stabbed/Raped by Purported JW in Tennessee

  by skeeter1 in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  http://www.newschannel9.com/news/top-stories/stories/vid_368.shtml .

  marion county assault victim remains hospitalized.

  by karen zatkulak .

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  under the radar

  Not to spoil everyone's obvious glee at a "rogue" JW getting caught doing something bad, and speaking purely as the Devil's Advocate, but I highly doubt this assailant is actually a JW. He was much more likely posing as JW to throw his victim off her guard. That said, I'd bet my last nickel that he does have some knowledge of or connection to the JWs, perhaps through family. What complete stranger to the JWs would even think of using that ploy?

  Regardless, JW or not, I hope they find this bastard and throw the book at him. Maybe he will learn what being violated feels like when he gets to prison.
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  322

  My son was murdered today

  by truman in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i have been on this site daily, almost from its beginning, since i left the jws in 2001, but i have been more of a reader than a poster, as you can see from my post count.

  i know few here know me, although i know many of you through reading your posts.

  maybe it is not right to ask for support, when i generally stay quietly in the background of this forum, but i want only to speak a human misery of the deepest kind.

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  under the radar

  Dear Truman,

  I am shocked and grieved at your loss. I have a son about the same age, and I don't know that I could carry on if something happened to him. The love between a father and son is just as powerful as that of a mother and son... even stronger sometimes.

  I know it's not enough, and will never take the pain away, but your friends are here for you with open hearts and listening ears for whatever you wish to share about your precious son and how much he meant to you. Godspeed, my friend.

  Radar
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  31

  What a shame - but fortunate for the org

  by Mickey mouse in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as referred to in this thread, ray franz's book crisis of conscience, arguably the most important book for ex jws to read - has been out of print for months but is available from amazon at $100+.. internet explorer, probably the most commonly used internet browser - is not compatible with this website.. most young jws probably access the internet via a smartphone but good luck trying to post to this website on one.. .

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  under the radar

  It is true that the printed books are hard to come by. And they can be expensive if you do find one.

  Cynthia, or someone acting in her behalf, recently had some Crisis of Conscience copies for sale on Amazon at a very reasonable price. Apparently, they sold old quickly. There are, however, still some copies of In Search of Christian Freedom available from her on Amazon at the same reasonable price.

  Regardless, even if there were NO printed copies available at any price, that would not justify downloading pirated copies of the PDF versions. They are still available at very reasonable prices from Commentary Press, and she (apparently) does benefit from their sale.

  I hold that downloading pirated copies of either of these or any other of Ray's books IS stealing from his widow. If anyone wants to share these invaluable books with someone, he or she should purchase a separate PDF download with its unique password for EACH person it is being sent to, just like you would with a printed book you wanted to send as a gift to multiple friends.
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  20

  Charlie s coming back to Two and a Half Men?!

  by mrsjones5 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  just heard it on the tv!

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  under the radar

  I like Wha Happened?'s idea about Charlie being rescued from Rose's place where he's been her prisoner for a year. Priceless! I bet Charlie Sheen would come back in a New York minute. Maybe he'd even behave this time. The show needs him...