we all know that cults use loaded language as well as redefine words and phrases to have their own special meaning.. not to long ago i was talking to a very devout jw sister (totally brainwashed just doesn't describe it) about my daughter.
she kept talking about the "young ones".
she must have said the phrase twenty times over the course of the conversation.
We all know that cults use loaded language as well as redefine words and phrases to have their own special meaning.
Not to long ago I was talking to a very devout JW sister (totally brainwashed just doesn't describe it) about my daughter. She kept talking about the "young ones". She must have said the phrase twenty times over the course of the conversation.
And every one knows that if you repeat the Kingdom Approved lingo that means you REALLY love Jehovah.
there are many ways that we can actively protest against the watchtower's unjust and damaging policies.
here is one example of a method that is proving successful.
writing a letter is time-consuming for the author, but the results are worth it.
Well I think it is a great idea to write to your local paper. I think the best time is during the convention season. Our local paper did a write up that was mostly glowing, extolling the family values and such. I get google alerts from all over that have many identically misleading writeups.
All the local dubs just couldn't wait to read about how wonderful they are in the paper. Some had their's laminated!
There really was no counter balance to that. I could write a letter to the editor to counterreact that, but I think it would be more effective to have some sort of press release during the convention season.
Of course write a letter to the editor if you HAVE A STORY TO TELL. I think it is also good to put in somehting about how the JW don't allow people to read things critical of the society. That big brother sort of thing always offends the sensibilities of a journalist.
CYP
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you will be missed.
http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=breaking&storyid=1129460&tw=wn_wire_story.
"We are gathered here today, to pay our respects to the dearly departed. He is dearly, and he is departed, that is why we call him the dearly departed. In other words the n*****r dead."
Rest in peace Richard!!!
(edited to bleep a word that Richard himself disavowed using later in life)
my best friend is a stone's throw from jw baptism.
she told me she is not celebrating christmas this year.
(this is a gal who used to make it a point to "mend fences" with disgruntled friends and boy friends, in order to trade gifts!
The part about the 11 year old really gets me. We get one of these posts about once a week. There is always some poor little sob who is relying on his parents to make good choices for him, and he is just getting his whole life robbed from him.
So depressing!
Just a guess, I have a feeling your friend is seeking security in the org because her husband isn't very attentive. Just a thought.
This whole game is alot of trying to figure out why they are REALLY joining. Hopefully once you figure it out, you can try to alleviate that need through some alternative method that doesn't involve joining a friggin mind control cult.
CYP
my best friend is a stone's throw from jw baptism.
she told me she is not celebrating christmas this year.
(this is a gal who used to make it a point to "mend fences" with disgruntled friends and boy friends, in order to trade gifts!
Some safe, simple questions for your friend. Don't try to go much beyond this without reading one of the above mentioned cult books.
"How sure are you that the JW are chosen by God?"
"Have you looked into other groups such as the Mormons, The Way International, Iglesia Ni Cristo, Restored Church of God, Boston Church of Christ, or even the Bible Students" (The Bible Studentsleftovers from the rift between the JW and Bible Students after Russels death)
"Isn't it tough to know which group is really chosen by God, when there are so many that claim to be? They all claim they are the only ones following what the Bible says?"
"If the JW were not the right religion, what would you do? Would you want to know?"
"If you don't join right away, what will happen?"
my best friend is a stone's throw from jw baptism.
she told me she is not celebrating christmas this year.
(this is a gal who used to make it a point to "mend fences" with disgruntled friends and boy friends, in order to trade gifts!
For dealing with your friend:
She is likely already gone, in the sense that she believes the JW are God's religion. Once a person crosses that line, it is only a matter of time. As a result, they can neither leave until they let go of that fantasy.
You have to understand that speaking with a cult member to open their mind is not a matter of presenting facts. If they don't want to accept those facts, then it won't matter a wit to them. Think of it as a process. There are a couple of books on the subject, they are the best thing going; Releasing the Bonds and Combatting Cult Mind Control. Both are "how to get a loved one out of a cult" manuals.
You are going to want to read both of those books before you even start trying to find out things about the JW to present to your friend. In the short term, just keep the communication open with her. Try to see if any family shares your concern. And ask her some questions about the org. How can she be sure they are the right one, when there are so many out there that claim they have the "truth"? You can always criticize other groups. NEVER criticize the JW.
CYP
my best friend is a stone's throw from jw baptism.
she told me she is not celebrating christmas this year.
(this is a gal who used to make it a point to "mend fences" with disgruntled friends and boy friends, in order to trade gifts!
Have you spoken to the husband? Is there any other family that might be concerned about all this?
Don't run up to him and say, "the jw are a cult!!!"
Ask him how he feels about it. He will likely say that he figures the wife and kids getting good Christian values are a good thing. "Aren't the JW's just trying to follow the Bible? Aren't they just very devout Christians?"
Then bring up some questions for him.
"What if you don't join? How do you think it will affect your relationship with your kids? Since they believe everything the JW say is the truth, how will they view you for not accepting it? Won't that mean you are either ignorant or immoral in their eyes?"
"Does it bother you that your kids will not be able to get a blood transfusion if they need one?"
"Are there things that the JW say that you aren't sure about? Are there things you don't agree with? If so, does it bother you that your children are being taught these things as if they are the absolute truth from God?"
i've been thinking lately about how i can get my family out of the organization.
my dad was once an elder (has been df'd once).
my mom was once a regular pioneer (hasn't in over 10 years and doesn't even work).
Welcome JBrown.
How about starting a new thread where you tell us your story!
CYP
i've been thinking lately about how i can get my family out of the organization.
my dad was once an elder (has been df'd once).
my mom was once a regular pioneer (hasn't in over 10 years and doesn't even work).
Hey FMW,
I have heard some folks say that helping people to have a new perspective regarding the jw (or any cultic religion) is better thought of as a process, rather then trying to identify certain facts to present.
Sorry if this is old info. The first place to start is reading Combatting Mind Control and/or Releasing the Bonds by Steven Hassan. These are the state of the art, "how to get your loved one out of a cult" books.
With any cult member, the key is trust. You need to have your loved ones trust you. Next, maybe identify some "low hanging fruit", rather then going after the whole bunch. Find the ones that you will think are the easiest marks. Approach them slowly, so as to not offend their sensibilities, so they inform the others of your, not just df, but apostate status. Get a couple to leave with you, and then you will have allies for helping the others.
That would be my overall strategy.
First, establish trust!
CYP
a huge question that i have in the back of my mind regarding the wts is where all of the money ends up.
no one really has a conclusive answer to that.
i think it would reveal a lot if we were able to find out.. i know there have been various threads in the past where it revealed a clue here and a clue there.
This has always been a murky and fascinating subject for me. I was assured that the members of the gb don't make any money off this operation.
But somebody is? Somebody is selling the paper, the ink. Somebody is making money of the WT. They can't do everything internally.
And as for having capital for investment purposes; What legitemate reason could they have for having investment holdings. Every dime that comes in should be directed to advancing "the preaching work" if they are what they claim. They shouldn't be hoarding money! If they have money given to them in the form of a trust, why do they not cash it in to pay for more KH's and magazines?
You are right on for starting this thread. Someone is making money here. Maybe a better question is what liabilities does the WT have? Who has the power to manipulate the tower? I think there is a man behind the curtain, but it aint the gb.
CYP
