Posts by LisaRose

36

Hi noobie here.

by Grags in

hi my name is graham (but i much prefer to be called grags), i'm a 38 year old married man from the uk and have been studying with the witnesses for about 3 months.

i do a study every saturday and love every minute.

in john 6: 16-24 jesus's disciples get onto a boat without jesus and set off.

LisaRose

Welcome. There are many inconsistencies in the bible, to believe that it is some perfect and cohesive narrative is simply wishful thinking, don't fall for it.

The Watchtower likes to selectively quote scriptures, even parts of scriptures, followed by a lot of conjecture, it can get confusing, so be sure to read everything in context. Most of their beliefs don't really hold up once you start to question things, so take nothing at face value, look for the logical inconsistencies. When it comes to the history and beliefs of the Watchtower, verify everything using neutral third party references, like Wikipedia. They lie about their history, and they don't tell people some of their more disturbing beliefs until they have studied for quite a while, so be wary.

They also use cult mind control techniques, like controlling your time (hours of meetings everyweek, obligatory door to door work, etc., controlling who you can talk to (ex members are shunned, friendships with non JWs are discouraged), and they claim to be the only path to salvation, all others will be destroyed by God at Armageddon, which they believe is eminent.

But since you are already questioning things, I am sure you will figure all that out for yourself.

Lisa 🌹

27

Samuel Herd's statement about donations and Cialdini's social proof

by slimboyfat in

samuel herd made a statement a few weeks ago about halting construction work, laying off bethel workers and reducing printing output: severe cutbacks all round.

he said, like the head of a household, the gb has to make sure the organisation is living within its means.

but he added a very careful phrase, something like: "be assured brothers these measures have not been taken as a result of any lack of financial support on your part.

LisaRose

Good point, I agree , people always want to be with the "winning team". And it's not just social proof, we are also dealing with the fact that they claim to be led by God. They simply cannot afford to have people think they miscalculated or made a mistake, as it proves they are not specially appointed and being directed by God.

It's also ridiculous, they started projects they now cannot finish, wasting money on half built buildings. They are trying to put a good face on it, but that is not good financial management, they just screwed up, only a deluded cult member wouldn't know that. Unfortunately there are a lot of deluded cult members.

50

Pranks to play in the hall...

by purrpurr in

jw
friends

what pranks could you/would you/ have you played in the kingdom hall?.

i have never but here's two i've thought of, 1) replace the liquid soap with glue 2) smear nutella everywhere in the bathroom!.

what's yours?.

LisaRose

. If EVERYBODY started dropping fake monopoly money in contribution boxes all over the world, the GB would take "note".

It would be even better if everyone wrote on the money:

"Pedophile defence fund"

"Governing body Fancy watch fund"

"Contribution for the worldwide misinformation program"

"Hush up money for child rape victims"

"Governing Body luxury apartment fund"

29

My fade might well start today.

by StarTrekAngel in

many here whom have read my previous posts know more or less my situation.

wife is not hardcore but we still bump heads from time to time.

if it wasn't for this cult, and while it was not an issue, we had an almost perfect marriage.

LisaRose

If you had a good marriage for many years the odds are good that you can salvage this. Yes, it will be hard, and it's not ideal, but divorce will also be very hard on you, your girls and your wife.It won't solve your issues of how to bring up the girls, in fact you will have even less influence. Of course your wife will present her side of things, be prepared for that to make sure things stay on tract with the therapist. Your therapist is not going to jump in and criticize your wife's religion right off the bat, he/she will probably just seek to take in information at this point and built up trust, but it doesn't mean he/she will believe everything your wife says, so be patient.

Make sure you are calm and neutral, but don't let your wife get away with pretending that this is just a normal religion, because it is not. Most JWs present one side to people outside the group, but we know what they really believe and teach. Explain to the therapist that if your children become JWs it will result in them eventually shunning you. Show the therapist the Caleb and Sofia videos and the bible stories book. Talk about their baptism of young children, and the repercussions if they later chose to not be JWs, the shunning. Talk about their low retention rate and high suicide rate. Have quotes from the Watchtower showing how warped their teachings are. Have the evidence that they are a cult.

This is actually a good opportunity for you, your wife can see first hand how other people react to what Jehovah's Witnesses actually believe as compared to the whitewashed version they sell to the public.

69

Did you know anyone who commited suicide in the org?

by JH in

jw
friends

back in 1991, a young brother maybe 18 years old living next to my place committed suicide.

his father expected him to be very zealous just like he was, but the son never wanted to be like that.

he was always controlled by his father.

LisaRose

I know of five or more. It's not a religion that is kind, especially to those who suffer from depression or any other mental illness.

51

Happy Veterans Day! (America)

by freemindfade in

people have varied and strong feelings about politics and wars, but you can't deny the courage a sacrifice of our veterans.

too often they do not get the honor they deserve.

in this country once they come home their sacrifice and heroism is too quickly forgotten.

LisaRose

Here is my two cents on the miltary and war.

My husband is a veteran, he did twenty five years in the Army, retiring as a chief warrant officer. He is a peaceful man who would never hurt a fellow human if he didn't have to, but he knows that any country that does not have an army will soon be taken by some other country that wants what they have or doesn't like their religion. That is a reality. Since an army is a necessity, someone has to serve in it. Servicemen and women do not have the luxury of picking and choosing what war they want to serve in, they don't make the decision, they just do their duty. My husband served in Desert Storm, a war he did not agree with at the time, but he did his duty, because that is who he is.

As part of the breaching force he was told to expect 40% casualties. Fortunately that was not the case, he never even fired his weapon at another person, but he had to think about his death, and as he was a sergeant at the time, the death of the young men he served with. It was a life changing experience, not enjoyable in any way, but he did it because that was what he was trained to do, that is who he is. When 9/11 happened he even volunteered to reenlist, because he has such a strong sense of duty. Fortunately they did not take him up on his offer, but at 48 he was willing to do so.

I am very proud of my husband and my step son, who is a former marine, served in Afghanistan and Iraq and currently serves in the army reserves, and of my grandson, who is currently serving in the Air Force. Yes, war is a horrible thing, no one knows that better than those who have been in it, but because of people like them, other people can sit safely at home, criticising them for doing what has to be done to keep them sitting safely at home.

This is not aimed at TruthSeeker, I understand his attitude and am not offended, as Jehovah's Witnesses we were taught to look down on the military and military service. At the same time, as the wife, mother and grand mother of warriors, I wanted to show why these brave men do what they do, it is simply honor and duty, not love of violence or hatred for others.

51

Happy Veterans Day! (America)

by freemindfade in

people have varied and strong feelings about politics and wars, but you can't deny the courage a sacrifice of our veterans.

too often they do not get the honor they deserve.

in this country once they come home their sacrifice and heroism is too quickly forgotten.

LisaRose

For all who have served, thank you for your service.

183

JWs have more good points than bad

by lsw1961 in

1) many who were on the destructive path have been transformed by their teachings (this includes me who was once vicious, and presumptuous and atheistic).

2) equal monthly pay to all members of the bethel community regardless of whether they are bc members or sweepers.

this is something that still remains as an unattainable dream for the world.

LisaRose

The fact the Watchtower does some good means nothing, every religion does some good. The lie about their history, manipulate people using fear, obligation and guilt and wrongly claim to be God's sole channel of communication to mankind. If they truly were being led by God, they wouldn't have to keep flip flopping on doctrine and wouldn't need to lie. There are far better religions that this one, religions that don't break up families, that don't hide pedophiles, that don't push people into suicide.

By their own teachings any religion that teaches falsehoods should be rejected.

2

Allen Toussaint 1938-2015

by glenster in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dy2tuf915e https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr5v3m6jmwy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7abp4q33laa https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/allen_toussaint

LisaRose

It's funny, I was just thinking about Lady Marmelade a few days ago.

51

One Year Later - A Thank You to Tony Morris.

by cappytan in

jw
friends

dear anthony morris, iii:.

i wanted to send you a note of "thanks" on this special day.. why is this day special, you may ask?

one year ago today, you, tony, woke me up to the fact that the governing body could not have jehovah's blessing or direction.. last year, on november 8th & 9th, 2014, the united states branch visit was broadcast to over 1,000,000 jehovah's witnesses across the country.. as i sat at the kingdom hall listening to the "historic occasion," i was ignoring certain doubts that had surfaced in the few months prior.

LisaRose

Well put Cappytan. Perhaps in years to come we will look back and realize this was the turning point, the beginning of the end. I hope so. This leader of the Watchtower showed all Jehovah's witnesses what he was, a petty little tyrant. A religion facing huge problems with money, that has the lowest retention rate of any religion, that has been accused of protecting pedophiles, chooses to speak out on the evils of ......tight pants.

Truth really is stranger than fiction.