flipper

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Posts by flipper

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  48

  Healing & Rebuilding Your Life - Feedback Wanted

  by jp1692 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i have been invited to speak at an international cultic studies association workshop this fall.

  i could use your help in focusing on my presentation subject.. these workshops are for former members of any cult or other high-control, authoritarian group, not just jehovah's witnesses.

  last year, i spoke at one of their larger conferences in europe.

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  flipper

  In order of importance I choose these :

  1. Discovering your authentic self - ( personal identity )

  2. Examining Our Beliefs : Identifying the false and harmful ( dysfunctional ) core beliefs which are the root cause of our on-going difficulties after leaving

  3. The five stages of grief/loss

  4. Dealing with isolation & loneliness

  5. Psycheducation

  6. Treatments and Interventions

  I think all of these things are important , but I logged these in order of what I feel a step by step process should be in getting back to reality in escaping the sick and twisted cult mind control influence we were under.

  Discovering our authentic self is SO important because without that- a person slips back into the WT or JW cult personality . Example : Many who are dfed for years go back to the organization after many years. Reason : they don't educate themselves about HOW the WT Society controlled their minds by the dysfunctional core beliefs infecting a typical JW's sense of worth and which creates in JW's extreme lack of self esteem.( I'm not talking about core beliefs like 607 B.C.E. , the anointed , none of that stupid shit matters. ) What I'm talking about is studying the psychological repressions the WT Society instilled in us as humans, actions by WT Society leaders that steal away our critical thinking ability creating sheep like lack of self esteem causing JW's to follow and turn their brain neurotransmitters off ! THAT is the important shit to learn about. Until a cult member sees and understands HOW their minds were duped, they won't be ready to let go of the illusion or fantasy that WT leaders have any right whatsoever to invade our personal lives or invade our personal boundaries.

  And then the rest of the 4 points you made come into play after a person discovers HOW they were deceived and duped, then understanding comes into play and a person is able to learn to grieve, cope with the isolation and loneliness - but not until they've educated themselves on what the hell actually happened to them ! Kind of how I see it. Otherwise if a person doesn't understand or educate themself- they'll just simmer and stew in depressing isolation, grieving, and loneliness stuck in the quicksand of their ex-JW persona - and never understanding why they cannot move forward in life. So , hey it's my 2 cents here. I've been out of the JW's 15 years, and I feel I did a lot of homework on my inner psyche and self. Take care, Peace out, Mr. Flipper
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  510

  What Music have you Been Listening to this Last Year ? Post You tubes if you Like !

  by flipper in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wktxjuyiat4.

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  flipper

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olQ0wN8XdYI.
  
• 
  510

  What Music have you Been Listening to this Last Year ? Post You tubes if you Like !

  by flipper in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wktxjuyiat4.

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  flipper

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUhsA6EAQvQ.
  
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  25

  Nowadays How Does One Become An Elder?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was appointed jan 1 1980 and back then it was a big deal to“qualify”.

  i was the youngest elder appointed in the district!

  i actually studied everything from the societies publications and listened to anything i was told to do.

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  flipper

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mu9sH5gMXGk.
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  21

  You are NOT alone !

  by stuckinarut2 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  this post is mainly for our new forum visitors and members.

  perhaps even those who are just lurking or visiting here but have not yet signed up.

  maybe you are in the initial stages of researching and finding out the earthshattering and life changing information about the religion that you once held dear and called “the truth”.. it can be a very stressful period of time as you realise that your whole foundation has changed and that the people in your life that you call friends or family may not take kindly to the things you have discovered.

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  flipper

  JP 1692- Very well stated. I compare getting out of the JW's kind of like when we were younger and used to break up with an old girlfriend that we didn't fit right with. At first you feel timid, trying to put the blame on yourself and I would say , " it's me, not you " type of thing. Just to take the high road.

  But the longer we're out of the JW cult the picture becomes perfectly clear that this " cult girlfriend " we were attached to was the problem all along ! No need to take the high road at all and just say it like we mean it, " really it's them, not us . " We who are out of it are O.K. now and in the healing process. It's the JW cult indoctrination that's totally fucked up , not us. And that cult indoctrination totally messes up the minds of JW's that the indoctrination filters into. Some are more messed up than others by degrees, but until they free themselves from mind numbing meetings which de-sensitize their brain neurotransmitters so they aren't able to think critically- they'll remain stuck in the cult molasses where they'll eventually sink in and get smothered up with and die in. It's not a pretty picture for those who stay in and never leave.

  All I can say is freedom is sweet, freedom of mind and freedom of movement. These last 15 years since I've been out have been and remain the best years of my life. Peace out, Mr. Flipper
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  51

  Without god what is the basis of morality?

  by OneEyedJoe in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i'm sure most here who've questioned or left behind their belief in god have encountered this question - without god, what basis can there be for morality?

  my exwife, when i admitted that i was an atheist, once asked me "if you don't believe in god, what's to stop you from going out and raping and murdering?

  " previously, whenever i got this objection, i would tend to turn it around on the other person with a response along the lines of "if fear of god is the only thing that stops you from murdering, that makes me rather nervous to be around you.

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  flipper

  In my opinion the basis for morality has nothing to do with God, religion, or whether a person attends church. Some of the most spiritual, moral, and ethical people I've known are non-religious, atheist, or agnostic. And the reason for that is that they want to be moral, ethical, and kind because it creates better relationships with their fellow humans and makes for peace. These aren't people who expect some pie in the sky reward for being " good " or " moral " - these are people who act moral or ethical because they desire or want to act that way to create harmony & peace wth their fellowman or woman.

  The idea that Christians or JW's seem to have that nobody will act kind, ethical, or loving without influence from the Bible, God, or some kind of religious control over them is absolute bullshit. I've seen many a claimed " Christian " in my time act totally unethical in the thinking " Oh well, God will forgive me because I'm a born sinner inheriting sin from Adam & Eve " . Which is just a cop out in my opinion to excuse boorish, unethical behavior. Christianity creates a lot of loopholes for people to claim the fake " inherited sin " or " evil " to excuse ridiculous behavior. Just my 2 cents here. Great thread by the way. Peace out, Mr. Flipper
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  17

  Who Is America? Sacha Baron Cohen (Ambush humor--what do you think?)

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  there have been many tv programs all the way back to candid camera which set people up for pranks.

  it was all in good fun and the results were shown only if a legal release was signed allowing the prank to be broadcast.getting permission after-the-fact was essential, otherwise, you've wasted your efforts.ahhhh, but what about public figures who are legally exempted from the necessary "permission" form agreement?is an ambush set-up fair or even ethical?the answer we give depends on how much we love or hate the victim!if we really, really dislike certain public figures there's a tendency to want to see them embarrassed and exposed as buffoons, idiots, hypocrites, and fools.on the other hand, consider this.

  in a nation as divided as is america along color lines, political factions, and social "correctness" concerns--are we lighting a fuse by going too far?____why am i asking this question?i watched this preview and found myself torn.

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  flipper

  I believe Sacha Baron Cohen's humor is brilliant. His satire is meant to make people think. Borat was made with satirical humor to get people to think.

  In this particular video of children getting guns it's really exposing just how fucking stupid the gun lobbyists and politicians are in this gun debate issue in the first place.

  I believe Sacha Baron Cohen's humor does a service in exposing the lunacy & corruption within our government & society . Peace out, Mr. Flipper
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  80

  Are we losing our way a bit at JWN?

  by nicolaou in

  1. forum
  2. suggestions

  firstly, i want to be crystal clear how grateful i am for jwn.

  it's been my place of support for over seventeen years and it's the first online space i direct anyone to if they are taking steps out of the cult.

  i am not bashing jwn - i love this place and appreciate the hard work and expense simon puts in to keep it going.

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  flipper

  NEW BOY- Your comment, " Everyone has the right to through up in pubic....that doesn't mean everyone wants to watch it. "

  Hilarious. God forbid I ever throw up in " pubic " . I am quite sure no one would ever want to watch that. I'm pretty sure you meant " public " ? Correct me if I'm wrong. Peace out, Mr. Flipper
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  16

  Has anyone started a support group for people leaving cults?

  by Whynot in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my husband and i have talked about starting a support group but we feel we don't have the proper qualifications.

  has anyone started a support group for ex-jws?

  we even thought of hosting a social gathering or meet and greet.

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  flipper

  Some of us who had been formally indoctrinated from birth in " group " situations in cults like the JW's might have an aversion to committing to a group situation that would require meetings, commitments and formalities. It's certainly not my favorite thing to do as I'm more of an individualist who enjoys one on one conversations in smaller informal gatherings.

  That being said- I think the Tahoe fest that about 25 to 40 of us do each year works because it is SO casual, there are no plans, no schedule, no formalities, just folks that are ex-JW's and some others getting together to support each other mentally, emotionally, or bolster each others spirit up through chatting informally about our past around a campfire, or not. There's no pressure on anybody to conform to any regiment, no expectations, just chillin' by the campfire eating, drinking, playing music, smoking, swimming, whatever each person wants to do. It's a relaxing time which I believe creates an environment for people opening up about their stresses- if that's what they want to do- but then again they don't have to open up if they don't want to- just hang out.

  Many have come these last 11 years from this board ( and a thanks to Simon for providing this board as a springboard for these people ) but also folks come from the Northern & Southern California, Oregon, Washington area that hear about the South Lake Tahoe gathering from Facebook and other outlets & word of mouth.

  We'll probably keep doing it in some form or fashion each year as long as people want to come and give & receive support and make friendships. There's nothing political or religious about the meetup, just laid back people getting together to share friendship. Peace out, Mr. Flipper
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  510

  What Music have you Been Listening to this Last Year ? Post You tubes if you Like !

  by flipper in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wktxjuyiat4.

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  flipper

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4d7Wp9kKjA.