Heaven

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Posts by Heaven

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  26

  Breaking free and closure...

  by RaraAvis in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i have only been posting on this site for a short time, and haven't completely decided how i feel about it.

  i have found it interesting to say the least, and have learned a lot from members such as andersonsinfo and others.

  i have felt compassion for many who have posted here, have felt out of the loop by many others who have formed tight "friendships" with each other here, have been shocked by some users, have been inspired by others ... you get the idea... i have had a full spectrum of thoughts more or less.. however.... the one feeling i get the most is it reminds me of divorce, or when you split off from someone who mattered to you and you can't seem to let go.

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  Heaven

  I don't think there really is a REAL closure regardless of how long you have been gone.

  For those of us who were never really 'in' but have family 'in', we'll never have complete closure until they die or get out.

  I have many questions which are slowly being answered that have validated what I felt and concluded about this organization when I was a teen in the 1970s. A heavy toll has been paid in my family because of the WTS and that burden will always be there. You cannot go back and change the past. The damage created still exists today.

  Your analogy of a divorce is a good one. Divorce has been compared to a type of death. However you look at it, when you decide to leave, an end has occurred. Now the 'change cycle' begins ( http://www.changecycle.com/changecycle.htm ). Sometimes it takes people years to move through the different stages, especially if the change is of the magnitude most heavily indoctrinated JWs experience. Some people never make it out of the first 3 stages. I believe this is why some go back. To find closure, you need to move through the remaining stages of the change cycle, and ultimately, for JWs, redefine your life. It is an enormously challenging task for some. Hence, my statements in the past about mentors needed for those who truly wish to move forward, away from their previous life as a JW. Reprogramming the mind is all part of this process. Closure comes when your present life fulfills you to the point where the painful past is no longer hurtful or important to you. Sometimes that comes quickly, other times, much more slowly, and in a few cases, not at all. It's a choice and it differs for all of us.
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  77

  Andersonsinfo question: Who wrote them?

  by TheOldHippie in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  since you have taken so much time in answering questions and commenting, i ask one more question:.

  could you elaborate on who wrote certain books and brochures etc.?

  i know you have written about articles you have contributed to, and also that coc lists the authors of some of the books, but do you remember at least some authors of some books / brochures / special articles?.

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  Heaven

  The very fact that such reasoning must be resorted to of itself shows the strained nature of the claim made as to the application of the food-supplying aspect of Jesus' parable.

  I knew a senior in translation dept, and he told me it was his impression the GB would send out "trial balloons" to sort of "see what happens". If no big reactions / question would come in, they would proceed along those lines.

  Thanks CoCo and TheOldHippie.

  Soooo.... 'food at the proper time' in this organization is really a meaningless WTS concept. There is no criteria for determining what food is to be given at what time. I am confused. What is the REAL purpose for this phrase?
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  5

  FACEBOOK

  by joself in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hey pls what do u guys think about facebook?

  can a jehovahs witness sign up?.

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  Heaven

  I have a JW friend on Facebook. I hope she stays on.
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  2

  The Hill I die on ...

  by The Berean in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  jehovahs witnesses often state or infer that not practicing their form of worship is tantamount to "suicide.

  " naturally, many disagree.. medical doctors might make a similar negative prediction concerning those who smoke, are obese, or who consume drugs or alcohol excessively.. question: even were these sources correct, does a human being have the right to select the manner in which they die, or is there a moral obligation to live as long as possible?.

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  Heaven

  I believe we have the right to die the way we want, just as we have the right to live the way we want. Some countries in the world have legalized euthanasia. I applaud them.

  I don't know if any of you have heard of Sue Rodriguez. She was a Canadian woman who developed ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and fought for the right to have a legally assisted suicide when she could no longer face living with ALS. She failed in her efforts to gain the legal right. She took her own life, illegally, with the aid of an anonymous physician in 1994. NDP (New Democratic Party) Member of Parliament, Svend Robinson, was also present.

  http://archives.cbc.ca/politics/rights_freedoms/topics/1135/
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  33

  So, it happened. Packed my things and left

  by aligot ripounsous in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  some may remember, i wrote on an other thread that elders forbade me to give comments at the wt meeting, as i weaken the brothers' faith.

  i wasn't satisfied with this outcome and, 10 days ago i sat with my wife on the front part of the kh (like in many khs, attendants pack on the back seats), in the middle of the row, right in front of the wt elder, and raised my hand insistently.

  i was of course openly ignored but i didn't care, all that i wanted was verybody to see how they deal with independent members.

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  Heaven

  Way to go, AR! I believe using their actions against them is an excellent strategy. Others see this and know something incorrect or improper went down. It makes them all think.
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  20

  scared of the birds

  by bibledike in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was raised as a j dub since i was a little girl.

  i'm 22 now and i'm still scared of those damn birds.

  i got baptized when i was ten so it was beat hard in me that the birds were going to eat all the wicked people.

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  Heaven

  Something simple like "My fear of birds is irrational. Birds do not equal danger."

  Great suggestion. I would include a positive slant and print out things like... "Birds are beautiful", "Birds eat lots of insects like mosquitoes", "Chickens are birds and they make yummy food!". Think of beautiful, harmless species of birds... like hummingbirds.

  The Universal Law of Attraction speaks to the way we word things as being very important. Negativeness begets negative results, whereas Positiveness begets positive results. An example follows:

  I don't want to be overweight. (What you focus on expands so focusing on the negative aspect will work against you accomplishing your goal)

  I wish to be healthy, eat healthy foods, and be physically active. (Focus on the positive outcome you wish to accomplish)

  You CAN retrain your brain. It may take a while but it's worth it! Welcome to the Forum.
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  77

  Andersonsinfo question: Who wrote them?

  by TheOldHippie in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  since you have taken so much time in answering questions and commenting, i ask one more question:.

  could you elaborate on who wrote certain books and brochures etc.?

  i know you have written about articles you have contributed to, and also that coc lists the authors of some of the books, but do you remember at least some authors of some books / brochures / special articles?.

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  Heaven

  Are they all of the anointed?

  Awesome question!

  Next question: How is it determined that these publications are 'food at the proper time?' What is the criteria for this?
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  47

  Say hello...

  by funkyderek in

  1. social
  2. family

  ...to my son leo:.

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  born on the 11th of may, a healthy 7lb 8oz (3.4kg).. just thought you'd all like to know!

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  Heaven

  Awwwwww! Look at that sweet face. Congratulations, funkyderek. All the best to you and Leo's Mom!
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  19

  thanks for the nice welcome

  by stillin in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm having some difficulty navigating the site, but thanks asilent one for the nice welcome.

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  Heaven

  Welcome, Stillin...

  How can I direct people into an Organization that treats its' members as I am being treated?

  If you're an honest person, you simply cannot. It speaks to your personal integrity.

  Why does the congregation even bother discussing things together?

  So they can club you over the head to get you in line when you're not in unity with the WTS. I don't know if you're familiar with the 1954 Douglas Walsh Trial in Scotland but 'unity' at all costs (even if they have to spread false prophecies) is certainly the order of the WTS.

  I'm trying to figure out how to educate my father (a Ministerial Servant) that he is not doing God's work. He's been in for 25 years. I know more about his organization that he does!
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  119

  Watchtower is kicking people out again, in the name of LOVE?

  by Bethelite Elder in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  right now at bethel, they are laying off and reassigning again.

  if you have cancer or some other illness, you are a liability and it's time to pack.

  i remember the night when we had the special talk about there being a great need in the field and some would be sent out.

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  Heaven

  everytime there is a party their other half (wife) makes

  sure that others know that their husband was a bethellite

  I know I'm not the best in these kinda situations because my response would be ....

  "Oh really? Just what element on the periodic table IS 'bethellite' anyways? What's it used for again?"