I’m so glad I was able to get out before all this nonsense. I was thinking on holding off my resignation until after the elder’s school….
but god…wow! I’m speechless.
onemore
JoinedPosts by onemore
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KS10 Chapter Three
by yknot inchapter three from 'shepherding the flock of go' published by the wts of penn/ny as part of their worldwide bible educational work.
the wts is a non-profit whose publications are not for sale but are freely given to those who show 'genuine' interest..... while not required, a donation is always joyfully accepted .
well i was going to stick to the boe ltr for a 'pre-view' but somebody deleted my sendspace links.
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At what point did you realize JW's were a Cult?
by Think About It inmost of us x-jw's at one point no doubt defended the jw's when called a cult.
althought being out since 95', when i first came here it took awhile before i could use the cult word to describe the jw religion.
finding out about the pedophile scandal was disgusting, but it was probably finding out here about the wts history and terrible personal experiences of some on this board that made me finally admit that the jw's were a cult.
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onemore
The word Cult carries a very negative meaning. Sometimes I refer to the Watchtower religion as a Cult (only when I get mad); it’s undeniable that the same elements that define a cult are present in Jehovah’s Witness religion. However, I believe that the Jehovah’s Witness are in a class of their own when it comes to group mind control and cult like characteristics. So…I still have a hard time calling it a Cult just yet…
I’m going a little bit off topic, but I would like to add that I believe that the grip of the mind control varies from Witness to Witness. For example, it is easier for a JW convert to realize that this is just another religion than for a born-in. It is easier for a non-bethalite to read apostate material and sites than for a bethalite living in a WT’s compound.
Another thing that we should also think about is that, some people, even when they know this is not the “Truth”, they still like and stay in this religion because it gives them something to do, friends, social status, meaning, etc. To others, the idea of figuring out religion or the Bible on their own is a daunting task; they don’t trust them self and they find it easier to let someone else do the thinking for them and to then tell them how to do things to “pleases God”. To those type of people, this is a good to a less than perfect religion…but not a cult.
However, with the way that things are going lately (the language, the attitudes, the spirit) …they are becoming more cultish than before, and I can see that the application of the mind control techniques are on the raise.
As of today, I feel that the JW is a controlling spiritually abusive religion. But deep down inside, I feel that the JW religion is an Open Cult.
My take,
Onemore
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Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!
by sacolton in$79 million tax demand on jehovahs witnesses threatens freedom of religionstrasbourgon september 21, 2010, the european court of human rights (echr) ruled unanimously that the complaint filed by jehovahs witnesses in france is admissible regarding alleged interference with their freedom of religion.. the government of france had imposed a retroactive 60-percent tax on all religious offerings donated to association les temoins de jehovah(also referred to as the christian association of jehovahs witnesses of france) over a period of four years from 1993 to 1996. the government initially demanded a total payment of about 45 million euros.
the amount demanded is now more than 57 million euros (more than $79,000,000 usd), which far exceeds the assets of the association.the echr took note of the fact that throughout the court proceedings within france, jehovahs witnesses had consistently maintained that the contested tax was a direct attack on their religious freedom.
in fact, it had been imposed on them within the context of the france governments fight against so-called sects.
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onemore
What could be sticky for France is that since they've taken a harder line against "sects" and "cults", it may appear that France has less patience for JWs than say, Pentecostals. If it appears that they singled out JWs then they could very well have the court rule against them. Even then, France may be urged to change the tax rate and rules. It won't be a trumpet blast of freedom for the WTS...just money they don't have to pay.
The Court must now proceed to examine the merits of the case to determine whether or not the taxation scheme of the French government interfered with the religious freedom of Jehovah’s Witnesses in France.
Here is an important piece of information regarding this case: The court, based in the French city of Strasbourg, however rejected a case of religious discrimination against the Jehovah's Witnesses.
This means that the Watchtower is not on a good position to defend itself. I have nothing against the JW…but I hope that the WT loose this case and many more.
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"The FDS has lovingly given us time"
by Crisis of Conscience inboy am i tired of hearing this one.
yes folks, i heard it at the meeting this week...again.
the sm included a local needs part and this was the subject - family worship night.. apparently, regarding fwn, that time was never, nor now is, ours.
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onemore
Those of you who are Conscious and trying to get your family out should use Family Worship Night to do it.
Mad : that’s an excellent suggestion; it is exactly what I did and still doing. I works.
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My fade is going fine thank you .
by onemore inwow!!
i never thought that it would be this easy.
i was expecting a man hunt at the hands of the elder from my cong.
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onemore
Thank you all for your comments.
I know that one day there will be that one (or two) elder or CO that will try to find out what’s the deal with me. The good thing is that as I’m building a life outside of the watchtower, I ‘m also loosing the fear of getting “caught” in my apostate activities.
I’m having a good time; and the things that used to matter to me in the WT world, no longer take a place of priority in my life. Even when I get to go to the meeting my mind goes off-line.
I’m just glad that I was fortunate enough to begin to fade (or face the truth) when certain things are still salvageable in my life, i.e. planning for retirement, getting an education, having children, etc.
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Video - Jehovah's Witnesses - Taking Things At Face Value
by sabastious inmy second video:.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8digh-e-w3m.
-sab.
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onemore
Sabastious,
You made a good point when you said that former (and soon to be ex) JW have a tendency to just follow along, and take “at face value” whatever someone with an apparent authority states as facts. Some try to find a philosophy that can quickly replace their old JW’s beliefs system. The problem with that is, as I have found out, that there are too many charlatans and flawed beliefs systems that prey on misinformed people. And if we are not careful, we could make the same mistake again. The WT is not alone in the business of deception and coercive persuasion. There is a pervasive laziness when it comes to checking facts, “investigating is too difficult”, “thinking is too hard”, or as JW recently told me: “researching it’s like going back to school”.
Learning the truth about the truth has thought me to check any statement that is stated a fact, and it feels good to be able to say and think…well, I don’t agree with that and this is why…
Good video,
Onemore
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My fade is going fine thank you .
by onemore inwow!!
i never thought that it would be this easy.
i was expecting a man hunt at the hands of the elder from my cong.
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onemore
WOW!! I never thought that it would be this easy. I was expecting a man hunt at the hands of the elder from my cong. But nothing to this date, only two phone calls in the last couple of months. I only miss some JW friends, but I can do fine without their company. Life is taking a whole new meaning; as a matter of fact, I’m even more positive and less uptight than before. I have goals, long terms plans, and new hobbies to explore.
I still consider myself a Christian, so, on the spiritual side: I’m at peace with my conscience, my bible reading and studying is even more significant, especially since I stop reading the NWT and most of the society’s material. I even visited another church (just to feel that the WT no longer has a hold on my spiritual decisions).
As an added bonus. Things at home are OK, just fine.
Thanks for reading,
Onemore
P.S I still go to some Sunday meetings, and have ditched the weekday meeting. I read the bible with my wife and we study non-wt material in our family bible study night.
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Reverse Shunning
by gutted ini have a confession.
i am using reverse shunning.. i have ignored the elders calls.
i do not want to hang out with witnesses anymore (besides my family and one friend).
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onemore
UC,
I guess that the reason why we call it “reverse shunning” is because we opt, from our own accord, to avoid contact with the people that are in that system in the same way that they would avoid us if they knew what we have turned….as they like to say….“apostate”.
And like you said: There is something to be said about avoiding undue contact with JWs in general if you're trying to fade, or trying to come to grips with your internment in their system .
That’s where I’m at, I just want to be left alone. And I really have no use for their topic of conversations. But I still love a lot of love my JW friends (victims) and my doors are still open for any of them, I just prefer not to have them as an integral part of my social life as they were before.
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Reverse Shunning
by gutted ini have a confession.
i am using reverse shunning.. i have ignored the elders calls.
i do not want to hang out with witnesses anymore (besides my family and one friend).
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onemore
I’m doing the same.
I can’t stand the same’ol JW conversations… “oh its getting really bad, the great tribulation should be starting soon”, “the C.O talks were so encouraging”…(the you ask what was encouraging about the talk and they don’t know what to say)… “sis/bro is a pioneer now”…etc.
I still like some of the people…but I rather keep them away from me.
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Lost in translation? An interesting find on this week WT study. English version vs Spanish version.
by onemore ini was doing some wt reading why superintendentes itinerantes as opposed to superintendentes viajante?
maybe all those rumors about the end of the c.o arrangement are trueafter all.
i got excited thinking that i was going to call it first on this forum.
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onemore
its the July 15, 2010 WT: "Have a Full Share in the Great Spiritual Harvest" pg. 20.