John Aquila

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Posts by John Aquila

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  1

  Sound like any 'money grabbing' organization you know?

  by Esse quam videri in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  with the recent 'money grab' of the watchtower society, this clip re: the mormon church seems timely.. .

  '...if you were to attend a conference in the early days of the lds church, you could expect to come away with at least two things that we don't get now.

  first, the leadership would provide a complete report of the churchs financial holdings, detailing the amount of tithing funds collected and a thorough accounting as to how those funds were being spent.

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  John Aquila

  Besides, the argument went, once it's donated, that money no longer belongs to the members. Tithing money belongs to the Lord. So there....'

  Maybe I should be a LORD.

  
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  Solomon's Temple construction, things you realize when no longer asleep.

  by Crazyguy in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  ok so in 1kings chapters 5-6 is where we have the story of the construction of solomon's most holy temple to god, the supreme god.

  it says that to build this magnificent temple they used 30,000 men, 10,000 per month.

  another 70,000 common laborers in the hills digging up stone and 80,000 stone cutting laborers.

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  John Aquila

  JZ's home was bigger, better, and it took about 1and half years to build with about 100 workers

  
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  Geoffrey Jackson's Golden Apple watch INVESTIGATED

  by C0ntr013r in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  i went through the original footage to get a good look at the watch.. from these pictures we can probably say that it is a apple watch and that it has a golden color.

  the color on the pin is black, and the band is white, grey, silvery or beige.. .

  the pin is in the exact place for it to be a apple watch.. only apple watch edition have the gold color.

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  John Aquila

  
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  A poll of sorts: How long have you been a "fader" for?

  by SecretSlaveClass in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i'm curious about the following:.

  1) how long have you been a fader for?.

  2) how often do you still get pressure from congregation members and/or family to return as an active witness?.

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  John Aquila

  1. About 1 year 10 months

  2. Rarely, usually elders that want to do their duty, but after a few minutes I put a kink in their armor and they quickly retreat. I kind of enjoy that.

  As an elder for many years I will say this. When one of the members fades, it is a rare thing that elders go hunting for that fading one. 99% percent of the elders have way too much going in their lives for them to be on the watch out for faders. Only 1% are crazy enough or have too much time on their hands to chase a fader. That’s why if you decide to fade, move to another congregation across the city, preferably another language, and more than likely you can fade with ease. The new congregation couldn’t care less if you show up at the meeting or not. It’s not like they are real shepherds that really care.

  The only way a fader gets a bullseye painted on their forehead, is usually because some family member or friend brings it to the attention of the elders. Otherwise the elders would never know. They are too busy preparing talks every week, collecting time, KH maintenance, secular work, their own families, conventions with all the stupid arrangements, CO visits, etc. Elders have way too much on their plate. That’s why when you fade, you’re worst enemies are your zealous wife, your kids or worse, your husband who happens to be a MS or Elder. If you are single your close friend will turn you in immediately. Zealous parents can also be your worst nightmare if you fade.

  But Elders-----they really couldn’t give a Shi** They rather you leave them alone. That’s why nobody wants to be an elder these days, it’s a pain in the butt. Especially with the tons of faders these days, it’s a nightmare to be and elder. You won’t have a life.

  3. I know lots of people that left for unexplained reasons. Never knew why, maybe they learned ttatt.

  4. Na! I know all the tricks to Judicial Committees plus I’m aware of a lot of dirty laundry among the elders. Hell would break loose in my Old Kingdom Hall. Maybe some would even go to jail or at least be on the 6 o’clock news. It's a catch 22.
  

  5. Everyone talks to me, no one shuns me but I hear some gossip about me from time to time but usually by those who have a reputation for gossiping.

  6. I faded because I wanted to do research and was so busy researching that when I woke up, it didn’t really matter to me to be a fader. Now that I am fully awake I kind of like the idea of knowing what I know and enjoy planting seeds of doubt on the jws. Sometime they frustrate me but sometimes I am pleasantly surprised.

  7. I attend no meetings at all and never will again.

  8. Yea they have nothing, nada, they’re a bunch of morons. They’re as deluded as I use to be, poor bastards.
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  43

  Do you find it hard to be around active JW's now?

  by EdenOne in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i do - actually, it's become close to unbearable.. and herein lies the paradox: i tried to fade in the illusion that i might keep contact with family and friends still "in".

  was it worth it?

  because not only most of them shun me anyways, but i find it almost unbearable to be around them, especially when the cult chit chat kicks in: every cute animal video clip triggers endless comments about glimpses of the future paradise and how "god did it"; those greasy praises to the organization and the governing body; the dumb awe about every jw broadcast and those cheesy music videos; the endless drivel against other religions when one knows perfectly well that we're no better than them; the endless flow of "experiences" of field service or spectacular conversions into "the truth"; the relentless congregation gossip; and so on .... i ask myself: is this why i am fading for ...?

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  John Aquila

  Let's go grab a couple "cold ones" where we know they will all go hang out after the meeting. After all, they can't do a damn thing to us faders.
  

  Doc'

  Exactly Doc. In the organization there are many-???? that are on the verge of waking up but are afraid of talking to anyone for fear of being hunted down by the elders. Several of these call me and ask questions. Depending on who it is, I will give them a little bit of ttatt dribble. Not only that, but a lot of the single good looking sisters love to talk to me, some even invite me for coffee or dinner. I don't ever pass up an invitation from a beautiful woman anymore.
  
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  43

  Do you find it hard to be around active JW's now?

  by EdenOne in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i do - actually, it's become close to unbearable.. and herein lies the paradox: i tried to fade in the illusion that i might keep contact with family and friends still "in".

  was it worth it?

  because not only most of them shun me anyways, but i find it almost unbearable to be around them, especially when the cult chit chat kicks in: every cute animal video clip triggers endless comments about glimpses of the future paradise and how "god did it"; those greasy praises to the organization and the governing body; the dumb awe about every jw broadcast and those cheesy music videos; the endless drivel against other religions when one knows perfectly well that we're no better than them; the endless flow of "experiences" of field service or spectacular conversions into "the truth"; the relentless congregation gossip; and so on .... i ask myself: is this why i am fading for ...?

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  John Aquila

  I faded, but I have no desire to associate with former JW friends. Just don't have any common grounds with them anymore. But at the same time I can talk with all of them when necessary things come up without having to go through the shunning process. That helps in many situations which if I was DA or DF it would make it more difficult in certain situations. So for example, if I see them at the store, movie, work, etc. they don't shun me but acknowledge me and we both go on our way without the needed stress.

  The less stress in life the better.
  
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  Please, share your abuse story.

  by Aprostate Exam in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  greetings to all, i am new to this site and am enjoying the topics.

  briefly, my family suffered my older/deceased brother's molestation when he was 13, in the congregation.

  to this day, my mother still defends the elders that dealt with this situation.

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  John Aquila

  Thanks for sharing bro, The pain never seems to go, hang in there.
  
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  71

  What went through your mind when you saw this Picture?

  by John Aquila in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

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  John Aquila

  NewYork44M

  I saw the picture and a few of the posts. Where on earth did this picture come from? I do not remember this from any of my JW memories. Is this new, what is the context? I am confused, and slightly disturbed.

  This was the time when they came up with the book of Revelation I believe in the 80s. It was a big deal back then. Then we studied the book for about 4 or 5 times. It depicts the situation after the 1000 years reign of JC when many will not like the situation of a paradise earth and rebel.
  
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  Education is 'HARD', first test after 27 years

  by The Marvster in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  well, in an effort to completely rebel against all things 'watchtower', i decided that since i gave all my years since leaving school to the borg, and listened to their admonition to avoid 'higher education' i have just started... right from bottom.... today i took a 2 hour maths test to see if i would be eligible to go on a course to re-take my gcse maths exam (this is the qualification you study for here in england in the last 2 years of compulsory schooling from ages 14-16).

  back in may 1988 i did no revision, and didn't study hence a complete flop of all exams.... and seeing that 'education' wasn't on the agenda back then, and has always been warned against, (unless it was perhaps trade oriented) it was wiped from my mind... yep a jw mind-wipe occurred here, i've decided to go back to school, just for the challenge of it, f**k the org, i might have wasted decades swallowing their philosophy, but i don't have to let that past control me now... the test was 'really' hard going... and i don't think i passed, but can still get on a more basic course to start me off if i don't get on the main course.... the tutors were so warm and enthusiastic about me taking up the study at aged 43, it was so nice to hear someone get excited that i'm going to study (never in 29 years with the borg) .

  i've also learned something else; jw's talk about the 'highest education' that the watchtower supposedly teaches... bullshit, that 'call and response' crap that you do in watchtower study and other meetings, that parroting, has got to be the lowest form of education there is, you don't use your brain, you don't have to analyse or think or deduce or calculate, or use savvy... it's just call and response, and nothing more, pure repetition, answer what's in the paragraph.

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  John Aquila

  Congratulations, I went back to school at age 40. Had to take remedial classes in basic math and writing I had no idea how to work with fractions, percentages, etc. I was going for engineering so you can imagine how I felt when I was taking tests in calculus. Switch majors to business and it took me ten years to get my degree at age 50. Went back to get a second degree in science and need about 3 classes to get a second degree. You can imagine how I felt as a 40 year old man going to classes with 18 year old kids.

  Your right, the education the WT gives is about 3rd grade level. That's why they can’t figure out 607 vs 587.
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  9

  I talked to an elderly lady, but she is not a Jehovah’s Witnesses

  by John Aquila in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i was coming out of sams club and i bumped into an elderly lady, probably late 70s early 80s.

  (i wasnt about to ask a lady what her age is.

  ) one of the workers was pushing a cart full of rib-eye steaks.

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  John Aquila

  umbertoecho

  You sound like a very friendly person who could talk to anyone.

  You know the great thing about waking up, is being able to talk to people without having to cram any WT doctrine down their throats. People for the most part are friendly and will talk to you for hours, as long as you don't try to cram religion down their throats