Yes, tie pins, cuff links, watches, pinky rings.... What else is acceptable for a man to bling himself with? Amazing they don't have nose rings & earrings. I'm sure that if they could, they would.
Muddy Waters
JoinedPosts by Muddy Waters
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46
London Bethelites Are Agitated!
by The Searcher ina source has informed me that a relative who's in london bethel has said that a number of bethelites there are very uncomfortable and embarrassed because the branch has received "quite a few letters" querying why members of the governing body were wearing flashy rings and jewellery on some of the monthly broadcasts, but on the broadcast when the g.b.
asked for more money from the congregations - their gold and jewellery was not on display!.
will probably emerge one day wearing sackcloth, begging for yet more donations..
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Muddy Waters
Follow Us - the True Guardians Of Doctrine
The Way of Ever-Changing Truth
This Is the Way - Sleep On It
Loyal Love / Blind Obedience
Is there a Hole in Your Sole? Shoe Patching for Pioneers
Here I Am, Hiding So You Don't Send Me, Don't Send Me
We're Jay-Double-U dot Org! 🎶 We Stand Silently By Carts! 🎶
Listen, Obey & Be Stressed
Keep on Seeking First Our Righteousness
Draw Close to the Guardians Of Doctrine
Remain Firm in this Time and Times and Half a Time of the End
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Muddy Waters
omg, hahaha, I love reading these comments!
I remember this illustration from way back when, and analyzed this picture with such a different mindset!! It was so frightening to me then, and so discouraging too, knowing there would be, once again, another battle with Satan and his head-banded hordes.
And doesn't Satan (in drag, I mean, as the dragon) look crumpled in this picture.... It looks like he's just crawled or limped out of the abyss -- you can even see his skid marks, or his "tire-tracks" or tail tracks .... And he sure has a lot of people on his side! How can this be? How could so many of our "perfect" brothers and sisters be so angry with us so as to wish us harm, with those frightening dog-chewie sticks?
(I never even noticed back in the day how lame those sticks were! Just the fact that Satan was in the picture, and angry people -- our own brothers & sisters, maybe even family! -- turning against us, was all it took to provide the terror!!)
That part always amazed me, and is, I realize, a cult technique used to make us fearful of each other and not quite trust each other. Makes it all easier for people to be disposable and cast them off as rubbish and bird food, in any era or time.
The beards, the goatee, the headbands! Just everything. The woman with her hair in a bun beside Ozzy (or Bonaduce, Partridge Family) .... It is so laughable now.
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A must read for all JW's and Ex-JW's
by iwasblind inhi guys.
i am about 60% through the book exiting the jw cult: a healing handbook: for current & former jehovah's witnesses .
i bought this book because of a post about it last week so a big thank you for that.. i must say that everyone on this forum should consider giving this book a go.
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Muddy Waters
Iwasright, You are right -- this is an EXCELLENT book!! I also just began reading it, from a recommendation here, and the compassion, insight & understanding into our experience and how to find yourself again, is exactly what my wounded, jaded, cynical heart needs ....
Written by by an ex-JW turned therapist, she knows.... She understands, and offers ways to cope, heal, and move on ... practical advice and so much more, and I'm not even half way through.
This is is a great book and resource. And thank you, Brock Talon, for reminding us about leaving feedback and reviews on Amazon. Most important.
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What does your baptism mean to you now?
by GiftsinMen ini was baptised on 1st sept 1990, 25years ago today.
it is still a date with deep meaning for me.
i never dedicated my life to serving any man or any organisation, this was my choice - as a grown adult - to serve my god through jesus christ.
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Muddy Waters
And to answer the OPs question, what does my baptism mean to me now...
when I look back, I remember an idealistic young woman who truly believed she was giving her life to the service of God, to serve him totally and wholeheartedly, to be clean mentally, physically, morally, spiritually... To know and have the love and acceptance of the most Sovereign person of the universe, the great and wonderful loving creator, Jehovah...!!
.... to do his will... to be his instrument, to be meek and humble and obedient and live a godly life of total devotion to him... and to his organization. Can't forget that! - His organization!! The two are always joined: "Jehovah and his visible organization. Jehovah and his earthly organization. Jehovah and his organization. Jehovah and his representatives. Jehovah and his loving arrangements and provisions through his organization on earth today." On and on.
I see a young woman whose life had been in chaos and depression following a series of life tragedies who had been "rescued" and saved and "made holy and clean" by studying these little books from God's own representatives on earth.
(Yes, it's nauseating...)
I see this young woman being totally indoctrinated, and caught so deep it would take 25 years to begin listening to her doubts and start questioning....
I was attracted to the clean, shiny, sparkling life and its purity and the "wholesome" people..... I wanted to be like that.... And indeed I was (in that goddamn smarmy self-righteous yet deprecating way!) for so many long years.
I see a person who doesn't exist anymore.
I see my baptism as a baby stepping toward gaining approval... and living afterward a life of constantly seeking that approval and never being good enough or "living up to my dedication".....
An anxious life, filled with the doom and gloom cloud of utter destruction that could descend any moment, from which I might "probably" be saved if only I kept doing enough and being holy enough.....
I see a person who was led by lies, by clever manipulation of fears and dreams and hopes.... A person who was trusting and open .... and now I question everything!! To call me a cynic now might be accurate.
I still have hopes and dreams and fears, but they are toward my family, toward their betterment and well being. My life is turned toward community and yes, politics, and the inclusion of doing things for society, not standing away from it. To practice and learn what charity really means! I feel more connected to life, to the preciousness and rareness of life and consciousness.... to have the feeling and belief that we are all in this together, we are connected in a larger society and community which is important! and vital! and meaningful! I feel like I have rejoined the human race, but some days like a baby again.... deciding what to do and how and just who I really am.... It is a journey now of constant discovery and open-ness.... and of way less judgment toward others, and more compassion and empathy towards people.
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What does your baptism mean to you now?
by GiftsinMen ini was baptised on 1st sept 1990, 25years ago today.
it is still a date with deep meaning for me.
i never dedicated my life to serving any man or any organisation, this was my choice - as a grown adult - to serve my god through jesus christ.
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Muddy Waters
nicolaou - love your reply. It's like once once you begin asking questions and learning critical thinking skills (the terror of the WT! No wonder they fear it, as they use every false logical fallacy possible, and I love it when posters here are able to break it down and show these straw men, red herrings, non sequiturs, etc.) -- the walls within your mind give way & you see clearly how reason makes much more sense....
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Watchtower lack of empathy for victim children stunned Royal Commission
by Esse quam videri inthe comments and facial expressions of judge peter mcclellan, the chair of the royal commission and angus stewart, though subdued, clearly showed their disbelief and disgust at the lack of compassion and empathy by the org and the elders and gb jackson when questioned.. this link, is a sobering look at the emotions people should feel at the abuse of their children.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g7vpdfqs0q.
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Muddy Waters
I too, thought this was going to be a thread showing a video compilation of the Royal Commission's (Stewart & McClellan) reactions. Because though they appear to be neutral, there are times they just can't help looking stunned and amazed at the testimony they are hearing.
It would be great to get a compilation of that! I do realize the immensity of the task, though. Still, it would be great.
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Guardians Of Doctrine (GOD) and the Governing Body
by punkofnice ini don't know if gb member g jackson really meant the gb were 'god', with his 'guardians of doctrine' comment at the arc.
it's nice and conspiracy to think so, i suppose.
i honestly don't know.
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Muddy Waters
Hahaha, Saintbertholdt!!! That was epic, GOG vs GOD, as a Marvel comic adventure. Love that!
And big welcome to Peely! Love the bible quotes! Don't you just love using the "holy scriptures" against them and their pomposity?!? All those verses fit so well, lol. Blind f**king guides (sorry, I haven't sworn for almost 30 years, and the only time I really start swearing now is when I talk about this religion/cult!!) looking forward to more of your posts. :)
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Ray Franz was an Idiot
by vinman inray franz who gave us insight into the gb due to a crisis of conscience was an absolute moron, with absolutely no critical thinking skills whatsoever like all of us have.
i mean, to have a conscience based on some magic man in the sky.. how stupid can you be?
in search of christian freedom?
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Muddy Waters
Vinman, I meant to DISLIKE your post, but I hit "Like" by mistake.
Franz was another victim of this cult, and because he retained a belief in God does not make him an idiot. He chose a version of religion that made sense to him and he was far more kind & compassionate than any of his cronies on the GB who were more interested in rule-making, control, and governing.
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"Report it to the elders if you hear anyone in the congregation talking bad about the GB"
by hardtobeme inlast night and elder gave the bible highlights at the congregation.
he talked about apostasy.
and among other things he said: "report to the elders if you hear anyone in the congregation talking bad about the governing body".
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Muddy Waters
It's comments like that which will help wake people up.
All this attention and glory and praise to the sons of mortal men....
Isnt it a bit much?
Wouldn't they begin to wonder if so much attention and glory given to mere men is really acceptable?
I can already hear the JW thinking: Yes, granted the GB are "gifts in men" and thus appointed by Jehovah and are spirit-appointed & directed .... but, they are also imperfect.... So they may make mistakes, yet we are supposed to listen to them anyway because they are led by God's spirit (somehow, it is all very mysterious) and not talk bad about them, because they are our leaders, yet we are not supposed to have leaders, Christ is our leader, yet they are the only ones who can explain Christ's words to us... They have extra secret special spiritual knowledge... Yet they are not infallible... but we are not supposed to speak against them... They may make mistakes but we not to talk about their mistakes, it is all only "eagerness" .... Also, we and they are not supposed to elevate ourselves.... We (and they) are to be humble... Yet there they are, on TV every month & on giant screens at our conventions & assemblies (and KH's soon?) ... Can't talk bad against them,or murmur or complain because then we are complaining against Jehovah, because he has chosen these men.... Yet Jehovah also had bad leaders and kings in the past....
Ugh, I can feel the pain, the churning, the mental dissonance....
But this is good, this can start the beginning of the awakening....
And when they combine that with the exhausting treadmill of boring, gloom and doom meetings and field service and study and busy work, when the rank & file start reading stuff like the entire chapter of Matthew 23 (Jesus' condemnation of the Pharisees), and the entire book of Galatians and hear the CONTINUOUS accusations made against the organization about child abuse and child sexual abuse and cover-ups and families being torn apart, they will hopefully begin to Question and WAKE UP!