You may want to also search the publications for the word, "behooves ".... as in, "... it behooves us to..." or "... should we not feel behooved to..." etc.
I look forward to seeing or hearing more about your research project.
Muddy Waters
JoinedPosts by Muddy Waters
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Do WT Publications Make Us Feel Unworthy, Unlovable and Helpless?
by jp1692 init is my contention that the wtbts, (as do all high-control, authoritarian cults), deliberately cultivates dysfunctional beliefs among its members.
in particular, the most destructive of these beliefs are those that undermine one's feelings of self-worth.
for a research project i am doing, i am looking for direct quotes from wt publications that seem to be specifically designed to manipulate the readers into feeling: unworthy, unlovable, inadequate and/or helpless.
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Please tell me: what is a relationship with the "person" Jehovah like?
by Maryo indoes anyone out there know of any jws that have talked about what their personal relationship with jehovah was like?
for example, hearing his voice, a certain feeling?
an intellectual understanding?
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Muddy Waters
Hahaha, what a great question! Yes, I remember hearing about "the Person of Jehovah" as well as the great Jehovah being a "manly person of war.." !! -- LOL
And my "relationship" with this "person"...? Well, thinking back to my totally intense, hoodwinked, full-of-the-koolaid JW self once upon a time, I suppose you could liken it to an adult having a really good friendship or relationship with Santa Clause.
Like, he was "always there" (in my imagination), looming above... Looking down to make sure I was being Good and not Bad...
Worse, I imagined I could FEEL his presence, this mighty, silent, powerful God, the Grand Creator, surrounded by all his angels (and Jesus too, somewhere in the shadows, waiting patiently for his turn) and I imagined that every time I did a bad thing or made a mistake, that Jehovah would sadly turn his face away from me....
But when I did good things (determined by WT just exactly what those "good things" entailed), I imagined the great Jah smiling down at me, his angles happy too, all was like a big happy bubble...
I remember feeling so damn smug some days, when I was doing "all the right things" and thus making Jehovah "happy" .... and every now and again feeling troubled at my smugness, wondering why I felt like that pompous man described in the bible who prayed that he was so thankful not to be like those terrible sinners all around him.
Dare I even say that I sometimes had "demon" trouble and would pray out loud to Jehovah and my goodness, the demons would flee away ... Oh boy.
I think I either had a really active imagination, or stress-induced night terrors, or I actually did lose my mind while being a totally indoctrinated dubbie.
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My Current Views About God, Relgion, JWs and Life In General
by pale.emperor inthis past year has been the most life changing year anyone could ever go through.
waking up, leaving the cult, separating from my wife, research, research, research, reading, pondering etc.
and i've found myself having to re-learn and re-evaluate everything i thought i knew.
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Muddy Waters
PaleEmperor, nicely expressed! I have come to about the same conclusions as you.
It frustrates me now to hear people say, "I'll pray for you" or "sending prayers!" or some such, because it feels like a cop-out... where is the PRACTICAL, physical help or advice..?? Telling people who are in need or distress to wait on God to help them feels like they are being told to wait for a magic fairy or Santa Claus to do something ...
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My Anointed Grandma’s Wavering Faith?
by My Name is of No Consequence insome quick background information: my dad (her firstborn son) died unexpectedly this past october.
his death has really hit our family hard.
personally, i have not totally come to terms with this.
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Muddy Waters
I don't know.... Coming to know TTATT when in one's 90's would be pretty harsh... Is a hard call. You almost wish she could still have her dreams and faith intact, but the Org has changed everything so much... I wish her peace, and you as well.
I lost my mom nearly two years ago, and it is still very painful for me to deal with... Walk gently....
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New letter about Circuit Conventions accounting procedures
by Hecce ini hope that one of the friends will post the letter soon.
i heard that on 3/27/2017 a letter with new instructions about the accounts at the circuit conventions was released.
the letter seems to adopt many of the corrections that had been suggested here at the forum, among other things during the accounts report they will be no mention of the per capita and the amount due is going to be released only to the elders.
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Muddy Waters
Thank you for the definition of per capita...
Truly, Jehovah's grand theocratic arrangement is being
blesseddissed by all these "unrighteous riches...!" -
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Did you have a favorite pub . . .
by compound complex inpublication, that is?.
i just found all scripture is inspired of god and beneficial in storage.
i enjoyed studying it, as well as make sure of all things, hold fast to what is fine.. our thinking has changed, of course, but, back then, did you have a wt publication you especially liked?.
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Muddy Waters
I liked "What has Religion Done for Mankind?", the "Creation" book, the "Live Forever" (red study) book, the "Happiness" book, and the little pink "Greatest Teacher" book.
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New letter about Circuit Conventions accounting procedures
by Hecce ini hope that one of the friends will post the letter soon.
i heard that on 3/27/2017 a letter with new instructions about the accounts at the circuit conventions was released.
the letter seems to adopt many of the corrections that had been suggested here at the forum, among other things during the accounts report they will be no mention of the per capita and the amount due is going to be released only to the elders.
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Muddy Waters
Pardon my ignorance, very embarrassing, but what does "per capita" mean..?
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Russia and the letter writing
by Listener inthis is the whole of the instructions that the watchtower gave jws when writing to russian officials -.
content • you are writing to the official to request his intervention.
express the hope that the russian authorities will stop the legal action being taken against the branch office and the congregations in russia so that our brothers and sisters can continue to gather peacefully for christian meetings without interference.
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Muddy Waters
Ha, I like this comment over there*, but wonder how long it will stay up:
"Putin should know " the truth", all of it -- the shunning rule which break up families; the disdain for higher education; the two-witness rule applying even in instances of child sexual abuse, as explained in their own (secret) elder's book; their extreme stance regarding blood transfusions which apply to little children as well; the way they contribute nothing to the physical well-being of their members or provide any real charity the way most people understand charity... I could go on."
* http://blog.ministryideaz.com/2017/03/russian-persecution-jehovahs-witnesses.html
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The reality of "shunning" and character assasination highlighted at the Australian Royal Commission
by stuckinarut2 inonce again, the arc has brilliantly highlighted the reality that any witness who either fades or disassociates is subjected to active official shunning by the organization.. the "brothers" tried to state that it was the choice of the indiviual who steps away from the organization to shun them!
they actually tried to make it out to be the fault of the one who leaves!
then they tried to say that those who fade are not shunned!.
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Muddy Waters
Finklestein, your post (on page 1) really hit home for me ... re: your comments about JWs, from top to bottom, being liars, wittingly or not.
When I was "waking up" from my mental bondage, I remember talking to some new friends about the JW religion, and the first thing one of the ladies said was "Oh! Those Jehovah's Witnesss!! They LIE!!!! Oh do they lie!! They are LIARS..!! Nothing but a bunch of liars..!!!!!"
And I remember feeling taken aback and wondering what she could mean.... (yes, I know... my waking up was a very long process! But now I understand completely, and she was quite right!)
I would love to talk to her now and find out to want she was referring, anything specific or examples, or people she knew, etc. It was a profound moment for me, at the time, to hear her say that JWs are all liars.... It brought me to a new level of self-examination & awareness and psychological development, if you will. It was a rude awakening....
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ARC Live Streaming site ?
by Gayle inwhat is the exact live streaming site for the arc today in sydney?
i hope someone or more here will be watching and giving info/quips throughout the case.
also, will someone here or elsewhere be able to 'save' a video of this (all or part).
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Muddy Waters
So true, Orphan Crow. The indoctrinated JW has such an implacable hardness of heart and they don't even realize it. They don't even see it.
The JW mindset is to think: poor worldly people, they don't understand our shunning policies, how it is a "protection" and that making a "stand" isn't easy, but necessary to uphold Jehovahs righteous principles...
When McClelland repeatedly said it was CRUEL, there was no getting through the JW fog. The JW brain cannot or will not accept that shunning is cruel, they believe they are righteously upholding Jehovah's principles, however difficult that may be for them.
Same thing for the 2 witness rule. The scripture whch says, "At the mouth of two witnesses, let every matter be established." is taken as gold, and that includes the heinous crime of child sexual abuse.
The organization is held up as God, and all its policies (man-made/man interpreted) are held to be also inspired/divinely directed and thus to be followed as if the organization's crap policies are also the word of God. And "God's Organization" must be protected and kept above reproach - for a fine witness - !! -- to all the nations.
It's a sad and despicable way they treat their most vulnerable, trusting members of all, their *children*....
The only thing WT ultimately understands is their bottom line, their profit margins, so I say, hit 'em where it hurts. Make them redress financially the utmost needs of these people and children who have been hurt, damaged, and betrayed by WT policies and crap interpretations.