You've been incredibly candid as you've poured your heart out in your story. The depth of the indoctrination, the fears, the twisted thinking, the cult-speak; it is all so painful. It really is no wonder that the indoctrination of WTBorg Cult Inc. turns people of good will against a god who could condone such an organization and all of the man-made-rules and doctrine that it hatefully induces followers to conform to.
Old Navy
JoinedPosts by Old Navy
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19
A Short Life Story - Part 4 (Finale)
by pale.emperor ina continuation from part 3, which is here: https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/4807117397557248/short-life-story-part-3#!#4918071166763008.
my wife had settled into a routine of waking up at 6am each day, cleaning (so no chance of a lie in for me or our daughter with the vacuum cleaner going), eating very little, picking the skin off her lips while she sits there in a trance obsessing over things that are out of our control and dont matter anyway.
she never did return to work.
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35
The Constant Mindchatter After You Leave
by pale.emperor ini've been out almost 2 years now and consider myself wide awake to watchtower propaganda and well on my way to recovery from the mental abuse we've all experienced.. one thing that just will not go is that i constantly think of jwism and watchtower and get myself all annoyed at their lies and blatant twisting of facts in their broadcasts and magazines.
it's so bad that it's the first thing i think of when i wake up, then i have these mental arguments in my head proving the jw teachings false and then getting annoyed because no jw will listen even if you tried to tell them.
i call this constant thinking and mental reasoning and mental arguing "mindchatter".
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Old Navy
Some years ago when I attended meetings with Alcoholics Anonymous we'd close our meetings with this "prayer."
God grant me the serenity
It comes to mind nearly every day.
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference. -
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Why 2017 Was the Best Year in Human History
by pseudoxristos ini found the following article to be a nice contrast to the jw's gloomy point of view.. why 2017 was the best year in human history.
we all know that the world is going to hell.
given the rising risk of nuclear war with north korea, the paralysis in congress, warfare in yemen and syria, atrocities in myanmar and a president who may be going cuckoo, you might think 2017 was the worst year ever.. but you’d be wrong.
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Old Navy
One thing which hasn't changed is America's War Based economy. Propping up the PetroDollar to enable National Debt to grow beyond the $20 trillion where it currently rests temporarily.
The War Drums are beating as Washington's NeoCons do what they can to keep the wars going and the debt piling up as the Elite Few magnify their fortunes.
Nothing new under the sun...
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34
I gave up The 5th Dimension for Jehovah
by compound complex ingreetings, old timers (in particular):.
of course, we don't share all views in common.
unless i'm mistaken, however, we older, former jws were decisive about what our "bible-trained consciences" would allow -- or not.
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Old Navy
All I can say is "Thank God" I missed out on that sort of high control baloney. The congregation I was heavily involved with as a newly baptized in 1958 was really quite "normal." There were about 14 of us boys and girls who were in high school. After the meetings most of us who were still in high school would gather at a "Sister's" home for an evening of partying. One of our "gang" was being raised by his Grandmother ( the aforementioned Sister) and he had a party room setup in the basement of the home with record player and space enough to dance. And, that is what we did. Including some other "intimate" behaviors. We all had "worldly" friends and there weren't any restrictions on "association" as long as we made the meetings and participated. My classmate who introduced me the the Jws himself had a "worldly" girlfriend, also a classmate, who was Presbyterian. We dated whomever we wanted, there was no requirement for "chaperones," but of course many of the talks at congregation meetings were devoted to Biblical Behaviors and the need to avoid "backsliding. We played all of the popular music at our parties and danced all of the popular dances of the day. We all watched American Bandstand and were basically just like the other "Christians" at school. Except, of course, we didn't salute the flag or join "the pledge" or dream of joining the military. My indoctrination, compared to what most here have endured, was very, very light. I reckon that is why it was so easy for me to make my escape thanks to intense family opposition to my being a witness and my beginning to realize back then that certain "teachings" were very strange.
Even then, completely breaking away from certain implanted doctrine didn't actually occur until many years later. Once I began to read The Word for myself without relying on an organization to tell me how to interpret what it said...
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35
The Constant Mindchatter After You Leave
by pale.emperor ini've been out almost 2 years now and consider myself wide awake to watchtower propaganda and well on my way to recovery from the mental abuse we've all experienced.. one thing that just will not go is that i constantly think of jwism and watchtower and get myself all annoyed at their lies and blatant twisting of facts in their broadcasts and magazines.
it's so bad that it's the first thing i think of when i wake up, then i have these mental arguments in my head proving the jw teachings false and then getting annoyed because no jw will listen even if you tried to tell them.
i call this constant thinking and mental reasoning and mental arguing "mindchatter".
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Old Navy
The "secret" of Letting Go:
"If you want to forget something or someone, never hate it, or never hate him/her. Everything and everyone that you hate is engraved upon your heart; if you want to let go of something, if you want to forget, you cannot hate." - C. JoyBell C.
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340
Calling Cofty and others regarding evolution
by dubstepped inso i have started down the path of trying to understand evolution, and to get the linear lies that the jws planted in my head out of it.
i bought an audiobook called "evolution: what the fossils say and why it matters" by donald prothero.
i heard it recommended on an atheist podcast that i listened to.
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Old Navy
Question from What Shall i Call Myself:
When will you get around to telling us just what, in your case, was the deciding factor that swung your opinion towards a creator?
In my case it was my studies of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Electro-Chemistry and Astronomy which enabled me to see conclusively the Beauty of Creation and all that it effortlessly accomplishes. Attention must be paid to the tiniest of details in each of the life processes, the environmental interactions and the movement and composition of the Universe. The Theory of Natural Selection as a driving force proved inadequate. The design of all things throughout Creation is masterful.
Quote from What Shall I Call Myself:
It can't be an apparent design in nature because, as you know, we do not know how a creator created us therefore we would not know what to look for even if everything was created as you assert.
Creationists and Evolutionists share a paradox: We both truthfully must admit that we do not know "How" any of it came about or changed in our very long and distant past. And it is true that many do not know "where to look" for evidence that would satisfy their curiosity. Therefore, we must look very deeply at all things. Then you are able to "see it." Unless, of course, you really do not want to.
We are free to come to our own conclusions based upon how we "see" things. Although, there may be others who are not happy with how you "see" things. You may be encouraged or pressured to conform your thinking to agree with theirs if you desire to earn a comfortable salary.
Enjoy your freedom while you are able to.
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What a A-hole "military people are the freaking lowest of our low"
by James Mixon ina government teacher and city council member(pico-rivers u.s.a) classroom rant, triggered by a student wearing a marine corps shirt.
the classroom rant recorded by one of his students.. "your freaking stupid uncle louie or whatever , they're dumb----, they're not high-level bankers, they're not academic people.
they're not intellectual people, they're the freaking lowest of our low".
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Old Navy
It is sad but some do think that way. The Love of Money coupled with the Love of Self Achievement and Recognition in our Judgmental World.
If only we were truly able to love our neighbors as ourselves...
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340
Calling Cofty and others regarding evolution
by dubstepped inso i have started down the path of trying to understand evolution, and to get the linear lies that the jws planted in my head out of it.
i bought an audiobook called "evolution: what the fossils say and why it matters" by donald prothero.
i heard it recommended on an atheist podcast that i listened to.
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Old Navy
Cofty,
While your thinking does seem to be "stuck" in certain hypotheses within the Scientific Method relative to the study of questions regarding the Theory of Evolution, there is yet hope! As you delve more deeply into those questions with your own thoughts, separate from those who feel compelled to strongly advocate for Natural Selection, it will come to you.
If you dare that is. You're not afraid to think independently are you? Afraid that your peers might not approve should they observe freedom? Do you feel pressured to "conform?"
In any event, in due time you shall "see the light." Truth always prevails.
That you are equating Natural Selection to God is a small beginning.
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When Will Jehovah`s Witnesses Appoint A Woman As A Governing Body Member.? It`s Long Overdue !
by smiddy3 injehovah himself gives the saying "the women telling the good news are a large army" psalms 68 : 11 coupled with the fact that a good portion of women partake of the emblems and wine at the annual memorial celebration.. identifying themselves as part of the 144000 that are taken from the earth to rule with christ jesus in the heavens.. isn`t it about time they were recognized for their contributions and given the fact that gods word the bible clearly states that 144,000 of anointed are to be taken from the earth which many women are a large part of.?.
revelation ch.14 :4 could be argued that they are not lesbians { "these are the ones who do not defile themselves with women ,in fact they are virgins, etc,etc.}.
i wonder just how many men who claim to be of the anointed have not defiled themselves with women and are virgins.?.
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Old Navy
Not members of the GB since there is great opposition to that ever happening. But, what about advisors to the GB in Spiritual Matters similar to those Prophetesses of old who were advisors and helpers to the Priests in the Temple.
Nah, that wouldn't fly either. They'd soon realize that Women are not only smarter but tend to be more nurturing and empathetic than the Old Boys Club is. Why, they might even reveal some "new light" which requires that "shunning" be abolished as Satanic ritual or such.
It is a pleasant thought though...
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21
Lurkers
by Freedom rocks indo you think elders and gb members monitor this site to catch people?.
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Old Navy
If the GB ever felt the need for some honest "feedback" regarding their performance they couldn't choose a better forum than this one. I suspect they do take a peek from time to time to get some idea of how they're perceived by those who know best. And who aren't afraid to "tell it like it is."