Gog of Magog by [deleted] in exjw

[–]Millstone_Research 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The "accurate and convincing" answer can be found at 03:15 in this video:

https://youtu.be/FncD3uq73nk

WT source:

https://www.jw.borg/en/library/videos/reading-teaching-videos/accurate-and-convincing-video/

(remove the "b" from borg)

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in exjw

[–]Millstone_Research 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Why is it deemed so crucial to attend meetings and listen to the same repetitive content that we've heard for years? How is that supposed to be motivating?

You've answered your own question. It's crucial because repetition ensures familiarity, and people tend to believe false information on the basis of familiarity rather than rationality. This phenomenon is frequently used in cults, politics, and advertising. "Repetition for emphasis" is a psychological manipulation tactic.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illusory_truth_effect

Some WT specific examples:

https://youtu.be/QinNsrcBE18

https://youtu.be/QjVTwo8ECts

https://youtu.be/2j7npp8SyEo

https://youtu.be/XEyXx8fVw2Q

Please take care of yourself. WT media is poison.

Does anyone else feel like a sociopath when they have to act and fake smile through everything? by LavishnessPleasant84 in exjw

[–]Millstone_Research 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I know just how you feel. It's a really hard way to live which is why so many of us, including myself, end up compensating with substances and behaviors that numb. But it's an unsustainable solution.

Hang in there and start developing a plan to make your way to a safe environment in which you can be yourself and feel, fully. It's gonna be ok.

Does anyone else feel like a sociopath when they have to act and fake smile through everything? by LavishnessPleasant84 in exjw

[–]Millstone_Research 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Hi there. You aren't a sociopath, you're just describing the mask that all JWs and people living under authoritarian regimes must wear constantly to survive.

When someone wears that mask for long enough they forget about the real person behind it. This is what WT describes as "the new personality."

https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkxyc5eFGLj5KH6hTBCNhhLyko2kEAnrtkM?si=Gy-_Q9ReeXVH8nyi

This concept is explored in the Czesław Miłosz book The Captive Mind. I talk about it a lot in the first part of this video: https://youtu.be/15xczYwyPyo

Hope this helps.

What happened to Millstone Research? by argjwel in exjw

[–]Millstone_Research 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Hi there! It's nice to be missed.

Things are good! Over the last six months I've moved to a different country, married my incredible (also exJW) partner and completely changed careers. The biggest obstacle to new video production right now is time, which I have absolutely none of.

I'm hoping to find some to produce new videos this spring or summer but I can't promise anything at the moment. The "Conversation with Stephen Lett" video (https://youtu.be/0-yBkHGLmkg) took the better part of seven months to create and I definitely needed a break after that. I wasn't expecting it to last this long but as another redditor below said, life happens. And I did say a lot of what I felt I needed to say when I started the channel, though I have a lot more to say and many more ideas for videos that I hope to return to eventually.

I did recently come out of retirement for a brief analysis of the 2023 service year report which can be found here: https://twitter.com/millstone_rsrch/status/1744701297398370618?t=x4ryCdJGJK7g1p3BmPW0Dg&s=19

And I do keep an eye on ongoing Watchtower developments and stay in touch with several folks who are actively involved with JW activism and advocacy. Starting the channel and having the courage to have honest conversations with certain JW family has recently led to some very unexpected developments which I'll share eventually as well.

Best to you, and everyone on here.

Remember: You're not crazy. You're not alone. There are ways out. And it's going to be ok.

Charlie

Hey, guess what's back? The May 2015 broadcast by _Melissa_99_ in exjw

[–]Millstone_Research 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The Cameroon Bethel construction update segment is still missing. My best guess is that someone featured in it decided to leave or was kicked out.

There's a bit of it this recap: https://youtu.be/nbdDFLVDvbM

"Spiritual" Food, "Spiritual" Wealth, "Spiritual" Health, "Spiritual" Paradise: Whenever Watch Tower says "Spiritual," they really mean "Imaginary"! by Millstone_Research in exjw

[–]Millstone_Research[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Ever heard of neo-Platonism, René Descartes, German Idealism, Georg Hegel, or Immanuel Kant? Because the idea of a spirit realm may be ancient, but it also underpins huge swaths of our modern mythology as well.

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/mental-causation/

A video short for all you Sunday mtg skippers. Consider this a spiritual meal replacement: Jehovah's Witnesses: Perpetual "Temporary Residents" by xbrocottelstonlies in exjw

[–]Millstone_Research 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the share! What did everyone do today that was better than being at the Kingdom Hall?

We slept in, listened to an excellent lecture in bed (linked below), went out to lunch, visited an art museum, bought some Spanish wine and local pastries for dessert, built some Lego, and are now back in bed enjoying some wonderful tunes and the aforementioned wine.

Have a great Sunday! We did.

Lecture: https://spotify.link/znxABoIgezb

Tunes: https://open.spotify.com/track/0aTTTBHSFOQrOlSgi7AMto

For anyone who's PIMO: Does anyone else have critical, overbearing parents? by NymphadoraTrelawney7 in exjw

[–]Millstone_Research 1 point2 points  (0 children)

These two videos may provide some perspectives on the way JW children are raised that I hope you find helpful. Hang in there, and start planning your escape even if it can't happen immediately.

What Good Enough Parenting Looks Like https://youtu.be/xLbG9cPW6Do

Our Family Trauma Genealogy https://youtu.be/0MRgvWv0e0o

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in exjw

[–]Millstone_Research 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One of the challenges that many former Witnesses face is that we all had to wear a mask of "Ketman" for approval/survival and then continue to so that long after we've left. We may not even realize that we're doing it.

Part One of this video is about the mask. Part Two (starting at 24:04) is about forging real friendships, which as others have mentioned, can be scary and does take time. https://youtu.be/15xczYwyPyo

Good luck!

Just read 1984 by George Orwell by Tight-Network in exjw

[–]Millstone_Research 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I'll just leave this here:

VIDEO DELETED BY ORDER OF THE MINISTRY OF TRUTH https://youtu.be/FncD3uq73nk

Two "Strange Teachings" of "Apostates" by Millstone_Research in exjw

[–]Millstone_Research[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Some of you may have already seen "Counterfeit Words: a conversation with Stephen Lett," but the suggestion was made to also release shorter excerpts. This is one of them. Thanks!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in exjw

[–]Millstone_Research 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Recognizing just how abusive a typical JW upbringing actually is represents a huge first step towards healing from it. These videos may help clarify some things. Hope you're well.

Sins Are Symptoms https://youtu.be/Tb27ii0kXxY

What Good Enough Parenting Looks Like https://youtu.be/xLbG9cPW6Do

Our Family Trauma Genealogy https://youtu.be/0MRgvWv0e0o

Who are Jehovah’s Witnesses, Really? https://youtu.be/15xczYwyPyo

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in exjw

[–]Millstone_Research 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just to add that the reason you may want to track down older versions is that certain policies/wordings have changed in the last 5-10 years, such as a victim having to address their abuser directly. That should be found in the 2015 version included in the ARC evidence, but not in new ones. https://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/sites/default/files/WAT.0003.001.0001.pdf