When you were a JW what sort of experiences did you have with other non local JWs that you met for the first time perhaps in other regions or countries? Was there a real sense of brotherhood?
When we went to Brussels in 1980 JWs there put us up in their houses, they picked us up at the bus station and during free time they showed us around their city. Then we returned the hospitality when they came to London but it wasn't the same ones that put us up but other JWs from Belgium.
The elder who was studying with me was boasting that the JWs are the only ppl on earth that can visit other countries and count on the hospitality of local JWs that they never met before.
A typical question they always asked is: how long have you been in the "truth" brother(or sister)?"
Meeting JWs in other regions or countries
by greendawn 11 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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greendawn
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M.J.
I've had the same experience with fraternity brothers from other university chapters in different parts of the country. They gave me a place to stay, showed me the local scene, provided transportation, etc. I never had met them before that. We used to brag about being able to do that too. Just because the WTS is a "tight" organization promoting a "brotherhood" doesn't make them unique.
I heard Scientologists do the same thing.
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stillajwexelder
In general they are quite good at this sort of thing - the JWs
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hereticult
I was in London some years ago to attend a specific course that was offered by a college there and I attend the meeting in the local conregation and took part in the Watchtower study by commenting.
When the meeting was over the elder who conducted the Wachttower study approached me and invited me for dinner. Some unmarried local sisters were also invited, so the elder obviously thaught that I was unmarried and he could solve some unsolveable problems in his congregation. : ) We spent a wonderful evening. Really nice people. And really nice food for british circumstances.
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M.J.
ahhh beware of cult women!
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G Money
It is true. When brothers visited from Europe, I'd take them out and they had fun. Likewise when I visited on other continents, there was always unconditional acceptance and fun. Also was interesting to see how some countries were very liberal. Like in one, everyone drank, well sort of. The indigeonous peoples didn't even see movies that are classified in the US as PG and didn't drink but the new arrivals from abroad were liberal and saw R movies and drank and had fun.
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greendawn
Apparently the cultural background of the JWs will make a big difference to the way that they behave, what we hear here on the JWD is related to JWs or ex JWs with an anglosaxon protestant cultural background, the great fanaticism in obeying the GB rules including shunning family members I don't think works so much in other cultures.
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Ellie
I went to work in Spain and managed to get found by a local witness, she was really lovely so I reluctantly agreed to a study, but you know what, she and the congregation were some of the most warmest, kindest people I have ever met, they barely knew me but they invited me out to the beach with the entire congregation for a picnic, one time we went to play football and then all went to lunch at a restaurant, they paid for me, then when it was time for me to leave the area (I was a travelling sales rep) they actually offered, practically begged to put me up and find me a new job, such nice people, I never met a British witness who was so kind.
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Crumpet
greendawn - its interesting you should say that:
The elder who was studying with me was boasting that the JWs are the only ppl on earth that can visit other countries and count on the hospitality of local JWs that they never met before.
I got an eerie sense of de ja vu when I heard my driving instructor describing that that is exactly what it is like for him being a freemason - you can go to meetings in any part of the world and they will take you into their homes as their own.
Weird huh?
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hereticult
The great fanaticism in obeying the GB rules including shunning family members I don't think works so much in other cultures.
I would not say that. I have made some experiences with Witnesses from southern Europe like Italians, Greeks and people from Spain.
In these southern european societies religion still plays a much more important role in everyday life that in Nothern/West/Central Europe and as a result moral and ethics is very important to them, at least superficially. So these witnesses I have met from southern europe showed stringent obedience to the orgs directives.
Furthermore I have noticed that people from these societies have an affinity for a more fundamentalistic world view. So for me it is of no surprise that most southern european countries were governed by dictatorship until the middle of the 70ties.