Were Most Of The Elders Dumb--- That You Knew??? (page 3)

calico

They play dumb--easy way to get out of situations that they really don't want to take care of!

Sir8 sure outlined the typical elder types. Kudos to you, Sir8! And the last poster, I KNOW they like to play dumb. To either get you to explain and talk more (thus hanging yourself for them) or to be able to run and hide.

XJW4EVR

I don't think that the Elders I knew were "dumb." Misguided, but not dumb. Most of them were self-employed with thriving businesses. Most of them were contractors. While some of you end to look down on people that had janitorial or window washing businesses, I tend to admire anyone that creates his/her own wealth rather than relying on some employer to pay him. It takes a lot of common sense to run a business.

That being said, I only knew two elders that went to college. One is a professional photographer & the other a contractor. While they both tended to downplay their education (gotten prior to becoming JWs), there was a difference in the way they talked when compared to other Elders that did not have the same education level. The funny thing is that they both hold my dad in high esteem, and all he has is a high school diploma. Isn't it funny, what practical exerience does?

misguided

I left a cong. in Langley, BC nine years ago (1997). Before I left, there was this incredibly smart (in my opinion) elder who was there for me when my now-ex husband left me (just days before our 5th baby was born) and moved in with a girl at his work (late 1993). He came by, no questions asked, and I felt real love from the elder arrangement (and his family) for the 1st time in my life. I felt he really cared for me. However, he soon left with his family to go to "where the need was great" to the Dominican Republic around 1994.

In 1997, I moved to this small town about 3 1/2 hours from Langley, BC to Westbank, BC - 16,000 pop. when I moved here - now about 45,000 people. I went to a few meetings once I move here - but not too many. At one of the last meetings I attend in 2002, I see this elder who'd helped me through my divorce. He'd moved back from the DR, and settled near to the same town (same cong.) where I'd moved. lt was kind of like: "What are you doing here?"

"I live here now, what are you doing here?"

"I live here now"...wow! Talk about coincidence!

Anyway....I got df'd in 2002, and I haven't attended a meeting other than the district assemblies 'til 2005, and the memorial in 2005.

About a year ago, I asked a JW patient from the cong. I used to attend, when she came into the office, how everyone was doing. She told me that this elder was now DF'd and was an "apostate." I was in shock. He was the best elder to ever council me...and he had never did anything inapropriate!

A few months later I ran into him while shopping. He's got facial hair, and frankly, looks nothing like I recall him - but he did look good (interestingly, he said I looked good, too). I said I'd heard about his df'ment. He said he had some questions that weren't answered appropriately (I still need to contact him about this - I'd like to know what his questions were - because I still was planning a return when I saw him, so I didn't ask him further questions.)

I recently ran into two of his daughters at the mall. We hadn't seen each other since Langley, but still recognized each other. They told me their dad was still df'd and they were totally disillusioned with the JW's. I told them I had seen the "truth about the truth" too, and had no desire to return. I asked them if they'd read COC and it turns out they were just reading it.

I think I should try to get this ex-elder and his family over for dinner one day soon....if I weren't so self-conscious about being able to do a dinner.

Rose

BizzyBee

Rose,

What a neat story! Sounds like somehow you and he were meant to be in each other's orbit..............

White Waves

Rose - Go for it!!! Sounds like the planets are in the right position for you. Seriously, Spaghetti and meat sauce, a salad, premade garlic bread for the oven and a store bought dessert. Go easy on the meal - Maybe even a restaurant carry out. Good luck ! You will be renewing a friendship, and maybe more!

minimus

Gary, ExJWs are smarter. You're right!

Honesty

The ones I knew/know aren't dumb. They just have issues dealing with reality. Therefore......

undercover

Most of the ones that I knew were of average intelligence. A couple of slow ones and a couple of brilliant ones.

The real issue is ignorance. You can be intelligent yet ignorant but sometimes intelligence gets in the way of admitting the ignorance. Add the WTS guilt and fear and the ignorance becomes even harder to admit to.

One elder I knew was very bright, smart and had common sense. But he was a WT company man all the way. It was how he was raised and he didn't know anything else and assumed it had to be right. It was his ignorance that kept him from ever looking past what he knew. He was taught that all things non-JW were bad and he accepted it without question. He never thought to look for himself. He eventually died a faithful JW. He was praised by all the JWs but to me it was sad that such a smart man had wasted his intelligence on false hopes and lies.

metatron

What transpires here involves a "dumb down" switch that actuates whenever the subject of the "truth" comes up.

I have known many elders and Bethelites , who were normally very intelligent people, but who suddenly spoke like five year

old children when dealing with the "truth". How else can anyone escape the obvious fraud and egregious errors of the organization

across 120 years?

metatron

Were Most Of The Elders Dumb--- That You Knew???

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