Did You Like Your Congregation?

by minimus 32 Replies latest jw friends

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  minimus

  The Hall I was in the last few years was not a bad place. Most of the people were middle class, some had college educations (like the PO and his wife); they generally weren't over critical. Of course there were a few elders and publishers that were pains but for the most part the people in that Hall were pretty decent. On the other hand, the original congregation that I was in was filled with uneducated, mentally challanged and extremely depressed people. Being "normal" was the exception to the rule. There were entire families that regularly reported their own children to the elders for whatever Watchtower infraction was committed!

  Did you hate your congregation, love it, or not think it was anything at all special???
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  Blueblades

  My very first congregation was at the World Headquarters in Brooklyn. I can't name it because it could lead someone to ID. me. I'm not ready for that yet.

  We had Governing Body and other members of the Heavenly calling in our congregation. We ate and drank with them in their room and at their homes. This was the late sixties and early seventies. We worked in the field service with them and had a lot of good times back then with the rest of the congregation going on outings, beaches, lakes, parks and congregation picnics. We played games, baseball, volley ball etc. I even played Chess with some of the Bethel Elders back then.

  Our congregation had a lot of local families, small children, young adults. Yes it was fun back then. Then we grew and split into two congregations and slowly things started to change as we approached the "1975" debacle. That was when everything started to change, less fun and gatherings and more do more began.

  My last congregation before the fade changed so fast overnight. Many got married, many left, new Elders took over, the fun was gone. It was only the old timers that kept us there until the body of elders made it more difficult to be happy and have fun. Do more, do more, was the sound of the day. The fade began when they went after my family and then me.

  I'm glad we are out and life is better for us now.

  Blueblades
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  lonelysheep

  My first one-not really. I was a new study, new & single mom, and not even close to having tenure like most people there. Everyone was working middle class to upper m.c., so I felt comfortable there. I just felt out of place being unbaptized-something that never changed.

  2nd one-Didn't mind it too much. Most people were elderly and there were very few kids. We were a close congregation, and not just because we were squeezed into the hall like sardines double packed. I felt encouraged the most there.

  3rd one-That was where I felt the most judged and I eventually left for good.
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  minimus

  When a person never seems to just fit in, that's when they start becoming disillusioned and critical.
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  changeling

  I've been in many congs throughout my life. I have no animosity towards any of them, collectively or as individuals. Each cong has it's own "spirt" some better than others. In the end all are pretty much the same, the Society had us all very well trained.
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  minimus

  My first cong. was very much in the city. The 2nd Hall was in suburbia. Big difference with the people!
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  diamondblue1974

  Mine was shite; the older generation were ok and quite liberal but the younger were power hungry, pretentious, arrogant, lacked emotional intelligence in fact some lacked any intelligence; they were egotistical, they were overly dogmatic; they were false and two faced; they were elitist (although none of them showed anything worthy of being 'elite'). They were greedy, self righteous, and generally plastic people with plastic smiles and plastic lives!

  It was great getting out of that negative environment and realising thats despite how they made me feel, I was worth more than the lot of em put together.

  Gary
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  greendawn

  The congo I was in was very boring more than anything else there were rather few young people and they were cliquish and kept to themselves, it was an unnatural environment because there were too many women there without attending (JW) husbands and most congo members were of a low educational level though well off with their businesses.

  I was thinking what kind of environment is this, why did I come here? The JWs didn't care whether you could fit in there or not whether you could have a social life or not.
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  lonelysheep

  When a person never seems to just fit in, that's when they start becoming disillusioned and critical.

  Interesting and true
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  minimus

  Hall #1 was EXTREMELY dogmatic. If the Watchtower said so----that was it. They lacked balance and were very rules oriented persons.