Wife update! Gradualism....Gradualism....Gradulism.. Satan's Tool Box (page 2)

dinah

OM, now that's good news to make you happy!!

It makes me wonder just how many came away from the DC thinking like this. How many of them are just exhausted? How many of them don't really want to live in Paradise if the same dickheads are in charge?

WingCommander

Can you imagine the New Order being run like a District Convention? You'll have the DO's, CO's, and Elders telling everyone where to sleep, what to eat, how to dress, and name tags are to be worn ALL THE TIME, every day, ALL day, for ETERNITY!! No exceptions!!

I believe the word everyone is looking for is: SHEEPLE. Baaaaaa!!

- Wing Commander

OnTheWayOut

I'm happy for you. Now, back to my best Jiminey Cricket impersonation.

You might consider how best to facilitate stepping aside as an elder. As long as you promote the WTS from the platform and remain in such a position, she will probably feel it is best to keep believing it despite these cracks in her armor.

A step-aside would allow you to say how you are having "concerns" or "doubts" or whatever you want to say.

Okay, I am done. Back to being happy for you and your progress with the wife. I read Blondie's comments on the article and some of the actual article from Blondie's thread. It was terribly self-serving of the GB. As an insider, you are free to discuss the article with your wife while I am not, because my wife knows how I feel. Strength to you.

leavingwt

This is a freaking awesome development.

Doubting Bro

OM - that's inspiring news!! I couldn't stomach that WT last week although I probably should have used it as a "conversation starter".

Cheers

leavingwt

This is a freaking awesome development.

Open mind

Thanks for all the huzzahs everyone! We all need encouragement, even elders. (Insert hurl sound here.)

OTWO aka, Jiminy C:

"You might consider how best to facilitate stepping aside as an elder. As long as you promote the WTS from the platform and remain in such a position, she will probably feel it is best to keep believing it despite these cracks in her armor."

She and I agreed several months ago that it's best for the kids right now to have the social perks of technically being "good association". I think it will pack more punch for her and the kids when I finally get removed for some BS reason. Of course, if we ALL get to the point where we're on the same page including the kids, then of course I would step down and at least fade.

Although I don't think anyone's removal/fading/DFing or DAing really creates that much of a ripple in the JW pond in the long run, I think what little mileage I could wring out of this will be enhanced through being removed. Oh, did you hear about poor Brother OM? They removed him as elder because.....(insert BS reason here). It will probably be one or a combo of the following, IMO:

1. Failure to "preside over my own household". (Jezebel wife, independent-minded kids, not jumping through local hoops as quickly as the elders would like, low FS hours) BTW, if one of my kids ever gets in enough trouble that I KNOW I will be removed, I'll do a preemptive "step-aside" so as to minimize any guilt feelings to my child.

2. Qualified to teach. Bringing in too much outside information to my parts. Soft-pedaling the "main" Borg-generated points and emphasizing more humanistic themes. Or, making it dry as toast on purpose.

3. Not given to a lot of wine. Possible. Not likely given all the booze hounds in these parts, but possible.

4. Overall just not setting a good enough "Kingdom First" example. Not sure how you would categorize that on the form to Brooklyn, but it's certainly true.

That's the latest from my little corner of Spiritual Paradise.

Cheers,

om

daniel-p

If they do remove you, OM, it will be a blessing. I couldn't imagine walking that tightrope.

OnTheWayOut

She and I agreed several months ago that it's best for the kids right now to have the social perks of technically being "good association".

I won't beg you to do something I think is best. I will respond, but wish you well in any course you take.

To be as delicate as possible, your answer is bullsh%t. "Best for the kids." No, it's best for the wife and you if you are still captives to be important captives instead of nobodies. The only advantage for the kids is to develop close relationships with other JW's and possibly lead toward their marrying "only in the cult." Let them develop outside interests, outside friends. I would rather be an outcast than take such an easy path.

I recommend being a bit rough on yourselves and the kids. Let everyone see what doubting, speaking your mind gets you. If you want to be removed for one of your reasons then make it happen.

Again, good luck in any course.

OnTheWayOut

For newbies, I will say what's up with me.
I am a bit hard on OM because I see myself in him. I lingered on in the organization for years, doing research to prove to myself that it was or was not Jehovah's organization. I stayed on as an elder. I finally got the last straws on my back to break it, step aside and suffer the consequences. It was much easier to find the door when I let go of my excuses. I might have even gotten my wife out by now if I just listened to the little voice that told me something was wrong back in the 90's.

I fully understand suffering within the organization to wait and help family to open their minds. But OM and I disagree on how much of that to tolerate and how much taking your own stand does as an example for loved ones. Clearly, my choices were more beneficial to me, but my wife has not come out. OM may get the ultimate prize of getting his entire immediate family out. I would not be willing to take a chance that the kids wind up as JW's because I didn't take a stand. I don't have kids, so my answer is from "what if."

I don't think my wife, a social JW, would be any closer to thinking for herself if I remained an elder just to have the inside track and to be more socially accepted in the cult. Maybe OM's wife is completely different. Still, if she is different she should be able to listen to OM as a non-elder speaking his mind and fading. My best to everyone on their completely different spiritual journey from mine or yours.

Wife update! Gradualism....Gradualism....Gradulism.. Satan's Tool Box

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