Will the FDS start demanding a "pledge"?

by hamsterbait 18 Replies latest jw friends

  • WTWizard
    WTWizard

    They are already demanding pledges toward special projects. Back in 1996, I was handed a pledge form for a Kingdumb Hell project that I did not want to donate towards (let alone commit to a monthly donation). I "forgot" it at home the day I was supposed to turn it in, and they shoved another one in my face and demanded that I fill it in on the spot (with the hounders watching). I told them that, either I would take it home, or I would put "zero" on the amount and hand that in. I took it home--this time, not only I left the pledge form home but I stayed home with it.

    At some time in the foreseeable future, I can see them expecting pledge donations all the time. The hounders will decide how much they expect you to donate on a monthly basis (and they have no room for error). If circumstances improve, they up the amount. If circumstances get worse, you still have to "trust in Jehovah" and continue donating the original amount. Anyone falling behind in their donations will be subject to a call from Brother Hounder about "stealing from Jehovah". I expect this sxxx at a$$emblies, so they can maximize the donation to the Worldwide Pedophile Defense Fund and then require them to use credit cards to pay the bills at the last minute.

    Pio-sneers are already forced to pledge a certain number of hours of field circus a month. If they do not make their time, they are in for a call from Brother Hounder about it. They promised to do 50 hours a month (or 70, as the case may be), and if they do not fulfill it, they are treated as if they welshed on purpose. Never mind that they spent three weeks in bed with the Spanish flu. Never mind their house had a fire and they had to rebuild. Never mind they had to hunt for a job, or they just got a job unexpectedly (cutting short their unemployment, but also cutting short their month of getting 50 hours).

    I am led to believe that anything is possible in the future. They could start treating baptism as a legally binding contract, enabling them to go after (and sue) anyone that later fails to put in field circus during a month or that breaks one of the rules. They could start going after and dragging back people that have lapsed, even if they are doing apostasy. What they do at that point is up to them--sue, disfellowship, host and drag in field circus, whatever they see fit.

    Already, there are rules against everything fun. The Filthful and Disgraceful Slavebugger has articles against worldly dress, spending time alone with a member of the opposite sex, masturbating, listening to "bad" songs, watching R movies, going to college, buying a 2-door car or decent material things, and hanging out with worldly people. Some congregations, and different hounders within each congregation, have different additional rules. Some have little or no tolerance for transgressions on these "conscience matters", while others will let it slide. Some have zero tolerance for transgressions by certain people (like those they are trying to get into the Value Destroyer Training School) while others will get away with it.

  • blondie
    blondie

    I take it though that the pledges are still anonymous?

  • baltar447
    baltar447

    Not pledges, exactly but I remember a resolution two or three years ago at a convention that said stuff like avoiding getting involved in "internet discussions" lol

  • blondie
    blondie

    Resolutions are just read to the audience and they are expected to give an audible voice of support....no names are taken and recorded.

    A pledge was recently sent out in Canada, but it followed the anonymous policy of the WT's past.

    http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/186790/1/Letter-to-all-congregations-in-Canada-2010

  • Faust
    Faust

    I don't ever remember having to sign/pledge anything beyond the no blood card when I went to the meetings. But that was a good 10 years or so ago, so I'm sure things have changed a lot.

  • Quirky1
    Quirky1

    I remember when they remodeled our KH they took pledges and since I was the account servant I handled all of them. And, yes they did have their names. It was not anonymous. I think the tihe will come first..

  • blondie
    blondie

    That must have been an exception. 45 years in the WTS and married to the man who handled the money at the KH, no names on these forms. Only recently if it was $250 or more for tax purposes in the US.

  • SirNose586
    SirNose586

    Might it go something like this?

    I pledge allegiance to the Tower
    Of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society
    And to the Slave, for which it stands
    One organization, under the Slave
    Triumphant

    With meetings and field service for all
  • neverendingjourney
    neverendingjourney

    Accoriding to Ray Franz's Crisis of Conscience, this subject came up in a post-purge Bethel elder meeting sometime around 1980. The GB met with Bethel elders to inform them that any deviations from GB teachings would be viewed as apostasy and would not be tolerated. A Bethel elder raised his hand and asked whether the Society had considered requiring loyalthy oaths, to which a GB memeber (I think it was Schroeder) responded that such idea was not being considered at that time.

    There really is nothing to be gained by requiring such an oath. Baptism puts you on the hook to the organization for so long as you live. Anything else would be redundant. They have all they need to screw you when you agree to take the dunk in the pool.

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