Do Active Witnesses Find Meetings Exciting?

by Band on the Run 53 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Ding

  In case you dozed off, here is a summary of the meeting:

  1. The WTS is God's organization.

  2. You are happy because you are a part of God's organization.

  3. You should be grateful for the GB because without them you wouldn't be in the truth.

  4. Don't read, listen to, or think anything critical of the WT organization or you'll be destroyed at Armageddon.

  5. You need to work harder in field service and attend more meetings or you'll be destroyed at Armageddon.

  6. Armageddon is just around the corner.
• 

  Lozhasleft

  Do Active Witnesses Find Meetings Exciting?

  NO.

  Loz x
• 

  Bungi Bill

  When I first began a "bible study" with the Witnesses, I heard them rave about their meetings. The impression that I was given was that the mere attendance of such a meeting at the Kingdom Hall was a truly mind-altering experience.

  After going to the Kingdom Hall for the first time, I just thought that I had somehow missed a point somewhere - and that underneath it all, there was still indeed a mind altering experience to be had! I even kept up this pretence through all the years that I was most active as a JW:

  - but, no, the reality was that the meetings at the Kingdom Hall were never at all in any way special.

  - and that is the good news!

  What has deeply disturbed me to this day is the way in which I followed the "counsel" of the WTS / FDS etc. etc. etc to bring my children to all the meetings;

  - no matter how much the subject under discussion was way beyond their level of comprehension.

  - irrespective of the fact that sitting for two hours of such mind numbing boredom is a challenge for an adult, and can only be torture for a small child.

  - disciplining the children when the inevitable happened and they got bored and made a disturbance. (I now feel particularly bad about having done that on all too many occassions).

  Those posters who have labelled this as child abuse are very correct, and it is this more than most else that I now resent the WTS for.

  Bill.
• 

  godrulz

  There are also horror stories of children at conventions being too hot, thirsty, etc. Most churches have the wisdom to teach children/teens in their peer groups at their levels. How do we challenge University educated people if we are giving them simplistic Sunday School lessons all of the time (I take it there are no children/youth ministries in the KH?).

  I just came back from a small group study where we are walking through Daniel chapter by chapter with applications by way of principle to us. The Spirit gives us wisdom and it is relational, dynamic, fun, practical, informative, etc., all without WT aids or the same thing being taught all over the country, regardless of local or individual needs and differences.
• 

  Lehaa

  Nope, boring.

  One of the good things about having kids, can sit out in mothers and babies the whole meeting.

  B4 I had mine I used to look after friends so I could do the same thing, I was such a nice friend
• 

  godrulz

  It is a sin and shame to make the awesome Word of God boring!? For those who have rejected dead religion, know that there are people out there who are alive in Christ and their churches are full of the presence and joy of God. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater (not every Christian church or person is that great, granted).
• 

  JustHuman14

  Bored to death...........
• 

  the prisoner No 6

  I would rather have spent my time in Guantamono bay, at camp x ray, hooded and ear muffed, so i wouldnt have to listen to the endless crap spewed out, and would not have to,look at the drab interior, also a nice orange jump suit is a hell of a lot more comfortable, than being strapped into a suit and tie for hours on end. One further bonus, not having to go out on field service.
• 

  godrulz

  I imagine there is a mystique that JWs are happy, holy, fearless at the doors, enthused with their religion, meetings, etc. The private reality is obviously different with immorality, lip service, confusion, doubt, fear, mental illness, stress, etc. (some vs all). The same issues can happen in any group that has imperfect people. Likewise, Mormons have a public, glossy image of happy families, committed missionaries, high moral standards, etc., yet Utah (mostly LDS) also has high divorce, suicide, alcoholism, abortion, etc. rates. We are all no better or worse than anyone, hence the need for the grace of God (Christians also have a high standard, but we have the resource of the indwelling Holy Spirit to live up to it, unlike false religions who have will power).
• 

  kurtbethel

  In case you dozed off, here is a summary of the meeting:

  1. The WTS is God's organization.

  2. You are happy because you are a part of God's organization.

  3. You should be grateful for the GB because without them you wouldn't be in the truth.

  4. Don't read, listen to, or think anything critical of the WT organization or you'll be destroyed at Armageddon.

  5. You need to work harder in field service and attend more meetings or you'll be destroyed at Armageddon.

  6. Armageddon is just around the corner.

  Rearrange these and you have the basis for more talks and meetings.

  Embellish each point with a made up story about "Andre" and that gives you even more talks.