Where did the Buzz go?

snugglebunny

I recently came across the very first Kingdom Song I ever heard. Twickenham, 1955. I was just a kid then of course, but I do recall the "buzz" that seemed to permeate everything, not dis-similar to that of an International rugby match. People were smiling while singing their hearts out, the lunch-time queues for the cafeteria full of old friends getting re-aquainted, young lads and lasses eyeing one another and blushing furiously, sessions 2 untl 4 then 7 until 9.30 giving folk plenty of time to socialise.

Where did it all go wrong?

Leaving aside the fact that they were just plain wrong in their beliefs, I believe that the killer was the increase of fear amongst JW's as a whole. I'm talking of fear of being abandoned, fear of being disfellowshipped, fear of being destroyed at armageddon. Quite simply, the joy of being a part of something just evaporated as the control exerted over the rank and file steadily increased.

When I gave my first public talk in 1964, I was presented with a suggested outline of 12 or 15 one-line sentences to select as I pleased. The rest I researched for myself. Back then there were plenty of choices. Shortly after that, the 1975 prediction was announced and suddenly everything was a big deal. Of course, 1975 came and went and nothing happened. (Most folk only remember 1975 as being the year that Jaws had everyone in a panic). After that, nothing was the same for JW's, the zest had gone, the enthusiasm fizzled away and in it's place came didactism and fear.

Those early days were indeed heady days. Oh yes, that song, here it is, the singing starts after an intro, the eagerness is quite noticeable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYFYtAjP8-g

Magnum

I quite often reminisce with feelings of nostalgia about the old days. I realize that there are some on this board who don't have good memories and I understand that. But my memories are good. JWdom just seemed different back then. Witnesses back then seemed to have been made of better stuff. They seemed smarter, bolder, stronger, more knowledgeable. The information seemed more scholarly and more intellectual, not so dumbed down as it seems to be now. It was exciting.

I remember the excitement about '75. There was a sister in our congregation who every year would go to the first district convention of the year no matter where it was just to get the latest info. There was a feeling that the end was near and something might be revealed at the convention.

My grandfather was a strong, knowledgeable, old-school Witness. We went with him to district conventions out of town, and he was laid back and a lot of fun to be around. We would put a Watchtower mag in the car rear window, and JWs passing us on the way to the convention would blow and wave. There was an air of comradery and, again, a feeling of excitement. After the convention sessions each day, we young ones would swim in the motel pool while the older ones sat by the pool and had deep, exciting Bible discussions about prophecy such as that about the King of the North. I remember hearing them and feeling excited. I was not scared. I looked forward to entry into paradise.

What changed? I'm not so sure it has anything to do with fear. I think it has to do with the fact that time ran out on the bold JW predictions, the message got less and less exciting and interesting, meetings became more and more boring and dumbed down, and JWs just got tired. They got tired of sacrificing so much. They got tired of getting up every Saturday morning and going and knocking on strangers' doors and meeting apathy or irritation or trying to defend or promote something that was becoming harder and harder to defend or promote.

At least JWs used to think the GB members were smart and knowledgeable and had secret knowledge, but now I think that a lot of JWs (even if subconsciously) realize that the GB members just don't know what's going on. They have no special knowledge. They're not scholarly. There is no more guru (or at least seeming guru) as there was in the days of Freddie.

It just ain't the same. It used to be that I was proud to take newly interested ones to meetings. Then it got to be such that I was embarrassed.

To me, the fizzle really started around '94 when time ran out on the "generation" teaching that had been so prominent in the JW outlook. In '95 the teaching was officially changed and I really started to feel then that the "slave" was just guessing. I think the '95 "generation" teaching change (and the subsequent changes) took a lot of wind out of the sails of JWs.

As I said, it just ain't the same.

Simon

It was a lot more "heath robinson" back then so it fed the perception of everyone mucking in and helping out and the smaller population meant you felt part of something special, more unique.

Now it's all very corporate and produced and it seems more impersonal as a result.

I look back nostalgically at my old computers like my TRS-80. It was the best thing in my life at the time but then time moved on, I grew, I realized it was just a moment in time and is now gone.

Sometimes it's who were were at the time that made things seem important to us, more than the substance of the thing itself.

Ucantnome

My father would often comment that in the early years in the truth, early 60's, they would come out of the meetings feeling so encouraged and uplifted as they walked home they felt as if they were walking on air.

I can't say I shared their sentiments. I was just glad to be going instead of coming.

One of my siblings, a pioneer, said a few years ago that when 75 ended something kind of died and it was never the same.

Awake at last

All the above comments sum up how I feel or felt. It was exciting, we were happy and the convoys to assemblies did foster a feeling of camraderie. I know why they stopped supplying the food too but the preparation and lining up for it all made for meeting others, renewing old friendships, etc. We all huddled together in rain and wind in grandstands or fanned ourselves in the heat. We talked on the way to the car to others and if kids were lost, some kindly person would help. I can't remember anyone being disfellowshipped. Instead I have fond memories of elderly faithful remnant sisters who were all called Auntie.

In fact it is all these memories that make me sad that my daughter can't experience what I experienced. It may not have been the truth, but it sure felt like it was or at least something special. I understand what attracted my parents to it in the 50's and many others too. I almost cried at the memory when I saw the cover of that old song book. I was very young when that book was in use but remember it like it was yesterday. I could not even read until the the pinky coloured one was released.

The first convention I really remembered was Melbourne, Australia in 1969. We lived in Melbourne and had a house full of people staying, sleeping in the lounge room, out the back in a caravan, a family in my room and me in with mum and dad. It was fun, especially for an only child. I was only 6 at the time. I got presents from some of the people when they left, a plastic farm playset, a dot to dot activity book and an LP record of children's songs. Brother Knorr was at the assembly which was exciting for me. I did not really understand who he was but there was a buzz about it all.

All those lovely Aunties are deceased now but are not forgotten. Auntie Eva, Auntie Ruth, Auntie Enid Duff and Auntie Ada Lewis. They all were unmarried, faithful sisters who gave their lives to Jehovah and I know that he will reward them in some way, if he hasn't already.

It is stuff like this that makes it so hard to accept what is going on now and so hard to stay. It may have the same name but is not the same religion that I grew up in.

Crazyguy

I noticed the same thing, growing up in it post 75 we would look forward to the assemblies. Making the food, distributing it, the association, meeting new ones etc. Then the food when away the assemblies were reduced, now it's show up sit there listen to some mind knumbing talks all with the same people. Boring as he'll.

Bungi Bill

Witnesses back then seemed to have been made of better stuff. They seemed smarter, bolder, stronger, more knowledgeable. The information seemed more scholarly and more intellectual, not so dumbed down as it seems to be now.

That, I think, was very true. The JWs used to pride themselves in having no difficulties with explaining what they believed to be "The Truth" about the bible ( even if , in reality, that "Truth" was nothing other than the Watchtower's own brand of theology!) There was, too, always a certain feeling of disdain for the "Churches of Christendom", whose members never seemed to have much idea what it was they actually believed - and cared even less.

when 75 ended something kind of died and it was never the same.

I agree. After the tremendous build up there was in the years leading up to 1975, something simply had to give when nothing in fact eventuated. To expect otherwise is rather like throwing a lighted match at a pool of petrol (gasoline) and then expecting it not to explode!

Bill.

Alive!

When I first converted, I was overwhelmed with the hope for mankind.

I believed that only and absolutely only the most wicked and deviant could possibly reject Jehovah, at that final Armageddon hour.

That even those who rejected the "truth" now - would joyfully acknowledge Jah and Jesus at the final push, somehow.

I loved the sense of purpose, the conventions, the working together to provide hot meals.

But..... Even back 25 years ago, I'd get qualms about stuff that didn't make sense.

I buried any concerns - after all, wasn't this the true religion?

JeffT

I agree with many of the comments above.

I became a witness in 1973, at age 22. The local congregation was a small, friendly, close-knit group. We had a lot fun at dinner parties, congregation picnics, restaurants after assemblies; it really felt like being part of a family. People were much more engaged with discussions of doctrines, scriptures, how to explain things etc.

This may still be true in some of the smaller congregations, I wouldn't know. But from what I've seen and read, that's all gone away. I think that started with the 1975 failure, but a number of structural changes added to the problem. The GB seem to be intent on regulating every single aspect of the members' lives. They also seem to oppose anything that might be fun. The book study (which was a nice chance to meet in smaller group) is gone. So are the picnics etc. The only new thought I can recall seeing in a Watchtower in years was the generation thing, which has to look silly even to the most die hard Witness. So all they are left with is the treadmill.

Magnum

But..... Even back 25 years ago, I'd get qualms about stuff that didn't make sense.
I buried any concerns - after all, wasn't this the true religion?

Same with me.

Where did the Buzz go?

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