Does being a JW and having a felony up your value in the kingdom hall?

by 2tone 19 Replies latest jw experiences

  • No Room For George
    No Room For George

    To be fair though, and to be honest on a personal level as this subject is one of the reasons I'm hesitant to brush off the Bible, or a belief in God, it is amazing seeing individuals change the course of their life after taking the scriptures more seriously. I've grown up with more than a few people who've ended up in prison, and hung out with, and ran the streets with more than a handful of people who've ended up in prison or dead. Had it not been for having a father, and to this religion active in my life, it's very possible I would have taken a similar route in life. That being said, it's fascinating running into guys later on down the road in life who were alpha knuckleheads when we were younger, and now as a result of their past experiences and a belief in a higher power, they've turned their lives around.

    I empathize with single women in this religion who are looking for a relationship but are unable to land one because the pickings are slim. At the same time, I think many of the males in this religion don't necessarily take this religion as seriously as many of the females. Males often enough in my experiences lack the same emotional zeal, or piousness that many JW females have. Maybe it's due to it being a given that a male will recieve privileges and a good standing based on outward displays of belief, aka works without the heart behind it. A couple times however, I've noticed that guys who did "bids" and then converted to JWs, are able to match the zeal of an overly pious JW female. I say couple times, because most guys I've known who've done bids and then "found the Lord" so to speak, usually ended up in other denominations, but I've seen a fair share who've expressed interest in becoming JWs, and known a couple who've taken the dip. These are men who are focused, and determined to succeed in pleasing God. I imagine for a zealous JW female, a man who's a man and on top of that shares the same spiritual interests as does she, along with equal zeal, has to an attractive possibility.

    On a side note, one of my favorite rappers was on the 700 Club recently. I couldn't believe it!!!! I'm a huge fan of the rap duo comprised of two flesh brothers, known as the Clipse, and all they rap about, and I emphasize, ALL they rap about, or one might say, wrap about, is dealing cocaine. After their manager took a lifetime bid for moving serious volumes of cocaine, 1/2 of the duo started examining his life more seriously, and now he's gone all out with the born again Christian thing. I'm happy for him, although sad that I won't be hearing him spit some vicious coke lyrics. His situation is similar to what I've seen with other felon types who turn their life around and the couple JW brothers I know. They're sincere with their belief in God and doing what's right, and that has to be appealing to a female who has the same outlook.

    On a side note, just because a man has a record, doesn't mean he's doomed to McDonalds. I mean yeah, his life is going to be more difficult than those without a record, but it's not impossible. Seeing these men succeed and going to school makes me hesistant to brush God off.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a9AR5Bdt9U

  • Alfred
    Alfred

    what Prodigal Son said...

    The WT does have a way of "softening" men to the point of making them "unattractive" push-overs... the only problem with that is that the hottest JW women tend to go for the rebel types (while the plain-Janes simply get the left-overs in the congo)... so getting out of prison and becoming a JW puts does tend to "up your value" at least with the hot chicks in the congo... (also, if you were a cop or just got out of the military) ...I hate to generalize but that has been my observation...

  • lohengren
    lohengren

    @No Room For George

    WOW, clipse found god? Who'da thunk

    Which one of them was on the show?

  • No Room For George
    No Room For George

    Malice, and in a way that shouldn't surprise me, because his lyrics were always deep and introspective. There was always a sense of remorse in his wordplay. The first album cover has them in a drop top with Jesus in the backseat, so I'm thinking it was only a matter of time.

    Push-Ton is still rhyming about coke though. I think his debut album is tentatively titled, Long Live the Caine, a play off of one of Big Daddy Kane's old albums.

  • 2tone
    2tone

    WTWizard - Nobody that I know of have ever purposefully committed a crime to impress other JWs.

    No Room for George - Maybe McDonalds is a little harsh. No doubt though for a time there career options will be limited.

    Currently the JW that got released a year ago. Everybody in the hall loves him. I do not trust him. I do not believe he is sincere. I think he is waiting for an opportunity for something and he will take it. He has led lots of sisters on. I might just be judging though. I hate it how everybody acts like these ex inmates and just fine examples to model your life after. It kinda makes you feel like the prodigal sons brother were you have been doin whats right in the kingdom hall and outside of the hall. I also hated how people praised the brother my age for pioneering when he was 17. I was like I cant pioneer my parents cant afford for me to quit high school and let me waster gas all day. Its just so unrealistic the examples that people set. Nobody lives in the real world at the kingdom hall

  • ekruks
    ekruks

    The amazing lie transformation, like Saul > Paul - the power of the Bible, changes people - this is what they like. Similar with ex-army guys.

  • FLDude
    FLDude

    Great thread! This gives me the idea for a new reality show:

    Coming to ABC this fall it's ....

    Watchtower Bachelor!!

    He is a mild mannered man of God on the outside, but does a rebel lurk underneath?

    Follow the trails and travails of 20 sisters as they try to win his flawed heart.

  • Londo111
    Londo111

    Out of curiosity, what is the crime-de-jour that seems most attractive?

    My apologies to all the ladies as to what I am about to say...

    But from what I've observed, many JW females are very shallow and judgemental--especially if they are pioneers. My mother loves the "bad boy", got engaged to one, and married another. To be fair, neither were ex-cons--but they are "bad" in there own way. She still to this day hates nerds, which is ironic, since that is what she produced (me). From having observed my best friends search for a mate, there were few more contentious or spiritual then he, the available JW females were never satisfied. Typical attitudes were, "Oh so you are a servant who puts 15 to 20 hours of service in a month, gives great talks--why aren't you an elder? Why aren't you a pioneer? Why aren't you going to Bethel?"

    It reminds me of what Jesus said, " With whom shall I compare this generation? It is like young children sitting in the marketplaces who cry out to their playmates, saying, ‘We played the flute for YOU , but YOU did not dance; we wailed, but YOU did not beat yourselves in grief.’"

  • Londo111
    Londo111

    Oops. On the above post I meant conscientious not contentious.

  • Band on the Run
    Band on the Run

    I agree with you. Of course, the Prodigal Son parable drives me crazy since I was the oldest who always did things perfectly -- compared to some sibs I could mention.

    I don't think it is only Witnesses, ,though. It is sad but women do seem drawn to bad men and overlook the regular guy who is available. All those evangelicals seem to love stories of redemption through faith. It is inspiring.

    Hey, it happened with my brother. He went underground in a Maoist group with no family contact at all. I finished prof'l school, worked hard, showed great respect to my JW family. Decades later, he returned to the fold for a short period. His return was so celebrated. It was right out of the Prodigal Son. I wanted him home but it would have been nice if someone just mentioned how nice it was that I was present during those years. Or maybe it was nice.

    The last straw was when I was living in Manhattan (no easy feat) and my JW uncle told me I had to shut up b/c my bro was in charge now. They heard what was truly on my mind that day.

    Imagine being a JW female. I always find these guy/gal stories amazing. Women see men have everything. Men see women have everything. The grass is always greener.

Share this

Google+
Pinterest
Reddit