Even when I was in my teens, I realized that the elders had no qualifications for having oversight over the sheep. All you have to do to become an elder is work hard doing everything the organization requires. These men have no training except in how to enforce and carry out the rules given to them from WTS. I have seen men who've been in the organization a short time become elders. The majoriety of these men are nobodies in the community at large. When they become elders they become somebody: get puffed up, and become much more important in their own eyes than they actually are. Yet, they exercise power and influence over the flock. They hold their lives in their hands and can make the life of the flock a nightmare. I have seen this dozens of times. One of my lifelong friends married an old man, more that twice her age, but an elder. He was overbearing and a know-it-all. She became a elderess, she told him everything she ever heard anyone else say or do and he was always getting into everyone's personal business. He was so stupid that he quit his good-paying job, took his retirement, which was about 30K, and told everyone he had enough money to last until Armageddon. That was in 1961! As for gossiping, everything that happened in the congregations, spread like wildfire through the district. There are no secrets in the circuits, except it seems, that there are pedophiles among us. This same elder, when he was looking for a wife,and we were in his car alone, (the others were out of the car), asked me, a 15 year old, what I would do if he put his arm around me. I answered that I would slap his face. He left me alone, but got lucky with my friend.
The Judicial Committee Gossiping Reach, Two or Four Counties? Three!
by ÁrbolesdeArabia 23 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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Scott77
It's the only entertainment they have. They are so unhappy, so unfulfilled. Many of them are taking anti-depressants, and it doesn't help, because they are members of a cult. What do unhappy people do? Try to make others unhappy.
It's psychology 101.
talesin Very true. The same can be said of br or a sister who finds a good paying job, starts paying bills and occassionally misses out meeting but materially, keep prospering.He or she will be look upon with distain in the Congragation.
Scott77
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LongHairGal
Arboles:
Gossip goes even further than that. How do you suppose many of the phrases that JWs use get around the country so quickly? For example, the newest one is "many will get to the new system the underground way". It went viral.
But, sadly, I have never seen a bunch of meaner-spirited sickos than the people in that religion. I always felt as you did that they love bad news and can't wait to spread it. Some must have serious jealousy issues to do what they do.
talesin:
I have a theory as to why JWs love to gossip and trash other members.
Since JWs are told not to idolize celebrities or watch too much TV, who else do they have to fixate on? Other people in the congregation, that's who. So, they watch other people there and scrutinize them with a magnifying glass just as they would whatever celebrity is in the news.
Field service groups during the weekdays are the places where most of the juiciest gossip is dished out!
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wha happened?
crabs in a bucket
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ÁrbolesdeArabia
I think some of you missed my point, I should have clarified things better. How about "There different men who share confidential talk with their wives, this is a fact that's undisputable." "Some wives do pry information from their husbands so they can appear "in the know" with their peer groups (A Jezebel Factor) and insult other good elder wives and friends in the Kingdom Hall. This makes these women feel more secure in their personal assessment of their family's spiritual holinesss.
Ladies, have you met a real life Jezebel bitch in your life? We brothers know a "Diatrophes, Nicolaus, Ahab,", and a Judas Iscariot who is quick to sell us out for theocratic advancement.
long-haired-girl: Crazy ideas are going viral, Witnesses are not the best source checkers. I think somone read a tinny bit of the historical "Under-ground Railway", talked to a crazy brother in San Diego who believed we would be put in caves the way Jehovah's prophet Elijah was kept, feed with meat from the ravens. None of this makes sense, as Jehovah Seer told his faithful (at the time) ancient people "Stand back and see the Salvation of Jehovah" Jehosaphat was told. The ancient Christians who fleed to Pella, were not living in caves or escaping "in the underground". Some Witnesses are toning down the message and moving towards a "Rapture-End Times" message, more palatable to new members.
There sure are plenty of mean and evil people who spread gossip, this does not feel like Love. Witnesses love is "Scared Straight" love, you earn love by following everyone elses ideas and keep your mouth shut, for fear the prisoners or jailer will scream at you!
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just Ron
Sounds like your COBE has a problem keeping his trap shut. Time for a keep your mouth shut local needs part to me.
jus Ron
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creativhoney
I once went to visit an old friend who hadnt been to the meeting in around ten years - I hadnt been in around 2.
the next day my ex husband knocked on my door warning me to be careful as rumours were circulating that I was looking to 'form an apostate group'
- I dont even think we touched on religion, but while i was there an old flame called on her - she hadnt seen him for years
his mum was back in the truth after making some money running a brothel
after closing the kinky flat down she rented it to my ex..
six degrees of separation lol...
and they were worried I might be a bad influence hahah
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problemaddict
I remember being 19 and going to the elders with a girl from another hall who....er....I....had....ummmm...done things with?
Anywhoooo. We both wanted to have a clean conscience and went to the elders. I think she spoke to her mother and was worried she would not get to see her little brother if she didn't get right. So we both got disfellowshipped (and then the sex really started).
But the point is that the elders i went to (one in particular), went out of their way NOT to ask prying questions. They kind of understood what happened, adn that it happened more than once, and that was it. From that point on we didn't discuss it, and it was more about helping me and how I felt etc.. Regardless of how we feel about disfellowsipping, it was the way things were SUPPOSED to be done, and the guys didn't get in my buisness (anymore than the JC situation already does of course).
My very attractive girlfriend at the time however, was HUMILIATED by the guys in her comittee, which included the local substitute CO. Out of his busy schedule he found time to question her on frequency, posisions, how many times was it "oral", and a host of other nonsense.
I was literally in disbelief. I told my elders about it expecting them to be angry, but I was naive enough to think him being a sub CO didn't matter.
We were well known in the area. Everyone heard pretty fast.
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tiki
You have simple men with grandiose delusions and they are granted a type of control/dominance over the lives of others. They are not trained professionals, they are typically well-meaning deluded souls with an illusion about themselves. Because they are not trained professionals, they have little to no concept of the damage that can be done by sharing private information with others, no matter how close and how perceived trustworthy.
Then, factor in the drama. They all love a good soap opera, so when it unfolds, they can't wait to "share" because he who knows most or knows first for some unwritten rule claims a superior spot. So....the babbling begins and it surely does travel.
Gossip is one of the hugest issues these people face - and it is borne of boredom plus that organizational fostering of superiority of one over another. All in all, pretty stupid and I'd say childish, but kids are more just plain mean up front and get it done and over with and move on.
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Scott77
Lol, this thread is very intersting. It shows some dirty inner workings of a typical Kingdom Hall leaders.
Scott77