'Deal with it!' - WT, in so many words

Gayle

http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/wp20091101/spouse-special-needs/

an article if a marriage partner has a chronic health issue

no - did not mention something like - 'just read the Bible & you'll feel better.' instead picture shows to do a puzzle together.

no - did not mention go in field service to somehow feel better-

no- did not mention to talk to elders about it. (Proven fact; elders don't help with such things. kind of too bad, so sad attitude)

no- no promise of the new world coming so soon.

Eventually, they may even render themselves unable to continue providing care for their beloved mate. No mention on how one's would process that one. Certainly, nothing within organization for any such services. And the 'cost?' when most JWs already are just eke-ing by.

Basically. ones are on their own. Sad thing and reality, as many to most JWs are aging and getting health problems. The WT message is ending up very empty and nothing to offer and very unpromising.

Stand for Pure Worship

To be fair, this is taken from a public edition WT magazine. That said, one shouldn't expect it to mention anything about the elders, or other JWs lending a hand. To say its a proven fact that elders won't assist ones with disabilities or other situations is a gross generalization. That's not to say there aren't elders like that, but to lump them all in the same boat and call it a proven fact is to be quite honest, ridiculous. I can relate quite a few personal experiences and those of other elders and other JWs that have assisted disabled and elderly JWs. It should also be mentioned that the primary responsibility of taking care of such ones rests with relatives be it spouse, children, siblings, etc.. Also, the part about one who would render themself unable to care for their sick mate should be taken in context. To isolate that one sentence doesn't do justice to the point that the writer was setting up with that paragraph, which is as follows,

"At times, balance becomes a problem for caregiving spouses. Some take on too much work, slowly wear down, and endanger their own health. Eventually, they may even render themselves unable to continue providing care for their beloved mate. So if you are taking care of a chronically ill spouse, do not ignore your personal needs. Set aside regular quiet time to refresh yourself. * Some have found it therapeutic to talk out their anxieties from time to time with a trusted friend of the same sex."

Afterwards it gives practical advice on dealing with the preceding scenario, whether you agree with it or not. I hear where you're coming from Gayle, but be fair.

cantleave

SFPW - I think sometimes on here it is forgotten that although all elders are serving the organisation, there are a good few who want to do the right thing. When I served I thought I could make a positive difference, and tried to look after the more vulnerable in the congregation.

Edit - they will be the ones most likely to wake up.

Gayle

Thank you so much, SfPW,, for pointing out that the article was a 'public' edition. Certainly, what the WTS says to the general public is more positive, 'practical' and more 'publicly' correct. So different, than for the 'members' insiders directions/suggestions. (Yes, I agree also, that many JWs do go the extra in helping personally 'some' in congs. to get to meetings, 'some' household chores and 'some' social visits.) I know also, that Bethel has it 'very' organized in having doctors, nurses, caregivers, and all normal household amenities to assist their aging, at least the ones they keep.

cantleave

The differences between the public and study editions seem to be widening, typical cult propaganda technique.

Billy the Ex-Bethelite

A very superficial article. Raises more questions than answers. Maybe if the husband had gotten a university degree, with better pay and insurance, there wouldn't be the financial strains now. Maybe if the wife had kept her savings rather than cashing in her retirement in order to pioneer, she could rest a little easier. Perhaps if they would have had children years ago, rather than wait until after armageddon, she wouldn't feel quite so lonely when her children/grandchildren come to visit and help.

EndofMysteries

SFPW - Let's be fair? Yes please, let's be fair. Let's compare apples to apples. In my scenario I am going to compare some still active 100% in JW family and their situation vs another christian church/etc.

Financial advice and help comparison - JW's teach to get the bare minimum education and until recently college was really looked down upon. If a member is in need of help, they can't call Bethel, they don't have a fund to help members who are in dire straits. They are told to ask other family, it's not what they do. Other churches, I'm giving comparisons on one I personally know. All encouraged to get good schooling to have good work. They have funds to help those who are in bad circumstances, if someone needs help paying the electric bill, or recently a family lost their own due to a disaster and they did a fundraiser to help them. Like the early christians who also had a fund and helped the elderly and those who needed help.

Marriage/drug/chronic health issue/etc comfort counseling and advice - With the JW's, first of all if somebody mentions alcohol/drug problem, etc, the first thing will be a judicial committee, and if they aren't dfed, then for any of the above issues, the elders might talk with them once very blue moon about how going to more meetings and service will take care of those problems. This other christian church, they have dedicated counselors. If someone had a drug issue, there is one to help them with that and spend all the time they need and work on it. If someone is going through hard times, again help and support. If someone having marriage problems or even before marriage they do premarriage counseling to help prepare. JW's have absolutely none of that.

So the WT issues orders to be followed as from God himself, and when they end up being bad, (end hasn't come yet, should have got a better education, etc), the GB will print a statement like this, "Jehovah's Witnesses being over zealous on when the end would come didn't prepare for living a full life in this world and didn't prepare by planning for retirement or getting a proper education".

You will NEVER see a statement like, "In the past, the governing body of jehovah's witnesses wrongly advised it's members not to plan for retirement and get an education".

Julia Orwell

Damn straight. It amazes me how many churches around here, from the Baptists and Uniting Church up the road to local Catholic parish, have all these services and charities to help their poor. The evangelicals have a food bank for anyone poor, irrespective of their religion. My JW friend was rendered disabled and homeless a couple of years ago, with two children in tow. Who helped her? Was it the elders she called? No, they told her it was her own fault. So who helped her? The Catholics, the Salvation Army and non-JW family and friends. The only JW who helped her was me, and I'm no longer one.

My friend is still disabled and has two children, but rents a house and is now a paid artist. She lives within sight of the Kingdom Hall. You can literally see it from her backyard. But who comes and does her cleaning, takes the kids to school, helps with large art projects,visits her, does her shopping? Not one JW. Some JWs have actually told her, "If you came to all the meetings people would help you." Hellooooo, she can't walk most days...yet no one offers to pick her up. She doesn't meet the conditions for receiving JW assistance.

So which religion helps its own more?

That Watchtower article is useless. There's not one mention of getting government or charity help.

BackseatDevil

Is it any wonder about the suspiciously high alcohol consumers in the flock...

BackseatDevil

Is it any wonder about the suspiciously high alcohol consumers in the flock...

'Deal with it!' - WT, in so many words

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