Meetings

by OrangeBlossom 36 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  RR

  TR

  you are one sick, sick, monkey.:)

  Oh, I forgot to mention, we never have just one meeting in an evening, usually two, on those occassions where we may have one meeting, it usually last about 1.5 hours.

  One of the things that surprised me about the Bible Students as oppose to the Witnesses, is, when I was with the Witnesses, as they had a gathering or get together on a Saturday or after the meeting on Sunday morning, we usually sat around watching TV, drinking beer [I don't drink, btw] playing cards, etc.

  My first Bible Student gathering, was actually a dress down convention held in someones home, where we sat around and studied the scriptures, with intermission every so often.

  _______________
  Less Religion and more Jesus!
• 

  had_enough

  Hi jelly:
  You questioned:
  "I have often wondered does the society intentionally keep witnesses so busy so they don’t have time to think. Really as a witness your life gets completely tied up in witness stuff so eventually that is all you have. No time for hobbies, education, family outside the org, etc, etc, and this isolation makes leaving impossible for some people. I have often wondered is this an intentional attempt to gain more control over the rank and file or just a by-product of their fanaticism?"

  It appears to me that the society does intentionally want to keep witnesses too busy to think, especially in pressure to meet the quotas set for service. I remember Raymond Franz's comment in his 2nd book "In Search of Christian Freedom". He said when the topic of lessening service reporting requirements came into discussion, the GB was concerned over the effect that easing the pressure might produce "though their (the GB's) own privileged position allows them a degree of immunity from that pressure..". He said their expressions showed a real fear that letting up on the pressure will result in a drop in service activity. Raymond also said: "Leo Greenlees' comment that most of the brothers are 'disorganized' and need the Society's arrangements to get them to do the work, typifies the paternalistic viewpoint so ofter expressed in Governing Body sessions. Though dealing with another facet of the organization's program -- a suggestion about reducing the length of time of the weekly meetings--a quite similar comment was expressed by Milton Henschel who asked, "And what will the brothers do if we give them more free time? Probably use it in watching TV.""

  That pretty much sums it up doesn't it?

  Does anyone think that the WTS will ever think differently maybe under pressure themselves of losing numbers in the r&f.?

  had enough
• 

  had_enough

  Hi momoftwo:

  I also had to try and explain that picture to my two. I guess the simple point was supposed to be that anyone who didn't worship Jehovah will be destroyed, even their children. But how do you explain that picture to a 2 or 3 year old who asks "what's going to happen to that baby?" It was a difficult picture to deal with.

  had enough
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  bluesapphire

  Really??? You mean you didn't get "refreshed" from the Kingdumb Misery School after a hard day's work?
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  Prisca

  Luvsdubs - great post!

  Remember when the speaker for the Public Talk didn't turn up, and the elders decided to just cut straight to the WT Study and leave it to that, how everyone would be happy about the "early mark", and enjoy the extra time to socialise with each other, rather than be stuck listening to a talk that most would forget the title of by the time they got home?

  [8>]
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  LDH

  I'm putting money on the fact---WHEN they do shorten meeting requirements--it will be DUE to simplification of Jehovah's arrangement.

  Anyone else care to comment on the verbage that they will use?
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  riz

  Lisa,

  I'll go out on a limb and say they will use the old standby " We never said five meetings a week was necessary. Shame on you, r&f for speculating."

  ('75 revisited )
  riz