WTS retirement plan

by stichione 11 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  stichione

  As a building inspector in a large city, I also come across inspecting nun's retirement homes. In fact, working on a special project recently I visited 10 buildings housing anywhere from 60 to 500 nuns each.

  I was struck by how well these nuns are taken care of by the Catholic Church. They spend their useful years engaged in various works for the Church and community organizations. Then when they get old, the Church takes care of them by providing a home and all the benefits of living in a community where everything is provided to you.

  And for those who become infirm and are only partly autonomous or completely bedridden, they were taken care of by trained nurses in the long-term care facility of the residence.

  This got me thinking about some Dubs I know who after high school became pioneers and did the work until retirement years, or others who went from Bethel to circuit work, then after 30 or 40 years retired from the fulltime service for whatever reason. They were now on their own financially; they had to get jobs to pay the bills, not to mention never having contributed to a retirement plan. And God forbid they became sick!

  The WTS simply left them to fend for themselves without any kind of compensation or help after having spent an entire life in service to them. This also reminds me of how things went for Raymond Franz, who after almost 40 years of full time dedication to the WTS, was thanked for his services and asked to leave. The money paid him seemed almost for the purpose of buying him off.

  Anyone else have thoughts on this?
• 

  Satanus

  I remember the phrase 'the best retirement plan in the world' thrown about in some talks. They were referring to their new system paradise, as if none of us was going to get old.

  Looking back, bit older and wiser now, as a religious institution, the wt is not as good as the catholic. Nuns make a vow of obedience and celebacy. In return, the church gives them lifelong care. Jw's make a vow of lifetime servitude. In return, the wt sucks them dry, leaves them adrift, when they are old and can't produce anymore.

  SS

  SS
• 

  kenpodragon

  It is hard for a religion to accept retirement planning, when they think the end will arrive before they get there. Currently, many Witnesses are changing their tone on this. Yet for the poor people who are now reaching retirement, it is to little to late to help them.

  Very sad commentary on life

  My thought

  Dragon
• 

  Guest 77

  And they have the nerve to occasionaly quote James 1:27, ".....to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation..." As an expelled member, I took care of my sick mom while the congregation went about God's business. No one from the congregation came forward to at least offer assistance, no one! I don't have to be associated with any group to know that it is a 'natural' duty for me to help my mother whether she is in tribulation or not.

  Guest 77
• 

  Eric

  stichione,

  As usual with JW's it is not enough that Brooklyn does nothing to help, Brooklyn feels it must contribute to and heighten the level of poverty of the sheep in its flock, skinned and thrown about.

  Read here this advice for a Jehovah's witness retirement plan, published in the 1971 Yearbook:

  WESTERN SAMOA Population: 140,000

  Peak

  Publishers: 92 Ratio: 1 to 1,522

  A brother with a family of eleven, including an adopted daughter and pioneer living with them, wanted to get all of them overseas to the international assembly in Fiji. Only one source of finance was available. His employers kept a superannuation fund to be withdrawn on retirement or in very exceptional circumstances. Having worked there many years, the brother figured he would have enough in it to get the family to the assembly. Reasoning that integrity and faith in Jehovah will get one through the coming tribulation whether one has money in a fund or not, he resolved to invest his fund toward guaranteeing his familys future spiritual survival.

  It was not until the week of travel to the assembly that he was able to contact his managing director. Naturally, his director felt as many would. He wondered why a family man would wish to withdraw his only security against the future and chance leaving nothing for them if something happened to him. The brother explained the importance to him and his family as Jehovahs worshipers of attending the assembly and that this was the only way for them to get to Fiji. His being a respected and trusted employee, his director favorably granted the request and made an unprecedented exception in letting him withdraw his superannuation fund in full. Happy and thankful to Jehovah for this blessing, he went the following day and paid his familys ship fares to Fiji. The family then joyfully prepared to leave.

  Later that week, however, the brother was informed that the ship was strike-bound in another country and would not be sailing as expected. The only other way out of the country, so as to be at the assembly in time, was by air at greater expense. Suffice it to say that the brother and his family enjoyed the assembly, with no regrets. They know that only spiritual steadfastness, faith and obedience to Jehovah will preserve them. in the future and not transient material possessions.

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Thirty years later, how do think this retirement plan worked out?

  Do you think anyone from Brooklyn ever did so much as a follow-up?

  Do you think Brooklyn gives a crap for those sons and daughters who must now support this old man and his wife with their own transient material possesions?

  They can build some fine old age homes for the rickety old asses who have lived in comfort all their useless lives, but there will never, ever be a penny to repcompense the broken backs they climbed up upon.

  Sorry, red mist,

  Eric
• 

  Witch Child

  This whole topic just ticks me off.
• 

  stichione

  I remember I adamantly was opposed to buying RRSPs (registered retirement plans in Canada). I argued I wouldn't need them since I was never going to reach retirement age in this old system of things. Then came the November 1995 Watchtower article on the redefinition of "this generation". Shortly after I started buying RRSPs aggresively. A reality check for all Dubs now.
• 

  Farkel

  : The WTS simply left them to fend for themselves without any kind of compensation or help after having spent an entire life in service to them. This also reminds me of how things went for Raymond Franz, who after almost 40 years of full time dedication to the WTS, was thanked for his services and asked to leave. The money paid him seemed almost for the purpose of buying him off.

  : Anyone else have thoughts on this?

  Yes. This is all "Bible-Based(tm)".

  Farkel
• 

  garybuss

  
  It's just the difference between a religion and a book publishing corporation. The rewards are fitting for a self centered group who go around with their noses in the air criticizing everything and everybody.
  
  "We are better, we have the truth, we are never going to grow old". Hahahahaha
  
  They deserve to live old in poverty. They earned it all. Fools!
  
  gb
  
  
  
  
• 

  A Paduan

  I'd expect better of a book publishing corporation