Many ex Jw`s have suggested they were ostracised for having full time Jobs ,that`s not my experience .

by smiddy3 11 Replies latest jw experiences

• 

  smiddy3

  When I converted in 1961 ,the PO and his assistant who by the way was his fleshly brother were both Life Insurance Salesmen , { I know ,why didn`t red flags show up then }

  And the 4 different congregations we attended over the next 10 years in Vic,Aust,the majority of the brothers had jobs to go to.

  We then went to S.E. Qld,for the next 37 years and the majority of the brothers their were self employed one way or another in the building game ,either as plasterers ,actual builders ,tilers , and painters ,electricians , as well as everyday jobs.

  My son worked for an Elder who owned his own cabinet making business. Another Elder an ex missionary and his wife owned a beauty salon that my wife worked for at one time.

  I have always held a job and never felt any pressure or guilt by any JW for having one and keeping them.

  So it surprises me somewhat that some others here have felt that pressure ? That they worked full time.

  Maybe its different here in Australia ,then again I am talking about the years between 1960- 1993 .

  Any thoughts?
• 

  just fine

  I was a single sister, lived at home, and worked a full time job. No one gave me a hard time and I was still asked to participate in the administration dept at assemblies and quickbuilds. That was more than 20 years ago so maybe it’s changed.
• 

  blondie

  It all depends on the BOE (or even just one elder), the current CO or DO (now defunct) personal opinions and how brave the BOE is to go against that one elder, CO or DO.

  It may be that it was not a congregational decision but some over-zealous jw. That is why being able to communicate about individual elders, congregations, etc., on here and other places on the internet helps open the eyes of some jws to the hypocrisy in the whole organization, not just their congregation (supposedly the only bad one).
• 

  sir82

  In addition to the BOE, as Blondie said, it also depends on the area where the congregation is.

  If you live in a wealthy area, it is almost expected that you maintain a certain style of living. To be accepted in the "right circles", you need to drive the right car, live in the right ind of house, take the right kind of vacations....which usually requires a full time job.

  In other areas, other congregations, driving a car that is less than 5 years old is "materialistic". Working a full time job so you can have health insurance (a USA thing) is considered a "lack of faith". And so on.

  I imagine the folks here who relate the experiences you describe came from congregation type #2.
  
• 

  sparky1

  I know OF an Elder that just passed away within the last year or so. He held one full time and one part time job up until retirement. He never, ever believed in the 1975 doctrine and lived his life mostly the way he wanted to. He left six figures ($250,000.00) to the religion and his wife is financially set for the rest of her life. Some of his fortune was made by selling some property to a...CHURCH.
  
• 

  stan livedeath

  back in the 60's in the UK a lot of bros--including myself --worked as insurance agents. United Friendly anyone ?

  it was easy money, hours pretty well to suit. at 21 i was earning more than my dad--who was an electrical engineer / designer. i did it for 7 years all told.
• 

  Tameria2001

  The only time they gave us a hard time over a full-time job was if this that job prevented us from attending their "precious" meetings. It always shut them up when we said, then are you going to support us?
  
• 

  LongHairGal

  SMIDDY3:

  Yes, that was my experience in the late ‘70s.. I live in the US and depending on where you are sometimes things are a little stupid!

  You say your experience was in the 1960s. Interesting that I observed that ALL the older people in my congregation either had decent jobs or were retired and living a comfortable life!!! This nonsense about pushing poverty was the message given to baby boomers like myself. I was in my twenties when I came into the religion. One stupid CO made a remark knocking anybody who did not pioneer and do housecleaning. But yet all these older people did not. The poverty they were pushing was not for THEM, just some other young idiot. They also thought they were going to target them to do favors for everybody!
  

  In years to come, certain other sisters got jobs and it was no big deal. They didn’t get treated the way I did. From what I gather attitudes toward this issue vary from place to place.

  Unfortunately, many JWs at or near retirement age now are in a panic because they did not prepare for retirement because they were told Armageddon would be here!

  If I had listened to the religion I would not have retired!!!
• 

  blondie

  I knew elders' wives were talked about negatively if their husband seemed to have a good job, but the wife worked full-time.

  Or sisters whose husband had a very good job and did not have to work outside the home, had no young children, did not work at all outside the home, and did not regular pioneer.

  Or single sisters who worked full-time but did not regular pioneer. (surprisingly, single brothers were not held to the same standard, possibly because in the future they would have to support a family and needed financial security)

  I knew some brothers who leached off their wife and did not work or were always getting "fired" and somehow managed to collect unemployment. Some talked about the husband for not keeping a full-time job, but not always. The wife was told to put up with her husband, and be submissive. Hard to do when he stayed home and did not help around the house, in fact messed it up more.

  There is always someone in every congregation pointing their finger at other jws and announcing their flaws to others when they themselves have bigger flaws. Trying to take attention off themselves?

  The WTS tends to couch their statements to make them seem like a personal decision and that others should not judge them. But the WTS and their members love judging others. Sometimes it is the only enjoyment they get out of being a jw.
• 

  RubaDub

  Growing up north of New York City, it was not a cheap place to live ... nothing like NYC buy still you had to have a job to have somewhere to live.

  Every brother I knew had a full time job. Most in the trades (carpenters, electricians, welders, etc.) but a couple were accountants, salesmen, banks, etc.

  There was no way around it.

  Rub a Dub