Half hearted JWs compared to past generations

by JohnR1975 53 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  LongHairGal

  LIAM:

  Yes, I would imagine that most of the older Witnesses remaining in that religion have accepted that the End may not come in their lifetime (assuming it doesn’t happen tomorrow).

  The stories I am hearing through the grapevine are of people becoming sick, etc. Most are Boomers. Some are the diehards I remember from years ago who looked down on me because I worked and didn’t pioneer.

  That teaching of counting time that the religion did away with at their 2023 annual meeting shocked me.. I was the ‘low hour publisher’ who got judged over this.. Glad I never listened. I am happy to hear you say that some ex-pioneers are pursuing a career!

  Now, the JWs have slackened off. Well, what kind of behavior or reaction did the religion expect from people there after they pulled the rug out from under them by changing all these teachings??
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  hoser

  I think the door to door work has become a social outing for the lonely
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  ukpimo

  If you truly believe the "good news" was so important, you would never keep it to yourself. You would want everyone to hear it! That is one of the motivating expressions in the past which made me truly believe I had the truth. What can jws of today honestly say about their motivation? The religion is not a club, but now it seems very much to be. If only it can be reformed.
• 

  DesirousOfChange

  When the GB 'locked down' the JWs over Covid it did irreparable harm.

  THIS is SO TRUE!!

  First, many got very comfortable about NOT having to go to the Hall and just Zoom in.

  Second, many of those Zoomers got bored &/or fell asleep, so they decided to CYA and turn off their camera. So, it gave the appearance of them "attending", but no one really knew.

  Finally, some of those Zoomers with their cameras off realized that they could go do anything else (watch TV, have a beer, etc) and they got comfortable with just pretending to Zoom in.

  When that happens, they were no longer being fed the Koolaid. When there is not that constant steady hammering of it, you discover you feel better without it and the next step is:

  
  
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  liam

  LongHairGal

  I was the ‘low hour publisher’ who got judged over this

  There is a sister who told me the same thing. She use to baby sit me and now she is collecting Social Security. She was single and was a regular pioneer, so she made a little bit of money taking care of me on weekends. I still visit her and help her out financially because she was very nice to me growing up.

  But a year ago she told me her story. I was surprise she would tell me. I had no idea the kind of life she lived. I thought everything was rosie with her because she was always smiling and was very friendly and outgoing in the Kingdom Hall. But that was not the case. It was a front.

  She always wanted to find someone to love her and get married, have children, but had to work when she turned 18 to help her mom. And she could only date Jehovah’s Witnesses. She said there were plenty of real handsome men that wanted to take her out for a meal or an outing, but she didn’t want to displease Jehovah so declined She focused on “Brothers in the Kingdom Hall and the circuit, but no brother wanted to marry her because she was not spiritual enough, otherwise she would be pioneering.

  Her mom died when she was about 30ish and then she started pioneering. So she thought that now Jehovah would bless her. Then after a few years when she was starting to get close to her 40s, she noticed that the JW brothers wanted real young girls that were pioneering. In the mean time, she said there were several non-jw men asking her out in her part time jobs. But she declinedfor the same reason… Jehovah.

  Now she collects Social Security and has a hard time financially. Also, most of her close friends have pass away or married and moved away. Now in her Kingdom Hall very few attend. She said about 30- 40 people attend on Sunday and leave right away. No one stops to associate anymore. So she’s alone and I’m the only one who visits her from time to time.

  She cries a lot when I visit. Sometimes she cries for a long time and I feel real sad for her. Even though I don’t believe in God, I tell her that God is going to bless her for her faithfulness. And she calms down and thanks me.

  If she passes, I’ll probably have to make arrangements for her funeral and take care of all that. I’ll probably try to get someone to give some kind of talk, probably my dad. That way she will have someone that really cared for her………..Me!
• 

  Balaamsass2

  A couple of years after 1975 many JWs realized Watchtower was wrong and cut back or quit.

  A couple of years after the mid 90s many JWs realized Watchtower was wrong again about "this generation will not pass away" and and cut back or quit.

  After the major press about Child abuse on TV, Newspapers, and Online, many JWs started wondering.

  A couple of years after Watchtower cut back on the magazines, went ONLINE and started begging for more money $$$, and selling all NYC properties, many JWs started reading sites like this, and realized Watchtower didn't have "God's Blessing" and cut back.

  A couple of years after the Bookstudy was canceled and Watchtower made a 180deg about face on "the center for survival during persecution" more JWs cut back.

  And after the complete shutdown of previously MANDITORY Field Service, and ALL previously MANDITORY in person meetings were shut down for COVID and replaced with Zoom, and the INTERNET even more JWs realize all the Watchtower warnings were false.

  And the hits keep coming.

  I am amazed anyone still is a true believer.
• 

  Rivergang

  These days, they give an appearance of being what the South African Defence Force used to describe as "N.A.A.F.I"

  i.e. "No Ambition And #&ck-all Interest"
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  LongHairGal

  LIAM:

  That is a very sad and touching story you tell about this sister and BLESS you for being there for her! You are a wonderful person.

  Everything she says I relate to. Except I am not crying like she is.. I was raised Catholic and came into the Witnesses as a young working adult. I refused to quit my job to appease them.. But, you should have seen the hypocrisy: all the older people in the hall were collecting pensions because they were in the workforce. But, yet they shunned me because I WAS in the workforce. However, I ignored all this.

  As far as looking for a man there: all the good ones were taken and the leftovers were oddballs that I didn’t want. I thought it best to look outside but kept quiet about it. I have heard recently that the men there (40ish age bracket) are looking for teenage girls to marry! So, any older woman with a brain has to look elsewhere.

  The religion wants single women around as drudges to do favors anyway. Before I ‘Faded’ in 2001, I never did favors for anybody there. Nope. Not after all the hate I got over my full-time job. Today I am retired and Glad I never listened to the Witnesses.. I am sorry that this sister and others who listened and followed the ‘pioneering/no career’ path are struggling today! So sad.
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  WTWizard

  Once upon a time, one would try pushing the religion when there was something to push. I remember getting into debates with Pentecostals and born-agains, and while I never got them to change their religions, it was seen more as a waste of time than anything else. These days, anyone that deviates from washtowel doctrine is seemed as a danger. They run away from anyone that is a nominal cat lick, instead of trying to reason with them.

  And that was back in the early and mid 2000s. I assume it has gotten even worse since they got shut down for the wimpiest "disease" on the planet. They can't even handle a cat lick, let alone something as challenging as a Pentecostal (I have contacted several of those in the late 1980s). Nor can they handle a little coronavirus, let alone something like the tuberculosis I had to risk going door to door during the late 1980s and early 1990s (not to mention the cancer sticks going on in the houses). They have become such wusses on these things--and that was even before I quit the jokehovians.
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  Phizzy

  When I first left, almost two decades ago, I used to hope I would live to see the complete demise of the Evil J.W Org. I then went through a period where I was sure they would limp on for many a decade, and their final demise would happen long after I was gone.

  That may well be the case, especially as I am now in my mid-70's. but a downward spiral like the one they are now in is the sort of thing that speeds up, so who knows ? The Org. has long been making it plain that they have a Cash Flow problem , yes, they are still Asset Rich, but they have sold off so much there is a point where what little they get in by further sales is insufficient to give sufficient Cash Flow.

  Many a Corporation has jogged along for a while like that, and then Bang, they have to go Bust.

  The first thing I did as I began to wake up, over two years before I finally walked away, was to stop my Monthly Donation. I wonder how many have now done that ? or have not increased what they donate for a long time ?

  With the lack of enthusiasm and belief in the younger ones, can you see them continuing to put their hands in their pockets and donate anything significant ?

  With half-hearted members being now the majority, being joined by former Enthusiasts who wake up a bit at least, from being merely Moribund, the Org. is now Terminally ill, and the Prognosis does not give it so very long !

  GOOD !