All the Old JW Acquaintances Passing Away (page 2)

LongHairGal

Yes, many older JWs are passing away.

Several years back I set foot in a hall to hear a funeral talk about an older deceased JW. I went with somebody who is in.. I really went because I was hoping to see and talk to the deceased’s POMO children. They ended up not coming maybe because they didn’t need the religion’s notorious infomercial and possibly didn’t want to deal with phoney people afterwards.

While I was there I noticed the screens up front with the words to the awful songs. The newer hall with what looked like reduced seating capacity had much fewer than half in attendance. I might have exchanged a smile or two with a few I remembered. I didn’t expect much and I knew certainly that I was Out.. I couldn’t wait to leave.

SouthCentral

I went to a friends, mothers funeral. Although I haven't been to the hall in about 10 years, nobody asked. Everyone was excited to see me and we were all very happy to connect. I would suggest that you go.

All of these people were very close to Me about 40 years ago, that's what's important. The bond!

Journeyman

I agree with slim and SouthCentral advising those who are unsure to attend a funeral if the deceased meant something to you. It's a chance to pay your last respects and you may regret it forever after if you don't go.

I zoom attended a very large memorial earlier in the year. I was super close to the family for years, and my JW family bent over backwards to make me aware of the memorial. It wasn't too bad and I'm not sorry I "attended" for the reason above.

On the other end of the spectrum, Aude and I attended a KH memorial a month ago for a relative of another poster from here. She said she could use the support and we were there for her. OMGoodness, it was truly a DREADFUL talk. Just dreadful.

Dagney, you've raised an interesting question. It's curious that given how important funeral talks are (and by the nature of things, how often they have to be held), there seems to be such variety in the quality of them. Especially when you think how tightly the org controls the content and tone of every other meeting.

Like you, I've been to some funeral talks that have been excellent - well-balanced and respectful, with enough time in the talk and information in the programme devoted to the individual and their life, not just a commercial for JWdom. On the other hand, I've also been at the two bad types of funeral talk: 1) out-of-the-box generic advert for JW life and the org with little mention of the deceased, and 2) dull as ditchwater coverage of the funeral basics from a speaker who clearly knew nothing about the person they are talking about.

Isn't it odd that there is such a wide difference when the org usually controls all other talks so tightly? Admittedly, if they were to tighten up how funeral talks are delivered, they'd probably end up making them ALL like the two bad examples above, so I suppose I should be glad they haven't done that. But on reflection, it seems strange.

BluesBrother

Not trying to divert the thread but just picking up on what Ron W said

“ Their new co is visiting this week and the co-ordinator rang them, irritated for their reports ”

That is so typical, just chasing figures and wanting to be on the right side of the C/O. My wife gets the same . She is also unfit to go door to door, do they care? Not at all. She does get a phone call but only when they want a report.

Hearts of stone, the lot of them.

smiddy3

I`m an old acquaintance and former believer ,/apostate ,i will never get any recognition ,but who gives a f...k ,

I`ll be more than happy if you guys have a drink on me.

(I`ll pay you back in the next life )

Vidiot

I just realized…

…the steady buildup of JW numbers was - in many ways - a generational thing.

Stands to reason its slow demise would be similar.

stan livedeath

BluesBrother4 hours agoNot trying to divert the thread but just picking up on what Ron W said

may i ask--do you still turn in a report blues ?

Diogenesister

Ron W.Then he says to my dad who can't function, is in pain and totally housebound, that he would pick him up and get him to the very important elders meeting with the c.o. on friday...

When my dad tried to kindly explain that he was too ill to attend the co-ordinator cut the call short and said he didn't have time to listen to all of my dad's health problems.

I'm so angry I can't speak. I know this religion inside out yet it still manages to make me despair of the human race!

Do these elders enjoy their power so much they're willing to collude to service a billion dollar industry at the expense of the most vulnerable? And they dare to say it's Christian love?! 😡

Dagney

It's curious that given how important funeral talks are (and by the nature of things, how often they have to be held), there seems to be such variety in the quality of them. Especially when you think how tightly the org controls the content and tone of every other meeting.

I think it lies with the speaker. There is a good portion of them who get that this is the time to not just preach. They understand it's offensive to people who are grieving, even though they use the outline. I attended two HUGE memorials held at auditoriums, with live feed to the KH where the talk was given, one with a Bethel speaker. Other than the segue from warm and introspective to the resurrection and pet tiger, they were good overall. Also note literature tables set up with all the brochures Bibles etc. UGH.

I went to one where none other than Geoff Jackson attended via zoom, and gave a few words and gave the prayer. It was a very personable talk with lots of slides and experiences.

My mother's memorial speaker and Br. Dreadful were totally out of touch with the audience. They wanted only to get their message across and that is "all you guys out there need to come back to JeHOvah because you are bird food." My mother's was so horrible my brother, an elder, apologized for it later. As if anybody would ever want to join or rejoin after hearing these types of talks. Absolutely clueless.

So it appears HQ "allows" the speaker to make the call of how to integrate the outline, and face it, some guys are just clueless in any talk they give. In their mind fire and brimstone is the tool of choice.

Dagney

When my dad tried to kindly explain that he was too ill to attend the co-ordinator cut the call short and said he didn't have time to listen to all of my dad's health problems.

This infuriates me. I had a friend who experienced this. He was a month away from his passing and the secretary called to get his "time." He told him he had none to report. The elder pressed him for quite a while even asking "didn't you talk to meals on wheels, anybody? I don't want to put you down as irregular!" My ill and very sensitive friend was so distressed. I kept trying to tell him the elder was clueless and just "doing his job." But for me, this is one of the nails in the coffin. I left 1 year later.

Unless there is a caring group within the congregation who look after older/infirmed ones, they are on their own. There is no direction from the society to do any sort of care giving. I really hate this religion.

All the Old JW Acquaintances Passing Away

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