This is the GOOD elder thread (page 3)

fraidycat9

Rocketman,

True, true, true!!!!! For reasons I can't reveal, your post nearly brought me to tears. I've known 5 good elders. If I squint my eyes and tilt my head; just so...., I may be able to squeeze out 6.

jwbot

I think the reason these good elders become elders in the first place, is the same reason they step down or leave the org. Because they wanted to do good and perhaps make a difference.

franklin J

hey JWBOT,

Your dad must be very proud of you . I have a daugther and would would hope she thinks of me the way your thread reads .

I thought very highly of my Dad when he was an Elder also. We left the "truth" 20 years ago, and when dad passed on in March, not one of the former Elders ( or anyone else from the JW days) even called my mother for support, much less attended his service. Hard, callous people.

Frank

czarofmischief

My dad was sincere. Kind, mild. He was VERY org minded at first... but I think he softened. He stepped down several years ago.

Keith Schueler was pretty awesome - and I think he was trying to prep me for the eventual letdown I would go through when I found out the truth about the borg. I think he was a guy who would try to use the religion to make life easier, not the other way around. In hindsight, I'm pretty sure that a guy that intelligent knew what was up - but was just trying to live a peaceful Christian life and use the borg to do some good.

Pete Mancini sure loved everybody - unfortunately, he really believed everything and often found himself in the obviously uncomfortable position of having to denounce somebody or threaten them with Armageddon. But he was always motivated by love, and he came by to visit me, my only shepherding visit in two years.

Gordon Orr. Not an elder anymore. I think he also knew the truth about the troof. He just couldn't see any other life open to him. Smart guy - was involved in some kind of pyramid scheme, but I don't hold it against him - if you are so naive in this day and age that you believe anybody who sells you a scheme that will make you money without work or thought, then you deserve what you get. I think Gordon genuinely believed what he was selling would help people, too. It was kind of a summary of his whole life, really. Genuinely thought that the nothing the troof was would help people.

I think a lot of good men grow and become elders. Then they learn the troof, and decide to step down, yet they enjoy the association and have spent all their opportunities, so they keep quiet about their private disagreements with the Society. It's their choice. Maybe they are waiting for "new light." Too bad it's a bug lamp.

CZAR

rocketman

Too bad it's a bug lamp.

Hey czar, I've never heard it put that way before, lol!

blaid

Ray Fraizer...has been nice to me my whole life. Still calls me to see if I had any time each month though...

onacruse

Simply because I was "in" for so long, I've interacted with hundreds of elders, and had a personal relationship with about 100 of them. Less than 10 ever did something that made me question their sincerity. Many many of them showed a deep concern for all the brothers and sisters, and sometimes 'burned themselves out' trying to help others. In my JCs, some of the elders cried heartfelt tears of love for me, and I still value the friendship they showed.

imo, what kills their natural desire to do right is damnable WTS policy, forcing their hand, oftentimes against their own conscience.

Craig

Valis

is damnable WTS policy, forcing their hand, oftentimes against their own conscience.

and so it goes with followers of men, eh ona? At this point the pity starts to fall away and exchange itself w/at least irritation IMO. Some of our good elders got up and left you know.

Sincerely,

District Overbeer

onacruse

Valis:

At this point the pity starts to fall away and exchange itself w/at least irritation

Yes. There comes a point (however long that may take; it took me 20 years) in every person's life where "to thine own self be true" stands straight up in the face, and at that critical moment it becomes "truth and consequences," or self-condemnation.

I certainly have no capacity to judge another person's heart, but from external indications it seems to me that those few who "failed the test" and took the course of self-condemnation become increasingly bitter corporate (cheese-and-crackers ) men, for whom I have precious little sympathy.

Nevertheless, I focus my anger at the corrupt organization that conditions otherwise wonderful people in this way and degrades their humanity.

Craig

This is the GOOD elder thread

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