Do all Bethelite marriages end up happy?

freddi

Hi there,
I just wanted to know if anyone out there knew the stats for Bethelite marriages ending happily ever after. Whenever I would visit Bethel, it seemed as though all the married couples were in it for life. I know that marriage is supposed to be until death do you part but we all know that things do occur. All Bethelites can't be perfect or is it something that they just keep under the rug? Does anyone know for sure?

nojw86

Hi Freddi, you said it yourself its swept under the rug people are human and little petty annoying qualities which can turn into fights, most of the sisters at bethel i knew wanted out and homes of their own, life there is not normal........nojw

freddi

nojw86,
Hi there,
I really had no idea that there are people who really want to get out of Bethel. I guess that they put on such a good front. When I used to visit Bethel, everything was always so hunky dorry. Everyone was always in good spirits. Nothing was ever wrong with the world especially with the sisters in my old cong. who married Bethelite brothers. That seemed to be all that the mothers in our cong. wanted for their daughters. The goal was to marry a Bethelite brother and then all is right with the world. What a false concept uh?

nojw86

Hi freddi. It was mostly the ones who were there for sometime, we would have them over on Sunday for dinner, they loved playing with our daughter, and just confided that they wanted family life and home of their own, many of them did just that, and there are the ones that like grand cental station type of life ....regards nojw

jschwehm

Hi Freddi-

There are many unhappy people at Bethel. When I was there, there were many individuals who had been there for long periods of time who hated it but were too afraid to leave it for a variety of reasons.

I left after a year. Interestingly when I left I was called into a Bethel elders office and told that I was to only share the good things about Bethel with the Brothers on the outside and not the bad things about Bethel.

Jeff S.

freddi

nojw86,
that is how i got to know alot of Bethelites myself. After meetings on Sundays we would all go over to one of the sister's house. You know the kind of sister who wants to get good grades with the elders. Anyway, this is how I came to know many of them and they would all say that there was nothing like it. I do however know of a couple who actually did leave Bethel for their home in Ohio. They claimed to be blissfully happy but her husband is a young old fart and everyone knows it, even she does. It was just another case of another young sister marrying a Bethelite. I am sure that she is not happy but is just putting on a front.
Oh well, you have some who like that rudimentary life and others who want their own thing. Whatever. Thanks for your reply.

freddi

Hi jschwehm,
I am glad to hear from an acutual formaer Bethelite. Thanks for your response. What are some of the reasons why a Bethelite would be afraid of leaving Bethel?

jschwehm

Hi-

Some have been there so long that it is all that they know. They do not want to have to make their way in the world. Bethel is a great way to shield oneself from the "world". Also, many of the people who go there were hotshots in their local congregations for them to return and admit that the place is not all it is cracked up to be would be a disgrace. In addition, a lot of them realize that the Society is full of it and they know if they were to leave Bethel they may be tempted to leave the religion all together. I have heard some Bethelites say this.

Jeff S.

freddi

Hi jschwehm,
Thanks for enlightening me. I am sure that their are many stories that could be told about Bethel life as you have let me know but they choose not to be as open and unafraid as you.
Peace unto you!

joelbear

Other than my suppressed homosexuality, I was happy at Bethel. Bethel is like the kingdom hall raised to an exponential power. You don't have to make any decisions, you just follow the rules, because there are rules for everything including where to store your shoes in your room, what size and type of appliances you can have, what pieces of cloth you can use to clean up spills. Me and my roommates got in trouble for violating each of these rules.

You cannot vary work times even by a few minutes. You cannot refuse to do any type of work even if you are untrained. One day I started off work at my graphotype machine typing and ended the day in a cow barn trying to jackhammer through concrete with an old jackhammer whose bit fell out every time it was lifted off the ground. LOL, I laugh at it now, but I'm sure I could have hurt myself pretty bad, not having a clue how to use it.

But I was happy at Bethel. Beyond following the rules there is no pressure. Meals are always served on time and the food was very good. A housekeeper cleaned your room every day for you. The laundry did your clothes. You were treated like a god in your congregation often getting invited out to nice restaurants and over to friends homes for great parties and meals. I had a blast there.

But, I'm sure as people get older and want to see more of the world or the intelligent ones want to achieve more life goals, it would get frustrating.

hugs

Joel

Do all Bethelite marriages end up happy?

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