Reddit thread re Oct 2024 WT with picture of window washer - Theme knocking people who Planned

by LongHairGal 37 Replies latest jw friends

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  LongHairGal

  This thread currently has over 300 comments.

  It shows a picture of an older man washing a window looking wistfully… then it talks all about how some may have doubts about not having planned and the situation they are in now that they are older, etc. It refers to others who did plan and who supposedly have ‘apparent’ financial security.

  In my opinion, the whole gist of this article is to make older Witnesses feel better who did not pursue a career or plan well for Retirement.. It tries to imply that those others who planned only have ‘apparent’ financial security - which is to say they don’t (?). Whatever.. It sounds like gaslighting and sour grapes to me.. It might also cause even more resentfulness towards JWs who did plan - which is one reason I’m glad I’m Out.

  The truth of the matter is that somebody who planned for their retirement is vastly better off than someone who did nothing. In some cases maybe a person who planned doesn’t have the best retirement and may need a part time job.. But, even this would be a better scenario than somebody who did absolutely nothing and has to work at hard physical labor at an advanced age!
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  Gorb

  It's not good to regret to much. But this article is so one dimentional.

  Good / wrong. There is a bandwidth on this subject.

  Typical jw.org literatuur for the simple mind rank and file.

  Gorby
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  Dagney

  Yeah...like the corporation doesn't plan for its financial security...

  Right....

  
  
• 

  Balaamsass2

  Standard Watchtower hogwash.

  I was googling the disfellowshipped Elders from the Menlo Park Congregation kingdom hall takeover/sale fiasco a few weeks ago. I saw the death notice of one of the Elders who spoke out against the Congregation bank account seizure and hall sale. (If you remember everyone who spoke out was summarily disfellowshiped in absentia about 10 years ago. There are a few threads here about it.)

  The brother, Arlen St Clair, a gentle, humble man who worked as a widow washer was broken by Watchtower. (His son was severely injured in Arlen's car when it was forced off the road by an employee of one of the local elders investigating for Watchtower).

  The obituary stated former Elder Arlen St Clair, fell to his death from a customer's roof while washing skylights. Arlen died while washing windows in his mid-70s. Lost his life, lost his shot at a "retirement", and lost his religion. The sad and rotten fruitage of Watchtower.

  Actually, the bible encourages thrift, saving, knowledge, and hard work.
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  Beth Sarim

  Yes. There definitely are undertones in this article. To make it seem like those who actually planned for retirement are fodder.

  And make it seem like those who did not plan for retirement are the elite and worthy ones.
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  Sea Breeze

  And make it seem like those who did not plan for retirement are the elite and worthy ones.

  Exactly. This is the WT's M.O. Fill people full of pride and self-grandizement and then hand them a turd and make them feel special, elite, and worthy for being chosen to receive it.

  This is how they started, it is how they mobilized millions to distribute their literature, and how they got people to reject the free gift of salvation in exchange for a hectic meeting schedule and hour requirement.

  Pride is some nasty stuff. It will take everything from you and turn you into a slave if you are not careful.
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  Diogenesister

  The obituary stated former Elder Arlen St Clair, fell to his death from a customer's roof while washing skylights. Arlen died while washing windows in his mid-70s. Lost his life, lost his shot at a "retirement", and lost his religion. The sad and rotten fruitage of Watchtower.

  Lord I wish a major news outlet would write an article about this tragedy

  My heart breaks. Talk about your brother's blood calling out to me from the ground! Sometimes we see Watchtower's crime's loud and clear. We can definitively demonstrate to authorities their moral bankruptcy and stop them in their tracks - such as CSA cases. The shunning of minors. Preventing JW parents forcing the blood policy on children.

  But sometimes their cruelty is more subtle, as in this case. Watchtower is responsible for this man's death and it's beyond disgusting. There are not words for their disgrace, here.🤬🤬🤬
  
  
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  TonusOH

  LongHairGal: It tries to imply that those others who planned only have ‘apparent’ financial security

  They will say that those who put everything into the organization have built up treasures in heaven. Which is to say that it will all be okay after they are dead. But we have to wonder why that matters. If you worked and saved for your later years, are you punished for not building up enough spiritual treasure? If you go to heaven anyway, what difference did it make? Does the other person get a nicer heavenly dwelling because they put every last dollar in the contribution box and ate stale bread every night?

  You wouldn't be denied from heaven just because you learned to plan for retirement, right? So, you go to heaven and that person who trusted the GB (and suffered for it) also goes to heaven. You're both in heaven! If there is a "lower-tier" of heaven, it would still be heaven! Would god be nicer to that other person? Who cares! You're in heaven!

  I suppose the WTS attitude is to say that you don't want to risk ending up dead forever because you fell just below the qualifications for salvation. I'm wondering why god would hold that against you. Is being financially responsible a pet peeve of his?
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  WingCommander

  Holy crap, that is an absolutely terrible ending for that poor Elder who DARED to call out WT's BS at Menlo Park.

  This case really opened my eyes to what is nothing short of a huge power and money grab by WT HQ, and also shows just how closely they are following Scientology's playbook.

  Having this Elder followed while his kid was in the car, and causing them to wreck? Straight outta Scientology's "Fair Game" playbook.

  What an un-Christian, vile, greedy, heartless bunch of mutherfuggers to have even done this. All because the Menlo Park Congregation, thru it's Elder Body, DARED to ask,

  "Why is our building (that we built and paid for) being sold, and all profits being handed over to WT HQ?"

  The message from WT HQ is as plain as day: "You'll have nothing, and you'll like it! Now, back to work!"

  This Elder's end is a dire warning to anyone who "witnessed" this mind-fuck: This is your reward for your lifetime of work slaving away for this ungrateful Organization = Cult.
  
  
  
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  WingCommander

  Financial stability can't be a pet-peeve of YHWH God's. Nope! After all, he BLESSED Job with riches after he had lost everything but remained faithful.

  Any of the Israelite War Campaigns were rewarded with all of the loot and booty that they could take, AFTER they cut open the women and smashed their children against the rocks.

  David was wealthy. All those foreskins must have brought in pretty penny at that pervert market?

  King Solomon had more money than Midas apparently.

  It was JESUS in the New Testament that seemed to have a problem with money. As-in, he didn't have any. He was born of pauper parents who worked and toiled all day. Hence, he didn't have a pillow to rest his head upon, and his ministry was one of giving to the poor, giving up riches, entering the Kingdom pennyless just like when you were born. AKA: You can't buy your way into heaven, so better to store up your riches in heaven than upon earth.

  But Jesus didn't say people should be dumb or unwise and throw all caution to the wind.

  The bible itself praises saving and planning as a virtue. Remember, it's not money itself that's the root of all evil, it's the LOVE of money that is the root of all evil.

  Funny, WT HQ seems to LOVE money! I mean, they can never get enough of it, never give any back in the form of any sort of charity, and also basically profess that all of the gold and silver is theirs. (appointed by Jesus as His earthly rulers over all of His possessions.....invisibly of course)

  Does that make them the root of all evil? Could be......could be.