The Day "Rebellion" Happened in Bethel (page 3)

ros

Hi, Maximus:
I saw this guy in a video interview. He was the epitome of blank-faced, emotionless, robotic parroting WT policy.

I agree with you. I would be perfectly satisfied with Watchtower reform that would stop the shunning, and reform their teachings on blood, and reporting crime to the civil authorities. Aside from that, let the blind follow the blind if that is their choice -- as long as they are not harming anyone else.

Dogpatch

The TV interview shown by Maximus is at:

http://www.randytv.com

Black Man

up..............

philo

Moxy asked

:can anyone show us a current bethel questionnaire?
the last one i saw had pointed question about the kinds of music you listened to, like rap, that i found kind of insulting.

I got a questionnaire in '89 but I've forgotten every detail except one. After the questions there was an admin section 'not to be filled in by the applicant', which graded you in a number of ways. I think this was completed by at least one of the congregation's elders. There was a box for the applicant's intelligence. I felt a bit insulted by the whole for too, especially that bit.

I think I was a bit sensitive in that area. Having doubts about The Truth: Was I missing something, or was everyone else?

Just a thought. Perhaps a JW can just send off to Bethel for an application form.

philo

jschwehm

I do not remember the Bethel application that I filled out in detail. I know that they had us sign an agreement at the end saying that we would work wherever we were assigned or something.

I believe that way it worked for me was that the service committee of my congregation accepted the application and then it went to the Circuit Overseer who would then approve it or not. Then I guess the personnel department at Bethel took over from there.

By the way, when I was getting ready to leave Bethel, I was told in no uncertain terms NOT to talk about the craziness that happens there.

Jeff S.

Big Tex

Not to remain cryptic, let me tell you I got a very authoritative e-mail in which I was accused, not of stating Bethel stories inaccurately, but of letting that information out. You know, The Code. (Afraid we'll tell more important details?)

Fascinating thread and such a sad, pathetic story. When I read accounts like these I am embarrassed that I wasted so many years on this organization.

There was a thread started recently asking whether the people "at the top" (i.e., Governing Body) really believe or not. Read this thread and you will have your answer.

IslandWoman

There was a thread started recently asking whether the people "at the top" (i.e., Governing Body) really believe or not. Read this thread and you will have your answer.

The question must be asked, "Did Ray Franz really believe"? did I or others here really believe?

We all are culpable. Yes, some to a greater degree due to their greater responsibility but really didn't we all give out literature and give talks and support Watchtower dogma with our comments?

When we all were Witnesses it was fashionable to put down the world, now it is fashionable to put down Bethel. Could it be that just as we were incapable of having a balanced attitude towards the "world" we are now also capable of having an imbalanced attitued towards Bethel. Is that possible?

Linda

Big Tex

I hope I'm not coming off like that. I understand your point IW, and I accept my part in being a Witness. I only got one bible student to baptism, but still now I wish I had pursued him as hard as I did.

I guess my point (expressed badly) was that metatron's account of life at Bethel is sad and painful in its accuracy. The fact that Maximus received a threatening email that did not deny the accounts, but apparently criticized him for daring to expose what was/is really going on at Bethel speaks volumes, don't you think?

I don't want to demonize a group of people or an organization, but at the same time I think it's important to pull back the curtain and show the world all the dirty little secrets that Bethel never wants to be known.

IslandWoman

Hi Big Tex,

You know, I'm just as mad at the Society as the next guy and I wish this whole Watchtower thing had never happened but it has.

You wrote:

I think it's important to pull back the curtain and show the world all the dirty little secrets that Bethel never wants to be known.

I Sir, Absolutely Agree!

It is just that here it is customary to only post the negative, this I believe leaves many just as "controlled" as when they were in the Watchtower. Group think is group think.

Absolutely there are elders who should not be elders, but not all.

Absolutely there are Circuit Overseers who should not be COs, but not all.

And so it goes on up to the Writing Staff and the GB, it does not mean that all on the Writing Staff or the GB are wicked, weak or bad. If this were 1978 we would all be including Ray Franz and Br. Dunlap in our accusatory rantings yet they and others were not like the rest of their generation at Bethel.

In COC Ray Franz said that Br. Swingle showed heartfelt sorrow over what had happened. This is something that must be remembered. Not all there are hardhearted monsters. Many are just men and women, misguided.

Remembering this adds to ourselves, ignoring it detracts.

Linda

The Day "Rebellion" Happened in Bethel

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