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by kwintestal 10 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  kwintestal

  Growing up as a JW kid I dreaded going to the meetings. As a 3 yr old child I was expected to sit quietly in my seat. As quite an active child myself this was impossible and lead to be taken "downstairs" on several occasions each meeting (you all know what happens "downstairs").

  This past weekend we took our kids to a church as part of our de-programming process, just to let them know that churches really aren't the evil place (Satan's house) they once thought they were. Plus we have very spiritual kids with an interest in learning about God. We went with a family friend who always went on about the kids program they had there.

  Immediately after the lesson, our 6 yr old daughter came up and said, "Can we come back tomorrow?"

  She never said that about the KH. She assumed she was going, enjoyed the time at the hall before and after the talks, but never enjoyed the lesson. At this church she did. It was made to be fun for her. This got me thinking about the WTS and how they make bad comments about "Sunday Schools" and brag about how the kids get the same lessons as the adults.

  I compared this logic to our school system. Our kids start in Kindergarden and work their way up to university. Why don't we just start our kids in university if that's where they're going to end up anyway? Because they're not ready for it. Why did I think that religiously, our kids were ready to start at the university (using the term very, very loosely) level? Why does the WTS think they can?

  Kwin
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  lawrence

  Kwin-

  Great to hear that you and your family had such a positive time! University, nah, more like a friggin funny farm run by mofo nuts and greedy bastards. Keep on enjoying. Good health to you and the family.
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  kwintestal

  University, nah, more like a friggin funny farm run by mofo nuts and greedy bastards.

  hehehe, that's why I said:

  Why did I think that religiously, our kids were ready to start at the university (using the term very, very loosely) level?

  Kwin
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  candidlynuts

  i had a good mom.. she'd let us (myself and siblings) sleep at meetings.. we had to get up at 5:30am to catch the school bus at 6:30am.. get home at 3pm. do chores, homework, eat supper, get bathed and ready for meeting which was at 7:30 on tues and thurs. up till i was about 12 it was just too much for us little kids by 8pm at home we were asleep.. at the meetings we were asleep by 7:45.
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  bikerchic

  Growing up as a JW kid I dreaded going to the meetings. As a 3 yr old child I was expected to sit quietly in my seat. As quite an active child myself this was impossible and lead to be taken "downstairs" on several occasions each meeting (you all know what happens "downstairs").

  I hated them too growing up as a JW. When I had my 5 little ones I made sure they took their naps during the meetings, laid them out on the floor in front of me, LOL! When they got older I let them bring books (not JW ones) from home and tablets to draw on with colored pencils. Meetings were boring for me and doubly boring for kids! I used to bring a book from home and put it between one of the bigger JW books and read during the meetings too. LOL

  Why did I think that religiously, our kids were ready to start at the university (using the term very, very loosely) level? Why does the WTS think they can?

  Hummm I think maybe it's that "can't see the forest for the trees" reasoning? Anyway good catch I totally understand your reasoning!

  Oh I'm so glad I don't have to sit through anymore boring meetings!
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  funkyderek

  This got me thinking about the WTS and how they make bad comments about "Sunday Schools" and brag about how the kids get the same lessons as the adults.

  Towards the end of my time in the cult, there was a service meeting talk on this subject, where other churches were criticised for teaching children separately, as this would somehow stunt their spiritual growth. To show that The Society? provides abundantly for children, the speaker had gathered all the Watchtower publications for children that he could find - From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained, Listening to The Great Teacher, Your Youth - Getting the Best Out of It, My Book of Bible Stories, and Young People Ask - Answers that Work. Yes, five books in as many decades! And this was all done without a trace of irony.
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  mrsjones5

  At the church me and my kids go to they have a room for babies who aren't walking yet, a room for babies that are walking, a room for toddlers, a room for preschoolers, a room for kindergardeners, a room for 1-2 grades, etc...on up to a bigger room for teenagers.

  My kids always enjoy going to church. My 4 year old loves it so much he will ask me at least 4-5 times a day if we are going to church tomorrow. In the room he goes to they do crafts (with a biblical theme), sing songs (about God and Jesus), and watch videos (usually Veggie Tales). He loves that it's his room and he gets to hang out with other kids his age. My only problem is he usually throws a fit when we have to leave. Never saw any kid doing that at a hall. lol

  I like this setup better. The kids have fun and learn stuff at their level and I get to enjoy the sermon with the other adults in peace.

  Mrs Jones
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  karategirl

  Meetings were torture for us. My stepfather was the kind that spent more time staring at us to make sure we were listening than he did listening himself. He even stared at other kids that were not paying attention. We couldn't have books JW or non-JW other than the Bible or publication being read. We had to comment at least once each meeting. If we had paper and pen we better be taking notes. When we were younger and couldn't keep up with notes we used to tick off how many times Jehovah and Jesus was said. This helped us keep awake. Then we were quized in the car about the subjects of the talks. It totally sucked. I remember being taken to the back of the hall or the bathroom depending on which congregation we were in to be spanked. Talk about embarassing. Oh and sometimes we were taken to the carport. That was even better, the neigbors could watch. At least we could cry out there and not get another spanking for crying and interupting the meeting (like it makes sense to spank a child for crying because the spanking hurts, ?? twisted control thing).
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  kwintestal

  At the church me and my kids go to they have a room for babies who aren't walking yet, a room for babies that are walking, a room for toddlers, a room for preschoolers, a room for kindergardeners, a room for 1-2 grades, etc...on up to a bigger room for teenagers.

  My kids always enjoy going to church. My 4 year old loves it so much he will ask me at least 4-5 times a day if we are going to church tomorrow. In the room he goes to they do crafts (with a biblical theme), sing songs (about God and Jesus), and watch videos (usually Veggie Tales). He loves that it's his room and he gets to hang out with other kids his age.

  That's exactly what this church does - different age groups are separated and do different activities - our 4 year old gets to colour and play and do colages with words/phrases from the Bible, he gets a snack and gets to watch a video ( I think they also do Veggie Tales) and our 6 year old enjoys the discussion of a Bible "memory verse" each week, including an art activity based on that as well as a play centred on the same theme, also snacks and playtime.

  Just because they are not sitting with the adults taking in the "adult" "spiritual food" does not mean they are not learning! After all, doesn't the WTBTS even say that spiritually, if we are new, we start with the "milk" and progress to "solid food"? Shouldn't this also apply to children, even at the hall? They also say all the time to make family study interesting, by making crafts, performing plays, etc.... so why is the Sunday School idea completely out of the question?

  When I was younger (maybe 8-10 years old?) (this is Mrs. Kwin/Heart2Heart), I was raised Catholic, but was allowed to attend an evening children's group at a United church down the street. I thought it was great - we sang songs about God and Jesus, did activities centred on a different Biblical theme each week, had parties in the church basement, even sleepovers and activity days with games, and we had scavenger hunts outside. We were awarded badges, similar to Girl Guides or Scouts, for things we had accomplished. It was educational, fun, social, and rewarding. If you can get a kid to learn something important by making it interesting and fun, so they want to learn, then what is the harm??

  2 (Mrs. Kwin)
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  mrsjones5

  my daughter told my mom that she has fun at church. And my mom told my daughter that that was not the point of church, to have fun and that she shouldn't be having fun at church. Mom related to me the conversation and for some reason thought I would agree with what she had told my daughter.

  My answer to my mother was "Why shouldn't she have fun at church?" I want my children to enjoy worship and not look on it as a boring chore.

  Mom was not happy with my reply and moved the conversation to another topic.

  Which got me to thinking...Does my mother enjoy going to the hall? Is it fun for her or just something to be endured to obtain everlasting life? And if it's all that, will everlasting life as a jehovah's witness be anymore enjoyable?

  (don't even think I believe in the nonsense)

  Mrs Jones