Alive!

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Posts by Alive!

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  37

  Elders who dislike other congregation elders

  by RULES & REGULATIONS in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  my congregation had four elders who had different personalities.you would see a little friction among themselves.. #1 self-righteous and the 800 pound gorilla.he would push everyone around in the congregation and even some fellow elders.. # 2 elder was around 80 years old and looked like he stuck around a little too long.it looked like he was around because he never decided to give up the position.his duty became very light as he aged.. # 3 elder was in his early 30's and newly elected.he made no waves and whatever was asked of him in the congregation he would do.easy to push around like a little puppy dog.. #4 elder (who everyone liked ) was easy to get along with and had a family who everyone loved.

  he didn't like elder # 1. they had a power struggle amongst each other which everyone observed while the meetings were in session.. here are 2 small verbal fights that i observed while the congregation meetings were in session:.

  while elder # 1 was giving a talk ( heavy rain storms are brewing outside with loud thunder and lightning ) the microphones and lights are knocked out.we lost all power and could barely see.

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  Alive!

  You know - as some would say, you really can't make this stuff up.

  The amount of sheer malice that went on, the miserable power struggles - we saw and heard it all - thinking perhaps it was just local initially.

  Then, as our network of 'friends' quickly spread, we heard and encountered more and more...horrendous stuff went on.

  Everywhere.

  'Imperfect men' - Love covers a multitude of sins' - "keep putting up with one another" - these scriptures and noble thoughts kept us from saying 'NO' to all this.

  But then, after many years - we had to say, there is something seriously, seriously wrong with all this. It's beyond normal human imperfections. The dishonesty and manipulative writing styles in the publications were beyond normal human imperfections.

  Who would want to expose any 'neighbour' to all this internal horror?

  There is a deep sickness amongst this human network. Seriously. And all painted over with niceness, nice clothes, clean shaven faces, spotless KHs.

  Are the people more moral? Absolutely not.

  In a community that spends huge amounts of time being taught by the Org - the amount of 'sin' is remarkable. In fact, it's explosive - and always has been.
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  40

  Our fade-gossip-elders calling

  by All for show in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  looking back we had been fading without even realizing it.

  life happened...and we weren't regular.

  then we woke up and have actively been fading for 9 months.

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  Alive!

  Just want to say that I feel for you.

  Your story has really rattled me - suddenly elders are desperate to meet, because some 'sisters' saw him in the company of a woman at a restaurant.

  Causing chaos and mayhem wherever they go - a culture of nasty little busy bodies.
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  55

  "High" education

  by Esmeralda001 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  did any of you guys disregard the wt recommendations and pursue a career.

  if you answer "yes": was your journey easy?

  are you happy with the end result?

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  Alive!

  The 'higher education' thing is truly confusing.

  On one hand the org cheerfully utilises the skills of degree qualified members....then they slap down the notion of wanting to get a university education as being 'prideful' when addressing the rank and file. It doesn't leave a great deal of room for self accountability - choices come with a tick of approval or not.

  Interstingly, the GB spread the idea that if you go to University, you endanger your spiritual health....and potentially could draw away from your Heavenly Father...

  Yet, I have attended two different churches in the past couple of years, both highly populated with qualified doctors, nurses, teachers etc ( and other professions requiring a degree) - I've got to know a few of these people ( including extended family etc and add to that my own extended family) - their heartfelt love for God and neighbour seems pretty sound to me.

  PS - Thats not meant to be a church promotion! It's just an observation.... University did not lead these folk into the dens of black iniquity!
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  39

  JW Talk

  by Alive! in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  was sipping my coffee, browsing here and there, and then focussed on reading here regarding arc, picked up some world news on same subject - and wondered if jw org would publish any information on their news site.. then, i flicked to jw talk - anything in their public news forum?

  a newish headline 'australia and jehovah's witnesses' or something like that - i entered link - web page error, not found.

  nope.

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  Alive!

  Hilarious @Orphan Crow !!!
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  23

  Changes to reporting

  by Formerbrother in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so it seems placing literature is not so important anymore, now that we live in a digital age.. we are being pushed to show videos instead.

  this is the new reporting from next month, just hrs and any literature placed in one box and then how many videos you showed in another box.. bib changes for sure..

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  Alive!

  All this must feel very unsettling for the elderly JW.

  Some must feel quite redundant...unable to afford the tablets, unable to afford a data plan for service - some would feel absolutely overwhelmed by the whole thing.
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  39

  JW Talk

  by Alive! in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  was sipping my coffee, browsing here and there, and then focussed on reading here regarding arc, picked up some world news on same subject - and wondered if jw org would publish any information on their news site.. then, i flicked to jw talk - anything in their public news forum?

  a newish headline 'australia and jehovah's witnesses' or something like that - i entered link - web page error, not found.

  nope.

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  Alive!

  Isn't this a sad reflection of life in the KH?

  You know, there will be forum members on JW talk who will take note and perhaps ask themselves some serious questions.

  It makes me want to YELL!!!!
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  10

  Another example of selfish wordly people..

  by defender of truth in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  storm desmond - how kindness is keeping cumbria afloat.

  read here:.

  today, we are grateful to receive warnings that help us not to have a selfish attitude like that of most in the world.

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  Alive!

  It was the generalistic "worldlies are bad" - that was yet another constant trigger for me to want to yell "NOOOO"!!

  If you dared to suggest that "wordly" people can actually be really, really nice (Heck I was not born in - so I knew the truth of this) then the retort would be "Ah yes, we may find the odd nice person, but what are their motives? Do they have a love for Jehovah?"

  What can you say? Nothing will appease them when they simply refuse to appreciate that "worldlies" are humans who can love, self sacrifice and all manner of unselfish things.
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  12

  ARC: WT cf VAG

  by Joe Grundy in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  (i never was a jw).. as a retired child abuse professional, i followed (and continue to do so - it's an ongoing process) the arc proceedngs closely.

  my understanding is that the purpose of the arc is to establish what current practices exist in various organisations and institutions, how those practices compare with accepted best practice, and what organisations and institutions need to do to bring their procedures and policies into line with best practice.

  (and to find a way to compensate victims for what's been done wrong).. wt is case study #29 in the arc process.

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  Alive!

  I have to say, that the crime of child sexual abuse IS about the deviance of the individual - I haven't a problem with that. But, the organisation when asked to assist with the inherent problems of child abuse within organised communities, failed to weep for the hurt done to victims.
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  12

  ARC: WT cf VAG

  by Joe Grundy in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  (i never was a jw).. as a retired child abuse professional, i followed (and continue to do so - it's an ongoing process) the arc proceedngs closely.

  my understanding is that the purpose of the arc is to establish what current practices exist in various organisations and institutions, how those practices compare with accepted best practice, and what organisations and institutions need to do to bring their procedures and policies into line with best practice.

  (and to find a way to compensate victims for what's been done wrong).. wt is case study #29 in the arc process.

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  Alive!

  The JW team did little to inspire trust or respect in the face of the ARC commission, overall.

  The sad thing is that brought out into the "broad daylight" and being brought into scrutiny - the JW team appeared out of their usual habitat, where they never have to answer questions or be accountable etc.

  They handled the questions and the whole process as they would answer a "readers question" - always framed within the JW thought process.

  They were asked honest questions - the JW team did not give a "good witness".

  They even failed to appear as simply "dellusional and yet pious" - they came across as something else.

  I don't believe there would have been any non-witness in that court room who would have been moved to listen with true respect, to have had their "eyes opened' to the deep christian integrity of the JW organisation.

  The JW team, overall, displayed something uncomfortably deceptive...
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  39

  JW Talk

  by Alive! in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  was sipping my coffee, browsing here and there, and then focussed on reading here regarding arc, picked up some world news on same subject - and wondered if jw org would publish any information on their news site.. then, i flicked to jw talk - anything in their public news forum?

  a newish headline 'australia and jehovah's witnesses' or something like that - i entered link - web page error, not found.

  nope.

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  Alive!

  Thank you Anakin.

  It seems from reading here that JWs are not talking about the ARC in the congregations; and are shutting the mouths of eachother even in the relatively safe environment of a closed forum.

  I noticed that you said there had been one member who tried to be rational and reasonable, but was 'dealt to'.

  Thanks for the updates.