i was thinking about how so many posters here on jwn are frustrated and frantic to help their loved ones get away from the brainwashing of jws, and how much advice is given about how to help family members and loved ones.
i considered my own leaving and that it was internal turmoil based on the teachings getting weirder and child abuse issues, to name just a few, and it made me wonder:.
did you self-awaken or were you assisted by the gentle proddings of a friend or family member?
Oh yeah! I know this is not part of the question but you should have asked what has kept us out too.
What has kept me out is blue boxes with white letters saying JW.org plastered on most KH's. There is enough commercialism on TV and even on this page by paid advertisers, I don't need it at the KH as well. That used to be the one safe haven, I thought from this world.
i was thinking about how so many posters here on jwn are frustrated and frantic to help their loved ones get away from the brainwashing of jws, and how much advice is given about how to help family members and loved ones.
i considered my own leaving and that it was internal turmoil based on the teachings getting weirder and child abuse issues, to name just a few, and it made me wonder:.
did you self-awaken or were you assisted by the gentle proddings of a friend or family member?
The members of the congregations I was in assisted me in waking up. Other things that reinforced my decision are: Counting time in field service Lack of love Lack of concern for elderly and others who could no longer do what they used to do Intolerance towards mental illness Cheating on field service time by pioneers, elders, etc. Shunning of disfellowshipped persons who were baptised as children or young teenagers A visit to Brooklyn Bethel There is more, but I think by now you get the idea. Teachings did not even come into it until after I had faded and began researching websites such as this. Also I had not read anything such as C of C at that stage. I had no idea of what was going on. My visit to Brooklyn Bethel did start doubts in my mind about the humility or lack of, of the GB. I saw the way a GB brother was not just respected as any brother should be respected by the tour guide, but he was revered and appeared, at least to me to expect it. Once my elderly parents died, I had no further family in the org, except my husband, who was not that regular, so I left. The last meeting either one of us attended was the memorial of 2013. Hubby still defends it but I have said that if he thinks it is so right, then become a part of it, get to meetings and go in FS. He admitted it was too much effort and he is too tired from work.
in fort worth, texas around 1959. gradually i became aware of the argot.
special, private language).
jw's had these phrases they used over and over again.. upon first hearing, these words and phrases stood out as odd, weird or awkward.. however.
Before the elder system came in in the early 70's the head brother in the cong was referred to as the Congregation Servant.
in an earlier thread, i mentioned that i wasn't a particularly doggy person but that my parents got a husky last year that i've come to regard as a kind of brother.. huskies superficially resemble wolves and for me it's been fun to compare and contrast husky and wolf behaviour.
huskies howl but rarely bark, and seem to have a strong prey drive and a strong pack instinct - a nod to their wild cousins.
this is why i love huskies, i think.. do you have a favourite dog breed and why?.
We currently have a miniature foxy who is adorable but my favourite breed is the standard poodle. I had one and he was the dog I loved the most. A bit high maintenance, but worth every minute spent.
Sure looks that way!
my wife gets emails from someone who is serving in another country.. he keeps on referring to brothers/sisters who are 'need greaters'.. if they are actually using this expression then i have to say that it is the stupidest 'title' that they have ever dreamed up.
so full of their own self importance.. need greaters?..............
.
Hi Listener
Nice to speak with someone from Australia.
my wife gets emails from someone who is serving in another country.. he keeps on referring to brothers/sisters who are 'need greaters'.. if they are actually using this expression then i have to say that it is the stupidest 'title' that they have ever dreamed up.
so full of their own self importance.. need greaters?..............
.
Didn't know anyone from Tassie, but you could be right. The weather is pretty stupid here in NSW as well. One couple from my old cong moved to Tasmania, we never saw them again, so it couldn't have been too bad there.
Everyone I knew who went to Queensland went to either the Gold Coast or Hervey Bay. Gee, that was a tough life for them.
my wife gets emails from someone who is serving in another country.. he keeps on referring to brothers/sisters who are 'need greaters'.. if they are actually using this expression then i have to say that it is the stupidest 'title' that they have ever dreamed up.
so full of their own self importance.. need greaters?..............
.
I knew of witnesses in Australia who moved from the southern states of Victoria and New South Wales to Queensland, where it was warmer. There were so many witnesses there that the move was described as "moving to where the greed was greater".
Awake at last
Central Coast
NSW Austraiia
just an idea for the weekly g.b.
conclave to consider - unless it's too christian for them to think about!.
paul wrote this to the "israel of god" - galatians 6:2 " go on carrying the burdens of one another, and in this way you will fulfill the law of the christ.".
My mother would turn in her grave if she knew what sort of incentives her fellow witnesses needed to show care for other witnesses in need.
Just in case you were wondering, yes, my mother used to visit others who were old, lonely and sick while she was able to. My father did too.
just an idea for the weekly g.b.
conclave to consider - unless it's too christian for them to think about!.
paul wrote this to the "israel of god" - galatians 6:2 " go on carrying the burdens of one another, and in this way you will fulfill the law of the christ.".
As I have said in other posts on this forum and JW recovery forum, the straw that broke the camel's back in my case was the lack of love shown to my elderly mother in the years leading up to her death.
Reporting the time is about the only way I can think of which would make witnesses care about the elderly and this would go a long way towards solving the problems of what nursing home employees and the leaders of other religions think of the witnesses. These people would not know, most likely that time doing these activities is counted to earn brownie points. They would probably think the Jdubs have some new found love thing happening.
However, do people who have a relative in a nursing home or who is sick, or indeed the person who is sick, want visitors who count time? I would be insulted and my now deceased mother would have been too. If the witnesses are so devoid of love that they will not do anything without counting the time then I am glad that I am as my forum name says AWAKE AT LAST!!!
