TXNVSUE2023:
Call me a cynic but I don’t think there is a ‘true’ religion!
even though i'm disfellowshiped ( & i belive wrongfully so).
i still belive this is the truth.
i have been d'f for about 8 months now and working on reinstatement.
TXNVSUE2023:
Call me a cynic but I don’t think there is a ‘true’ religion!
what's the current jw stance on retirement savings?
i know it changed.
pre1975 it was an attitude of "don't worry about retirement, this system is ending soon".
JOURNEYMAN:
Not to get off track from the OP. I came into the Witness religion in the late 1970s - and was not yet there in 1975.
But, during most of the years you mention (the 1980s), I was knocked for having my full-time job, regardless of any so-called more ‘favorable’ views towards savings and financial planning that you mention!
In fact, I would have to say it seemed the pressure put on me to pioneer was at its height during that timeframe. They were expecting me to pursue poverty. Is this Hypocrisy? ..I’m just so Grateful today that I never listened to the JW religion.
what's the current jw stance on retirement savings?
i know it changed.
pre1975 it was an attitude of "don't worry about retirement, this system is ending soon".
TXNVSUE2023:
Wow, you must be out a long time because the JW religion is still against college/careers and also preparing for the future!
I am retired today because I did NOT listen to the Witnesses years ago telling me to quit my full-time job and do housecleaning and pioneering!.. Older busybodies with cushy lives were telling young people back then they would never see old age or retirement in ‘this system’.
The congregations now have many needy people who HAVE reached senior years totally unprepared!. (The old busybodies who preached poverty are not even around to help them).. If you go back to the religion again, do not be surprised if brothers corner you with an envelope looking for monies to give to people there who never wanted to work.
This is why I am super Glad I’m long ‘Faded’ from the religion.
“a circuit overseer started out by saying that on this last round of the circuit, the one thing he noticed the most...is that everyone is physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually drained...and that cuts across all barriers and demographics within the truth.
he then said that the one common thread that ran among nearly everyone was this: we feel guilty for feeling bad.
he said because we are told to endure with joy, our minds can cause us to feel enormous guilt over feeling this way...and then, my dear brothers and sisters...he proceeded to blow our collective minds.. he asked us to turn to daniel 8:27….
VIDQUN:
Yes, all the Baby Boomers are drained and have had it. They reached an age they never expected to see ‘in this system’ and because of that they did not prepare financially, etc…. I believe they are hanging on to the religion because of the ‘sunk cost fallacy’.
I’m so Glad I ‘Faded’ years ago.
i'm in the process of being reinstated ( my df'ing story is on here).
because i've never been in this position before, i don't know how i will be treated once i'm reinstated.
i moved to a new city/state and i don't know a single person here or in my new congregation i am attending.
BALAAMSASS2:
You got that right about ‘not kissing up to people’ 🤮. I never would have done this even if I wasn’t criticized over my job.👎
Also, you are correct about throwing money around.. Since many JWs are Users, in my opinion, they would gravitate towards somebody fool enough to do this. That’s why when a generous/spendthrift person leaves the religion they are often pursued - because they’re considered an asset.
But who wants to be wanted for what they could give to ingrates who would forget them as soon as the goodies stopped??? I would imagine some poor soul with serious low self-esteem issues!.. I hope for the OP’s sake they are reading these posts (even if it’s for entertainment) and considering everything.
multiple very serious allegations against tony and then huge efforts to remove him from all pictures and videos, have to admit it doesn’t look good.. once the pennsylvania investigation becomes public knowledge and front page news it will be very very hard for 8 million pimis.. is it possible that this could be the largest problem the branch has ever faced?
larger than 1975, the overlapping generations or any other ‘test of faith’.
many will feel heartbroken and betrayed.
TEDDNZO:
NO, I do not think this will bring the JW religion down! This is wishful thinking, unfortunately.
At most, it might cause some younger people and/or fence sitters to leave. But, the rest of the older ‘Boomers’ with their sunk-cost fallacy ain’t going anywhere. It would not matter WHAT scandal happened.
The only sure thing that is going to decimate this religion is the demise of these Baby Boomers, in my opinion. They are what is keeping the religion afloat. Also, take into account the younger family members who are only attending now for the sake of these older family members. Once these older JWs are gone, some younger people will never go again.. They hate this religion so much that I’m certain some will never again set foot in a Kingdom Hall after the funeral talk.
i'm in the process of being reinstated ( my df'ing story is on here).
because i've never been in this position before, i don't know how i will be treated once i'm reinstated.
i moved to a new city/state and i don't know a single person here or in my new congregation i am attending.
TXNVSUE2023:
Not keeping track of your posts and don’t know how long you’ve been out.
Somebody on Reddit made a good point that whatever situation a person didn’t like in the Witness religion years ago is still there now - maybe even worse.. Besides, maybe whatever few people you liked aren’t there anymore because they moved or whatever.
I am a long-time ‘Fader’.. I would never be fooled for one minute into believing the JW religion got ‘better’ somehow - even if I was interested! Nope, there would just be older and even more desperate individuals!
From what I’ve read, it seems to be more controlling and culty.. Gossip has not changed and is their favorite pastime.. In fact, you would be the latest bit of juicy gossip.. But, would you be invited anywhere or just talked about? Would you come and go and be as lonely as ever? That is the question.
(luke 12:10) "and everyone who says a word against the son of man, it will be forgiven him, but whoever blasphemes (speaks reproachfully, vilifies*) against the governing body will not be forgiven.".
most active jw's know that this is the org's dogma regarding the unforgiveable sin - in teaching & in practice.. *https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g987/kjv/tr/0-1/ sheesh - looks like i'm toast!.
BOOGER MAN:
Sorry, I never bought into the leaders of the JW religion insinuating themselves into any divine equation.
I don’t accept ANY religion going beyond ‘what’s written’ nor anybody’s modern divine claims.
By saying these things, the JW religion imagines speaking against them constitutes an ‘unforgivable sin’.
They hope to instill fear into their gullible members - which is why I believe there is so much mental illness there.
the apostle paul instructed christians regarding work and providing for oneself.
his bible standards and instructions are completely dismissed by everyone who's jumped on the christianity gravy-train:.
(acts 18:3) "and on account of being of the same trade he stayed at their home, and they worked, for they were tent makers by trade.
A CLUE TO FIND THE USER:
You can say that again about how some pioneers (and certain others) do NOT want to work for a living. I have no pity.
Back when I was in the Witness religion, I was a single woman with a full-time job that I refused to quit to ‘pioneer and do housecleaning’.. I was criticized and hardly invited anywhere.. Pioneers my age scoffed at me.. They wouldn’t be caught dead in any full-time job. But, I figured they were entitled to do what they wanted…However, I made sure I never so much as gave them a dime.
In time, I retired.. I hope those pioneers who thought I was a joke back then..can pay their bills now. If not, they better make a list of their so-called ‘spiritual friends’ (you know: the ones who invited them to those secret gatherings)..and put them on speed-dial and Go ask them for help!
putting this under "friends" because i couldn't figure out where to put it.
it is very often on here and in ex jw videos, ect that people like to undermine some of those who once we would have called friends.
there seems to be a view that window washers, plumbers, cleaners, construction workers are somehow less intelligent than those who may be college educated.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH:
Not just ‘toothless lions’ but in some cases very ignorant men with biases against some people in the congregation.
Once I saw this, and that I was one of the people it was directed towards, I never accepted a shepherding call again and I never went near an elder again!