Good post Ozzie! it is interesting that the supposed 'cure' for inactivity is attending meetings and developing good study habits...in other words, re-immersing that one into the Society's way and brand of thinking; but never really addressing what is bothering that inactive one. Very likely, such a person has lost confidence in this organization (yes, the 'generation' teaching change has affected many, but notice how they handle that in the demo, by simply brushing it aside).
Posts by DB
-
27Elders told: Watch for the signs!
by ozziepost infrom the audio of the kms posted by kent the other day, it's enlightening to listen to the talk on the inactive.
watch for the tell-tale signs the elders are to look for in the notes that follow:.
congregation book study overseers assisting the inactive.
-
-
-
17
How Many JWs Fully Buy Into the WT Party Line?
by Room 215 infor those of us with years of acquaintance with the wt and its teachings, it's clear that full acceptance of the 1914 date as the establishment of god's kingdom in the heavens is a non-negotiable condition of remaining in good standing in the organization.
many of us know people who've been booted out just for expressing misgivings, lety alone outright denying this teaching.
almost as central, and as non-negotiable, is the teaching that only baptised jws can expect to survive the big a.. .
-
-
DB
Excellent thread, and I concur with all the replies. Especially since the whole "generation" thing, it does indeed appear that many jws are no longer buying into the Society's line. Many are now allowing their kids to engage in after-school activities (including me...I never could see a problem with it anyway), investing in the stock market, having kids, and all the other stuff mentioned in this thread.
A jw friend of mine and I discuss this stuff at times, and we both agree that God is more broad-minded than what the jws teach him to be, and that it's hard to believe that He will slaughter any who are not jws, plus, if one were to believe some of the more self-righteous in the congregtion, (and the Society as well) He will kill off many jws too who seem to be "spiritually weak" (they too are in grave danger).
So yes, I definitely concur with this thread.
-
8
Hands up , who used to draw in their books and mag
by sleepy inthe watchtower has been taking for what seems like an hour , and theres still an hour to go .so what do you do?.
you get out your pen or pencil and start drawing on the pictures.. yopu change moses into satan and draw big breasts on the sister living in the newsystem.. was i the only one?
-
-
DB
No, sleepy, you were not the only one. I've written notes to family members, made mocking remarks about someone else in the congregation, all in good fun of course, and yes, done some artistic work in my mag too. Anything to make the time pass a bit more quickly.
-
61
Flood Legends "Proof" of Global Flood...
by AlanF inthe march 1, 2002 watchtower contains a couple of articles on noah's flood and the application of this legend to "our day".
thrust of the articles is first to show that the flood was a real, earthwide event, and then to scare ignorant readers into accepting the jw message by claiming that our world is about to undergo a similar divine punishment.
pretty standard fare for long time jw observers.. in the past the watchtower society has published extensive material purporting to show that a global flood occurred a few thousand years ago.
-
-
DB
Alan F, this is a very interesting post. I have been reading some info on this matter at talkorigins.com. There, the argument weighs heavily against and earth-wide flood, and the idea that the flood was localized seems to have strong support.
Though a jw, my personal feeling on the matter, after reading in the info at talkorigins and reading Research On The Watchtower at freeminds.org, is that there seems to be good reason to consider the Flood as local in scope, with the term "earth" being used in a relative sense. Also, the apostle paul's statement that the good news had been preached "in all creation under heaven" is always understood as a relative term, Paul certainly not meaning the entire earth.
-
7
Don't work overtime
by DB inat this past week's service meeting, our congregation reviewed the part "keep seeking the kingdom first" in the january km.. the elder handling the part decided to include the admonition not to work overtime and risk missing a meeting, even if you need the money.
one drone in the audience even stated that working ot when we need it could lead us into becoming more and more materialistic.
well, when it comes time to take friday off to attend the district convention, i wonder if these same jws who refuse to work ot will get a favorable response from their employer when they request that friday off.
-
-
DB
All of your replies here were helpful and thought-provoking, thanks!
Delite, it's unbelievable (and yet so true I am sure) what they wanted you to do, quitting a job that could provide for you and your kids as a single mom. And btw, welcome to the board!
-
7
Don't work overtime
by DB inat this past week's service meeting, our congregation reviewed the part "keep seeking the kingdom first" in the january km.. the elder handling the part decided to include the admonition not to work overtime and risk missing a meeting, even if you need the money.
one drone in the audience even stated that working ot when we need it could lead us into becoming more and more materialistic.
well, when it comes time to take friday off to attend the district convention, i wonder if these same jws who refuse to work ot will get a favorable response from their employer when they request that friday off.
-
-
DB
At this past week's service meeting, our congregation reviewed the part "Keep Seeking The Kingdom First" in the January KM.
The elder handling the part decided to include the admonition not to work overtime and risk missing a meeting, even if you need the money. One drone in the audience even stated that working OT when we need it could lead us into becoming more and more materialistic. Well, when it comes time to take Friday off to attend the District Convention, I wonder if these same jws who refuse to work OT will get a favorable response from their employer when they request that Friday off. Also, if a person really needs the money, they are encouraged to seek "divine support" to meet their material needs. However, the Organization, or the local congregation for that matter, has no provision for helping such persons out of a financial bind. It is only the generousity of individuals that comes to the aid of such persons. I have a relative whose husband passed away some time ago. They spent their best years pioneering 'where the need was greater'.
Now, she is struggling to make ends meet because they had little in the way of savings, and she gets by only on a small pension that he earned while working for a few years before his health declined. There is no provision for assistance to her or the many jws like her who are in a similar situation.The part also included a story of a sister who gave up her business because it was an "obstacle" to serving God fully; making the typical JW business owner perhaps feel a bit guilty for having the audacity to own a business. This story, btw, is one I recall reading in a WT several years ago; recycled no doubt because, let's face it, there are not many jws quitting business these days to pioneer.
I guess I am just unloading here. Lord knows I can't do it at the KH or with any jws. Thanks!
-
32
Do you think that the WT will ban the Internet?
by gilwarrior ini think that it will happen.
there is so much information about what really goes on.
the hypocrasy, the scandals, the misinformation.
-
-
DB
I agree that they will write negative things about the Internet, and the guilt that they engender will carry over to many of the R&F.
-
20
Question for ex elders
by Marilyn ini'm wondering if any of you ex elders ever felt embarrassed or awkward about having to stick your noses into other peoples business did it ever seem like that to you, or were you of the mind that you were a necessary part of the lives of the flock?
.
marilyn
-
-
DB
Maryln, thanks for asking this question. I served for nearly a decade, and yes, there were uncomfortable moments.
Once, a sister asked us to call on her to discuss the fact that her hubby (also a jw, but less active than she) wanted oral sex. Myself and another elder made the call, and basically it boiled down to us advising her and her hubby to work it out themselves. I think she wanted us to somehow pressure of force him into seeing things her way, but fortunately, we had enough sense not to do that. Of course, the other elder took along the March 1983 WT article on marriage and sex, which, even at that time, I thought was a ridiculous piece of work that actually contributed to marital discord.
Another thing about being an elder that bothered me: the line between knowing the 'condition of the flock' and getting into their personal business is often a fine line indeed. Also, knowing people's field service averages and so forth can easily tend to make a person feel that the "low hour publisher" is somehow less worthy or less righteous than others, which is not good. Also, knowing people's personal business or shortcomings in certain areas in which they perhaps were counseled can easily give an elder a jaded view of such ones.
Additionally, there were times when complaints were made to me about others (especially in areas of dress and modesty of sisters) that really bothered me. For example, one sister came to me and told me that another sister looked immodestly dressed for service. Rather than go directly to that sister, she came and told me, expecting me to handle it. I advised her to mention it to the sister directly, and if she could not do that, to just let the matter drop, and told her I'd check back with her in a week or so. When I checked back and asked her if she had addressed the matter with the other sister, she said she felt as if she could just let the matter drop. So in other words, she wanted me to do her 'dirty work' and refused to approach the sister directly, which is what the Bible says we should do when such matters arise. A similar situation occured at another time as well, with a sister handing me a note (!) during the meeting with a written complaint about another sister's skirt length.
So, yes, there were many situations that were awkward for me, and greatly contributed to the fact that I never was happy serving as an elder.
-
17
Aussie BBQ - Feb 17
by Prisca inhi to all our aussie friends,.
it's that time again - another aussie apostate bbq bash is almost upon us!.
anyone who wishes to meet up and cook up a steak, drink some of ozziepost's fine red wine, or just to have a chin-wag, is welcome.. anonymity is highly important for those who may be currently still in the org, or those who are inactive but not da'd nor df'd.
-
-
DB
Hey Prisca, I'd love to attend, but too bad I live in the USA, half a world away. Sounds like a fun gig; enjoy!
-
12
Why is it the most judgmental ones.....
by terafera inbeing relatively still a 'newbie' of sorts (i've only been here a month or so).... the first thing i thought when i started posting here, was,.
'would they judge me here?
' 'do you have to totally disagree with the jw's?
-
-
DB
I have also noticed that the most judgemental posts and replies are in general by those who are jw defenders or fundamentalist in their views.
Also, in congregations of jws, often the most judgemental are the ones who are "spiritually strong". They are often self-righteuos and intolerant.