Posts by Open mind

posted

49
How many times (after high school) have you fallen in love?
by UnConfused in
1. social
2. relationships
and how far apart were they?.

thanks.
Open mind

That was beautiful Snoozy.
om
30
Did you ever have the Elders check out a prospective marriage mate 4U?
by Open mind in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
or, to your knowledge, did anyone ever make any inquiries of your local elders as to your "spiritual health" and suitability for courtship?.

how'd that work out for you?.

om.
Open mind

Great personal experiences everyone.
rocketman said: "Wow, an elder (and body of elders) who actually stood up to a CO, and a very interesting comment on his part."
I remember a BOE who had a 7:00 start time for their School & Service Mtng. They absolutely refused to change it for the CO visit. Multiple COs tried getting them to change it for the CO visit and they wouldn't. I wasn't on the BOE so I don't know the particulars but I was always amazed that they got away with it.
om
30
Did you ever have the Elders check out a prospective marriage mate 4U?
by Open mind in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
or, to your knowledge, did anyone ever make any inquiries of your local elders as to your "spiritual health" and suitability for courtship?.

how'd that work out for you?.

om.
Open mind

Excellent points rocketman!!!
In JW world if a person is "spiritual" (read Borg-loyal and busy) that's THE MOST important aspect of their personality.
om
31
Live music in the Kingdom Halls
by Quillsky in
1. jw
2. friends
i recall being young and having a lovely solo pianist accompanying the singing in our hall.. in around the late 70's the obligatory (canned, sad) recorded music replaced live musicians.. anyone have any more detailed memories of live music and the subsequent changeover?.
Open mind

steve2 said: what did they do in congregations where no one knew how to play either the piano or any other muscial instrument?
I can remember a couple of times growing up when no piano players were available and for whatever reason they couldn't get the record player to work. We sang the song a capella.
Cacophany ensued.
Good times.
om
30
Did you ever have the Elders check out a prospective marriage mate 4U?
by Open mind in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
or, to your knowledge, did anyone ever make any inquiries of your local elders as to your "spiritual health" and suitability for courtship?.

how'd that work out for you?.

om.
Open mind

Thanks for all the replies.
On the West Coast, USA, the cultural norm that I have observed is that most JWs check out other JWs on their own without officially asking the BOE for their opinion as long as the person they're interested in is fairly local. They can get quite a bit of info (skewed as it may be) from the local JW gossip mill. When a JW is interested in someone out of the area though, it's more common to give the long-distant BOE a call.
I never invoked this "arrangement" since I always got to know people locally.
When I first started this thread, I was about 99% against it. Now I'm about 85% against it. For the most part, it just gives elders the opportunity to exert needless control and influence over the lives of others as Gregor's story well illustrates.
Blondie's story though, shows how the option of checking with the elders COULD have been a good thing. The elder clearly blew it, but there was a chance that he could have protected the sister. Since the guy was a convincted pedophile, the elder could have easily told her that she should check out his criminal record and that he STRONGLY recommends that she stay away because of what she would find there. To the extent that the "arrangement" of checking with the elders helps curb predators (sexual, financial, emotional) it actually could do some good in a minority of cases.
For the most part though, I think it's a screwy arrangement.
om
30
Did you ever have the Elders check out a prospective marriage mate 4U?
by Open mind in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
or, to your knowledge, did anyone ever make any inquiries of your local elders as to your "spiritual health" and suitability for courtship?.

how'd that work out for you?.

om.
Open mind

Or, to your knowledge, did anyone ever make any inquiries of your local elders as to your "spiritual health" and suitability for courtship?
How'd that work out for you?
om
27
why work your ass off in America till you Die? Retire out of this country and send our politician a message
by DaCheech in
1. jw
2. friends
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/how-to-retire-comfortably-for-usnews-2643852806.html?x=0.

take your measly social security check and run.. my city/property taxes in nj alone went up to $8,500 a year (in 20 years it's gonna be $15,000?)..............

how can i retire here?.
Open mind

As long as you don't need high-tech health care, and don't mind adapting to a less "plugged in" culture, it sounds very attractive.
Good to keep a way to get back plan in place though.
om
27
PBS Documentary on Buddha - Anyone watch?
by skeeter1 in
1. social
2. entertainment
http://www.pbs.org/thebuddha/.

anyone watch this documentary on buddha?

i am only half way through it, and it's interesting.
Open mind

Buddhism is very dangerous.....
...to the Watchtower.
Thanks for the link!
om
36
An Apology to Snowbird
by Dark Side in
1. jw
2. friends
i apologized to snowbird in private for a insensitive and disrespectful comment i made on her "swan song" thread.

i told her i would post a public apology on the board if she wanted me to.

so here is my apology to snowbird exactly as i wrote it.. it's been brought to my attention a number of times that my comment to you on your "swan song" thread was offensive and uncalled for.
Open mind

It's good to see a real apology. They are so very few and far between these days.
Good for you Dark Side.
om
15
Debate
by goddidit in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
i'd like to have a one-on-one online debate with an active jw.

it doesn't have to be private.. anyone have any suggestions how i might arrange this?.
Open mind

I'm active.
I'll debate ya.
Only problem is I don't believe it.
But I can advocate for the Devil, er GB.
om