Posts by Crisis of Conscience

I wrote the following to someone here via PM a while ago. And I can say that what has been said so far in this thread about Bethel is spot on. They are things I noticed in my short stay there.

"One of my first things at Bethel, at 19 years old, was seeing a bit of a double standard. At Patterson I got a lot of opportunities to see GB members. The one thing I questioned to myself was the way I saw them around female visitors. One in particular, Lyman Swingle, before he died, would put his arms around the sisters, point at his cheek, and ask for a kiss.
Now I'm big on equality, as I will probably point out later in my posts. So I don't care who you are or how old you are. If I would have tried at 19 to get that kind of attention from the ladies, and especially at Bethel, I would without a doubt have been spoken to about how my actions are inappropriate or perhaps at the severest point, been dismissed. Now I don't crave attention by any means, but to me that just wasn't right. And I witnessed it more than once. May not be a big thing but it definitely made an impression in my mind that I just can't forget.

I was also bothered by the way some were treated by others right in front of their overseers. I talked about it with a brother and he told me in so many words, that we are imperfect and we have to accept and forgive.
That I can agree with. Except the Bethel standard is pushed so much and praised so high above the "worldly" work standards and environments that I just couldn't be satisfied with that.
So again, a small thing, but made an impression in my young mind......................................

.......................................................While I can say for the most part that I enjoyed my short stay at Bethel, I can agree with what you say you saw. I hated hearing people talk about how brother so and so is coming through so we have to do this and act this way like everything is running the way it should. I thought to my self just like I would in any other situation, so what? He's is human just like me. Why act any different? But a lot of people don't see it that way."

CoC

27

BTW, just 9 days until the end of the world...

by Satanus in

jw
friends

just, so you know.

are you keeping on the watch?

i know i am;).

Crisis of Conscience

106

Confidential Materials!

by Atlantis in

all documents of important nature such as, our kingdom ministry, boe letters, forms, or other materials will now be sent only by email or private message communications.

they will not be posted out here on the board.

if someone else wants to post them, be my guest.. .. we have no other choice in this matter, and sending out confidential documents is better when it is done privately.

Crisis of Conscience

Atlantis, you have a PM.

27

the Service Meetings didn't prepare me for this

by stillin in

naked ladies at the door!

various stages of undress, including absolutely nothing on.

my response was to be cool, go into my presentation and sneak a peek when i thought it wouldn't be noticed.

Crisis of Conscience

I don't think Satan is allowed to entice anyone during the ministry with the Holy Spirit being active and all during such activity.

So if they were hot, it was a blessing from above.

Otherwise, it confirms that some people in this world need a lot of help, in more ways than one. Catch my drift? LOL

CoC

22

My Biography (shamelessly long)...

by truthseekers2 in

jw
friends

i'm embarressed to no end on how long this ended up being, but i felt it all too important to leave anything out (and yes, i did delete some!

{blush} ).

my name is shauna.

Crisis of Conscience

BUMP

I enjoyed reading this. Maybe others will too.

CoC

34

If you are fader, how do you handle assignments etc.

by Slidin Fast in

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Crisis of Conscience

I used to be a MS with a lot of opportunities for different talks/parts at the meeting. I hated preparing for them but enjoyed giving them.

I admit that I do miss the stage. I felt comfortable. But now, I ditch a lot of assignments because I find I can no longer speak about something I don't believe in or agree with.

When I have an assignment, which is now often only a bible reading, I may do it. But generally I don't show up at the meeting that night.

And frankly, I just don't care anymore.

CoC

98

Anyone know of any effective but simple diets/diet tips? Weight gain after giving up smoking!

by Lozhasleft in

jw
friends

i'm really struggling with this.

i gave up smoking a few months back and have put on around 20lbs already.

i've gone up another dress size and i wasn't slim to begin with!

Crisis of Conscience

LOL Loz! It's true. It works. But it requires reading and being open minded as it seems to go contrary to what has been said by the "experts" for many years.

98

Anyone know of any effective but simple diets/diet tips? Weight gain after giving up smoking!

by Lozhasleft in

jw
friends

i'm really struggling with this.

i gave up smoking a few months back and have put on around 20lbs already.

i've gone up another dress size and i wasn't slim to begin with!

Crisis of Conscience

Ever heard of intermittent fasting? That's what I do.

My suggestion though, read as much as you can about it. Anybody will shoot it down like any other way of eating. So if you want to try it, educate yourself and make an informed decision.

Start with a book called Eat Stop Eat by Brad Pilon. Then go from there, as there are different variations when doing it, not just what's in the book.

I wish you success in your search.

CoC

14

What If Money Were No Object?

by Crisis of Conscience in

jw
friends

i haven't started a topic in quite a while.

but today, someone sent me the video linked below.. i really enjoyed it so i decided to share it.

and while it can be applied to many situations in life, i believe in particular it is of use to those still in the struggle.

Crisis of Conscience

Thanks fakesmile and OTWO!

I really haven't taken the money thing in the video to be that a person has to be rich. You don't have to be rich at all to do what you enjoy, regardless of your age.

To me it's not letting life, whether the pursuit of wealth, or the pursuit of keeping your head above water because of finacially struggling, from doing the things somebody enjoys. Things that may cost nothing to enjoy (example - maybe you enjoy nature but feel there is no time to observe it because of work or personal responsibilities). Things that do not have to involve any sort of monetary interest.

And also, in tieing it into the JW religion, if leaving was no problem, what would you do that makes you happy? It's not easy to say you could just do it. But the important part to me is doing what you can so as to reduce regret and disappointments in the future, when one may feel they are just too old to pursue a joy.

CoC