good morning all,.
i have had the opportunity over the last couple of years to speak with a couple of jw's who had either attended the same congregation i did or were married to someone who to the same one.
for the record, i disassociated myself in 1992 due to being followed around by an elder or two who had heard that i had ray franz's "crisis of conscience" in my possession.
We're isolating ourselves. (I guess we are isolating ourselves form the JWs, so that's true)
I got tired of the friends in the congregation. (yes that's true also)
If you see us out and about we act like nothing's wrong. (yes again, you idiots, because there is nothing wrong)
We would love for the gossip to get really juicy. But so far, nothing scandalous. Still waiting.....
not really good at introductions.
i am an active jw who has my doubts about certain things like the bible as a whole but im slowly but surely wading through them.
just of curiousity: what on earth has happened to this board?
Hi FaceTheFacts. Cool name.
"Just out of curiousity: what on earth has happened to this board?"
How long have you been lurking? I'll talk about JW related stuff. 99% of my family is still captive. What do you want to talk about?
one the how many exbethelites thread it was mentioned that some think one either leaves down the path towards apostasy or as a 100% true believer.
i'm curious what experiences did you face at bethel that woke you up (or started to at least)?.
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Clarks is the diner on Clark street. I remember the video place but not the name.
one the how many exbethelites thread it was mentioned that some think one either leaves down the path towards apostasy or as a 100% true believer.
i'm curious what experiences did you face at bethel that woke you up (or started to at least)?.
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PuffTD,
Yes you are right. You are constantly reminded what a privilege it is to serve at Bethel and you'd better have a damned good reason if you leave voluntarily.
Well, someone tell me please why is it that when you send in your 30-day notice, you just get a canned letter about leaving. And an info packet on how to get government assistance.
NOTHING from Personnel trying to get you to reconsider. It was a source of disillusionment that no one tried to convince us to stay. We wouldn't have. But if it's such a paradise I would think it would be important to retain the volunteers as much as possible. Kind of like recruiting for new JWs. Once you're there, they don't care if you stay or not.
i remember something a 35 yr veteran of bethel said :climbing the privilege ladder at bethel was like climbing a mountain .. .
with the mountain the higher you get the thinner the oxygen gets.. .
well at bethel the higher you get the thinner the holy spirit gets ..
So true BlindersOff. While there are a few who try to keep their cool most of the ones at the top are cut-throat SOBs.
The power structure there has absolutely nothing to do with God. You should see a couple of the rooms reserved for doctors, lawyers and their kids who visit for a few months. And to watch how they are fawned over by those who were obedient to the organization and turned down higher education is sick, sick, sick.
one the how many exbethelites thread it was mentioned that some think one either leaves down the path towards apostasy or as a 100% true believer.
i'm curious what experiences did you face at bethel that woke you up (or started to at least)?.
.
I had relatives in Bethel before I went. And yet I signed up for the privilege.
But one of the things that always bothered me is the tension in the shoulders of the Bethelites. Always rushing around. Always stressed out with their assignments from Jehovah. These assignments are supposed to be blessings from God and yet they can be snatched away if you don't kiss the right ass at the right time.
Also, the hierarchy at bethel does not care for nor respect their young. These young kids leave their families, friends, and part-time jobs to slave away at Bethel and most of them are viewed as dispensable. It takes years to prove your worth and dedication as a single Bethelite. Despite all you have sacrificed to get there.
Shameful.
one the how many exbethelites thread it was mentioned that some think one either leaves down the path towards apostasy or as a 100% true believer.
i'm curious what experiences did you face at bethel that woke you up (or started to at least)?.
.
One of the housekeepers on the floor I worked practically made a game out of discovering things in the single guys' rooms. The overseer was on our floor inspecting on a regular basis.
I told this story a while ago. Our housekeeper (who we were on good terms with) would call me from time to time asking if I would be home for lunch. We let her use our room to chill out in during lunchtime. One day she called and asked if she could borrow my french books that she'd noticed on the very top shelf inside our walk-in closet. Another time she called and asked if she could borrow my hair conditioner because it smelled so good.
Then yet another time she called the home overseer on us because I left more than 3 decorative items out. I should have told her to put the extra items away while she was snooping around our room.
they excuse it by saying, it's ok since at least they were on the watch.. i believe they should think about god's view of watchmen who constantly gave false pronouncements.
they would be judged accordingly by god!.
"farticle"
ROFLMAO
or maybe that should be "nightmare" - not dream.. it happens less and less, but still does now and again after 10 years.
it's always associated with a great feeling of dread and going from door to door knowing you do not believe what you are saying (i should point out that, while i was in it, i pretty much did believe it).. i guess it shows how big a part of our lives it once was - a bit like you often dream of being in school or of long-departed relatives..
From time to time I have nightmares that I'm at the group for field service. I'm always smiling and making conversation. And I can never find the way out!
folks, i am beside myself!.
mrs. called the jws a cult!
i, for certain, couldnt believe my ears at first.. quick background info first: mrs. is a second generation successfully faded jw.
Well you've already dropped the Hassan/BITE references. Maybe be prepared to talk about a specific point on how cults use family ties to control cult members. The family/friend thing was a huge issue for my sister. When she would bring it up, I would ask her questions about how she felt a true friend should act. We talked about unconditional love quite a bit too.
Talk about what types of relationships are of value to her and why. And then give her options outside of JWdom to begin filling that need.
edited: To change "cultivating" to "filling". Ugh hate that word, CULTivating.
