To proplog2:
I found a few more of your "gems" slipped into your comments. Number 2276 to be exact. You said that if someone leaving Bethel had a mental breakdown, is that Bethel's fault?? YES, IT IS! Those people should get pensions. Most of them had at least a verbal understanding (based on past history) that older ones would be cared for. Bethel doesn't understand the world, so they can't prepare those they "fire" to live in it. They should hire a professional counselor/headhunter to help with jobs, but they are too cheap. "Jehovah will provide." Yeah, right. I also don't understand why the GB shouldn't be "experts" on the world and all its problems. They are so conceited it isn't funny. They know everything about everything. And if one GB member doesn't, they will pull their usuall stunts by misquoting reputable sources and truly "PUTTING THE BIGGEST SPIN IN THE WORLD ON HOW THEY TWIST WHAT THE WORLDLY PEOPLE SAID AND MEANT." The WT is being sued in several courts for "journalistic dishonesty", "taking things out of context", and outright lying. Really, if you just faithfully adhere to the WT's ever-changing lies and deceptions, you will automatically do some "spinning" since that's what they do most and they do it so well.
They kept Freddie Franz till he died, although he was a total invalid. Is his life more important than anyone else's. Jesus said "you are all equal". He also said there was no clergy class, but the WT clearly has one. And if programs to help these people fail, perhaps it is the fault of those who wrote the program or implemented it. Bethel may have a few "doctors" on staff, but their views are slanted in favor of the WT and everyone knows that. If you don't, you are blind.
You've had "low points"? NEWS FLASH----- A child who has been molested doesn't consider that episode in their lives as a "low point". Are you for real??? Those scars remain forever. I know firsthand. If you're so smart, post the proper clinical name for this condition and quote TWO sources (who have at least a Doctorate degree) who have published a thesis on empirical studies in the field. (If you don't know what I just wrote, then quit now. You won't cut it.)
Yes, there should be a fund. But the WT should be paying it. The Amish don't have to pay Social Security because they have sworn that they will never attempt to collect it. Does the WT deduct SS from the Bethel workers so that they have a pension when they hit 65?? I'd like to see that in print.
Sometimes feelings DO obscure logical thinking. But not in this case. Common sense, feelings of fair play, and the things Jesus taught should convince the WT that these workers deserve financial assistance when they leave. Most mature people have both feelings AND logical thinking and they can put each in its proper place. Those two concepts are "symbiotic" to some degree and an intelligent person can use both of them to the proper degree.
I know dozens of Bethel workers. I met most of the Governing Body. During the lunch break at Monroe, NY, I played a concert of kingdom songs for the GB and other visitors from Bethel. I also performed on the piano in the main lobby at Bethel. These same men could clap and appreciate the beauty of music (that God gave us) and told me I should be thankful for my gift (part of it was a gift, the rest was MY hard work, ten hours practicing a day for 5 years.) If I had joined the orchestra, which they used at CO meetings, they would have used me. The second I got arthritis and couldn't play, I'll bet you anything I'd be asked to leave with NO PENSION.
As to comparing the WT to wicked cults, Nazis, Jim Jones's group, the KKK, or the Mafia is NOT unfair. They ALL punish defectors. All of them try to various degrees to eliminate those who try to quit or leave or expose them. The Mafia rarely allows someone to "retire". Neither does the WT. A slow fade might work, but they usually hunt you down and demand you come back or get DF'd. You might be allowed to DA yourself, but you lose your entire family as I did. It is NOT violence to look forward to the destruction of wicked men and corrupt groups. I have heard hundreds of JW's at the door, after the call went badly, that "well, there's another sheep, I hope I get this house after Armageddon." A very sad attitude indeed. And before you say it's the minority, you are wrong. I was a Book Study Conductor, accounts servant, library servant, steady Watchtower reader, the the "asst. elder" who was always left in charge when the elders went out of town on a traing class. I was a public speaker and scheduled them. Doing all these jobs, I was able to pick up that most publishers joined the WT due to their OWN psychological weaknesses and needs at the time. They were promised all their questions would be answered later, but they never were. Then, if you asked them later, you were an apostate. You objected to name calling and character assassination by those here on the board, but the WT has been far more cruel and unfair in its attacks on religions and individuals. Yet they do the very same things themselves. HYPOCRITES!!!!!!
Grossly unfair to compare them to Nazis? Ha ha ha. That is really a joke. I have seen elders hunt down individuals, trying to visit their home and snooping around because the faithful wife told the elders that her husband was reading C of C by Franz. I bought that book and was reading it. My wife asked me to keep it in my car. And of course, she wouldn't ride in my car. Was it radioactive? I was the Senior Instructor at the largest computer school in all of central NJ. One "brother" heard me mention the book and wrote a letter to the congregation that had my pub. cards. (I was inactive.) They brought me up on charges TWO YEARS AFTER THAT LETTER. I would think a grown man had better things to do with his time than squeal llike a rat-weasel just because I wanted to hear the other side of the coin. Doesn't the WT encourage people to examine their religion? But once you are a JW, you no longer have that right.
So now we have to find a way to tell the publishers that a certain "brother" is an animal who should be executed. Child molesters rarely change, even to become a JW. One out of 200,000 change to normal. The rest are pedophiles the rest of their lives. But the elders don't warn the flock. This sounds a lot like some of the bad organiztions that you mentioned above.
I'm glad Breaking Away made that statement. I also agree with him. Now, how many people have to agree with him before you might start thinking that YOU could be wrong. You really are conceited. You said I was, but you take the cake. I can back up my claims about the WT, about the things I could have done with my life, etc. What are you??
Any time you or any other JW wants to have a radio or TV debate, just post it and I'll find you. We'll see who has the truth, but more importantly, I'll save thousands of lives from being ruined by the hubris displayed by the WT and its robot clones. Don't get me wrong. Many of the rank and file are kind and decent (mostly the women). But the elders on up are crooks. If the sheep follow, they bear the blame also.
Good luck trying to defend the WT's latest "spin the big wheel on the Price is Right" and let's all obey whatever new law comes up for today. Don't worry, we'll cook up a feeble defense for the new belief in the back kitchen. Oh, no. Fred Franz is gone. NOW who is going to come up with the "new light"? I'm sorry. I forgot. Back in the time Russell died, they said he was still alive directing the work. He lived near a star system called the Pleiades. Soon, it may be possible for the GB to take trips there to bring back new light.
How does this relate to the Bethel issue? Simply this. If the young come to Bethel with the clear understanding that they can stay for life if they behave and do their work, that promise should be honored. My point was to show the assinine conduct and outright lying about the WT's past beliefs and behavior. So all the young should think very hard about going to Bethel. If they have money or wealthy parents, then they could be thrown out with little damage. But most don't have that luxury.
Proplog2: I wonder how much of this you knew when you got baptized. Most didn' t know any of it. Only I did in our whole circuit due to my library. If you are the sincere person I wanted to hope you were and you check these things out, change your mind and apologize on this board, I will be your friend for life. I'm not the person you think I am. I use sarcasm because it's the most effective tool to display illogical statements. I never mean outright cruelty and it truly would pain me if you suffered. You might come back with something about a tough skin and it will take more than I can dish out to hurt you. I hope you don't. I hold a royal flush and if you play cards, that is the very top hand. I cannot be beaten by the WT's reasoning. I rest my case.
