I love your comments OFS.
I am so glad I am not sitting there because I know I would burst out laughing.
You are good!
so the wtb&t$ have either intentionally or unwittingly exposed their hand in this mornings wt indoctrination article.. this is a direct quote from par.
"regardless of how long we have been in the truth, we must tell others about jehovah's organization.
" the question is, "what obligation does psalm 48: 12-14 place on us?".
I love your comments OFS.
I am so glad I am not sitting there because I know I would burst out laughing.
You are good!
so, much against my inclination, i went to the meeting this sunday morning.
just starting to fade, but i needed to do it so that it doesn't look like my hubby turned my head during last week's vacations.
since i'm not just disappearing cold turkey, i went.
Your post is so current and so full of awareness about people and life and what is needed in the here and now.
All that talk about how much the JWs are helping the world is just a pacifier. They suck on it and stay passively soothed.
I love your thoughts Mrs. Eden!
i do - actually, it's become close to unbearable.. and herein lies the paradox: i tried to fade in the illusion that i might keep contact with family and friends still "in".
was it worth it?
because not only most of them shun me anyways, but i find it almost unbearable to be around them, especially when the cult chit chat kicks in: every cute animal video clip triggers endless comments about glimpses of the future paradise and how "god did it"; those greasy praises to the organization and the governing body; the dumb awe about every jw broadcast and those cheesy music videos; the endless drivel against other religions when one knows perfectly well that we're no better than them; the endless flow of "experiences" of field service or spectacular conversions into "the truth"; the relentless congregation gossip; and so on .... i ask myself: is this why i am fading for ...?
LisaRose
That's the problem with fading, you don't realise that you will change and grow when you leave, but your family and friends won't. Eventually you change so much you can't really have same kind of relationship
Boy is that ever true LisaRose. I am in the stage of discovery about that right now.
Using their own reasoning there...
then ISIS is being blessed too?
a source has informed me that a relative who's in london bethel has said that a number of bethelites there are very uncomfortable and embarrassed because the branch has received "quite a few letters" querying why members of the governing body were wearing flashy rings and jewellery on some of the monthly broadcasts, but on the broadcast when the g.b.
asked for more money from the congregations - their gold and jewellery was not on display!.
will probably emerge one day wearing sackcloth, begging for yet more donations..
Thank you Searcher, you adorable little terrier you!
You are very gracious.
~~~
Agree completely ToesUp!
a source has informed me that a relative who's in london bethel has said that a number of bethelites there are very uncomfortable and embarrassed because the branch has received "quite a few letters" querying why members of the governing body were wearing flashy rings and jewellery on some of the monthly broadcasts, but on the broadcast when the g.b.
asked for more money from the congregations - their gold and jewellery was not on display!.
will probably emerge one day wearing sackcloth, begging for yet more donations..
Ha Rebel, nice to see I am not the only one...
Over on the pro JW forum they are all talking about how much weight they gained at Pioneer School and all the good food.
Totally different from when Jesus said just a few things are needed?
But the words of Jesus take a second seat - egos are involved! There are points to score!
a source has informed me that a relative who's in london bethel has said that a number of bethelites there are very uncomfortable and embarrassed because the branch has received "quite a few letters" querying why members of the governing body were wearing flashy rings and jewellery on some of the monthly broadcasts, but on the broadcast when the g.b.
asked for more money from the congregations - their gold and jewellery was not on display!.
will probably emerge one day wearing sackcloth, begging for yet more donations..
My apologies Searcher!
Didnt mean to post so off topic...I was drinking my coffee and ruminating and well...
ON topic: It is very encouraging to hear that the London Bethelites are getting the feed back they are!
a source has informed me that a relative who's in london bethel has said that a number of bethelites there are very uncomfortable and embarrassed because the branch has received "quite a few letters" querying why members of the governing body were wearing flashy rings and jewellery on some of the monthly broadcasts, but on the broadcast when the g.b.
asked for more money from the congregations - their gold and jewellery was not on display!.
will probably emerge one day wearing sackcloth, begging for yet more donations..
DOC mentioned above the waste at the local and circuit level that he observed.
One good example is the "Pioneer School"
The friends are probably not aware of all that is done there. The circuit has a budget of money that it collects from donations that are available to the "host" Hall where the school is held. Money for bottled water and dry goods used to be what was spent for pioneer school.
As everyone is aware, each Hall has a designated day to feed the group and a LOT of personal funds are spent by brothers and sisters fulfilling their day.
That was how it started in my area....
since the pioneers spend the night staying with local families and no evening meal is provided, the custom got started to bring a tiny disposable dish to take home or glean whatever was left from lunch.
(now bear in mind that most host families DO provide snacks or soup or food for their guests the letter to the pioneers just told them there was no formal arrangement for dinner)
So this arrangement for gleaning after lunch morphed in to the host Hall buying disposable storage containers when they bought the bottled water and dry goods etc.
Now people took a lot more food than could just be tucked in to a cup or napkin! Some even filling their containers as they went down the line to get their lunch to make sure what they liked wouldnt be gone later, (not at all what "gleaning is about).
The sisters working the food lines would observe with anxiety the food availability and word quickly got out to bring LOTS so they could fill their little dishes.
(There is a very competitive spirit amongst the sister Halls in the circuit vying for their "feeding day" to be the BEST)
and this just ramped that up even more.
The letter outlining the plan that is given ahead to the pioneer states there will be coffee in the morning. Of course this turns in to donuts and cookes etc.
The break in the afternoon for more coffee used to have any left over desserts from lunch but NOW they are all packed up in the supposed gleaning activity thus necessitating extra sweets be furnished and this is now its own separate glut fest.
The last day there is a HUGE decorated cake and there is much in fighting over the buying or making of the cake and by whom.
The sisters in the host Hall man the morning "coffee" event as well as a couple staying to be available to the visiting sisters who are bringing food for their assigned day. They also clean each day.
Of course the brother overseeing this whole event parades around nodding and smiling when he is complimented on how well everything is going.
The local sisters showing up each day to insure "how well its going" are ready to pull their hair out and fighting with one another by the end of the wonderful two weeks of spiritual encouragement.
Any expenses later that cant be explanied away on the circuit budget are brought up at the local elders meeting and they pay up - or dont which causes some meetings to run late in to the night.
The shortfall of monies usually amounted to about $60 or better per elder and we have 10 elders in the local Hall
When all is said and done the true overhead is greater than $3/ day per person. This is NOT including the work. money and time of those donating the food NOR does it include the donated food. It is also not including what the Circuit allotted.
So add that up for the entire length of the school and the attendees. I have done work related BBQs and school related fund raisers for my kids where the budget and amount spent was much less. It is one of the worst uses of the donated money around and no one is ever really aware.
How do I know all this? I used to be "that" sister.
This last week the new "that sister"who does it now came over for a stiff drink and some venting LOL
i have looked at the jw talk forums every now and again.
is it any use making a profile to get in?
mainly just to laugh at the pathetic discussion that they carry on with.
When I was feeling mortally wounded with the Org I reached out in desperation looking beyond my local congo for some kind of answers.
I found this place and decided it was rather radical (I am laughing at myself now for thinking that - this place has actually been my salvation) so I decided to use a system of checks and balances.
I would join JW Talk so I could access the members levels (consolation and support threads) and I would come here.
Meanwhile I kept going to meetings and writing the Society about my personal situation that caused all the upheaval in the first place.
The writing and the local meetings didnt help 1%. The JW Talk forum was annoying as hell. They dont behave in a real way. Most everyone there is busy trying to "out spiritual" one another with their comments. There is one moderator that is pretty cool and "out there" by JW standards and I follow his instagram and wonder how long before he ends up here.
I still check in once in a while over there just to see what is being said but for the most part it is one big yawn.
I did find an elder I knew and a relative posting there although I havent mentioned it to either of them. It is of no matter.
You used to have to give a picture to gain access and then post a number of times to gain inner access. I dont know what the rules are now.
i'm going to tell you of a family i knew of when growing up as a jw.
she was a solo mother who had 2 daughters and these 2 daughters were absolutely stunning both physically and personailty wise.
i remember thinking at the time how commendable it was that such beautiful looking women would choose to stay in the organisation.
Pete you write such lovely and insightful posts. It is a pleasure to come behind you and read your thoughts.
I had not thought of the scenario that you mentioned and we very probably will never know what really went on but it serves as a reminder of how deeply complex the issues are that arise from all things JW.
Before I read your thoughts, my own were leaning in the direction of finding out that the two girls married men similar to their father.
Abuse and the repeat of the pattern and all that goes with it was what I was thinking.