Posts by ekruks

8

Foreign language groups

by dissonance_resolved in

foreign language groups are the fastest growing groups of jws in the western world.

the best and brightest jws are drawn to them for the privileges, the challenge, the feeling of being special.

but in my experience, being in one of these groups has a side effect.

They might be fast-growing; the immigrant communities ae in another country, where they don't know the local language and can feel isolated, so when a Jehovah's Witness knocks the door, is polite, even somewhat friendly, it's a very positive experience - the person acceps a study just because the person is welcoming, in a foreign land.

The reality is, most of the persons who join these foreign language groups do it because they are bored with English ministry, so go and try some foreign foods, learn a few phrases, BUT few really STUDY the language. They read prayers translated by interested persons, have sisters translate their talks, etc. and just hope people answered the Watchtower questions right, as they have no idea what was said. Many of these foreign language meetings are conducted in a mix of English and another language - so much for Holy Spirit giving appointed ones skills to complete the tasks, like when the temple was built. This idea that you no longer hear what is being said is not true.

There is a lot of racism within the organisation, or more opposition to languages, i.e. you can be black, but you will speak English - many elders are negative towards foreign language groups, and many in those groups are only fond of them as they don't want to mix with the English. These groups and congregations can be very political, though yes, there are a few that are thought well of, especially if the CO gets positive about it, and such a group will look good, help one progress to be an elder, etc..

10

How many people die because of the Watchtower politics on blood, transplants and vaccinations?

by TJ Curioso in

there are some numbers about this?.

ekruks

That's the population of a small city - far far more than Jonestown.

2

The "Barbarians" are not at the gate....THEY ARE INSIDE!!

by Terry in

putting the word faith around something barbaric, ignorant, narrow-minded, wrong-headed, backward, unscientific or just dead wrong automatically protects and preserves it so that it can eat away at the culture and the society like a deadly acid.. after all, the creationists already want "equal time" teaching creationism alongside evolutionary biology.

astrology?

voodoo?

ekruks

Muslims are crazier than JWs!

9

Bethel doesn't look after it's own

by ekruks in

it's not only springsteen's latest song that is inaccurate, but bethel certainly doesn't look after it's own.. i know it's very easy for us to what to criticise bethel after our experiences, but if we are reasonable with the wbts and approach this with an open mind, can we conlude it's fair how bethelites are treated?.

i know with any company if an employee breaks the rules, they have to leave.

being fair, i can't wave a finger at bethel for telling those who break rules, sin, etc., to leave.

ekruks

It's not only Springsteen's latest song that is inaccurate, but Bethel certainly doesn't look after it's own.

I know it's very easy for us to what to criticise Bethel after our experiences, but if we are reasonable with the WBTS and approach this with an open mind, can we conlude it's fair how Bethelites are treated?

I know with any company if an employee breaks the rules, they have to leave. Being fair, I can't wave a finger at Bethel for telling those who break rules, sin, etc., to leave. The difficult fact is that Bethel provides not just work but also accomodation, so the person who leaves is left without anything. In the UK, if you have no permanent address, you can't get a job or even state welfare payments, and if you have no job, you can't rent, so unless you have a friend or relative to rescue you, you join the many homeless persons. However, if one wants to quit Bethel, they could plan it so somehow they fix a job first while they have an address, then sleep rough, in their car, until they get a flat.

What concerns me more is that if someone becomes ill, generally Bethel just throws them out. Besides the fact they can't get a job, state welfare or a room to live in, they are ill. What is this person meant to do to survive? How are they meant to buy food? After all the years of hard work they put into Bethel, they are on the street, no qualifications, perhaps now of an age that doesn't appeal to employees, and please don't say the congregation will be so moved with love that they take them in like experiences in the Bible.

Companies have to give sick pay to employees, soemtiems for months, even years, when there is major illness. Bethel doesn't give anything, while we all know it really ha money, with all its stock options (even if it's not a lot, it could work some retirement/illness plan). It's not thankful for Bethelites, missionaries and DO/COs hard work, but chucks most of them out to the skip like old machinery. Where is the love?

13

Nervous / shy following judicial committee

by ekruks in

i wondered if anyone else has been rather shy since a judicial committee?.

i have been before more than one on false charges, and since have really struggled not to get incredibly nervous if i have any similar meeting with people, such as a review at work, a job interview, even a visit to the doctors.

i get so uncomfortable, i forget what i planned to say, want to leave, often vomit before such a meeting, forget how to speak up clearly, can't remember my phone number, etc.

ekruks

Some brave people here Gonna go and see the doctor again and mention PTSD, and ignore his comments about British resolve, stiff lip.

6

Narcissistic personality disorder

by Xanthippe in

so i was having lunch with my inlaws and my fil was sounding off as usual about the economy, scottish devolution, the shortcomings of county councils etc etc.

he said to me well don't you think that (whatever it was) would be a better way of doing things ( in other words - his way ) myself, being extremely relaxed - in vino veritas - said no i think it's narcissistic personality disorder.. note to self really shouldn't drink so much when talking to fil, but it is my birthday.. he said what's narcissistic personality disorder.

so i explained to him about narcissus in greek mythology, the youth who looked into a pool, saw his own reflection and fell in love with himself.

ekruks

There's a lot of people that could be described such!

13

Nervous / shy following judicial committee

by ekruks in

i wondered if anyone else has been rather shy since a judicial committee?.

i have been before more than one on false charges, and since have really struggled not to get incredibly nervous if i have any similar meeting with people, such as a review at work, a job interview, even a visit to the doctors.

i get so uncomfortable, i forget what i planned to say, want to leave, often vomit before such a meeting, forget how to speak up clearly, can't remember my phone number, etc.

ekruks

Having been before more than one judicial, it's probably Complex PTSD. I go for walks in the country, etc. I think I must get some therapy or something. The state provides free help, but one of the counsellors is a brother, so I don't feel comfortable there - I think his colleagues may talk to him, somehow he'll realise it's me, could tell them what I say is not true, could just get more stressful.

jgnat, how temporary did you find it? I've been like this for a couple of years now.

It's sad but also reassuring that others feel this way too. I break out in a sweat remembering the judicials, sometimes can't sleep, really struggle sometimes to interact with people at work some days (they just think I'm very quiet), feel I should just stay single to I die even though all I want it to find a nice girl and have some kids. I don't think people outside of this forum realise how much our cult experience has messed us up and how hard it is to live a 'normal' life.

There is nothing wrong with disciplining people for their errors, but the judicial wasn't done in such a way to help me improve myself, it was more to get me out the congregation (I felt I should mention to the body of elders of a sin I caught an elder committing, but the strong character got them to hush it up).

The judicial gives brothers incredible power - they can make you spiritually-dead, taking away family, friends, everything you know. Some brothers to, despite the image of spiritual caring shepherd, can be very arrogant strong characters that seem without any empathy, but just window cleaners drunk on power - some of them got so angry in the judicial that they were red in face; no Christian love to help correct the lost sheep! Yes, I am an introvert, so this long display of intense aggression was probably harder for me to face.

It's the brothers lying that really got to me, after you put so much trust in them then they go and invent some false charge. Then nightmare when I appealed as they had no evidence and got nasty phone calls and an aggressive visit to my home, but won. After which they tried again on another false charge. It was so corrupt; bunch of gangsters. All that conflicting with the idea the spirit leads them, as if Jehovah, God himself, must be angry with you, think you are bad - really messes with the mind, destroys confidence.

22

Advice please - How dating works in world?

by ekruks in

looking for your advice.

i was born in 'the truth', homeschooled, washed windows for work, etc.. im rather ignorant of how the whole dating thing works.. .

i'm sure i'm not the only person on here who grew up 'in the truth' and is/was a virgin in their late 20s, never been to a nightclub, etc., while everyone around them has a family/kids.

ekruks

ABibleStudent, maybe I do have a beard already - I'm hardly going to follow silly rules like that. Hmm.... JWs are not supposed to go to certain places, but you can always be sure some JW kids are there and will tell (how hypocritical) and if their daddy is an elder, he will overlook and hide his kids misdemeanours but not feel so lenient on me, even say was my influence/example that affected his kids - seen all that before. Elder's daughters can be very loose-moralled; know of a number who had worldly boyfriends but gave talks on platform, assembly interviews, etc. Maybe I will drive to some other country ...then suddenly will appear a CO on holiday

jgnat - Some men like painting - look at a lot of famous artists!

22

Advice please - How dating works in world?

by ekruks in

looking for your advice.

i was born in 'the truth', homeschooled, washed windows for work, etc.. im rather ignorant of how the whole dating thing works.. .

i'm sure i'm not the only person on here who grew up 'in the truth' and is/was a virgin in their late 20s, never been to a nightclub, etc., while everyone around them has a family/kids.

ekruks

Thanks for your interesting comments!

Do you ever get this feeling that if you went out and about somewhere worldly such as a yoga club, or met up with a worldly girl (or guy), then an elder will suddenly sit down at the table next to you to drink a coffee with his wife, by some amazing coincidence, and have to tell you off in front of others, phone up your relatives, come with another brother to knock your door, etc. Doesn't help me to relax!

13

Nervous / shy following judicial committee

by ekruks in

i wondered if anyone else has been rather shy since a judicial committee?.

i have been before more than one on false charges, and since have really struggled not to get incredibly nervous if i have any similar meeting with people, such as a review at work, a job interview, even a visit to the doctors.

i get so uncomfortable, i forget what i planned to say, want to leave, often vomit before such a meeting, forget how to speak up clearly, can't remember my phone number, etc.

ekruks

I wondered if anyone else has been rather shy since a judicial committee?

I have been before more than one on false charges, and since have really struggled not to get incredibly nervous if I have any similar meeting with people, such as a review at work, a job interview, even a visit to the doctors. I get so uncomfortable, I forget what I planned to say, want to leave, often vomit before such a meeting, forget how to speak up clearly, can't remember my phone number, etc. and remember the intense stress of those judicials. I was always a little nervous before talks, ministry etc., but I managed to control it, but this is more.

How do you guys get over this? Having been a JW is ruining my getting of with life beyond it - things like job review/interviews are important. I think it must be some kind of anxiety problem like many on here mention.