Posts by UnshackleTheChains

31

Do you (or did you) have much of a social life as a Jehovahs Witness.

by UnshackleTheChains in

i ask this question out of interest, because as a jehovahs witness for some 26 years, i have always felt that there is an 'all work, no play' culture within the organisation.

the organisation doesn't promote social gatherings.

i could count on one hand each year how many get togethers we have had.

UnshackleTheChains

Thanks for feeding back all your experiences. It appears to be a bit of a mixed bag and varies from congregation to congregation. It also depends on the body of elders in each hall. Our cobe is a bit of a kill joy. Not the greatest promoter of Cong parties for sure.

After about 15 years of no social life and avoiding the world like the plague, I decided to attend pretty much every works night out going, that way you can let your hair down and have a good laugh. I also from time to time have a pint out with a faded witness friend which cheers me up big time and not having to watch what you say whilst having a good laugh.

If Watchtower wants to prevent its young people from leaving, they need to structure things differently. As King Soloman says - there is time for work and a time to play. All work no play makes jack a very dull boy indeedy.

31

Do you (or did you) have much of a social life as a Jehovahs Witness.

by UnshackleTheChains in

i ask this question out of interest, because as a jehovahs witness for some 26 years, i have always felt that there is an 'all work, no play' culture within the organisation.

the organisation doesn't promote social gatherings.

i could count on one hand each year how many get togethers we have had.

UnshackleTheChains

I ask this question out of interest, because as a Jehovahs witness for some 26 years, I have always felt that there is an 'all work, no play' culture within the organisation.

The organisation doesn't promote social gatherings. I could count on one hand each year how many get togethers we have had. I don't blame young people for leaving due to the monotonous boredom they experience week in, week out.

In the church nearby, they seem to have a balanced structure in that they have days and times for mother and toddlers groups, music practice, outings etc. We have absolutely nothing apart from going out in the ministry 24/7 ( albeit you get some tea and cake in between)

My Mrs has a good social circle, but that is because she is extravert/ outgoing and organises things herself.

So what is your experience?

52

Are Beards becoming more acceptable due to decline in membership?

by UnshackleTheChains in

i noticed a young brother with a beard being given more privelages within our hall.

when he first grew his beard, he lost his privelages.

but more and more recently he has been helping out a lot more.. the cobe is old school and a stickler for rules, but with the hall becoming more empty these days, and the need for young brothers, he seems to have relaxed on this particular watchtower/man made rule.

UnshackleTheChains

Beards were a distraction to get people from talking about all the other meaningful stuff the cult is doing and teaching

Many years ago, I questioned why the society had so many rules that were really about nothing. Let's face it. When Joe blogs thinks of Jehovah's witnesses, he automatically thinks 'cult'....'they refuse blood transfusions'.....they don't celebrate birthdays' etc etc

These are all unnesessary distractions that draw people's attention away from the good news of the bible. Why do the Governing Body make such a fuss over a non issue like celebrating birthdays?

52

Are Beards becoming more acceptable due to decline in membership?

by UnshackleTheChains in

i noticed a young brother with a beard being given more privelages within our hall.

when he first grew his beard, he lost his privelages.

but more and more recently he has been helping out a lot more.. the cobe is old school and a stickler for rules, but with the hall becoming more empty these days, and the need for young brothers, he seems to have relaxed on this particular watchtower/man made rule.

UnshackleTheChains

The fact that a set up exsists where grown men are/were checked for having facial hair is just bizarre. What a horrible set up to live in

It's crazy to think a grown man can feel guilty just for wanting/choosing his God given right to grow a beard! It's no wonder the society's man made rules and policies are coming back to haunt them.

6

UK Jehovah's Witness Child Abuse News - All The Links from November 20 and 21, 2017

by darkspilver in

in reverse order.

tuesday, november 21, 2017. .

bbc radio hereford and worcester - kathleen hallisey interviewed regarding jehovah's witness abuse cases.

UnshackleTheChains

Nice one darkspilver.

Thanks

1

Watchtowers intransigence on the 2 witness rule picked up by the BBC

by UnshackleTheChains in

https://youtu.be/pmhxiqdolae.

UnshackleTheChains

https://youtu.be/pMhxIqDoLAE

52

Are Beards becoming more acceptable due to decline in membership?

by UnshackleTheChains in

i noticed a young brother with a beard being given more privelages within our hall.

when he first grew his beard, he lost his privelages.

but more and more recently he has been helping out a lot more.. the cobe is old school and a stickler for rules, but with the hall becoming more empty these days, and the need for young brothers, he seems to have relaxed on this particular watchtower/man made rule.

UnshackleTheChains

I think there's something else to consider, maybe the brothers growing beards just don't give a sh*t any more about striving/competing/groaning after privileges. Here the elders (who are all really old) have been having a hard time getting brothers to care enough about competing for privileges. A bit of a shift, methinks, from the old days.
Once you don't care about privileges, they have much less control over you. And if you're a brother, you grow a beard! If they still want to give you a privilege, you keep the beard, and read that Watchtower

Wow....that's me in a nutshell 😋

52

Are Beards becoming more acceptable due to decline in membership?

by UnshackleTheChains in

i noticed a young brother with a beard being given more privelages within our hall.

when he first grew his beard, he lost his privelages.

but more and more recently he has been helping out a lot more.. the cobe is old school and a stickler for rules, but with the hall becoming more empty these days, and the need for young brothers, he seems to have relaxed on this particular watchtower/man made rule.

UnshackleTheChains

I noticed a young brother with a beard being given more privelages within our hall. When he first grew his beard, he lost his privelages. But more and more recently he has been helping out a lot more.

The cobe is old school and a stickler for rules, but with the hall becoming more empty these days, and the need for young brothers, he seems to have relaxed on this particular Watchtower/man made rule.

Have you observed this relaxed attitude toward the beardites in your hall (if you are still attending)?

44

A WTF Moment While In the WTS

by Searching in

has anyone else had a moment, while still within the organization (and before learning ttatt) that caused them to stop and go, "this is kind of messed up.".

for instance, back i believe in the early 2000's, i was attending a dc with my family.

it was announced at the beginning of the convention that there was going to be a special announcement at the end, so for everyone to please try to remain until the very end of the meeting.

UnshackleTheChains

I remember attending a one day assembly about 10 years ago and Steven Lett was (I believe...in the UK on a branch visit). Everyone was excited to watch and listen to A GOVERNING BODY member bless us with his presence on the big screen.

What did we get. Was it going to be something big, something extraordinary. No we got a MrTweedy lookalike banging on about some little girl who was loyal to Jehovah for not celebrating her friends birthday party whome she had been invited. Yes she stood up to all those other bad little boys and girls who did celebrate such a terrible thing. Yes the anniversary of the day her friend was born. Shock horror. That was definitely my wtf moment.

You wait in anticipation for every word that comes out if these guys mouths and you get some non biblical, non essential nothingness. 🙄

13

Reveal Article, Nov. 16, 2017: Jehovah’s Witnesses’ tab for child sex abuse secrecy: $2M and counting

by AndersonsInfo in

https://www.revealnews.org/blog/jehovahs-witnesses-tab-for-child-sex-abuse-secrecy-2m-and-counting/.

jehovah's witnesses' tab for child sex abuse secrecy $2m and counting.

by trey bundy / november 16, 2017. .

UnshackleTheChains

Wow. This is dynamite.

I would love to get into Watchtower leadership's psychological mindset to try and understand why they are sticking rigidly to their guns. Why don't they simply comply with the law ( the authorities placed in their relative positions by God).