a lot of religious folks can have an open-minded discussion about their beliefs without getting defensive.
some can actually consider things from another point of view and point out the validity in the other person's point.
obviously, a lot of jws may just be scared to think/speak in a semi-detrimental way about their religion.
Lack of education of all sorts.
A lot of religious people are educated, and have an open mind. Just as some politically minded people are open minded, but some are not. But anyone who does not endeavor to have a well-rounded, informed view is going to be closed minded.
In the case of the JWs, because the Org makes it a point of pride to be stubborn and closed minded, the sheep follow their leaders.
so, i've been away from any meetings of the jobos for around 5 years.
i'm glad i'm out but the fallout and loss damn near destroyed me.
but, being a stiff upper lip brit, i 'kbo.
@OrphanCrow Interesting. We know they will change the rules or get new light as necessary. I also think that keeping the publishers mindlessly busy is a plus. Saw a cart today when I was out, and by where it was placed and the behavior of the two sisters in attendance, it was the ultimate mindless activity. They were at a drugstore entrance, but situated in such a way (i.e. on the wrong side of the walkway) that no one was stopping. Although that might have been at the request of management, it certainly didn't look productive. They also were making absolutely no effort to make eye contact with anyone.
i live in a pretty conservative area of the united states, and in the past two decades i can remember 2, that's right, two instances of seeing a jw with a beard in my area.
(not counting myself at times, 😜, and i'm obviously not counting bearded visitors dressed in casual clothes).. however at this year's convention, i saw about a dozen bearded jws .
this is like an explosion where i live.
Or maybe, just maybe, there's such a shortage of younger brothers who are "reaching out" (blech) that they are willing to budge just a little.
steve2: Necessity is the mother of new light. Policies change because circumstances force the change.
Yep!
smiddy: Your overview reminds me that pretty much everything "important" we learned growing up is gone!
i live in a pretty conservative area of the united states, and in the past two decades i can remember 2, that's right, two instances of seeing a jw with a beard in my area.
(not counting myself at times, 😜, and i'm obviously not counting bearded visitors dressed in casual clothes).. however at this year's convention, i saw about a dozen bearded jws .
this is like an explosion where i live.
Or maybe, just maybe, there's such a shortage of younger brothers who are "reaching out" (blech) that they are willing to budge just a little. (I have heard that there has been a real shortage of worker bee MS-wannabes volunteering to the the grunt work. That makes it hard of the special ones to do what they need to do.)
So, giving in a little on beards might help. Later, of course, they might change their minds and pull the carpet right out from under the bearded ones. There might not be anyone left to care.
mid to late 70's, watchtower made a comment regarding the constantly changing doctrines of "false religion" and how discouraging it was to their flocks.
i can't remember enough exact key words to pull it from the archives but i know i have seen it quoted and discussed on this site.. thanks in advance for your help..
Wow, Zoos. I don't remember these quotes but these are gold. How appropriate these are, as nothing changes as quickly as beliefs in JW land.
we have been told there's no place else to go.
and to some degree mentally speaking, that is true especially if you were raised in the religion.
at 50 i was out of the organization's clutches.
Actually, as I think about it, I would say yes. If it was easier to leave I think I would have left long before I did (when I was about 50 as well). Hard to quantify, because mentally I was out way before I was physically out.
i am interested in getting people's thoughts on this.
on average 40 thousand people leave the organisation yearly for one reason or another.
the experiences all over the media are proof of this.
All of the above. Plus (if not mentioned) a total stop to the preaching work. And, instead of the meetings as they are, offer youth activities, senior activities, events, helping at soup kitchens, etc. Stuff that really matters to people. AND - quit talking about the destruction of the world, and stop the bunker videos.
There would be nothing left that any of us would recognize.
i was thinking of my co grandfather who passed on a few years ago.
his wife my grandmother passed on in 99. i can remember him saying "i know after armageddon i can not be married to her but maybe we can live next to each other.
not sure where the cult stands on this issue today.
I didn't know the teaching had changed on this.
How cruel, really. They are so dogmatic and certain about their teachings....... until they are not. A lot of damage is done to a lot of people, and the faithful don't dare complain.
he ran into me a work and asked could he come , i said only if you're by yourself and don't wear company garb.
3 hours later and i might as well talked to myself.
i used every illustration and persuasive argument.
Good for you! They need to hear a bit of "reality", even if it doesn't stick.
i'm fairly new on here and i've told a lot of my story but to recap, after 60 odd years i've stopped going to the meetings.
my husband had already left the truth years ago and my children didn't become jws.(phew!).
i had a horrendous childhood growing up as a witness which included sexual assault by a close relative, also a jw.
Phoebe, I have so much respect for you, what you've had to deal with. I am sure the reporting of time (SERIOUSLY????) is the last straw for you, of course!
Why not report 200 hours for each month? Obviously bogus and untrue. But, when were the elders ever interested in truth?
