Posts by Spiral

49

Sisters as Ministerial Servants?

by Spoletta in

my wife has been trying to convince me that the organization is hinting at the possibility of making some older sisters ministerial servants.

she is awake to a lot of the false doctrines, but is still clinging to the hope that the org may become more progressive in the future.

anyone else pick up on this?

Spiral

I heard of a time that sisters were allowed to hand out new publications at an assembly..... but under the "guidance" of a brother. (Seriously, what possible guidance could be needed?)

However...... I do hear some dissatisfaction from some sisters. Let's face it, you can run your own company, your household, hold a good job, and yet at the KH you are treated like a child. But you better go out in service several hours a month.

This situation probably does cause another effect, that of less and less young sisters becoming JWs, at least in places like the US. ALSO - some sisters are getting really tired getting stuck in unhappy marriages. I have been hearing this complaint from time to time.

And the wearing of a tea towel or other item on your head is just a joke, lots of sisters think so.

So, would they throw the sisters a little "treat" (UGH) to keep them happy? IDK......

Won't be me, in any case.

63

Life is changing for me: no pioneering, got a job!

by Skepsis in

jw
friends

a month ago i decided to register in this board.

i had decided to step down pioneering but was frightened about the consequences.

i had finished my university degree some months before (despite disaproval from brothers in my congregation) and i had to choose: continue pioneering and working in jobs with no future or starting a career, working full-time.. i was thinking to postpone the decisiton but... i was fed up with preaching.

Spiral

Go Skepsis Go! Run, be free!

Really - I have nothing else to add to all the great advice you've been given, but don't waste any more time on the cult. Go live your life. There will be ups, downs, good jobs, possibly bad jobs, family times good and bad..... because that is really the stuff a well lived life is made of. You are young and at the door of the best times of your life. Don't waste it being brainwashed by a bunch of stale people.

BOC, I'll remember your advice if anyone every bothers to ask me what my issue is, that is just..... amazing. As a atheist, I can express doubts about the existence of God quite sincerely.

36

Walking away will get you D/Fed

by Drifting Away in

jw
friends

someone just told my wife, that those who are just leaving organization or not going anymore will be dfed, has anyone read that or heard of that?

i have seen nothing of that, and according to jackson at royal commission, we are free to go as we please...

Spiral

I think it must depend on where you are. Actually, I've heard it both ways recently: "The society is getting more strict" and "the society is getting more understanding". If you listen to the meetings it depends on which brother is sounding off.

So, I've quit worrying about it. The locals will do whatever they want to do and find an article to back it up.

In this little town so many people have studied/baptised and then walked away if they did any aggressive action along those lines half the town would be involved. Oh, and no one would be able to get a job because the employer might be a "former" brother.

As usual, "theocratic order" is in confusion!

53

My Dad wants to study with me

by BlackWolf in

jw
friends

so my parents continue to pester me about getting baptized.

the other day my dad told me that i was old enough to make a decision, and was wondering why i wasn't ready (assembly is in a few weeks) so i told him calmly that i have many doubts and if i were to get baptized it has to be 100 percent my idea.

he was a little annoyed by this, and now wants to study the "is there a creator that cares about you" book (which is complete bs) with me.

Spiral

So sorry Black Wolf that you are going through this. As a son, and almost 18, I'm sure your Dad is feeling pressure within himself that you need to be baptised to make him look good.

Alas, sometimes as parents we THINK we are doing something for the benefit of our children, but in fact it is for OUR benefit. I feel this is the case, he just wants to look good in front of the congregation. He has anger issues because he feels he looks bad .....

But that is HIS problem. You shouldn't get baptised and shouldn't feel pressured. Of course, you do feel pressured. I am hoping you have a plan when you turn 18 (and PLEASE may it include higher education!!!!!)

The truth of the matter is there's not much you can do to ease your Dad's discomfort, but in the end, you can't mess up your life to make him feel better.

Do whatever you need to do to survive in some comfort until you can be independent. Your Dad may come around in time, but he may not. But, as I said, it's his problem not yours.

I am a mother and when Son of Spiral said "No way!" it woke me up (totally). Perhaps it will happen that way with your parent(s). I really hope so, but your choice is YOUR choice.

28

Bro Knorrs Notes RE Disfellowshipping & Two Witness Rule

by pale.emperor in

hi guys.

a fellow ex jw shared this with me.

haven't time to read them yet (i'm using my phone to go on internet).

Spiral

Yes, the "local needs" talk following (or just preceeding) the DF announcement made it quite clear what the "crime" was. I remember that, even as a child/teenager. I also remember one occasion when the brother giving the talk got a little out of hand with the details...... it really stirred a scandal.

Ridiculous.

24

The JW governing body are all overweight, creepy looking little men

by jambon1 in

jw
friends

having seen a few of these tv productions and some youtube clips of their assembly parts, how can jehovah's witnesses really take these silly little men seriously?.

you take one look at them; their overweight, fat little bodies.

their entirely shabby, overhanging suits.

Spiral

Vidiot - Yes, I just can't figure out how anyone watches it..... really! So painful. Anyone who has observed how religion has controlled the disadvantaged and desperate (which, supposedly, the JWs have) should look at that and cringe. I agree, bOrg TV really exposes what they are.

23

2 questions about Warwick

by Gorbatchov in

jw
friends

i have two questions about warwick.

see the picture included.

1) at the other side of the lake you see other buildings.

Spiral

@Vidiot, I guess you are right, how scary is that thought!

24

The JW governing body are all overweight, creepy looking little men

by jambon1 in

jw
friends

having seen a few of these tv productions and some youtube clips of their assembly parts, how can jehovah's witnesses really take these silly little men seriously?.

you take one look at them; their overweight, fat little bodies.

their entirely shabby, overhanging suits.

Spiral

Yes, yes, yes. The first time I saw bOrg TV I was just appalled..... ok, I had been out for quite a while, but the whole effect is fundie-creepy!!! It made me see the bOrg in a whole new, ugly, sticky, creepy light.

If I hadn't faded/left already, that would have pushed me out the door.

23

2 questions about Warwick

by Gorbatchov in

jw
friends

i have two questions about warwick.

see the picture included.

1) at the other side of the lake you see other buildings.

Spiral

Hi Bohm, I can imagine that before the downsizing they could say this was all needed, and it may make sense to build as planned.

Hi Barrold, from the $$$$ standpoint it all makes sense (real estate, the best investment).

But - So many publishers out in the "field" who don't know, I just am wondering what they think is going on? As they sacrifice and live a "simple" life, while the bOrg builds these extensive properties, for what? Of course, it's obvious, they are making profits for just a few to enjoy.

But, alas, I see that the average publisher doesn't even question what is going on. Meanwhile, the bOrg is making money on real estate, and the income all flows uphill to the GB.

Sad, really.

40

Sisters running microphones?

by NikL in

jw
friends

so our sunday meeting was on the 25th (christmas) and my active jw wife and i were out of town enjoying some family time with relatives.. apparently there were many others in our congregation that missed as well.

so few were there in fact that sisters ran the mics.

(actually it was a sister running one of the two mics) a friend of my wife commented to her about how the brothers just aren't stepping up and it "makes her want to cry.

Spiral

Way back in the day, when desperate, the congregation would have to let sisters do various "duties/privileges" (gag). I remember as a small child (late 60s, early 70s) sometimes the sisters would have to read at the bookstudy or at the WT study, as no qualified brother was in attendance. The sister who read had to sit in the audience because she couldn't be on the stage with the conductor (again, gag). At the bookstudy we would take turns reading.

This was humiliating to any brother that was there but was then outed as "not qualified" because he wasn't used, being on private reproof or whatever.

Meanwhile, at our book study, several would comment how great it was to let the sisters read. Sadly, the usual "qualified" brother had reading difficulties (remember, this was in the day of the Babylon book and several others that took some skill and vocabulary to read properly - not the fluff stuff they produce today). It made the book study drag along (worse than normal). If everyone read, at least it went faster. (BTW, looking back I feel sorry for that brother now because I'd bet you $5 he was dyslexic or something like that and didn't know, he was really embarrassed by his lack of "skill".)

As for the territory servant sister, I've seen that too, under cover of "assisting" a brother who couldn't keep records well (often the husband).

I wouldn't be surprised if this starts happening again, as the younger generation is less interested in this kind of religion. I wish I had thought about all this more when I was young!