Spiral

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Posts by Spiral

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  Hopefully this will educate the public and help end the WT's rule of secrecy at all costs

  by cha ching in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  i'm glad barbara wrote this book - "barbara anderson uncensored: eyewitness to deceit" - it will be an eye opener for the public who only see the polite people at carts or walking door to door.

  it will help them see who the wt really is through her experiences working at bethel in the writing department.

  i liked the contribution of bonnie zieman and jon atack who additionally help expose the type of control wt exerts, and what the aftermath of child sex abuse has on it's jw victims.. it's a fairly short book, 71 pages, it explains barbara's reasons for continuing her activism against child sexual abuse.

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  Spiral

  Thanks for posting this! Just bought the kindle version.
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  21

  Don't be too Christian, you'll raise red flags

  by neat blue dog in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  for the past few years all my comments and talks have been a purely christian message.

  i tiptoe around wt dogma and focus on the basics of love, life compassion, etc.

  and i deliberately do not use jw terminology whenever i can.

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  Spiral

  My experience in giving talks doesn't really compare, as I am but a lowly sister, only ever allowed to be on the school. However, when I did give a talk I would try to do something to make it more interesting. I never felt I needed practice, as giving presentations and trainings (which I created and was responsible for) was part of my job, which I enjoyed, and I did it all the time. Giving a little six minute spiel didn't compare.

  Anyway, the last talk I gave I rearranged the order of the information because it was just awkward the way it was listed in the source book. It's very hard to give a talk with no logical progression - I'm sure you guys would agree - so I rearranged it to make it flow better. I got quite the scolding from the brother giving counsel. This was 12 years ago, and after that I never gave another talk, nor did I accept a last minute assignment (from the same brother) like I used to.

  The whole thing just was ridiculous.

  But I can tell you, the rank and file really do appreciate a talk that's given authentically from a brother who cares - versus the scripted stuff they require now. I can remember as a teenager how some of my favorite brothers would give talks really from the heart, and you got a lot out of them. Not any more - people are half asleep at the meetings, it is so boring.
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  28

  Jehovah's Witnesses Scripturally Based Position on Child Protection

  by humblepotato in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  news room > legal developments > legal resources.

  jehovah's witnesses scripturally based position on child protection.

  i am having trouble understanding paragraph 5. it says: .

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  Spiral

  And why do they assume that the elders can correctly determine "if the minor is still in danger of abuse"? Do they have a crystal ball?

  I wouldn't want to make that call. So, if the elders think a minor is no longer in danger, and abuse keeps happening, are the elders personally responsible (legally) for failing to report? And shouldn't they be? How could anyone ever be sure.

  The way they split hairs is maddening. The rank and file will think it's a "loving provision" and will be lulled back to sleep. Children will continue to be abused. ugh
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  19

  Abuse by JW in the Netherlands: 276 victems registred in Q1, 2018

  by Gorbatchov in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  https://www.metronieuws.nl/nieuws/binnenland/2018/05/meldingen-misbruik-bij-jehovahs-getuigen-opgelopen.

  276 victems registred now in q1 2018, abused by jw's in the netherlands.. state secretary says branche has to speak with victem group official.. g..

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  Spiral

  @Vidiot, I agree, it seems like the bOrg is still trying to keep all this dark, away from the faithful. But that can't last forever. They are probably desperately trying to figure out how to spin this as persecution, when finally the rank and file hear about ALL the reporting going on about abuse.
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  21

  Are older women holding the congregations together (at least in the US)?

  by Spiral in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so i went and had a facial yesterday, and the aesthetician (and business owner) was a 30 something women, and we got on very well from the start.

  the conversation came around to how many new churches are being built in this area, and i said i was surprised by it all.

  she had a very interesting take on the situation.

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  Spiral

  Why, indeed?
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  21

  Are older women holding the congregations together (at least in the US)?

  by Spiral in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so i went and had a facial yesterday, and the aesthetician (and business owner) was a 30 something women, and we got on very well from the start.

  the conversation came around to how many new churches are being built in this area, and i said i was surprised by it all.

  she had a very interesting take on the situation.

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  Spiral

  Data-Dog, I agree with you. It's the sad, mean truth of this religion. If anyone stays with an organization that gives back so little, then you are indeed weak. JW.org is a just a parasite, and if you're too lazy to rid yourself of a parasite, well?

  I'm curious about what you said about your KH not appointing anyone in the 30+ group, skipping them over for younger more socially connected guys. I've seen that here too. So why stay? Nothing for you here. Again, mental lethargy at play.

  So JWism is losing its prime alphas, and keeping its older females who cannot repopulate the species. JWism’s only hope is to cut back spending and rebrand into something completely unrecognizable. They can’t rely on 3rd World growth. That cake won’t bake...

  Yep.

  LongHairGal: You can't be a thinking person and have camaraderie with those types. That brings back some memories.
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  21

  Are older women holding the congregations together (at least in the US)?

  by Spiral in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so i went and had a facial yesterday, and the aesthetician (and business owner) was a 30 something women, and we got on very well from the start.

  the conversation came around to how many new churches are being built in this area, and i said i was surprised by it all.

  she had a very interesting take on the situation.

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  Spiral

  Giordano, do you foresee the GB either diluting the dogma (even further) or revamping the idealogy to allow women a bigger share? I think they need to as a way to keep members, but they sure seem like a stubborn group of old men.
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  21

  Are older women holding the congregations together (at least in the US)?

  by Spiral in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so i went and had a facial yesterday, and the aesthetician (and business owner) was a 30 something women, and we got on very well from the start.

  the conversation came around to how many new churches are being built in this area, and i said i was surprised by it all.

  she had a very interesting take on the situation.

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  Spiral

  Finkelstein Its makes one wonder why there are more woman/females JWS than men, when the WTS degrades woman in such a misogynistic fashion.

  Yes, it does.

  
  
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  21

  Are older women holding the congregations together (at least in the US)?

  by Spiral in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so i went and had a facial yesterday, and the aesthetician (and business owner) was a 30 something women, and we got on very well from the start.

  the conversation came around to how many new churches are being built in this area, and i said i was surprised by it all.

  she had a very interesting take on the situation.

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  Spiral

  @joe134cd, I agree, Christians in general seem less concerned about dogma, and more concerned about believing in Jesus. Not a bad thing.

  I bet that church with music brought a lot of people in. Although I'm sure some wouldn't attend without the night club atmosphere, I have to say that a place of worship should be joyful, as an expression of faith. If I had any faith in God left, I would want to go somewhere to worship that had a happy vibe to it. The churches here are into all sorts of things, some practical (food banks and shelters) and many social (spaghetti dinners, book clubs, zumba classes, breakfast socials). These events are run, for the most part, by women of the 55+ age group.

  @bamse, IDK. I don't think the younger generation wants to go for years, just hoping that maybe, just maybe, the GB will relent and (as Finkelstein proposes) get to hold the microphones.

  There's just not much excitement in this religion. Only a special few get to be really involved in what goes on. You can't even go to an International Convention, on your own dime, if you don't have permission. And it's all just drab, repetitive meetings, service, clean the hall, man the cart, etc. Nothing much exciting for women at all, just service, giving basic pre-scripted talks, cleaning the hall, etc. The older generation of women accept that this is their "place", being in subjection to all men, but I just don't see loads of younger women growing old in this organization. I don't think they'll be interested.
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  21

  Are older women holding the congregations together (at least in the US)?

  by Spiral in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so i went and had a facial yesterday, and the aesthetician (and business owner) was a 30 something women, and we got on very well from the start.

  the conversation came around to how many new churches are being built in this area, and i said i was surprised by it all.

  she had a very interesting take on the situation.

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  Spiral

  So I went and had a facial yesterday, and the aesthetician (and business owner) was a 30 something women, and we got on very well from the start. The conversation came around to how many new churches are being built in this area, and I said I was surprised by it all. She had a very interesting take on the situation. She feels that the influx of well-off retired people (55 plus) contributes to the new churches, because the women especially want to go to church, and enjoy lots of church activities. The men go along to keep the women happy (although not nearly as engaged in the religion) and then they are free to golf as much as they want. She had several well-thought out reasons behind her assertion, including the fact that this age group of women may be the last that will follow men (subjection as wives) but they really do have their own agenda, and this is how they achieve it. On the surface the men are still the preachers (mostly) and "take the lead" (not her exact words, but of course that's the phrase that comes to my mind) but the women do the actual work.

  BUT - once this age group dies out, the churches will shrink, because younger women like herself just don't want to follow men around like puppies in a religious environment. Far too independent, and many more are single.

  I think this is really an interesting observation. And what about the JWs? What will happen to the congregations once the older generation of women die off? I really don't know any young women in the congregation at present, but are younger ones as interested in being tied to following men? Are they able to be more independent? Are they getting any higher education? Do they like the way single women are treated (I'm sure not)? What will happen if there continues to be a shortage of "capable men reaching out" (ugh)?

  I'm sure the GB has no intention of including women in any meaningful way in the congregations, so could this contribute to the shrinkage? Your thoughts......