Posts by Tulsi Das

35

Did the second-class status of JW women ever bother you? Does it now?

by True North in

jw
friends

if the jw organization were considered a normal business operating without the protections of being a religion, it obviously would have to make some big changes in order to avoid being sued out of existence for sex discrimination.

i wasn't raised to think that women should be relegated to second class status or that they should have less opportunities than men or be relegated to a limited set of life roles.

however, when i became a jw, i freely accepted all the sexist nonsense that came with the territory without ever being bothered by it.

Tulsi Das

It bothered me a great deal. There were so many talented sisters who were kept on the sidelines simply because of their gender. It never failed to amaze me that sisters did the majority of the preaching work - finding interested ones & doing all the teaching of these ones - but those abilities were stopped the minute they crossed the threshold of the KH. Tell me again why a sister couldn't carry a microphone, hand out territory cards, hand out literature, serve as an attendant? How is that considered "teaching"? Many sisters could run circles around the brothers when it came to public speaking. Just think - if they allowed sisters to serve in the role of ministerial servants how much better a congregation could operate & how the burden could be more evenly spread.

You have to wonder - the minute an interested woman (esp. one with a college education or professional career) saw that women had to be in total subjection to the men & had nothing to do with the running of a congregation how that may have killed any desire to join.

113

What's The STRANGEST Thing You've Seen At A Kingdom Hall?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i saw a fight break out on the platform between an elder and a unbelieving husband who accused the elder of f---ing his wife.

he then threw the lectern on the floor and pushed the elder.

it was cool.......

Tulsi Das

An elder walk in the hall, 60 seconds before the TMS started with a bottle of Miller High Life upturned & in the process of being drained. He used his one free hand to attach his clip-on tie. Then he dropped the empty bottle in a wastebasket, walked on to the stage, started the meeting then open with prayer.

( Years later he was DF'd - twice.)

27

Pioneering---Did It Make A Difference In Your Life

by minimus in

jw
friends

many of us pioneered.

some here pioneered as "vacation", "temporary", "auxillary", "regular" or even "special" roles.

nearly everyone was expected to pioneer, if you were to stay in the good graces of the congregation.

Tulsi Das

The difference it made? When auxillary pioneering it helped me realize that the purpose of the exercise was simply to accumulate "numbers" (hours, placements, RV's). It truly was about keeping busy on the Society's treadmill. The thought of actually helping people in the territory or "advancing Kingdom Interests" was the last thing on my or anyone elses mind. At the end of the month, after spending 60 hours in field service I had little to show for it other than bigger numbers and being really tired.

The only enjoyment I or anyone else seemed to get from it was the social aspect - riding around in the car group, getting to know the "friends" better, trying to get our quota of time in. There is also the recognition factor - having your name read from the stage at the beginning of the month, being interviewed during service meeting parts afterward, the higher visibility among the congregation during that month.

When I hear about ones "pioneering" now, I simply cringe at how (IMHO) they've chosen to waste their time. They think they are doing God's will, advancing Kingdom Interests, earning salvation, whatever. They are simply running in place on that treadmill.

27

Pioneering---Did It Make A Difference In Your Life

by minimus in

jw
friends

many of us pioneered.

some here pioneered as "vacation", "temporary", "auxillary", "regular" or even "special" roles.

nearly everyone was expected to pioneer, if you were to stay in the good graces of the congregation.

Tulsi Das

The difference it made? When auxillary pioneering it helped me realize that the purpose of the exercise was simply to accumulate "numbers" (hours, placements, RV's). It truly was about keeping busy on the Society's treadmill. The thought of actually helping people in the territory or "advancing Kingdom Interests" was the last thing on my or anyone elses mind. At the end of the month, after spending 60 hours in field service I had little to show for it other than bigger numbers and being really tired.

The only enjoyment I or anyone else seemed to get from it was the social aspect - riding around in the car group, getting to know the "friends" better, trying to get our quota of time in. There is also the recognition factor - having your name read from the stage at the beginning of the month, being interviewed during service meeting parts afterward, the higher visibility among the congregation during that month.

When I hear about ones "pioneering" now, I simply cringe at how (IMHO) they've chosen to waste their time. They think they are doing God's will, advancing Kingdom Interests, earning salvation, whatever. They are simply running in place on that treadmill.

13

Wayon brothers are JW's

by breeze in

jw
friends

are the wayons still considered jw's?

Tulsi Das

His father was in my congregation in Manhattan for a while. None of the rest of the family came. When I asked him about his sons, he seemed almost embarrassed i.e. yes, they are big time actors, but they are not in the Truth.

4

District Assembly this weekend

by Jourles in

jw
friends

it is that time of year again when all of the 'happy' people travel great distances to meet as a 'united brotherhood.

' gaaagggg.

has anyone here been yet this year?

Tulsi Das

Went last week. The DC is word for word exactly the same as it has been the last 25+ years. Nothing new. I have never seen so many people fall asleep in the afternoon. They didn't seem to rail on entertainment, the internet, or recreation as much. There was the usual emphasis on pioneering, how close the end is (really! it's just around the corner!) Interestingly, the baptism numbers were half of what they should have been. (This convention should have had about 100, there were only 62. Of course, 75% of these were children/teenagers of JW's - not people found in the door to door work.

A point I found interesting: There was a talk about upbuilding conversation. Speaker said we should not talk so much about our jobs, sports or movies. We should talk about WT articles we've read - but to do so in a humble way so we don't come off as a know-it-all.

30

30+ years of Field Service Observations

by Tulsi Das in

jw
friends

some very random thoughts based on 30+ years of field service activity.

would especially enjoy responses by jt, alanf, amazing, & others.. why they do it.

1. guilt.

Tulsi Das

Some very random thoughts based on 30+ years of field service activity. Would especially enjoy responses by JT, AlanF, Amazing, & others.

Why they do it

1. Guilt. Pure & simple. It is pounded in their heads at EVERY meeting the need to do more, more, more of this activity that really produces few results.

2. They truly believe that by going out in service they are pleasing God, imitating exactly what Jesus did, and earning their salvation. Surely they will die at armageddon if they fail to do all they can in this important life saving activity.

3. A way to establish & prove their spirituality with other JW’s. Go out in service often? That is a spiritual man. Fail to go out often/at all – that is a weak brother

What the average JW thinks of service

No one enjoys the door to door work. Need proof? No one ever says “I can’t wait to go out in field service Saturday morning! There’s nothing I’d rather do.” Need proof that even the most hard core witness doesn’t enjoy it? Ask why does it take 20+ minutes to get a group of 4 out the KH door and into the car to leave for the territory after the meeting for field service. Why do most JW’s feel the need to “take a break” after an hour of door to door work? Do any of them take a break after one hour on their secular job? Why does no one ever want to go back & continue door to door work after taking a break? Why do they always say “let’s go make some calls/RV’s instead”? Why is it you can set your watch with atomic certainty at 12:00 on Saturday at any KH parking lot in the USA when all witnesses quit for the day? If the activity is so important why must they quit at precisely noon?

What Field Service really is the average JW

A social activity. A chance to get together with others in their hall & cruise around town for a couple of hours. The fact that others in the hall saw them engaging in Field Service is enough. They truly don’t care what the results are of their activity. In fact, they usually think the placement of literature is the measurement of success. The average JW never stops & thinks, “OK, they took the magazines. Now what action is the householder going to take as a result of (maybe) reading them? Are they now going to make major life changes & join our faith?” No, they are content to continue making return visits on the person leaving magazines until the end of time. I can’t tell you how many RV’s I’ve gone on with others where the householder CLEARLY had absolutely no interest whatsoever. They just hadn’t reached a point where they said “please don’t bother coming back & because I really am not interested – I just took the magazines from you 5 years ago to be nice. I didn’t realize at the time that you would them come back almost every weekend from then on.”

The last time I went in service a few months ago it was with a 14 year old regular pioneer. (Home schooling, of course) He presented the Awake with a cover article on “Is your food safe?” The householder looked at us & said “are you two with the local PBS station? Because I’m already a member.” That’s how effective his “Kingdom Preaching” work was – the householder didn’t even realize we were witnesses or why we were there. AND YET, God is going to judge mankind, in large part due to their response to this Kingdom message? Sometimes I put myself in the average householders place. It’s Saturday morning, the TV is blaring cartoons, I’m about to take the kids to soccer practice, get groceries, run errands, etc. My doorbell rings. It’s two people in suits talking about world peace & trying to give me two magazines. Am I going to stop all that I’m doing, have a biblical conversation, & change my thinking/religion/outlook on life & the future based on this? Not likely.

Your thoughts???