i'm a new member so wanted to say 'hi'.
i live in the u.k, was born in, fell away as an unbaptised publisher, got baptised in my 30s for reasons i'm retrospectively unsure of, and lost my faith about five years ago around the time of the original a.r.c.
now, being unable to leave is making me physically, emotionally and mentally ill.. i have been visiting this forum for a couple of years and wanted to post my first message to see if anyone has attended, heard or watched the zone visit broadcast thing happening this month?
Re: modesty in dress and grooming. The GBoJW have afforded themselves an exemption from 1 Thess 4:11 - leading a quiet life and minding your own business. So too have they exempted themselves from 1 Pet 4:15 - not being a busybody in other peoples' affairs. They are spiritually bankrupt / barren and thus focus on being prescriptive of others. In consequence, we get nonsense like this....
i'm a new member so wanted to say 'hi'.
i live in the u.k, was born in, fell away as an unbaptised publisher, got baptised in my 30s for reasons i'm retrospectively unsure of, and lost my faith about five years ago around the time of the original a.r.c.
now, being unable to leave is making me physically, emotionally and mentally ill.. i have been visiting this forum for a couple of years and wanted to post my first message to see if anyone has attended, heard or watched the zone visit broadcast thing happening this month?
so we all know how the organization conducts itself regarding child abuse.
the multitude of legal cases worldwide including the current australian royal commission as well as anecdotal accounts prove their attitude.. perpetrators have not been reported to authorities, and data bases of such have been kept sealed even when demanded by the courts!.
however, when it comes to those of us who have simply left the organization due to learning the truth, the society spares no effort in spreading gossip and ensuring that one's name and reputation is ruined.. so gb, which crime is worse?
During WT study of Sun 5th March a sister answered up indicating that....
Even if we here of child abuse in the organisation we should still remain loyal to Jehovah.
The WT study conductor was a little embarrassed as if to say - what's that git to do with this study. However, several months ago, she gave the same answer during a Thursday night book study.
Both she and another pioneer sister harp on about apostates sometimes. They talk of shunning apostates rather than remaining loyal. Listening to them is so tiresome!
Both of them strike me as "cold fish" - a term I learned from a social worker to describe individuals lacking the capacity for empathy.
this article could be seen as a nice read compared with the banality and repetitiveness of many articles in recent years.
however, several areas in the article still troubled me.
paragraph one externalises the cause of an individual’s anxiety to satan the devil.
Cherylanne725:
That you experienced what you did over 20 years ago is evidence that the GBoJW, the authors of the WT, and most BoE have learned nothing about anxiety despite publishing on the matter. This weeks WT study article focussed on the year text is an example of how anxiety can be elevated rather than assuaged.
The most recent WT study depicted a widow with a barren refrigerator. Her countenance suggests mental tension / stress / anxiety. In the lower part of the art work, the widow is shown neatly attired, and depositing a coin into the contributions box at the kingdom hall. Her countenance suggests that she is happy / pleased. The relevant paragraph makes reference to the “needy widow” whom Jesus affirms. Thus, the authors of this magazine are drawing a parallel between the first century support of a divinely approved temple, and the modern day estate of the WTBTS. The needs of anyone who contributes to this modern day estate will be met by God claim the authors, as such individuals are putting the Kingdom first (another false and twisted parallel).
However, I would assert that this part of the article may engender feelings of guilt, experiences of stress / inadequacy on the part of seniors of meagre means at not being able to contribute as they may otherwise wish to. I would even go as far as to assert that this part of the article is an actual example of the psychological abuse of seniors and in my mind, shows a rather callous and cold streak on the part of the WT authors. That they psychologically prey on seniors like this is shamefully reprehensible. As Meleti rightly says in his blog, the book of James holds the congregation responsible for providing for a “needy widow”. That the WTBTS absolves itself from James’ scriptural guidance on the matter is exemplary of how divergent they actually are from this and many other examples of scriptural precedents.
However, all that having been said, the main point I wanted to put across is about the authors of this magazine in their article about anxiety recommending meeting attendance as one means of assuaging anxiety. The truth is to the contrary in that an elderly needy one attending the meeting at which this article was discussed may likely feel anxiety /guilt / stress. So the meetings may actually be a source of anxiety rather than a source of becalming such.
https://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/convention-program-2017/friday/.
why would our beloved gb member be on the top picture of the program?.
any ideas?.
This reminds me of the last convention at Twickenham RFU stadium where banners were fixed to the lamp posts.. The banners had a member of the GBoJW portrayed on them. Hardly faithful, and certainly not discrete. Neither is this programme!
By the way, the convention mentioned above was an over crowded debacle. Families with kids couldn't find seats and had to go home. Insufficient public transport. One member of my cong didn't get home until 11.00pm. I anticipated problems and left at lunchtime. Now I just don't bother at all.
This GBoJW projecting themselves as they do is really quite repellent!
this article could be seen as a nice read compared with the banality and repetitiveness of many articles in recent years.
however, several areas in the article still troubled me.
paragraph one externalises the cause of an individual’s anxiety to satan the devil.
I forgot to mention paragraph 17 wherein it is said.....
"a congregation elder may be able to help you to put your anxiety into perspective".
I think they mean that you may be carefully corrected and told to focus on the more important things such as ministry and meetings.
In any case, an elder's role will be quite limited as the WT doesn't provide training in how to deal with anxiety. No mention is made od the possible need for professional help.
I don't suffer from anxiety myself, but I couldn't honestly recommend approaching an elder. Notwithstanding his lack of training/knowledge, he is likely to be quite busy already and highly stressed and perhaps not even aware of it. On balance, elders are more likely to be a source of anxiety than a source of mitigating it.
reading another thread made me realise that there are numerous expressions used as everyday witness terminology, that is not in the bible.... such as:.
governing body.
paradise earth.
Here are a few.....
Theocratic order
Loyal submission
Exemplary publisher
Universal sovereign
this article could be seen as a nice read compared with the banality and repetitiveness of many articles in recent years.
however, several areas in the article still troubled me.
paragraph one externalises the cause of an individual’s anxiety to satan the devil.
The Awake of June 2010 (article called "Keeping Stress Under Control" parallels the above WT study article in many respects. However, there is a part of the article which I sometimes quote. This results in the JW hearer tending to be quite surprised that such a thought was ever published. Last time I quoted it at the KH a significant number seemed uncomfortable - others surprised. Here is the quote...
"The Bible also helps us to cultivate modesty, which means having a moderate estimate of our abilities. —Micah 6:8.
God expects us humbly to acknowledge that we have physical, mental, and emotional limits and that we cannot do everything we would like to do. As difficult as this can be, we may need to learn when and how to say no to demands that exceed what we realistically can handle." (Page 9).
This article too, externalised stress aetiology, with the organisation neither looking at itself as causative or considering reform / tapering demands to assuage stress on its affiliates.
this article could be seen as a nice read compared with the banality and repetitiveness of many articles in recent years.
however, several areas in the article still troubled me.
paragraph one externalises the cause of an individual’s anxiety to satan the devil.
The alleviating anxiety recommendations are well thought out as you say. Also, have a look at the June 2010 Awake re stress and available via Avoidjw.org - a good read.
However, the advice is still in conflict with what the org teaches elsewhere (the productivity paradigm). Seldom does the org cite Jesus' example to "go up to a lonely place and rest up a bit." Having time to yourself is certainly part of maintaining mental health. Trouble is that this orgs demands on people are inimical to mental health!
I admire your endeavour to be positive. I only wish the org would be of such a disposition.
this article could be seen as a nice read compared with the banality and repetitiveness of many articles in recent years.
however, several areas in the article still troubled me.
paragraph one externalises the cause of an individual’s anxiety to satan the devil.
This article could be seen as a nice read compared with the banality and repetitiveness of many articles in recent years. However, several areas in the article still troubled me.
Paragraph one externalises the cause of an individual’s anxiety to Satan the Devil. This immediately get’s the reader to focus on a source of the problem which is not subject to any mitigating influence. Similarly, paragraph two points to a “loving heavenly Father” making it “possible for us to gain considerable relief”.
Thus, right at the very outset of the article, the organisation itself is excused from any responsibility or culpability in engendering anxiety in its affiliates. So too does it de facto distances itself from being a source of solution and instead devolves this to the “Father”.
The introductory two paragraphs remind me of a negative first century figure. I would borrow his name to describe the GBoJW’s self-absolution from responsibility for causing anxiety among affiliates. The name I would incorporate into a group of behaviours which typify the paradigm of the GBoJW in many respects. The name/term is that of "Pontius Pilate Syndrome". So chosen because in this article, they are washing their hands of any responsibility for anxiety experiences by JW’s and similarly, do not reform the organisation to make it convergent with what they falsely claim it to be – a loving brotherhood!
Paragraph five recommends the reading of scripture as a means of assuaging anxiety. I would agree and cite page 755 of Insight Vol II regarding reading and meditating upon scripture....
"The help of God’s spirit is necessary for real discernment and understanding of God’s Word. (1Co 2:9-16) To get understanding and other benefits, a person must approach the reading of God’s Word with an open mind, throwing aside all prejudice and preconceived opinions; otherwise his understanding will be veiled.... Superficial reading is not enough. The reader must put his heart into it, be absorbed in study of the material, meditate deeply upon it, and seek to benefit from it personally. "
Trouble with this sage advice in the WT and Insight volume is that it places you in conflict with the organisation. This is because through time one discerns the organisation is becoming more and more divergent from scripture. Increasingly, it is the GBoJW (the self proclaimed F&DS) which is ascending in importance and the teachings of JC being de facto and de jure discounted.
Paragraph 6 is a very rare exception to the pattern of the GBoJWs self elevation and Christ being discounted however. This paragraph describes Jesus' concern and intervention. Whilst this paragraph is a pleasant read, yet the organisation behind its authoring projects a strong paradigm of corporate productivity (ministry hrs, RV's, BS, meetings, participation) and is remote from Jesus' thinking. Perhaps this is a reason behind the withdrawal of the WT statement of purpose from Jan 2013 onwards wherein it was claimed - "It adheres to the Bible as its authority."
That meetings are a means of individuals' obtaining help with anxiety in paragraph 18 is quite absurd. Were this really the case then individuals would be flocking to the meetings. As such, in the UK and many developed lands, people are voting with their feet. The content of the meetings are essentially repetitive, centralised (and thus remote from local needs), with speakers who are selected on the basis of ministry hours rather than their oratory skills, spirituality, love of scripture, or emotional intelligence. Why would you really go to a KH if you have anxiety? Why?
I have not experienced the “interchange of encouragement” mentioned in paragraph 18. Those in a position of leadership are focussed on themselves and the perceived importance of their roles. Thus, in terms of giving encouragement they are just not CAPACITOUS! This lack of encouragement filters down to congregations. So rather than encouragement, too many today encounter the proverbial cold shoulder or even shunning. For this to happen you don't have to be DF’d, DA’d, or reproved in any way. In fact, this behavioural profile on the part of congregations only serves to strengthen and legitimise an individual's increasing distance from the organisation.
The article mentions the fruitage of the spirit, and the help of Jesus Christ. However, this is in reality, the poorest quality of veneers and is quite disingenuous. Were a JW to be anxious due to being ill and hospitalised, the concern would be that s(he) complete a blood form and abstain from any blood transfusions. Indeed, the anxiety of being spiritually policed, and of treatment options being restricted by Watchtower Mutawa, would likely prolong or complicate the individual's hospital stay.
So much of the article is a nice read. But coming from the WT with their record undermines that very message in the article. It's somewhat like Trump, Erdogan, Duterte, or Órban preaching love, peace and tranquility!
