JW's have turned into obituary chasers
- Thread starter Watchman
- Start date
SusanB
Well-known member
It’s not a practice that I have been involved with but I guess I always assumed that some people would welcome a hopeful word. I just never felt comfortable with doing that because it is such a sensitive time. And, yet I have to admit that if I posted the obituary of a loved relative and let’s say a member of Islam (who was not acquainted with me, the family nor the deceased) made a comment and used it as an opportunity to preach their religion to me, I would find that distasteful. So, I guess the golden rule of treating others as you would like to be treated requires some deep thought. It is definitely polarizing and not a good report.
יהוה_saves
Well-known member
it’s just so disingenuous. Esp knowing JWs report it on their field service reports - or do they still do that?
Deaths of peoples’ loved ones, even as they are grieving, exploited as recruitment opportunities for JWs is just gross. Let people grieve ffs.
kirmmy
Well-known member
Aye, aye, aye. That's what happens when you stop the preaching work and start...whatever it is they're doing.
To be honest though, they aren't specifically trying to recruit them but share the resurrection hope. They're just doing it in a tactless way.
I had an acquaintance from a job I had years ago. We would occasionally email back and forth with news, etc. He told me once that his wife had stomach cancer and I just said sorry and I hope she's able to beat it. A few months later he sent me an email telling me she had died. I told him that there was something about me that I had never discussed with him at work. That I was actually a pretty religious person. I then quoted some scriptures regarding the resurrection hope and said I sincerely hoped he'd see his wife again in a paradise earth. I have never heard from him again.
MuleJule
Well-known member
My mother in law, pre covid, loved to get a group of sisters together and she would help them write sympathy cards to relatives listed in obituaries. She did it in a tactful way, but it still made me uncomfortable and I would help look up addresses for them, but couldn’t bring myself to write or send cards to a stranger at such a sensitive time. Like others stated, let them grieve. In that situation I think it would make me feel stalked & suspicious.
Yes still get asked for reports or in our cong we have a app you can send it in that way
kenmuldoon55
Well-known member
All on account of counting field service time.🤮
PJ54
Well-known member
I get the impression the J-Dubs are so disconnected from society that their mentality would mimic Asperger's slightly due to the fact many of the friends have a hard time understanding social que's. People notice how they treat each other & those on the outside would stare in confusion since when someone dies in the Org, more people crowed around the grieving where in the world (particularly the West) people tend to distance themselves from others. I fear they are becoming air headed so to speak. I remember a study watchtower years ago talking about balance since many of the friends would only think about the bible believing thinking and doing anything else would be a mortal sin.
יהוה_saves
Well-known member
see that’s the thing. Offering a kind word to someone you already know about the hope Jehovah holds out for our dead loved ones is one thing, but scouring the obits and sending unsolicited religious notes to fill a time quota is quite another. I’m glad this was made public on the news.
Jim
Well-known member
I have on rare occasion posted a brief scripture that gives hope on a funeral home memorial site when particularly saddened by a tragic death. But never proselytized. Or counted my time. You gotta be careful with those that are grieving. When my son died I was actually angered by the many statements such as "Well, there is always the resurrection" as if it were some magical elixir that would numb the pain. It's a touchy time. I was questioned why I did not have his memorial service in the KH. instead of funeral home. I couldn't be honest with my answer. It was because I did not want a scripted infomercial for JW.org. Yes, I have been to funerals that the brother giving the talk actually mentioned JW.org at the conclusion. An elder who is a relative still gave the talk with appropriate scriptures but not the Watchtower approved outline. The service was about MY SON.
יהוה_saves
Well-known member
The Black Sheep
Well-known member
Before the pandemic I remember some pioneer zealots would stalk the local cemetery for fresh victims.
יהוה_saves
Well-known member
PJ54
Well-known member
I remember being told one time by a sister that when she & her husband were at the cemetery looking to witness, it was early in the morning & the husband went up to talk to a person. Since it was dark he couldn't make it out who it was. After enough talking he realized it was a statue of a grave. They had a few laughs after that fiasco.
יהוה_saves
Well-known member
Lol.
Jim
Well-known member
I hope it doesn't sound that I don't appreciate the brotherhood. I do. But I have my limits of what I will subject myself to. Have to maintain sanity. I have been around a long time. I promise you that it used to be different. It wasn't cultish. We all hung out together. We used to visit nearby congregations just to visit. Young people used to meet on Saturday nights to prepare for the Watchtower study. And we had fun! We drew strength from each other. Congregation picnics were the norm. Even announced from the platform on Sunday after the Watchtower study. Good lord. Better not do that now! And no one even concerned themselves or even knew the name of Governing Body members.
יהוה_saves
Well-known member
i know
i know, everything has changed, hasn’t it. The elders are more militant, more purist, less friendly and less approachable. Now you approach them they're standoffish. The faithful and discreet slave has become the evil slave beating his fellows slaves because he perceives his master is delaying. Everything is playing out exactly as foretold.
You’re not alone Jim. Even though perhaps the majority of JWs don’t come foreword out of fear- they are tortured inside. It’s sad, but it is prophesied too, so it’s exciting. Endure to the end my friend. There is a limit to what Jehovah will allow us to tolerate.
i know, everything has changed, hasn’t it. The elders are more militant, more purist, less friendly and less approachable. Now you approach them they're standoffish. The faithful and discreet slave has become the evil slave beating his fellows slaves because he perceives his master is delaying. Everything is playing out exactly as foretold.
You’re not alone Jim. Even though perhaps the majority of JWs don’t come foreword out of fear- they are tortured inside. It’s sad, but it is prophesied too, so it’s exciting. Endure to the end my friend. There is a limit to what Jehovah will allow us to tolerate.
G
Gadfly
Guest
This is the kinda thing that you do and are not aware of how bad it looks because you are too close to the situation and your officers do not have the sensitivity to know better. Lotta stuff like this. I don't even get angry at this sort of thing anymore.
Very sweet.
Very sweet.
4JahandChrist
Well-known member
Word up Jimbo. 👍And remember the District Conventions? They were like Festive, Carnival Events. Lots of young brothers and sisters found their marriage mate at Conventions working together in Food Service etc.
Now District Conventions are stale and sterile. People only interact with their immediate family groups and I've had single mothers say to me they dread going because they feel Isolated and alone. Not many marriages coming from there either as it's hard for the young ones to get mingling when they are tied to their own little niche social/family group.
I was talking to a staunch JW about this only 3 months ago and I asked why we got rid of Congregation get togethers and why is it such a sin to announce it from the platform and he said....
"The meetings are a holy and dignified occasion and we would not want to take away from the Holiness of Jehovah's Meeting by announcing Picnics".
So you can talk about financial contributions and Kingdom Hall maintenance but don't you dare announce a Congo Get Together? More Whitewash there than a Lime Pit in winter. 🤷♂️😏