Exclusivity to the “secret” is the mainstay of cult culture! It similar to the masons also. I don’t know if the outcome is the same the world over but certainly the understanding in England was “if you’re not in you die” - and essentially, that is still the message from watchtower in my opinion. It makes sense in an obtuse manner because now, the sense is that if you stay in you die! It’s no small wonder that many just leave watchtower and cease to seek the kingdom.
The last time I visited the Branch in France, the brother who showed us around said that a few years ago, when the young brothers had to do time in prison once they got to a certain age (because they refused to do National Service) the very worst brothers were the ones whose fathers were elders, he said they were so difficult to get along with and had the attitude that "you can't talk like that to me, or do such and such to me because MY dad's an elder"!!
Of course they'd be that way. What a world
Isn't it just? Those type of brothers would benefit very much from a little bit of National Service
I should clarify, this was one of the good elders. He reminded every one of Fred Gwynne and he was a real gem of a brother. I might as well include a good elder when bashing the other elders. This brother gave my brothers funeral talk!
Where would we be without these gifts in men and women Nomex? I remember Frank Gough who in the seventies was a one man dynamo opening the Hall taking the W/T and public talk then closing the hall.....When he was dying with throat cancer a brother from Bethel came to retrieve his shepherding book which the local elders failed to apprehend! Franky said ' It's mine and I fulfilled it and more that I could have added to it I will be cremated with it!
The worse thing about that experience Nomex is the "witness" it gave to Jehovah. I too have had elders treat me despicably and did they care that my ex husband was an outsider, who I was trying to convince that Jah's org was Jah's org? Did they 'eckers like! It's disgusting how they don't even care how Jehovah is coming across to "worldly" people, their money or their "rights" are far more important than Jehovah's reputation.
You reminded me, when left the McDonald's I told that brother in a loud voice, "You will answer to Jehovah for this." That was 30 years ago and I'm sure that "brother" is dead now. That was back when I thought it was just elders who acted like this, and still thought there might be some accountability that would come from Bethel! I always felt like the "witness" he brought knew who the true Christian was. And he knew him a lot better than me and I'm sure he saw way more than I would ever know.
Indeed. Just reading your comment and thinking about this brother, Brother Curtis, made me tear up a little. The elders were not going to give my brother a "funeral talk" because he'd committed suicide, but this brother in the 11th hour, stepped up to the plate and did it. My family will never forget it. They wouldn't do it at the Kingdom Hall however, and he had to do it at the Funeral home. When my second brother died, they did have his at the Kingdom Hall. But I am thankful that at least I know and knew personally, brothers like Brother Curtis.
Oh my goodness Nomex, your experience reminded me of a similar one I had about 3yrs ago. My uncle was an elder for 50yrs, absolutely devoted to Jehovah and would give ANYONE the shirt off of his back, but, just because the other elders didn't l like his daughter, they refused to have his funeral at the kingdom hall or even do the talk for him at the crematorium. ( An elder in another congregation stepped up to the mark) My uncle was so beloved by the rest of the congregation yet hardly anyone came to the funeral or to the gathering afterwards that his family had arranged. His (unbelieving) wife was crying her eyes out wondering why so few people had come considering her husband had devoted his life to them all. Anyway, I decided to find out why hardly anyone attended his funeral and so I started asking questions to the handful of brothers and sisters who WERE there, and it turned out that the body of elders hadn't announced to the congregation any details whatsoever of his funeral, so no-one knew when or where. A couple of days later, I found one of the elders email address online and asked him why they hadn't told the brothers and sisters about my uncle's funeral and he wrote back and said that because the funeral wasn't 100% a witness funeral, organisational "policy" says that they're not obligated to make any announcements!! I was horrified and told him that even so called wicked worldly people find a bit of love in their hearts when it comes to death and they wouldn't dream of trying to implement "policies" because there ARE no policies involved in death.. I also said that he and the other elders had brought terrible reproach on Jehovah's name by doing what they had done and that they were accountable to Jehovah for it. Needless to say he didn't reply.. The penny finally dropped this morning, that the reason why Satan is so prolific in Jah's org is precisely that, because it IS God's organisation..
"The penny finally dropped this morning, the reason why Satan is so prolific in Jah's org is precisely that, because it is God's organization. "
Goodness me! Has it got that bad in your congregation (gathering, assembly, group, collective, meetings) proverbs? That is so controlling and nothing short of ignorant behaviour. My sister didn’t tell me that her husband had died - but then I’m an evil apostate liar.
Put their Kingdom Hall up for sale - that will learn them!!
Well it was original congregation down on the south coast, where I first studied nearly 40yrs ago. Even though I moved up norf 21 years ago I still kept in contact with my uncle and went back down for his funeral, my (unbelieving) hubby came with me and was quite surprised about not many people being at the funeral, I didn't tell him why!! I haven't told him ANYTHING about the things that I suffered in those Cong's down there!! Mind you, I was recently forced to tell him a little recently about what's been going on with the HQ leaders and he totally understands why I don't want to attend the kingdom hall anymore but knows that I still love Jehovah and believe the BibleGoodness me! Has it got that bad in your congregation (gathering, assembly, group, collective, meetings) proverbs? That is so controlling and nothing short of ignorant behaviour. My sister didn’t tell me that her husband had died - but then I’m an evil apostate liar.
We can but keep on plodding along!
Great word is "plodding"We can but keep on plodding along!
Precisely. I have been trying to really drill this point home with my wife, who's having a hard time now with everything. When has Satan ever NOT been after especially God's people. For me the big eye opener was realizing the corruption went all the way to the top. It's funny because now when I think about it I think to myself, "well of course it does." It was the final piece of the puzzle that made it all make sense.
Indeed, it's so obvious once you know these things
Your poor wife.. how is she dealing with your "apostasy"? 
Do you know what Barney? I'm actually starting to feel good about being "an evil apostate liar" It's sure better than being a self righteous idolater than for sure!!Goodness me! Has it got that bad in your congregation (gathering, assembly, group, collective, meetings) proverbs? That is so controlling and nothing short of ignorant behaviour. My sister didn’t tell me that her husband had died - but then I’m an evil apostate liar.
Certainly! I”ll try to be a good apostate liar too. I’m concentrating on improving my evil at present.Do you know what Barney? I'm actually starting to feel good about being "an evil apostate liar" It's sure better than being a self righteous idolater than for sure!!
She's more apostate than I am. LOL. I'm the one hanging on to the baby as the bathwater is being thrown out. She's extremely bitter over what WT has done. She does believe the basic truths, but we have a lot of friends including a neighbor who are big into this local church here, and I have to agree with her on this point, they do seem to display Christian love in a lot more of a convincing fashion than JW's. So that has been the struggle. I have to keep telling her, "they believe in the trinity, hell fire, immortal soul," etc and she keeps acting like I'm just saying these things and I don't really know. Then I'm like, "look it up if you don't believe me", then i get "I don't have time" , then I'm like, "if you won't look it up, how can you say 'I don't know if that's true?'" Basically, I'm just trying to manage this train wreck the best way I can, and I have two young kids to boot. But it many many ways, I'm glad to be out of WT. I had gotten too used to keeping the "brothers" at arms length", because I don't trust most of them because they are such busy bodies going off half cocked, and self righteousness.
