Watchtower is kicking people out again, in the name of LOVE?

by Bethelite Elder 119 Replies latest jw friends

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  undercover

  I leave the room for a few minutes and this is what happens...

  Anyway, I probably shouldn't jump in here, but what the hell...

  It took me awhile to get used to Gary's outspokenness but over time I can see that many times he has valid points. He's brusque and pointed and to someone not used to his brashness if may seem obnoxious.

  While I agree with many of Gary's comments in the past about the Society, I think daniel-p has a valid point as well...JWs (bethelites or not) who come here are in the early stages of their awakening. They're not the problem, they're not the reason for many of our pains of sufferings of being a JW...they're victims just as we were.

  It's not fair to lump a Bethelite who spent years doing common labor and serving in a congregation in the city, thinking they were serving Jehovah, with the leadership of the corporation, both the legal eagles and the GB.

  However, while I think we're here as a support group for other exiting JWs, I do not think we should molly coddle them too much. They have to learn the truth about "the Truth". While some here may be the compassionate, understanding type who can empathize with those going through what we went through, it's good that there are those, to some extent, who will cut to the chase and unabashadly point out the worst of the worst about the cult of JWs.

  Between those of us more likely to console and those willing to step on a few toes, I do think it helps newly exiting ones to come to grips with all that's wrong with the Watchtower Society quicker.

  It's a social lesson in how to deal with different personalities and different opinions as well...something we never really learned as JWs, as we were all supposed to think alike and talk alike. It's good to mix it up here and learn to confront differing opinions and thoughts. In the end, we all have a common ground that pulls us back together.

  (Nows when we all have a group hug)
• 

  ColdRedRain

  "You're talking about Bethel adopting the same downsizing practices of greedy corporations. There are many causes for today's economy problems. Why do you bring up socialism? Watching too much Fox?"

  The corps are downsizing because they need to streamline and weather the upcoming financial storm that's about to be brought about by Hopechange. Corps have to downsize because if they don't downsize, they go out of business. It's a simple law of economics. Less profit=more overhead=less ability to stay afloat=lessened ability to retain employees without going bankrupt and destroying the rest of the business. Bethel is facing a similar situation. Less of an income stream=less of a need to keep employees. Because of the WT's inability to compete in the digital age, they're letting go of people left and right.

  They simply can't operate a closed, insular religion (BTW, all organized religions are businesses, so in reality, the WT's losing business) in the day and age of the internet and it's showing. Much to the chagrin of the Bethelites, the Bethelites believed in the canard of Bethel providing for them forever and the Bethelites got burnt by this unfortunate management of a religion, much like employees of these companies that are being downsized are victims of the mangled management of the corporations.

  Betcha didn't major in economics at the University of Awake.... (Actually, I didn't major in economics either, I simply had an itch to get into business since I left the JWs but I never could get my foot in the door for an investor.)

  Re: Fox News-Fox News is to liberalism what Crisis of Concience is to the JWs. Liberals attack Fox News whenever they're told that their ideas on economics are mathematically impossible and JWs attack Crisis of Concience in a similar manner. The similarities are amazing if you know what you're looking for.

  And in closing, I hope any Bethelite that gets out learns a real skill. They had their youth robbed from them by a corporation that promised cradle to grave care for their free labor and the Bethelites got burnt when they realized that the ponzi scheme they worked for was unsustainable. Again, they should find a skill ASAP before they're broke. Being skilless and depending on other people's mercy will only get you so far.
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  Cessa

  Bronzefist,

  It wasn't the unemployment. I was able to get a good job right away thanks to my profession (which was what landed me at That Place in the first place) It was the emotional pain of being kicked to the curb when I had done NOTHING wrong, and had tried my best to fit in with a system in which it is very difficult to live, and with which I didn't agree even while I was there.. During my time there my eyes were opened, though. Yes, being reassigned was the last straw. But before a week had passed there I had begun to realize a lot of things.

  It is much better on the outside.
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  BabaYaga

  Cessa said: ...and with which I didn't agree even while I was there.. During my time there my eyes were opened, though.

  This could explain a LOT, really. There's your answer, right there. They can smell doubt and independent thinking!
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  BonaFide

  I didn't go to Bethel to show off, at least I hope I didn't. I really thought Bethel and MTS and being an elder was what Jehovah God wanted me to do.

  We were all TAUGHT to see a person by their position, BUT WE NEVER CALLED IT THAT. We always were told that positions were not important, and in the next breath, "So what is your standing?"

  That doublespeak is how cults work, I have learned. All the bad "words" apply to someone else, and some other group, just not us Witnesses. We are God's Organization.

  BF
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  daniel-p

  Cessa, check your PMs.
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  BonaFide

  Even the title of this post, I guarantee you that 90% of the Bethelites who were reassigned NEVER SAY "I was Kicked Out."

  One of the Bethelites that I talked to recently about all this said, "My wife and I have a sense of NERVOUS EXCITEMENT as to whether we will be chosen to go back into the field. Whatever Jehovah wants."

  Yes, that's how the MAJORITY of Bethelites feel, no matter how many years they were there.

  BF
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  daniel-p

  One of the Bethelites that I talked to recently about all this said, "My wife and I have a sense of NERVOUS EXCITEMENT as to whether we will be chosen to go back into the field. Whatever Jehovah wants."

  Yes, that's how the MAJORITY of Bethelites feel, no matter how many years they were there.

  That may be how the ones you know feel at this time, but I wouldn't say it's universal. That's the initial gut reaction when you're scared and dont know what you're going to do. Then reality sets in. My brother was at Bethel for over 10 years--he and his wife were let go in one of the first lay off periods. He thought he was going to be there is whole life. Now he seems depressed, over-worked, and generally sadenned about his life's dream being taken away.

  So no, I don't think you can make that kind of statement.
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  OnTheWayOut

  Even the title of this post, I guarantee you that 90% of the Bethelites who were reassigned NEVER SAY "I was Kicked Out."

  One of the Bethelites that I talked to recently about all this said, "My wife and I have a sense of NERVOUS EXCITEMENT as to whether we will be chosen to go back into the field. Whatever Jehovah wants."

  Yes, that's how the MAJORITY of Bethelites feel, no matter how many years they were there.

  BF

  BonaFide, I don't go around accusing people of misrepresenting themselves, but you say you were so high up in the organization and your misunderstandings never cease to amaze me. You really must have had blinders on.

  You have stated in this thread that many WANTED to leave Bethel. If a person or couple wanted to leave, nothing stopped them from just leaving. I have spoken to former Bethelites that just left on their own, searched for work, got pregnant, etc. Some might be apprehensive, but it isn't a favor to kick people out and assume they wanted to go but needed a little push.

  "Nervous excitement as to whether we will be chosen to go back into the field." Nobody will say that, not even outloud to their family/friends to mask their true feelings. Some will go and try to smile, but really BF- take your blinders off.
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  stillajwexelder

  Is this due to printing moving to Canada