"The end is near" mentality - Pros/Cons

by TheListener 9 Replies latest jw friends

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  TheListener

  I've been thinking about this for awhile now.

  We all know that everytime something bad happens in the world the dubs go "end time" crazy.

  We all know that everytime something good happens in the world the dubs go "end time" crazy.

  This law in England about door to door salesmen (whether it works out or not) may or may not affect the dubs. If it does they will see this as a direct attack and be sure that the end is near. If it doesn't it will be seen as Jehovah's hand in the matter and the end is surely coming.

  So here is my point:

  The dubs are spritually low right now. They're growth and other statistics show this to be true. The only thing that gets them activated is one of these world events that stir them up like a hornets nest of activity waiting for the end. Then when it is all over they go back to being complacent.

  The benefit to the society is that everytime a world event occurs (good or bad) they get increased activity from their membership. The bad side, for the society, is how long can an individual go from complacency to frenzied activity before their frenzied activity isn't all that frenzied? How many times can you get all excited that the end is near only to calm down again and wait a year or more or less for the next big indicator?

  This seems to me to be a con for the WTS. Dubs in their 30s-50s are wore out due to this cycle of emotions. After a time, different for each dub, their frenzied activity really isn't all that frenzied. I believe this is one of the main causes of the slowdown in the industrialized nations. Along with the internet being there for them when the venture out from their hole and look for information.
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  Crumpet

  Listener - good points. I thought exactly the same:

  If it does they will see this as a direct attack and be sure that the end is near. If it doesn't it will be seen as Jehovah's hand in the matter and the end is surely coming.

  The number of times the ante was upped and then nothing happened - the Bosnian war, the wars in Iraq, every major earthquake - there'd be murmurs at the back of the hall that this might be IT!

  I think they should bear in mind their own teaching - the Great Tribulation has to come first, ie all religions will be banned. Now thats not goign to happen in five minutes without pre-warning so they should stop getting excited. Banning JWs in Russia or stopping selling at the doors is not equivalent to ALL religions throughout the world being banned.
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  xjwms

  You make good points here. As for me, .. now, .. it was right at 9/11, when I just could not go back to meetings.

  Although this was a major for some to run back, ... I stopped.

  I also had a funny thought a few days ago... It was on the news I think this last tuesday, ...

  Last week there were 900 earthquakes total in the world. Five were in California.

  How do you feel about the massive number of earthquakes.??
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  TheListener

  Per an Awake! from 1991 (November perhaps?) the frequency of earthquakes is not a sign of the end.

  I no longer worry about the end. I know that I'm living a decent life and trying to help others. I feel very comfortable that God knows this and if there is a cataclysmic end or something he'll take care of me.
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  xjwms

  sounds good ... I can live with that.
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  garybuss

  Bottom feeders tend to stay pretty close to the bottom.
  
  
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  Undecided

  I was divorced by a JW in 72 and married a worldly woman in August of 74 and didn't care if the end was comming or not, I was going to enjoy my life, and here it is 30 years later and right now I'm celebrating my daughters birthday, she's 28 today. Still enjoying my life as best as I can and only worry about my end comming.

  Ken P.
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  TheListener

  I know the looks I see on the older friends faces (and by talking with them) that time has flown by and they feel pretty empty inside. The new system, which seemed so real when they were younger and active in the congregations, seems like a distant dream now. Can you imagine looking around and seeing so many new ones spouting the exact same rhetoric you did when you were there age. "The end is near now!" they say. To the old timers there must be some irritation at having seen and done it all, yet being treated as second class citizens because they can't contribute as much anymore.
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  Balsam

  Yes this constant high and lows of excitement of reading the end into everything good or bad was exhausting to me. Then us older ones were trying to keep up with 10 hrs a month preachings, getting to all the meetings, plus assemblies and conventions. Forget the care of the family, most the ones I knew were dropping in their tracks. Mental breakdowns, hospitalizations, illness. How long can the baby boomers hold up the WTS, since I am sure they are a majority now. Then there are the older folks, those over say 60 and older, they are so exhausted too and the oldest ones are not preaching anymore as they reach the end of their life.

  The emotional ups and downs the Society pours upon its followers is slowly making most of them sick. Too much stress.

  I know since I left my health has returned, my sleeping is back to normal, and I feel great. While I was a JW, I was totally exhausted and burned out. 30 years will do that to you with all the yoyo mentality and looking for the end in every event. Good lord just stopping attending meetings was such a huge relief.
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  DannyBloem

  We all know that everytime something bad happens in the world the dubs go "end time" crazy.

  We all know that everytime something good happens in the world the dubs go "end time" crazy.

  . After a time, different for each dub, their frenzied activity really isn't all that frenzied. I believe this is one of the main causes of the slowdown in the industrialized nations. Along with the internet being there for them when the venture out from their hole and look for information

  I think you have a good point. What I saw in the cong. is that people get tired. Tired in the FS because the people couldn't care less. Here in europe this is going on for a long time already. When the work is difficult, people wil harden and become steadfast. Now, nobody cares too much and only think it is a bit rediculous. That is harder then presecution I think.

  But some just do not give up. I know some dubs who think every time there is lightning that armageddon has started...