active unbaptised publisher here.you?
(though i already know the answer for some people).
Ex-JW. Born-in. Tried to believe. Was very active. Faded in the noughties and not shunned although family still in. Put most things to rest in my mind after lurking/joining JWN over the last six months. Just ordered CoC and started reading it - gripping.
MMXIV
something old, nothing new: count zarth arn, watch out!
Opening music to 2001 - A Space Odyssey. Can't argue with Star Wars or Bladerunner though.
externally, we get a certain 'impression' of what living in england is like.
every third baby boy is named mohammed.
people who engage in self defense are imprisoned while criminals are given a 'firm talking to' and have their hands slapped.
And when someone treads on my toe on the underground I apologise to them. In fact we apologise far too much. Sorry if that isn't clear.
MMXIV
when they announced disfellowshipping of certain individuals in your congregation?
were you shocked?
tell me about it.
Hardly anyone in our cong was ever disfellowshipped so when they announced two in one evening! It was a brother (who was always chasing skirt despite being married with kids) and a sister no-one really knew and they had to specify that they were unrelated cos everyone would have got the wrong idea.
I was shocked, as I have been at finding out about every disfellowshipping, although it always seemed more dramatic from the platform.
MMXIV
remember, the topic in the reasoning book, conversation stoppers.
well, did they actually work against you or for you?.
are there conversation stoppers that you use now at your place of work or the bar, or with your significance other, that you use?.
I rarely tried to get around conversation stoppers - it seemed just plain rude to ignore or disregard what people said, especially when they were just trying to be polite.
When JW's call now I use "I know why you're calling but I'm not interested - thank you anyway" and rapidly close the door.
MMXIV
since the sheparding visit a few weeks ago i have had three phone calls and two drop bys from the elders .
we have been gone both times they stopped by (but our son saw them and did not answer the door ).
the phone messages are directed to me not my husband, and the one left today he sounded a bit on edge .
It's the same mentality as when calling back on a return visit over and over when they're not home. I must admit I used to do that cos it beat doing first call. Once a householder came to the door and asked why I kept calling and I said "Cos you weren't at home" to which she replied "I just didn't want to answer the door". I can take a hint now but clearly your elders can't.
They'll probably continue to pester you unless you call them and say you don't need the information. Personally I'd ignore them cos I'm just that way inclined. I feel your frustration though.
MMXIV
paragraph 17 states: "how should we respond when rumors about fellow believers are circulated by gods enemies?".
what about: "how we should respond when rumours about fellow believers are circulated by fellow believers?
my family was continually a victim of sewer level slander (not even gossip that resulted in murder - not physical but a character assassination.
They say the British press are the worst where gossip and slander are concerned. Having had a job dealing with them for a high profile company I found them not too dissimilar to an average congregation. I was therefore expertly qualified to manage issues that arose. No-where have I come across so much two-faced b1tching as in KH's.
MMXIV
i've always been told that i have a very good personality, that i'm humorous, etc.. one elder called me over and said that i was "smiling too much".
the other elders talked to the elder who counseled me and he came back to say that i should be like i was .
.
For watching an 18 (R-rated) Arnie movie (Total Recall) at the cinema with a load of other witlesses. Came up smelling of roses - I claimed I was so shocked by the violence I had to close my eyes through most of it, I hadn't walked out because I didn't want to cause offense to the study who'd suggested we view it in the first place and I would never want to see anything like it again. They didn't clock that I was 17 so shouldn't have even been there - I was made an MS shortly afterwards. Roll on three years and I went to see Pulp Fiction straight from FS
For having designer stubble. I was told it was unprofessional and asked if my intention was to grow it longer into a beard which would be acceptable??!! I said no and managed to get the most professional jobs anyone in that KH ever held with stubble.
When reading out the accounts report I was counselled for stating what the total funds were in the bank. I was asked not to do this as brothers would be less inclined to contribute. I replied it was a legal requirement and a stipulation from the society.
For not putting in a FS report despite going on the ministry as it would distort the figures. They didn't in truth know how to handle that one
MMXIV
were you a fish out of water?.
were you popular in your congregation?.
were you a "marked" person?.
Treated me really well when I was young, pioneering, reaching out etc.
When I fell from grace some elders totally ignored me but others in my peer group made a real point of standing by me and some elders were great.
When I didn't go to many meetings and kept a low profile (long fade) people just kind of ignored me which was perfect albeit made those minutes before and after meetings tough.
In one congregation I wasn't treated badly I just didn't seem to exist for 10 months until I gave an arresting talk. At least 20 people spoke to me afterwards; love bombing like it was the second coming. I got input from a Jewish lecturer when preparing the talk and delivered it like I was a CO - it was the best talk I'd ever given and my last by choice for a long time. It has always been so much easier for brothers to get noticed and take the limelight - it's all about platform time.
MMXIV
I'd agree with Wobble - never yet met a bad Paul and most have been decent , a cut above and always taking the pick of the girls. You certainly couldn't describe besty as "little man" - but then maybe that's why he's known as besty and not Paul.
MMXIV
