Not sure what to title this.

[Pudgy]

…

[TrueTomHarley]

The submerged iceberg, of which it is tempting to focus on the visible tip, is the Norwegian judge’s words that he finds it ‘reasonable that boyfriends and girlfriends are going to have sex with one another.’ Make no mistake that if he didn’t find it ‘reasonable,’ as previous generations have not, he would be more amenable to the Witnesses’ discipline. He might still find it severe, but he would not likely find it illegal.

But he has acquiesced to a new norm like that of my extended family, in which a 14-year-old daughter dates a 16-year-old who has his drivers’ license. As long as they are home by 9 PM, not a problem. ‘He’s a good kid,’ they say of him. And, as kids go, he probably is.  But, forget about Bible principles.

The challenge, which can be expected to increase, is to navigate Jehovah’s organization amidst a world that disdains the values it stand for, that considers Bible morality backwards and even harmful, and that begins to concoct laws against it.

Even Matthew raises no objection to this. Maybe he doesn’t know of the judge’s words. Maybe he knows but blows them off as nothing, joining the church world insistent upon retaining the label ‘Christian’ but not so insistent upon the conduct that identifies a person as one, being more outraged over discipline than the immoral conduct that calls for it.

20 hours ago, JW Insider said:

Several of the attendees supposedly gave reports of suicides among disfellowshipped and shunned teenagers.

Suicide is bad, so it is right if the Christian organization takes it seriously, modifying procedures, perhaps partly for that reason. It’s all good and welcome. Be proactive as you can. Many things done can be done differently. Many things can be tweaked to take into account changing times. It appears this is happening.

But it should also be kept in mind that suicide is all the rage among the young today. They have inherited an impossible world from older generations (who also do not apologize for it) and many of them break under the strain.

When my wife and I visited Ithaca, we passed a bridge on which obscenities were painted about Cornell, presumably due to the suicides that take place, some by jumping off that bridge. Ought Cornell be held liable for putting so much pressure upon young people? Or ought their parents be held liable, for pressuring the importance of ‘success’ at all costs? Anyone apologize for handing them such a world?

Or what of this young person crying because she works at a good job and cannot afford rent. Just like that, it goes up by $900 in a month and she can no longer afford to eat.. Anyone apologize to her over that?

https://www.dailydot.com/news/woman-has-to-cut-back-on-eating/

Or adults create AI, and just like that, it is used against children, deep-faking them naked and in sexual acts. No apologies there, either. Schools themselves are nightmares to attend, at least in the U.S, where bullying without consequence runs rampant, and yet students are sentenced into such unsafe places—it’s not as though they can opt out. Any apologies? Not only is there not, but there is a steady stream of people with degrees telling of how they are about to turn the situation around, just as they were 40 years ago.

It is a pretty lengthy list of how today’s world has absolutely failed its young people, and many of them take their lives over it.

As ‘repressive’ as some Witness families might be, as much as some might view them as ‘hemming people in,’ they are also sources of support and stability. You do not want to cut yourself off from your family. But the young today are encouraged to do just that, cut themselves off from where there is a safety net to leap to where there is not. All a young person must do is abide by family rules, while they are living with family, and they are fine. Previous generations, for the most part, have recognized and supported this basic fact of human life. The present one does not, and is being encouraged to not recognize and recognize  it by people who will not be there to break  a young person’s fall should they take one.

As much as I hear that Jehovah’s Witnesses are ‘insular,’ they can’t hold a candle to the insularity of those who oppose them. To hear the latter carry on, you would think the present world is a paradise and all would know it were it not for ‘scare’ tactics of the Witnesses. 

 

[Pudgy]

One thing I have learned … Judges and Government officials msy be wrong, but THEY have the bayonets.

Some things just have to be endured.

[George88]

Thanks BTK.

Just like many miles, I have overcome ignorance by blocking it. It's your lack of understanding that is questionable, similar to those found in the closed club. It's amusing that you think I care about your downvote "thinking", especially considering people here don't possess the ability to even pass as respected JWs, similar to the ancient Israelites.

[TrueTomHarley]

4 hours ago, George88 said:

It's your lack of understanding that is questionable, similar to those found in the closed club.

Oh, it’s nothing like in the closed club. Their lack of understanding is so great they barely know how to tie their shoes.

[Pudgy]

It’s not so much the tying of the shoes, but getting the head unstuck from the water bucket.

[George88]

6 hours ago, TrueTomHarley said:

Oh, it’s nothing like in the closed club. Their lack of understanding is so great they barely know how to tie their shoes.

That is undeniably true. There is no point in arguing against it. Hypocrisy, dishonesty, and a lack of genuine camaraderie are prevalent in both forums, and by whom? Jehovah's Witnesses, lol!

[TrueTomHarley]

30 minutes ago, George88 said:

That is undeniably true. There is no point in arguing against it. Hypocrisy, dishonesty, and a lack of genuine camaraderie are prevalent in both forums, and by whom? Jehovah's Witnesses, lol!

A greater den of scum and villainy has never been than in the closed club. I do my best to keep them in line, because someone has to do it—I owe it to the old hen—but let me tell you, it’s exhausting.

[Pudgy]

…. ah yes ….

…… the “Closed Club”  ….