A 1975 story (page 3)

freedomlover

thanks for sharing this info. this is the time period I was born and when my parents were coming into the org. Now I see them so burnt out and just struggling to stick it through to the end. it is truly too bad, so sad.

welcome to the board! - freedomlover

jwfacts

Welcome TooBad TooSad

Interesting story. I have never heard of the months to go calendar. I would love to see a photo too if anyone has one.

The thing that upsets me about the org is it pushes statements made like your mothers, 'things are so bad'. It makes people have to feel life is so miserable. Now I am not a JW I see life as being so much more amazing. I am thankful every day that I live now, with medicine, painrelievers, dentists, a fridge" and no longer convince myself I have to dwell on the negative to try to prove God is about to kill everyone.

formyboys

I remember all during the early 70’s hearing repeated talks, especially at the Service Meeting, of the end coming in 1975. Direct quotes from the Kingdom Ministry, about how commendable it was for some that were selling their homes or the like so they could preach full time. During the District Convention at Dodger Stadium in the summer of 1974, mention were made of being prepared to go “underground”, “we were enjoying the last District convention there would be”, etc. I remember thinking how absolutely imbecilic it was for anyone to count on any day within 1975 being “The End”. That was contrary to the Bible saying “no man would know the day or hour”, “it would come like a thief in the night”, etc.

The “1975” instance, and the lack of caring, compassion and love I was seeing first hand, kept me from ever being able to commit myself to baptism. I hung on, off and on for another 20 years, trying to find the faith to commit, but only because most of my family were JW’s and a very few very loving people that made it all seem plausible. About mid 90’s I actively started to question all the other crap (doctrines and rules) and I faded away, without much resistance from anyone other than family.

I know my mom, who’s over 60 now, never thought she’d get old. She was inactive for years, but my three nephews, within 3 years, made us “inlaws” with ½ of the local congregation. She is suddenly part of the “clic”, has been love bombed and is studying and going to all the meetings again. All she talks about is Studying the Daniel Book, or for the watchtower, and how I need to get my 12 year old to Sunday talks. Argh! I will not subject him to their conditional love.

I have been visiting this board, off and on, for a couple of years. It has been a true awakening.

garybuss

Welcome formyboys,

Glad you decided to post. I look forward to more.

deeskis

Thanks for your story

I was a teenager during that timefram (born in), I don't remember our hall having a "countdown sign", but the pressure was on and 75 was on everyones minds and lips.

certainly did a lot of damage. My family left in 81, but they got sucked back in a few years later. parents and one sister still in.

I think their reasoning is that if they deny it and rewrite history the majority of new members will not believe that they behaved that way. it's sickening

Forscher

That brought back a few memories!
I came in during that time as well. I also missed a good oportunity to go to college for much the same reasons back then. welcome to the board!
Forscher

Bonnie_Clyde

Hi and welcome to the forum - Clyde and I were both baptized in 1959 and we lived through it all. We remember the buzz when the book came out in 1966, "Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God" which showed the 1,000 year reign beginning in 1975. We remember the two weeks of the Watchtower study in 1968 that highly suggested that 1975 was the year. We remember the talks by the circuit overseer stating that the Society was NOT wrong about 1914 and they WILL NOT be wrong about 1975. However, there was also a lot of confusion because occasionally there would be a talk about how we are "not serving for a date" and the talk would seem to minimize the possibility of 1975 being significant. I believe that many of the witnesses who now claim that the Society did not advocate 1975 will use those talks to support it.

Interestingly, Clyde made the comment that there must be some real conflict at Bethel. I found out two decades later, after reading "Crisis of Conscience" by Raymond Franz, that there really was a lot of dissension. It was Ray's uncle, Fred Franz, who was chiefly responsible for the 1975 fiasco.

rekless

we had a CO come in and said, "Bros.,You know what time it is?" It is 11 months,29 days, 23 hours, 59 seconds until October 1975. It is time to start to increase our service to Jehovah. What will you do?"

GoingGoingGone

Welcome TooBad TooSad and formyboys!!

I remember hearing on an assembly in 1973 that ''it is only a matter of MONTHS before the end of this wicked system!'' My mother and her friends lapped it up... My sister, who was born in the late 1960s, would never start school, we were told...

To be honest, though, I don't remember the 1975 date being played up too much in our area. But it was definately mentioned from the platform many times, and discussed endlessly (albeit in whispers) by the congregation.

GGG

kazar

Welcome, TooBad! Looking forward to hearing more from you.

A 1975 story

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