The 95 thing was a VERY big deal to me. I think this was evidenced in my life by the fact that in 91 I was a ministerial servant and by 95 I was inactive. I got back involved with the Witnesses sporadically afterwards but I was completely inactive in 97 and 98. I went back to school in 99 and so lived with my parents and attended meetings for them. But then I went inactive again from 2000 to 2004. The only reason I'm in now is because I married a dub in 04. It was not until this past year that I learned the real truth on this site and now my conscience is completely salved.
Why the hey did we not WALK away in 1995?? the gen. thing
by oompa 47 Replies latest jw friends
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JimmyPage
Now that I think about it though the sad part is I was really starting to believe it again until I got on this site. Shows you how powerful mind control is!
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wha happened?
It got my attention in a big way. What really opened my eyes was the response from the PO when I asked him about it. He very callously directed me to write a letter to Bethel and wouldn't speak about it ever again. Sfter that I was distracted by a failing marraige so I didn't look any further until after our seperation
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DanTheMan
In 1995 I was still relatively new to JWism and I didn't study ahead that week, nor did I pay much attention when the material was being covered at the meeting. I wish I had had been paying more attention and had more knowledge of just how long they had been beating the drum of a literal 1914 generation to scare dubs into submission and gain converts, and how they kept stretching out the interpretation as the decades went by, until it finally broke.
From Mary's project thingy:
Since “Jehovah’s people includes all Witnesses, the (absurd) idea is to suggest that the average Witness had some say in shaping this doctrine in the first place and must therefore bear part of the blame for “speculating”:
“...Eager to see the end of this evil system, Jehovah's people have at times speculated about the time when the "great tribulation" would break out, even tying this to calculations of what is the lifetime of a generation since 1914. However, we "bring a heart of wisdom in," not by speculating about how many years or days make up a generation, but by thinking about how we "count our days" in bringing joyful praise to Jehovah. (Psalm 90:12) Rather than provide a rule for measuring time, the term "generation" as used by Jesus refers principally to contemporary people of a certain historical period, with their identifying characteristics.” 208
Sickening, the way the WTS can basically take a dump on the flock like this, blame them for the shit on their faces, and get away with it.
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AndersonsInfo
Leon Festinger first developed his cognitive dissonance theory "in the 1950s to explain how members of a cult who were persuaded by their leader, a certain Mrs Keech, that the earth was going to be destroyed on 21st December and that they alone were going to be rescued by aliens, actually increased their commitment to the cult when this did not happen. The dissonance of the thought of being so stupid was so great that instead they revised their beliefs to meet with obvious facts: that the aliens had, through their concern for the cult, saved the world instead."
http://www.ciadvertising.org/student_account/spring_02/adv382j/tcornwell/paper1.htm
Sound familiar? Bible Students expected Christ to come in a second advent in 1874, but when he didn't, they didn't want to appear "stupid" so revised the teaching and said he did come but it was an invisible presence which was better for all concerned, etc. Then not wanting to again appear "stupid" pointed to 1914, then 1925, 1975, 1995, 1998, etc.
Another point: Perhaps because of our nature we came into the organization and stayed too long because of a strong need for certainty because certainty is a comfortable feeling. This feeling can lead to smugness and arrogance, both attitudes JWs are known to have an abundance of. The feeling of uncertainty is so uncomfortable that it leads to anxiety. So JWs tolerate the disappointment and lies so to feel comfortable again. Also, to kill that horrible feeling of uncertainty, which makes for anxiety, too many JWs take anti-anxiety meds.
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flipper
" Why the hey didn't we walk away in 1995 " ? 3 Words. " Cult mind control. " Period mark, exclamation point !! Peace out, Mr. Flipper
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Homerovah the Almighty
A simple answer would be faithfully await for new light if something comes askew on a given matter
and an explanation is given out , its considered new light on the matter.
And the true and faithfully devoted ones will accept it righteously as a spiritually guided correction.
This is all in the mindset of course if you want to gain god's approval.
And you all know how important it is to strive for god's approval.
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Snoozy
I walked after the 1975 rumors...(But that's not why)That was just the last straw for me!
Snoozy..
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Mickey mouse
I remember feeling confused in 1995 , it was the biggest change in doctrine I had witnessed (no pun intended) in my lifetime. I especially remember feeling dejected after the District Convention program which expanded on the original Watchtower article. I remember hearing people say "It hasn't really put Armageddon off" and "Armageddon is still scheduled for the same date it always was, it's just our perception that changes." I couldn't help but wonder if other people were as secretly disappointed as I was. I also felt a right doofus because the "generation of 1914" had been a favourite of mine in the ministry.
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AGuest
how could such a HUGE change not have made more walk away or wake up?
Because the imposterish WTBTS has imposterish "sayings of everlasting life." ("You Can Live Forever") John 6:33
Albeit lies (they've got nothing)... it is the ultimate lure (well, that, and the "tasty" promise of torture and destruction of their enemies).
(exiting to the backdrop of a Vincent Price ghoulish laugh - think "Thriller")
SA