Thanks for all the responses ! I'll try to catch up and reply to everybody before I go to work this afternoon.
GOPHER- Thanks for printing all the other quotes concerning 1975 from WT publications, I appreciate it. It certainly shows the WT Society is supremely liable for deceiving JW's and building up their hopes- only to let them down and devastate those hopes. Sounds like you and I were born pre 1975 and were part of the young people being brought up in the organization who were eyewitnesses to this deception. It's amazing when we consider 39 years have passed since 1974.
DESIGNS- With the presiding overseer counting down the months until 1975 the load of responsibility for deceiving JWs also falls on elders who were spouting off WT Society fantasys as well. Like yourself I too was unable, or not allowed to get a college education because " the end was so close ". Ridiculous. I'm glad that I've been able to stay self employed for 30 years now or I don't know how I would have made it. I learned through time to rely on myself- NOT false WT Society predictions.
BLINDERS OFF- Evil, manipulative, and creepy . Yep, that about nails the WT Society for sure dead on. I agree.
DING- Yeah, I agree- the WT Society leaders are pretty messed up and wacked out " fire rangers " for sure ! They no more no when the end is than you, me or anybody else ! Crazy.
BIGMAC- The brain cells of JWs have been stolen from them by the WT Society. Pretty tragic for sure.
NEVERAJW- Thanks for the link to the book " Armageddon in 1975 " . Sounds interesting, I'll have to check it out.
DATA-DOG- You make a really good point that if the WT Society WAS a loving leadership in this rganization they would have cautioned JW's to NOT be irresponsible and to not sell off their belongings. But the fact WT leaders DID NOT do that shows they really didn't have the JW's best interests at heart and really are a criminally, negligent, deceptive, manipulative organization with impure motives of using peoples lives up for selfish gain.
FINKELSTEIN- I agree with you. WT leaders ARE liars and manipulate JW's by taking advantage of their ignorance by manipulating their false hopes pretending they are realities. I agree that WT leaders are corrupt and criminally negligent. It's disgusting.
LOIS LANE LOOKING FOR SUPERMAN- Thanks for those interesting experiences of people you knew who made irresponsible decisions based on 1975. Isn't it crazy ? I agree with you the WT Society has NEVER admitted to errors or shown responsibility for it's failed predictions. Usually JW's themselves are blamed for " not understanding ". Truth of the matter is WT leaders don't know their a$$ from a hole in the ground but they don't or can't or won't admit it to rank & file JWs or they'll lose an shred of " credibility " they hold over these people.
HOSER- Very sad story about the older couple who lost a lot over 1975. I bet there are thousands if not millions of bitter older people alive still who sacrificed everything for this criminal organization controlled by the WT Society. Very sad.
SMIDDY- Good points you make. I do believe the WT Society took advantage of the climate of fear in the 1960's regarding nuclear threats and used those fears to suck more members into the cult. I remember delivering those tracts and brochures in 1973 and 1974 about religion being doomed and the end of the world. Were we ever THAT duped ? Yes, we were. Fortunately we are not now. Amazing.
VANGOGH- I feel for you my friend. I lost out on a college education as well due to being raised in a prominent JW family with a hardcore elder dad raising me at the helm. I agree the WT Society IS a wicked organization that uses and abuses it's members and controls them through deception. It's good we are exposing them now though to the younger generation.
HELLENBACK- Sorry you had such a " tool " for a dad , sounds like he just wanted to save his own skin coming into the organization right before 1975. I'm glad you got out and are free now though.
PICKLER- It's interesting that even you as a pre-schooler can remember the sense of dread and fear being pushed into JW's minds just before 1975. The fact that rumors started that " apostates " were saying 1975 was the year Armageddon would come is an indicator that false rumors start at the top of the organization and trickle down. How convenient was that in the WT leaders spreading THAT around then they go into denial mode and let JWs run around spreading rumors like wildfire. Then as you stated a lot of Witnesses didn't want to talk about it because it was such an eyesore for the WT organization and it would shake up JW's " worldview " if they ever admitted to themselves the WT Society was wrong. Amazing.
IRONDORK- Interesting that even YOU at age 8 still remember the fear instilled into people about 1975 and telling your teacher about it. Thats amazing and strange all at the same time. And yet- like you say false rumors were started absolving the WT leaders of any responsibility about 1975 by Witnesses blaming overzealous " brothers and sisters " for selling off their homes and possessions. WT Society is always looking for scapegoats to absolve themselves of responsibility. They are really good at doing that
