I am finding sme of the threads about JW Anointed rather interesting, humorous, and some unfactual, or maybe better stated narrow (limited?) in their views. Rather than posting this to several threads, I thought I would make a single new thread.
Having lived the JW 'Anointed' life, here are some things I found to be true, some interesting, and some not so exciting:
1. The Watchtower Society has done such a good job in marketing their fears of 'new' anointed among their ranks, that most JWs who would be drawn to heavenly life are, and continue to be, frightened away from partaking at the JW Memorial.
2. The Watchtower Society has also done such a good job of making JWs believe that most 'new' anointed are likely crazy, on drugs, and fantasizing, that even many x-JWs still think of JW Anointed as either having some special experience, or are truly kooks.
3. The JW Anointed I knew are:
Bessy: She was in her late 80s when I met her, going strong as a Colporter since Russell's time, and a Reg. Pioneer when the title changed ... she briefly met Russell. The only hope that Russellites had was heavenly, and so to her it was just as natural as it is for Christians in other religions. No zapping, no special electrifying experiences. She was not a kook ... just a feisty go-getter, and a little agressive and opinionated. But everyone loved Bessy (Sometimes called Bossy as a play on her name.) She lived to be over 100 and died sometime in the early 1980s. I never knew for sure whether she was married.
Dorothy: She became a JW in the late 1950s, was a Reg. Pioneer for many years, before partaking in the late 1960s, and likewise was a strong personality and opinionated, but very knowledgable person, and generally well liked. She was married, and husband was not anointed. He died sometime in the early 1970s. She was not a kook. She eventually left the religion in the late 1970s after the failure of 1975 to bring Armageddon.
Ruth: She became a JW prior to 1935, and began Reg. Pioneering in 1945. She started partaking in 1969. She was modest, less opinionated, and just a steady student of the Bible. Married, but husband died shortly after I became a JW. He was not anointed. Everyone loved Ruth, and she was not a kook.
Jenny: She became a JW in 1968, and started partaking right away. Her husband went on to become an Elder, and we became close friends when they moved into our congregation. Two of their children are serving at Bethel as we speak, and two of three daughters became Reg. Pioneers. She stopped partaking for a few years, then shortly before I moved back in 1982, she started partaking again. She continued to do so since. She was a very good, kind hospitable person, caring of her family, and always was stressed about living up to the JW rules. Not a kook.
Margaret: A long time JW who started partaking in the late 1960s. She was opinionated some, but less so than Dorothy and Bessy. Good cook, and most hospitable. Married, but husband was not Anointed. Not a kook.
George: He became a JW in the early 1960s, and started partaking right away. He became Congregation SAervant and then an Elder to which he remained to this day. He heard of me living nearby when he moved into the SF Bay Area, and called to meet when his health gave him problems. He was kind, mildly opinionated, but definitely not a kook. Fun, ourgoing, and cared deeply about the JW friends and the organization. But also reasonable, practical, and willing to discuss private disagreements with some aspect of the religion. Also married with children.
Bruce: A few years older than me, he was raised in the religion, and started partaking two years before me. Reg. Pioneered for a while, then appointed as an Elder. He was married with no children. But he and his wife eventually adopted a little baby girl' Kind of to himself, a very private person. A bit righteous over much, but not a kook.
Me: You decide whether you think I am a kook. I found that the JW life as an Anointned was pretty humdrum. No exotic zapping from any Jehovah to tell me or any anointed I knew ... even not Bessy or Ruth (pre-1935 JWs) that they knew they were anointed. The decision to be "anointed" centered on one's interest, and desire as the 1952 Watchtower stated. Self-determination is the key, according to the Society. And most (99.99%) of the JWs did not ask about or get concerned with my hope. Some few asked, and I gave the standard Romans 8 response, and sometimes referred some to the 1966 "Life" book or the 1952 Watchtower. I did all else as I would had I never claimed to be Anointed. There were some few odd and hurtful expeiences, but they passed.
Advice to prospective JW Anointed: If you want to partake, go ahead, but I recommend that you first Aux. or Reg. Pioneer, or get appointed an Elder or MS if male, then your claim will generally be considered validated. Some will think you are a kook, but they would anyway, cause that is human nature.
Post-JW years and Anointing: Once I left the religion, I soon found that for Christians, anointing is no big deal, it is just something that is "one of many" features of being a Christian, all Christians. No special classes, no special ruling in heaven over earthly subjects, ... but rather, as the Apostle Paul stated, ALL are the same in Christ, there is no distinction between slave and free, male or female, Jew or Gentile ... all are equal before God ... As it Should be!
IN recent months, maybe a year, I am having serious doubts about the Bible, history and Judeo-Christian claims. Nevertheless, I still believe in God, but more as a Christian Deist. Nevertheless, I am not worried that God will zap me at Armageddon, or that I will go to Hell. All these ancient tribal superstitions seem so ignorant, inane, ludricris and banel of a supposed loving and caring Divine father called God.
Anyway, I hope this helps some, and I hope that JW Anointeds who read this will understand, as well as x-JWs, that for the most part, even the life of JW Anointeds does not mean one is a kook, weird, or out to lunch ... it is just something that some JWs finally decide to do, and something quite normal and average for most Christians. No high horse, no special parties, no exalted positions, no grand seat in the Divine Conference Room of Heavenly CEOs ... just be simply, modest, nice people, do your best, and let God take care of the rest.