"Rescuing a Great Crowd...

by onacruse 23 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  mizpah

  minimus:

  Yes, I know that to be true from my own experience. I was always very uncomfortable with the Watchtower's explanation of the 2,520 years of the "Gentile Times." I wasn't convinced myself...and hated it when I had to explain it from the platform. But I always thought that the Society would "reveal" information that would convince me. One "sister" and I had long discussions about it. She was always surprised that I couldn't see what was so plain to her. In later years, after we both had left, she laughed about it.

  The one hope I have is that with each doubt a person develops, a little chink of the Watchtower is chipped away. It happened to me. And finally the whole thing collapsed and I left the organization. I'm sure many JWs are carrying the same doubts and questions that we did. Something will eventually trigger them into questioning the whole system of belief.
• 

  ellderwho

  Mizpah,

  I had to respond about the 1975 issue. I was 13 in 75' I remember it very well. We were attending a cong. in Sebring Fla. and it seemed to me like every time we went to a meeting this was going to be it. Jehovah will definitely bring the end while the meeting was going on.

  I recanted this story just recently to my mom(still in) while studying with her JW elder husband. She "played it off" like oh yeah right . I said "no mom you were scared too!" I said to you remember driving somewhere and pointing out some bluiding saying 'after armageddon we can have what ever we want.'

  Although I cant say I remember people selling their homes I do recall the elders saying why go to college and start a career. Its right around the corner.
• 

  Pistoff

  mizpah said:

  I've concluded that many are tied to the Watchtower Society for emotional reasons than intellectual ones.

  Duh. My whole family, both sides are still there and get more strict by the month; as I fade they have taken to very obviously praying before their cheeseburgers, being very disappointed that I didn't bring my WT down to the river for weekend getaways.........you get the idea.

  They are scared that if they let their "spirituality" (brainwashing) slip a little, they will become like me: one who associates with and helps his disfellowshiped son, in an effort to help him become a whole person again.

  It makes me sick to my stomach to see it; they continue to base their decisions on crappy chronology, flawed doctrine about blood and false hope for a paradise in their lifetimes.

  How far is it until they too are dreaming of the black eyed virgins that await them if they are martyrs?
• 

  Pistoff

  And the '75 thing: if you were not making plans based on the end coming soon, you were NOT a good witness, you were considered WEAK. I know at least 2 elders who quit very good jobs, corporate and state jobs, and sold their homes to pioneer the last few years before the end came. One now lives in a mobile home, has had to work into his late 70's and is very ill without good medical care. The other painted houses for years before his old company finally took him back.

  My own mother sold her house, her only asset, to pioneer. I did not go to school; why school in a system that is going down in a few years? It made no sense. Witnesses now who don't understand how completely the "end in '75" was believed are the ones who will be mad and shocked as they discover the blood doctrine being diluted and eventually dropped.

  The rudest shock, in retrospect, was the Society not only apologizing for it, but blaming the rank and file, as if we just cooked it up out of nowhere! The damn date was in the book, there were leading talks and comments about it all the time. Our CO at the the time actually apologized because of the intensity of his talks about it.

  The whole feel of the congregation was different then; those on this board who were there will remember it. It was VERY tight, and cohesive; it makes sense, really; if we are all really about to witness the end of the system, and be the very few who will survive, you could overlook a lot of mistakes in your brothers. You could also postpone desires, medical problems and the like since it WAS SO CLOSE.

  Sigh. What a rude joke.

  I am just glad I had my bubble burst last year for good; the sex abuse scandal go me looking for evidence that it was a fluke, and of course it was not. Then I found the UN scandal, and the blood change in 2000. That, as they say, was that.

  Glad to be here!!!