I have a few questions about 1975. I was born after 1975, so I don't know too much about the Armageddon prediction. I asked my mother once about it (when I was growing up). Along with snapping at me, she claimed that the "Society" never predicted that date, and that only the "spiritually weak" left the "organization". I’m sure there have been plenty of posts about this topic. However, I am relatively new to this site. So my questions are, did the "Society" actually print in the Watchtower, Awake!, or any other publications that Armageddon was going to happen in 1975? If so, when did this prediction first take place? After 1975, what was their justification for their failed prediction?
21stcenturywoman
JoinedPosts by 21stcenturywoman
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1975???
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i have a few questions about 1975. i was born after 1975, so i don't know too much about the armageddon prediction.
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"Local Needs" Talks: The people who should really hear them are never there.
by Open mind inmy whole life as a jw i've heard this refrain.
"too bad so-and-so wasn't here for that local needs talk.".
as an elder i would have a hard time putting my heart into writing up a local needs talk that was targeting one or two congregation members, knowing full well they probably wouldn't be there to hear it.. .
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21stcenturywoman
I recall a "local needs" talk pertaining to a sister who was having marital problems and/or was in the midst of getting a divorce. She was "secretly" dating/having an affair with one of the young brothers in the congregation. It was so obvious that the talk was about the two of them, because both had been "publicly reproved" a week or two prior. The elder even made a comment about her physical appears. He basically called her physically unattractive during the talk.
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What's the most dumbest/petty thing you've heard of someone being "stumbled" over?
by Reality79 in- some loser once took offense that i hugged a sister goodbye at a leaving do and ran back to the elders like a little child telling on me.
i was 15, this sister was in her 40s at the time.. - this elder said someone told him they saw me with a copy of the sun newspaper.
yes, this paper is known for its 'page 3' topless girls but far from pornagraphic and i wasn't even thinking along those lines.. - one brother who had a good job was 'counselled' because he was actually able to buy himself nice things including a new car (shock, horror!!
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21stcenturywoman
All of these posts are so hilarious. It brings back memories of my upbringing. It's so annoying how petty and hypersensitive people are. I was never officially called in the "back" for "stumbling" anyone. They reserved that type of bullying for my poor dad. However, people were always making comments to me while I was growing up. Even though my mother was an overly strict JW parent, she would let me dye my hair at a young age. Well of course certain sisters had a problem with that. I was a little more fashionable than most at the congregation were, so that was a problem too.
The most ridiculous thing I recall is when I was a teenager. At a gathering I said that something was "asinine". I was told that I was swearing (I guess the idiot thought I said "ass"), and was told that type of language was unacceptable. LOL!
I do recall that one of my mother's (mentally ill) bible students was offended when a newly married couple was holding hands during the meeting. I think my mom actually said something to the couple.
I just remembered that one of the elders counseled my parents about my sinus problems. Apparently it annoyed him that I would sneeze during the Book Study. He said something like, “You need to buy her more Kleenex.” When my parents told him that I have all the tissues that I needed, my sinus problems were still one of his constant complaints. (What an asshole.)
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How is it that well educated and financially stable people become Jehovah's Witnesses?
by 21stcenturywoman inwhen i was growing up most of the jws around me were poor and lower middle class.
some were middle class, but very few were upper middle class.
only (maybe) about 1% were college educated.
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21stcenturywoman
Everyone's comments/thoughts are very interesting and helpful. Reading this website has assisted in providing me with real clarity about the actual "truth".
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How is it that well educated and financially stable people become Jehovah's Witnesses?
by 21stcenturywoman inwhen i was growing up most of the jws around me were poor and lower middle class.
some were middle class, but very few were upper middle class.
only (maybe) about 1% were college educated.
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21stcenturywoman
When I was growing up most of the JWs around me were poor and lower middle class . Some were middle class , but very few were upper middle class. Only (maybe) about 1% were college educated. It is obvious how and why uneducated and poor people are easily coerced into joining the religion. So how is it that well educated people who have stable careers become Jehovah’s Witnesses ?
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Field Service question
by 21stcenturywoman ini live in one of the biggest cities in the us.
i have not observed as many jws in field service as i did when i was growing up.
within the last 10 years i used to see spanish speaking witnesses in my former neighborhood.
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21stcenturywoman
@ OnTheWayOut, that's very interesting. It makes sense. That kind of reminds me of when I was a teenager. I would "work" with an elder. We never knocked on one door. We would just walk up and down the street, while the others would do the work. He seemed more interested in telling me about his recent divorce and wanting to know what was going on in my (boring) teenage life.
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June 15th WT, Trap Your Kids in the Cult
by LostGeneration inthe new wt is up.
the worst article is the first one, a non-study article.
shows pictures of a kid, looks like he is 10 years old.
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21stcenturywoman
This is so awful! I was baptized at 9 years old. It was a huge mistake. I blame my parents, and also the overbearing Circuit Overseer who pushed for it. The worst part is that if a person has the audacity to change their minds when they are adults, they are punished for it. It is extremely illogical and irrational that an organization would suggest that children make life altering decisions. This is one of the main things that infuriate me about JWs.
I just read part of the article that was posted. It's not surprising, but such a shame that the "Society" is still pushing people away from education and financially stability. I guess it's better for their members to be poor and uneducated. UGHHH!
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my double life started in third grade...how about you?
by oompa inall i discovered back then was i did not feeling like a freak!....i really started liking girls then, so found a way to make valentines and love notes like everyone else even though my parents were very clear to teacher i was to be sitting in the flukkin library for every holiday, birthday, you name it!!!
i wanted cupcakes dammit!!!
and you think i was going to sit there during the pledge of allegience?
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21stcenturywoman
I suppose I sort of lived a "double life". Once I started going to public school, I never talked about being a JW. Once I was in 6th grade, I was a Pioneer. Yes, a full-time Pioneer at 10 years old...how insane is that!? Anyway, I had a hard time adjusting (due to changing schools and the problems my parents were going through). The kids were not that nice to me. So I would curse them out during the school day, then after school I was forced to offer magazines in front of a strip mall located across the street from school. My mom and/or a close family friend would accompany me. My classmates would walk right by me. I was totally embarrassed. Fortunately I stopped pioneering soon after.
When I was in junior high and high school, I never talked about being a JW. If it ever came up, I would just say "my parents are" and change the subject. Two boys from my congregation went to the same junior high and high school as I did. They never had any real dirt on me, because I was actually a good kid (for the most part). I did however have a dirty mouth and would not hesitate to curse someone out. I think one of those JW boys heard me once, because at the next meeting he felt the need to "talk to me" about my behavior. What a joke! I wonder what happened to him. Thinking back, he seemed like a total closet case. The other JW kids at my high school (who went to different congregations) thought I was "bad association" because I would not join them to do the morning "text".
Some of my JW friends were already having sex when we were teenagers, but not me. At the time, I thought I was going to marry a nice JW at 18 or 19.
My "double life" story is actually kind of boring.
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Field Service question
by 21stcenturywoman ini live in one of the biggest cities in the us.
i have not observed as many jws in field service as i did when i was growing up.
within the last 10 years i used to see spanish speaking witnesses in my former neighborhood.
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21stcenturywoman
I live in one of the biggest cities in the US. I have not observed as many JWs in Field Service as I did when I was growing up. Within the last 10 years I used to see Spanish speaking Witnesses in my former neighborhood. I live in a better neighborhood now, where there are mostly condos and houses, and I never see Witnesses in my neighborhood (not sure if the types of homes are a factor). There is a Kingdom Hall within about five miles of where I live. Are JWs as active in Field Service nowadays?
Also, I sometimes see "sisters" walking around in a business district (presumably in Field Service), but I never see them offering the magazines to anyone. Does that actually count as "preaching" if they don't talk to people?
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Anyone remember this former C.O.: Kevin Wright?
by Olin Moyles Ghost induring the early 2000s, kevin wright was the c.o.
for a circuit that included several of my friends.
i remember hearing my friends complain about what a tool this guy was--and these complainers weren't just "lowly" publishers--some of them were elders and pioneers.
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21stcenturywoman
These posts are too hilarious. I haven't thought about Kevin Wright in years. I knew him when I was a teenager. I even knew his former wife (I always thought she was very nice, and got a raw deal because she didn't want to be married to him anymore). Kevin and I always had a good friendship back then. Thinking back, it's interesting that a grown man would tell me (a teen) about things that were going on in his personal life. However, he was never inappropriate.
I agree with someone who posted that Kevin is very nosey. He got me to tell him personal details about some of the youth in the congregation. He would even call me at work to get dirt. At the time, I thought I was doing the right thing. It is a waste of time to regret the past, but I am still bothered by what I did.
I read the post where Kevin is quoted saying, "If you're not doing everything possible in Jehovah's service, then why bother?" This is funny to me. I remember working in field service with Kevin on a regular basis. We never knocked on one door. We would just walk up and down the street and talk to each other. The other "friends" would be doing the actual work. Quite honestly, I didn't mind. I wasn't into it anyway. Nevertheless, it is interesting that he probably thought I didn't notice that we never actually did anything.
In regards to Kevin's job and work background, perhaps he received this experience after I stopped associating with him. I recall Kevin doing janitorial work, and possibly having his own janitorial business. I don't believe he went to college, but I could be wrong. Also, he is not an ex-Bethelite.
As far as Kevin calling and writing letters to single sisters, this sounds very accurate. He was really friendly towards the sisters once his wife divorced him. Whether or not he was inappropriate, I have no idea. I never heard any negative stories. He seemed to be liked by most back then.
Is Kevin Wright a self-righteous prick? Probably… but it depends on who you ask. I never really saw that side of him that everyone has posted about, except on a few occasions. Back then, I just chalked it up to normal JW authoritarian behavior.