Posts by Ucantnome

68

What was it like being a JW in the 1960's and 1970's

by UnshackleTheChains in

this is obviously a question for the older generation.

i'm really curious what it was like to be a witness in the 60's and 70's?.

was the society as strict as it is today?.

Ucantnome

My parents started studying to become JW in the late 1950's and I was raised in it.

I believe at the time the belief was that the tribulation had started in 1914 and been cut short and Armageddon could start at anytime. In the late 1960's they became aware of the 1975 teaching. The 'Truth' book was released and I believe there was a change to a shorter study period before baptism. This made for a sense of urgency in our family for preaching and worship as the time was so short.

Did you feel proud to be a JW back then?

I didn't feel proud to be a JW i felt lucky, fortunate that my parents had responded to the message as I probably wouldn't have. They felt concern for people and made efforts to do more in the preaching and be a more theocratic family, making a more simpler life so they could do more in the 'truth'

Was the society as strict as it is today?

society or no society my parents would have been strict. I think faith makes one act in a certain way.

14

If you had to choose

by dothemath in

if you had to choose to belong to 1 religion, i was curious as to what any on the forum would pick.. i realize most here are likely atheist (i would have to say i'm agnostic), but if any would like to share their opinion, and maybe why?.

Ucantnome

catholic

10

Growing up JW kid: do you recognize

by Gorbatchov in

jw
friends

born in 1970, 4th generation jw and parents who were loyal to but could also think on their own.. my father always said, the show goes on, so he had a respectable community job, advisor of the city counsel of the town.

and buying ald building houses for us.

we were on the move.. what i remember is the many conversations at home about the other witnesses.

Ucantnome

My parents were very theocratic and talked about our beliefs a lot and studied with us as kids.They made sacrifices in life to do more and be more active. I witnessed at school and at work and brought some to the kingdom hall. I pioneered from school.

103

What will you be doing on the evening of the 11th ?

by Phizzy in

mrs phizzy and myself will be eating out, sure in the knowledge we will not have jw's using the same restaurant.. i may have a cigar along with my brandy at the meal's end to celebrate my (our) freedom..

Ucantnome

if an invitation is important to you, then, as one of Jehovah's Witnesses, I hereby extend to both you and to anyone you choose to accompany you an indefinite invitation for your attendance at any meeting (or assembly) of Jehovah's Witnesses until the Lord comes.

Thank you djeggnog.

It's not that important, it's just that it wasn't there this year in the box. I think the person who usually delivered it is too old and ill to deliver one to me. Unfortunately they were of the generation of my parents. Hopefully the message regarding the resurrection is more sound than the message regarding the generation that will not pass away. (1Cor.15:9)

104

When You See a JW Do You Get Flustered?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i used to dread seeing a witness coming toward me.

now i am quite comfortable and hope that they may say something to me..... does your blood pressure rise when you see a jw coming toward you?

?.

Ucantnome

I wouldn't say I would ever 'dread a Witness coming toward me' I haven't been disfellowshipped and I hadn't done anything to feel ashamed of.

I felt comfortable talking to witnesses, even the elders who came to my door however it would change when they brought up the subject of the 'truth' and I had to defend my position. There were some subjects they found were a sore spot, unfortunately. Some teachings have affected my life detrimentally I believe. 1975, the generation teaching. This has also affected the next generation in my family. I feel the need to explain why they were so bad and how they have made my/our lives more difficult by listening and having faith, demonstrated by how we adapted our lives to what we believed were things coming from Jehovah.

103

What will you be doing on the evening of the 11th ?

by Phizzy in

mrs phizzy and myself will be eating out, sure in the knowledge we will not have jw's using the same restaurant.. i may have a cigar along with my brandy at the meal's end to celebrate my (our) freedom..

Ucantnome

As I wasn't invited this year the first time in 20 plus years, Ok I haven't attended in 20 + years,but I think they should have invited me.

25

Would you give up one year at the end of your life if you could relive any one day in the past?

by Esse quam videri in

like the question asks: if you could relive any one day of your life, any age, any place and remember everything about it afterwards, would you be willing to live one year shorter at the end of your life?

one day for one year?.

i realize that someone well on in years would think twice about it, but, what about you younger ones?

Ucantnome

No. I can't say I have enjoyed any day enough to want to relive the experience.

10

1970's Fred Franz prophecy books and current events

by Gorbatchov in

jw
friends

i am convinced that world history will go on and on, and don't believe in an end time scenario.. but... and... .

when events occure like trumps tomahawk strike on syria, putting bombing a place and many, many coalitions are made with friends and enemies, my thought are going back to a 40 years ago, when i was a litle boy raising up in a cold war naval harbour town in northwest europe.

my jw grandfather learned me to investigate history.

Ucantnome

I was just reading about the king of the north in the Your Will Be Done On Earth and looked up in a book of maps of the bible that I have, the Seleucid Empire and the Ptolemaic Empire. It was interesting to read. My father done the family study with us using that book when I was about 9 I would have rather have read my comic.

I don't have the same feeling I had when I was a witness regarding current events.

19

Should Blood Transfusions be forced?

by Fisherman in

1.there are times when a doctor decides that the only life saving medical treatment -short of a miracle- is a blood transfusion.

in such a case, what should be done when a person refuses treatment on religious grounds and why?.

2. should a person be allowed to "mutilate" his body and why?.

Ucantnome

Fisherman what do you mean

2. Should a person be allowed to "mutilate" his body and why?

41

Observations From an Ex-Elder Part 3 - Searching for the Lost Sheep

by doubtfull1799 in

"what man among you with 100 sheep, on losing one of them, will not leave the 99 behind in the wilderness and go after the lost one until he finds it?

" - luke 15:4. disclaimer: by posting the following observations i am not complaining.

i am happy to be left alone.

Ucantnome

Since my wife stopped attending meetings (over 20 years ago) she told me no one has ever spoken to her regarding it . Not an elder or their wives or her friends.

She was in the congregation for 30 years and long before me. A regular publisher with occasional pioneering. She also attended some meetings after I stopped and I was ok with this continuing.

When the elders came to visit me after I requested the visit and it took 7 months for the visit to take place they did ask me if my wife would be joining us but she didn't wish to as she was busy.

Maybe they will