Posts by Pete Zahut

48

Struggling

by Alive! in

i read here regularly and although i haven't joined in, i really appreciate all the wonderful contributions from those who are willing to share their experiences.... .

i was a convert.

i won't go into the whole history ( perhaps another day) - my story could easily be recognised in the small town where i live, with my husband.. so, we stopped going to the meetings around a period of time when we were going through severe emotional difficulties - at that point, we needed unconditional family love - the hectic, forced jw dinner parties and social occasions gave no real comfort.

Pete Zahut

I never heard the "songbook in the mailbox" thing, but I heard plenty calling "dibs" after Armageddon on some of the nicer waterfront homes in our territory.

One moment they are condemning the householder for being out "slaving" for their materialistic lifestyle, rather than being home to hear the "life saving message of JW's ". Then in the next breath, lay claim to the householders home after he's killed during Armageddon.

There were a number of home builders in our Congregation who would stand on the platform condemning the worlds materialism yet they depended upon those very people to purchase the luxury homes they had up for sale.

My eyes were constantly rolling, toward the end of my days as a JW.

36

How do stop myself getting too Bitter?

by stuckinarut2 in

jw
friends

you know, i always maintained that during this fading process, and while learning ttatt, i would not let myself get "bitter twisted and angry".... but, in all honesty, if i examine myself, i have become quite bitter toward the org, toward the false friends and the gb.. i have become angry as i see the extent of damage i feel being raised in "the truth" has done.... i feel hurt towards the lost opportunities in life etc.... how do i not allow myself to get too swallowed up by such bitterness?.

i have always been a very happy, positive, selfless person.

i can put people at ease, i am someone people feel comfortable chatting to.

Pete Zahut

It helped me to stop buying into the idea that I was a total victim and to own up to my own part of the blame. I realized that there were payoffs or benefits that I liked and perhaps I was too cowardly or maybe lazy to go against what others wanted me to do or believe even when I knew better. It helped to realize that so long as I am bitter, "they" still own me. It helped to admit that I screwed up and to make it my resolve that it aint' never gonna' happen again!

26

Wife wants a Family Study after the special talk...but initially refuses Bible only study.

by garyneal in

my wife asked me to attend the special talk with her because she wants to attend something like this as a family and feels that she "enjoys worshipping together" as a family.

i have not been to church for at least a year and have pretty much abandoned the practicing of my faith but i can remember how i used to want to have a church going family so i obliged.

i feel kind of apprehensive about doing these things because she wants the kids and i to be on our best behavior and has even fussed at me for playing tablet games during other talks.

Pete Zahut

a day ago My wife asked me to attend the special talk with her because she wants to attend something like this as a family and feels that she "enjoys worshiping together" as a family.

How is attending a meeting or studying watchtower publications considered worshiping God...what are you doing for him...what does he get out of it ? When I think of worshiping God, I think of prayer or heaping praise on him when you behold the wonders of nature. I think of the meetings and publications as instruction rather than worship.

48

Struggling

by Alive! in

i read here regularly and although i haven't joined in, i really appreciate all the wonderful contributions from those who are willing to share their experiences.... .

i was a convert.

i won't go into the whole history ( perhaps another day) - my story could easily be recognised in the small town where i live, with my husband.. so, we stopped going to the meetings around a period of time when we were going through severe emotional difficulties - at that point, we needed unconditional family love - the hectic, forced jw dinner parties and social occasions gave no real comfort.

Pete Zahut

Alive,

I don't have much time to answer as thoroughly as I'd like, but your story is very touching and it mirrors ours so closely that I had to say something. I just wanted to assure you that although it didn't seem possible at first, if a mid 50's couple like Mrs. Zahut and I can survive the same upheaval and disillusionment you've described in your post, so can you. If you are like us, the more distance from the watchtower organization you put behind you, the more the depression, anxiety and mental distress you've been experiencing, will fade. Once the scales fall from your eyes, continuing to force yourself to continue in the same manner as before, is terribly damaging and we did so for way too long.

it's like 'cake' - they said. All the ingredients make cake, but apart from cake they are something else, eggs, flour etc.

Your Pioneer friends explanation is just one example of the insane "red herring" style reasoning you are expected to sit by quietly and swallow as a JW. They use these illustrations that at first glance appear to be reasonable but a second later when they sink in, they make you want to tear your hair out and cause you to question everything else they say as well.

Comparing the baking or "putting together" of ingredients to make an ordinary cake, to the deconstruction or "separating out" of "sacred" whole blood, is a ludicrous comparison.

In one process you are using separate ingredients to build something ordinary, in the other, you are taking an already existing "sacred" substance and taking it completely apart. These are two very different processes, never mind the fact that If you took whole cake and tried to separate out it's ingredients, you'd have a pile of useless cake crumbs.

Anyway, I'm glad you've told us a little of your back story (there's always more isn't there ?) and I hope doing so has brought you a measure of relief . -Pete

105

LATEST NEWS: CANDANCE CONTI VERIDICT READY - WT LOST!!!!!!!

by Viva la Vida in

jw
friends

i'm not an expert but that is my understanding of this: .

opinion filed.. (signed published) the judgment against defendants on the negligence count is affirmed.

the judgment against watchtower on the cause of action for punitive damages is reversed with directions to enter judgment for watchtower on punitive damages.

Pete Zahut

Win or lose, this trial forced a lot of JW's to look twice at the policies of it's organization and gave cause for conversation among JW's as to why they never knew these things were going on before this. You can be sure that many, silently turned to the internet to find out more about this trial, which in turn lead them to websites like this one. Maybe they didn't walk away as a result but they will never look at the Organization in the same way.

Much national media attention was focused on this serious and ugly matter which was an embarrassment to the Governing Body and JW's alike who pride themselves in being "above reproach". Former JW's were now able to ask their family members if they heard about this trial from within the congregation and if not, why not ?

The Watchtower organization will likely not brag about this case for to do so will force them to acknowledge to it's members that this kind of thing happens in their God governed organization. To speak further about it would only encourage further conversation and possible questions rather than let it fade into the past like the nightmare it was to them.

The door has been thrown open and the path has been paved for others like Candace who were too afraid to come forward or who figured theirs was a lost or forgotten cause. More importantly though, JW parents everywhere, won't be so naive as to think that their children are safe with whomever they work with out in Field Service and that their leaders are above this kind of crime. JW children everywhere are a little bit safer now that these predators know that they are being watched and that a blind eye or deaf ear will no longer be turned should they commit an offense against a child within the congregation. Those who committed such crimes in the past now live with the fear that at any moment, one of their victims will come forward.

Candace had the satisfaction of seeing the man who used his power over her in such a life altering way when she was a child, get bullied and humiliated by the national media with their unrelenting news cameras and unvarnished questions. She saw him punished by the law of the land and was able to use her adult voice and power as a citizen of the United States to vindicate the little girl who was ignored by Jehovah's Witnesses in her hour of need all those years ago. She is personally responsible for saving, if not the literal lives, at least the emotional lives of untold numbers of JW children for evermore.

No dollar amount can be put on that.

205

Hi Everyone. Answer to prayer countdown...

by Stumpy in

jw
friends

i've been lurking for about 3 months now and thought i'd better finally sign up.

you have all been an immense help to me as i have come to realize that this isn't the truth so i want to say a great big thank you!

what a crazy, emotional ride it is to finally face the truth about the doubts that i have carried for many years.

Pete Zahut

My apologies if this has already been posted but here is a link to an excellent review of the "endurance" video .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLkzrUMKiXNLIpjobJEZuSlaWIX5R6g1JW&v=sGYKaN52nEg#t=3125

47

All you men here, who does the house cleaning?

by James Mixon in

jw
friends

do you help or is this a woman job?

have you change your ways since.

leaving the borg.

Pete Zahut

My wife does most of the housework indoors but I'm kind of a clean freak and have always done a good share of it including bathrooms,laundry,folding, vacuuming, windows,dishes etc. On the weekend I'm the one taking care of the vehicles and household repairs and maintenance. We bought our house new 25 years ago so lately it's been a total makeover inside and out. I've installed carpet,tile,granite, cabinets, crown molding, interior and exterior doors,interior and exterior paint, all new windows,appliances, fireplace,roof and skylights myself. She helps with the yard work but I do the majority. She does 90% of the cooking and treats me like a king...bringing me food and drink while I work or just sitting in front of the TV. This hasn't changed since leaving the borginization...except now we have time for it.

205

Hi Everyone. Answer to prayer countdown...

by Stumpy in

jw
friends

i've been lurking for about 3 months now and thought i'd better finally sign up.

you have all been an immense help to me as i have come to realize that this isn't the truth so i want to say a great big thank you!

what a crazy, emotional ride it is to finally face the truth about the doubts that i have carried for many years.

Pete Zahut

Lot's of references to the video but no link. Not seeing a video about Endurance. Anyone care to provide a link or a video title for those of us who have searched but can't find the one everyone is talking about here?

Thanks,

44

Hounded to his Death

by Slidin Fast in

http://www.thanetgazette.co.uk/inquest-concludes-dad-died-margate-night-went/story-26272711-detail/story.html.

this story makes me ill with rage.

this man's crime?

Pete Zahut

Before we are quick to make assumptions, I don't see anywhere saying in the article this man was a Jehovah's Witness.

The life of the 43-year-old, who was an elder for Jehovah's Witnesses, had unravelled in the week leading to his disappearance. Friends and fellow elders John Gregory and John Dale confronted Mr Leathead after they were told pornographic material had been found online on Monday, February 10.

44

Are Jehovah's Witnesses Happy?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i know of the local congregation's issues, per an elder i know quite well.

he has said that nearly everyone in the congregation is suffering emotionally and mentally.

he said he has never seen so many witnesses with so many problems.

Pete Zahut

Prov 13:12 Says something about hope when delayed, makes the heart sick.

Their hopes have been so high for so long and they expect so much out of themselves and others . Their idealized version of how the world should be, doesn't match the realities they are living, even within the congregation.....a sure recipe for disappointment and disillusionment .