Posts by Pete Zahut

88

Damned if they do, Damned if they don't

by FusionTheism in

jw
friends

i see an attitude among some people here which is not very helpful.

i can understand it, but still, it's not constructive or helpful.. if you condemn the society for not changing, but then you also condemn them when they do change in a positive way, what incentive or motive does that provide for the people at the society to ever want to change for the better?.

also, what does that attitude look like to current witnesses who are having doubts?.

Pete Zahut

Damned if they do, Damned of they don't

I understand what you are saying as I've thought the same thing myself at times.

All I know is that first of all they have never come out directly and said we were absolutely wrong about doctrine (a) (b) (c) and we didn't get any of that information from Jehovah and what we are telling you now isn't from him either. From now on we are to be looked upon as men who are trying their best to follow the bible as best we can and are here to help you do the same. I could forgive them if they did something like that.

They have never been honest about why they do things such as make big changes in they way they do things. They try to pass them off as loving provisions from Jehovah rather than as a way to fix a big problem they are trying to keep concealed.

They continue tricking people by making videos with very intentional subliminal messages aimed at children and weak minded individuals in an effort to get them to support their agenda and in the end, finance their celebrity lifestyles.

They have intentionally trained thousands of men to seek out, punish and destroy the lives of anyone who voice any of the aforementioned. They are given free license to delve into the personal affairs of those who come to them for guidance after making mistakes in their personal lives.

They condemn other religions for teaching falsehoods yet have done the same thing themselves from the very beginning.

Unlike the Catholics, they have never come out and formally apologized for the falsehoods and wrongdoings of those who went before them nor for the ones they taught or committed themselves. They have never apologized to the families of those whose lives were lost or to individuals whose lives ruined as a result of their bad decisions and misinterpretations or misapplication of certain bible texts, or from their being too proud to admit that they are regular humans who know no more than anyone else.

At this point nothing they can do can make up for what they've done to those who trusted them in the past. Because of the internet and sites like this one, (except for children) those who come into the religion from this point on, for the most part, can do so with open eyes knowing the history of the religion and their tract record. Children will be able to see them for what they are as soon as they are able to use a computer. If they choose to proceed or continue on with it, it's their own choice, they can do so knowing both sides of the picture . For the rest of us, the years of our lives are lost for good . No matter what changes or "improvements" are made, to us this organization can never be "the truth" again. They will never be more than just another misguided bunch of people who tricked us into trusting them.

14

I have been blocked!!!

by username in

as the title eludes, i have been blocked from a website, the cheek of it.

what site you may ask?

i was blocked from a active jwforum, i haven't even posted any comments yet haha!

Pete Zahut

Haven't you heard USERNAME ? It's called Cybershunning.....all the kool kids are doing it !

(it's the one worldly trend JW's can get into)

49

Brave high school student exposes abuse and corruption within Jehovahs witnesses

by Watchtower-Free in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdvt_gyq-ls&feature=youtu.be.

Pete Zahut

One could say that the experiences she related were extreme examples of what happens in the organization, however you can't help but notice that when they are laid out like this, back to back and in front of non JW's, it really makes what is common knowledge to us, seem even crazier.

These kid's heads must have been spinning and I can only imagine what the teacher was thinking and what he or she will say the next time a JW calls at the door.

40

Spiritual AMNESTY -- Return to Jehovah

by FusionTheism in

basically, from what i can tell from the new return to jehovah brochure, is that the governing body is now offering amnesty to anyone who has been gone from the congregation but now wants to return.. it claims it doesn't matter what sins you've done, or what caused you to leave, if you repent to jehovah and ask the elders to help you, and return to the meetings, you'll be warmly welcomed with no disciplinary action or judgment against you..

Pete Zahut

It claims it doesn't matter what sins you've done, or what caused you to leave, if you repent to Jehovah and ask the Elders to help you, and return to the Meetings, you'll be warmly welcomed with no disciplinary action or judgment against you.

Fund$ must be getting lower that we thought !

40

Spiritual AMNESTY -- Return to Jehovah

by FusionTheism in

basically, from what i can tell from the new return to jehovah brochure, is that the governing body is now offering amnesty to anyone who has been gone from the congregation but now wants to return.. it claims it doesn't matter what sins you've done, or what caused you to leave, if you repent to jehovah and ask the elders to help you, and return to the meetings, you'll be warmly welcomed with no disciplinary action or judgment against you..

Pete Zahut

My wife and I simply faded on our own and have never been in any kind of "elder" trouble but I know that if we showed up at a new Kingdom Hall and started attending again, they'd want to know what the name of our former Hall and they'd call our former Elders and get our "file" and get the" Low Down" on us and they'd hear someone else's version of our leaving JW story. They are very suspicious by nature and a bit paranoid about new ones. They have long memories and everybody knows everybody and elders wives know more than they are supposed to.

I've been to Kingdom Halls in entire different countries and have met people who were related to or knew the same people I did and who are quite ready to talk about them. There's no such thing as a fresh start or a "do over" with JW's...someone will always be looking at you with knowing eyes.

86

Updated Chronological Timeline of the Great Tribulation -- after the New Light from July Watchtower

by FusionTheism in

the july 15, 2015 study watchtower article entitled "your deliverance is getting near", along with the jw broadcasting video entitled "gerrit losch: fortified by "the prophetic word," and chapter 21 of the god's kingdom rules!

book presented a large amount of new light or clarified understanding of the events of the great tribulation.. here i am presenting it in chronological order -- this is the governing body's updated chronological order of events for the time right before the great tribulation through armageddon:.

the final sealing of the anointed occurs just prior to the outbreak of the tribulation.

Pete Zahut

Tribulation, persecution, raptures, demons thrown into an abyss, a mass wedding ceremony....all of this, because Eve ate the forbidden fruit.

41

Help? :(

by BlackWolf in

i apologize for how rantish this is but please hear me out.

anyways i'm a 15 year old girl and i've never really wanted to be a jw.

its just never been something thats made me feel happy or loved.

Pete Zahut

If you are in the U.S., even though you are not enrolled in the public school system, you can still call your local High School and ask to speak to a counselor and explain your situation. Tell them that you are being home schooled, that your family is very religious and you can only associate with those of the same faith but there aren't any kids your age you can trust. Explain that you feel trapped and would like to know what advice or help they may be able to offer you.

Before you do that, and if you think it wouldn't make things worse between you and your parents, you could write a polite respectful letter to them and explain you feelings, just as you've done here. Putting your thoughts in a letter and letting them read it may diffuse the emotion that sometimes gets in the way when you talk to them face to face. I wouldn't say anything about your feelings about the existence of God or about being a JW because this is a scary thing for religious parents to hear. You might mention that you have prayed to God but you don't think he cares about you because he doesn't seem to help in the one area you need help with. Tell them that the only thing you could think to do is to write them this letter and maybe that's what he wants you to do. Tell them that you appreciate everything they have done for you (give examples) but your are feeling trapped and it's effecting your mental well being. Let them know that you don't want to go wild or do anything wrong but you need to be around others your age so that you develop normal social skills and outside interests. Remind them that the Watchtower advises JW's not to isolate their children from the world, instead they should insulate them and that you are feeling isolated. Tell them that you are concerned that you won't know how to act when one day do have to go out into the world. Just remember to be respectful, mature, don't cast blame, rather suggest solutions. Tell them that you want to go to the public school even part time if only to take an art class or some other subject you are intrested in. If you think it wouldn't be too weird, you might even suggest that you'd like them to answer you in a letter as well, just to keep emotions from getting the better of you all if that has been a problem in the past.

Remember, plenty of non JW 15 year olds who attend school and have friends and go places, still feel the way you do. They also have to deal with snarky gossiping friends and parents who they think are overly restrictive. It's part of being your age to be somewhat discontent but it sounds like you do have some legitimate reasons to feel isolated.

86

Updated Chronological Timeline of the Great Tribulation -- after the New Light from July Watchtower

by FusionTheism in

the july 15, 2015 study watchtower article entitled "your deliverance is getting near", along with the jw broadcasting video entitled "gerrit losch: fortified by "the prophetic word," and chapter 21 of the god's kingdom rules!

book presented a large amount of new light or clarified understanding of the events of the great tribulation.. here i am presenting it in chronological order -- this is the governing body's updated chronological order of events for the time right before the great tribulation through armageddon:.

the final sealing of the anointed occurs just prior to the outbreak of the tribulation.

Pete Zahut

14.The Heavenly Wedding Ceremony of Jesus and the 144,000 occurs.

The Bride will be we wearing one hundred and forty four thousand Vera Wang dresses each having sweetheart necklines and fitted bodices studded with tiny seed pearls in numbers that can't be counted.

29

17 year old son is blaming me for ruining his life from the Cult. He's complaining "I could have been a high school sports star!"

by PhilsWager2 in

you know about my not-so-ugly divorce and how me and my wife found out the religion is false.

she still attends while my 17 year old has been raging on me about all the wasted time he suffered from by being in this religion.

he think's his life is ruined, very angry we did not learn this was a cult earlier(he was 14 when he stopped attending after reading the revelation book, he said "in all time and history, how could a trumpet blown in revelation have anything to do with a jw bible student convention statement"?.

Pete Zahut

" I could have been a high school sports star !"

Having 2 son's myself and having grown up as a JW I understand how you and your Son feel;

I was asked to be on the High School swim team (my non JW Dad was well known for his swimming in his home town) however my JW Mom wouldn't hear of it. According to her all knowing Watchtower magazine, I might get into drugs or immorality if I was on the swimming team.

Much to the criticism of the congregation and eye rolling on the part of JW relatives, We allowed our boys to be on the wrestling team, Lacrosse team and one of them was a swimmer. They were both easy boys to raise and other than being very untidy, they were a parents dream.

Being on these teams helped them immensely in terms of being more outgoing, facing difficult tasks and sticking with things and they just had a lot of fun. We also let them go to the prom and one of them was the Homecoming King. The elders knew better than to say a word to me about any of this. One of my Son's is still attending the meetings (barely) but on his own has picked up on TTATT and the other one stuck with it until about 22 and then a few things happened in the Hall made him hang it up when we did.

Having said all that, they at one time or another when they were going through a difficult time or in a low mood or feeling that they weren't were they wanted to be in life, indicated that because of our religion, they sort of missed out on a normal childhood in terms of not getting to date and go to parties or stay at other non JW kids houses or go places with them. I found myself feeling a bit guilty or wondering if I could have done more for them. Then I realize that if we want to talk about could have beens , they also could have been in a car accident while out with friends, or had a pregnant girlfriend, or gotten hooked on drugs or any number of negative things, if we'd have given them any more freedom than we did.

I warn them in so many words, not to go down that road with me and remind them that there are lots of other weird religions out there that they could have grown up in and negligent unfit parents out there who's kids have a right to complain about their childhoods, but you two had the best of both worlds. Yes we went to all the meetings and out in service and didn't celebrate holidays etc but we tried to give you a balanced upbringing unlike the ones we had as strict JW's. Your Mom and I didn't just provide you with the minimum the law expects, we went above and beyond, giving you tropical vacations, took you snowboarding regularly, braces on your teeth, a clean home and delicious meals, bicycles, a car and mostly our undivided attention and love. That sort of brought them to their senses and got them off the pity wagon and back on the road to taking charge of their lives.

Your Son may just be feeling badly about his own limitations right now or what he views as personal failings and may be looking for someone other than himself to blame it on. It's good to let him get it out of his system but totally buying into the idea that your being a JW was the single factor in him not being a "star" is allowing him to use blame as an obstacle to moving forward. Remind him that you are the parent and what he thinks of your choices of religion is all very interesting but the bottom line is, as a parent it was your choice to make. Yes, maybe he could have been a "sports star" but he could also have ruined his knees or been in a debilitating sports accident. I wouldn't buy into the idea that this is your fault, rather I'd ask him how his life would be really be that much better or different even if he was a "star". Was it missing the fun of playing sports that he regrets or is it that he wanted the adulation of others. If so, why? I'm assuming that no one stopped him from being on the debate team or from being on the honor roll....who does he blame for not being part of that ? (I'm assuming he wasn't) Rather than allowing him to dwell on what could have been, I'd direct the conversation to formulating a Plan B. He's only 17 after all.

10

"Watchtowers growth strains budgets"

by zebulon in

i live in orange county new york.

i posted once before a few weeks ago.

i am losing my family because of this org.

Pete Zahut

Nope...less than a minute but then again, you had supplied all the necessary information.

(Good find by the way) If they ever do start taxing them, they'll say that taxation is the beginning of the fulfillment of Bible prophesy when governments will turn on religion.