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

Pete Zahut "Unlike the Catholics, they have never come out and formally apologized for the falsehoods and wrongdoings of those who went before them or for the ones they taught or committed themselves."

BY RESEARCH, DO YOU MEAN A 2 SECOND GOOGLE SEARCH LIKE THIS ?? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_apologies_made_by_Pope_John_Paul_II

If the Governing Body ever ONCE came out publicly and apologized OUTRIGHT for their own errors and wrongdoings past and present, like the Catholic church did, I could forgive them. Instead when they realize a certain doctrine has become ridiculously wrong over time they don't admit that it never was from Jehovah. Instead they drop it altogether or change it to something as equally unprovable and call it "new light" or "new loving new arrangements from Jehovah " or "clarifications of current understandings" "refinements" or "adjustments" . Not once have they ever simply said "We were wrong and we are sorry for the damage , suffering and inconvenience this has cause so many of you." Instead, they ignore the fact that millions of people spend trillions of of volunteer hours spreading their wrong teachings all across the planet. It's all about damage control rather than sorrow for what they've done. Then they skirt around the subject and continue on as before, finding new ways to manipulate people with half truths and calculated omissions of information.

These men have a form of godly devotion but are proving false to it's power.

23

Why BOGUS PREDICTIONS and CHANGEABLE TEACHINGS only strengthen JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES

by TerryWalstrom in

today's jw knows less about the history of the watchtower religion than ever before.. there is no need to know.

only the present moment of new light has meaning.. there are too many enemies surrounding jw's to risk learning something faith-weakening.. such as facts.

the watchtower religion (jehovah's witnesses) has been 'getting away with it' since 1874.. setting dates built on false chronology, pyramidology, slanted quotations about world events, and misrepresenting their own authority, (channel of jehovah) is a profitable enterprise for the watchtower org.. how do we know they 'get away with it'?.

Pete Zahut

For example, there was no urgent need for them to talk about all their past errors and mistakes with the Types/Antitypes and Parables, but they made a huge deal about it, and about going through and correcting those views.

To me this was simply a "loss leader" intended to make the average JW see the GB as magnanimous and humble and thus worthy of their continued support. The GB was willing to take one on the chin with this one, especially since this was a doctrine that most JW's didn't understand anyway and would be happy to see being thrown out. Time would soon bear out that these old understandings were incorrect anyway so they may as well make lemonade with the lemons that were handed down to them.

Excellent post....a keeper for sure.

4

A possible new and disturbing dynamic of control in JW families.

by Island Man in

we all know that young children are very impressionable and love cartoons.

lately, watchtower seems to be using caleb and sophia to indoctrinate young children into becoming zealous jw cultists.. what if this largely succeeds - at least while the children are still young?

what effect could/would this have on family dynamics, specifically, the the parent-child relationship?.

Pete Zahut

Kids in Field Service with Daddy and Mommy will get a mixed message when they pull through the Starbucks drive-up window and order double tall Cafe' Mochas with extra whipped cream.

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.