I'd say nothing and see what other comments this clod makes and print them out. Then at reinstatement time, if they don't let you back in, tell them that you figured that would be the case, then show them the comments and ask them how could you get a fair hearing from, and how could Jehovah's spirit be upon a congregation who's leaders operate this way.
Pete Zahut
JoinedPosts by Pete Zahut
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65
How do I handle this situation?
by BarelyThere inhey everyone.
i'm sorry that this isn't a very thought provoking post but i could really use some advice on how to handle this.
there isn't anyone else in my life i can ask right now because, being dfed, all of my friends are "worldly" and don't know how witnesses function.
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25
Having Jehovah as a friend.
by Darkknight757 ini've always found it amazing that people can say with such conviction that jehovah is their friend.. we are talking about a "friend" who perhaps daily "tests" us to see if we are his friends.
all of us have dealt with some form of hardship such as the death of a loved one, chronic illness or whatever.
it is in these cases that the brothers will tell a person that perhaps it is a test, or that "jehovah knows you're not ready" or some other lame excuse.. do our real friends "test" us to see if we will be loyal to them?
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Pete Zahut
Having Jehovah as a friend.
Some friendships (like a bad marriage) only survive due to long distances and or complete non-communication on on the part of one or both parties.
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12
Stupid Questions to Ask Gay Guys
by fulltimestudent inmy friend tells me he gets sick of silly questions.
i tell him its part of the assimilation process.
https://www.facebook.com/buzzfeedvideo/videos/1908211825986357/?fref=nf.
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Pete Zahut
People always say stupid things and ask stupid questions when there's anything different about you.
Remember the JW questions?
- Do you guys live in a commune?
- God Dammit....Oh sorry Pete...I shouldn't have cursed in front of you.
- You guys don't believe in Jesus....right?
- Would you like a cup of coffee?? Oh wait...you guys can't drink Coffee....right ?
- You're wife is wearing lipstick....I thought JW women weren't allowed to wear make-up.
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Death of a loved one and faith
by ilikecheese inhey all.
i haven't posted in forever and a day, but i feel like this is a great place to ask this question because of so many people who are unsure of their beliefs.
my mom was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer about four years ago.
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Pete Zahut
Sorry for your loss. Your post resonates with love for your Mom. I too lost mine when she was 57 and it was very hard to take. It seems a bit of our own light goes out when we lose our Mothers. I wouldn't have believed it back then but it is possible to feel ok about this kind of loss and to be able to return to normal...a new kind of normal.
The topic of God and the resurrection and the reality of it all was put to the test when it happened to my Mom. It took some time but eventually I came to the conclusion that it didn't matter one way or the other right now whether or not any of it's true. I look around at the animals, plants and trees and realize that for some reason they have a limited lifespan. Maybe it's just human greed to want it to go on and on. Maybe living forever would be the worst thing ever. Maybe the fact that it is all so unclear should be a hint that we aren't supposed to know right now. I decided not to allow fear of that unknown, make me dread the future, fear what happens after we die or believe in or spread feeble anecdotes about the topic to others, just to make myself feel better.
People can argue and discuss the topic to no end but there is no way to prove any of it. The vast majority of people are simply trying to ease their discomfort in not knowing. They like to have a little story they tell themselves in the still of the night when it haunts them. They'll go to great lengths to squelch anyone who makes them think too literally and deeply on the subject.
I decided to take a wait and see attitude about the whole thing. If there is a God and if he does have good things in store for us, there's no reason I shouldn't be part of it as well.
At any rate, you'll have to trust that time will be a friend to you when dealing with this recent loss
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Im sick of my life
by BlackWolf insorry but i really feel like i need to rant right now.
recently my dad was made an elder so my family has been doing a lot more "theocratic" activities lately.
every morning i wake up and put on my itchy dress and stupid makeup and heels and then pretend that i love what i'm doing and that everybody is my friend when in reality i feel horrible and all the other teenage girls at my hall hate me for some reason.
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Pete Zahut
Sit down and talk to your parents calmly about the thoughts you've share with us or put them in a letter that they can read without anyone arguing or getting emotional.
You: Mom...Dad....you know how the Societies publications are always stressing that we live a balanced life? (show a few examples if you want, search the word "balanced" on JW.org or the Watchtower CD'd)
Parents: Yes...that's right.
You: Well I need your help with something.
Parents: Oh....with what?
You: I feel as if I've been putting Jehovah first in my life, meetings, service, assemblies, reading and studying and I'm even being home schooled but I feel as if I'm not living a balanced life....something's missing.
Parents: Oh...like what.
You: Please don't get the wrong idea but I think my life, as good as it is thanks to you, may be a little bit overboard on the religious side of things. I'm afraid I'm not developing enough as an individual. I'm worried that my lack of outside interests and contact with others, may make it difficult to adjust to being an adult in a few years. Hopefully the new system will be here but we can't be 100% sure that it will be so I need to be sure and prepare for that in case it happens.
Right now I spend X amount of hours at meetings, X hours in service, X hours in travel back and forth to meetings and service, X hours studying and X hours at assemblies. I would like to spend and equal amount of time in my own personal interests and looking into other things other than religion or being around people who are also involved in my religion. You've always stressed the importance of my spiritual upbringing but it's starting to worry me that I won't be able to take it anymore. I'm afraid I'm going to be one of those kids who just bolts as soon as they get old enough because they're burned out after having a childhood full of nothing but religious activities. I've been taught that Jehovah is going to destroy the wicked world soon and me along with it if I don't do enough. I'm still a kid and I feel as if I'm carrying around the worries of the world. I feel bad because I know I'm supposed to be obedient to my parents and I'm supposed to have joy in our service to Jehovah but right now it's getting to be too much.
Can you help me figure out how to get things in balance so that I'm doing what I'm supposed to do but I still get to have a childhood that I can look back on where I was allowed to be free of the worries of the world and experience and learn things that I won't be able to as easily or won't ever have the chance to once I'm older?
Parents: What do you have in mind?
You: These are my interests A._ B._ C._
I need time each week to pursue these interest. I need to be around people my own age more often. I don't mean other JW kids who only talk to me because I happen to go to the same religious gathering their parents are making them go to. I mean kids who share the same interests as I do and who like me because of who I am and who aren't constantly evaluating my worth as a person, based on how good they think my relationship with Jehovah is. I need time to lay on my back and look up at the clouds and not worry whether or not God is going to kill me because I'm wasting time rather than spending it out in service or studying.
I need time on my own to find out who I am and what I think about things...not what others tell me I should think about things. It's not healthy to go around keeping myself in check all the time. I need you not to be shocked and horrified if my own thoughts,ideas or plans for myself don't necessarily agree with yours.
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Anyway....you get the idea. Make sure they know you aren't being rebellious or want to run off with some a retro-grunge band or someting. All you're asking for is a little balance and a little more say so in your own life. This has been a sore spot with teens and parents, long before you came onto the scene but you've got the complicated JW aspect thrown into the mix. Hopefully they are reasonable and will see your side of things. Don't be surprised if they had no clue that you feel as strongly as you do about this. Sometimes we can't see things even if they are right under our noses.
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A possible reason why the GB are becoming more demanding as things worsen
by Listener inbasically because they feel they are not being blessed.. this is not to say that all gb members feel this way.
the power hungry ones love getting the whip out.
the other members incorrectly look to the old testament for answers.. they are telling the sheep to be faithful, dedicated, self sacrificing, serving to the fullest, whole hearted and obedient.
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Pete Zahut
Basically because they feel they are not being blessed.
I don't think they were ever really "blessed". Here it is over a hundred years later and they still haven't spread the word world wide even though television and radio cold have done the job decades ago. They wouldn't have had to have factories, printing presses and thousands of Bethelites if they'd have used their funds in those mediums to spread the word instead of printing endless books.
What's happening now is people are daring to question and it's easy for them to verify the information they are getting, from the privacy of their own homes. A tighter hold is needed to stop them from doing that. At the same time, they need to get off their horse and make being a JW more doable for today's world.
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There are some real beauties posted here!
by stillin inthis one is worth repeating.
it was buried in a thread and u've been thinking about it all day.. a quote from mark twain, one of my all-time heroes.. "it's easier to fool a man than it is to convince him that he has been fooled.".
isn't that the truth....
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Pete Zahut
When it comes to explaining TTATT to your JW family....
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Jw style encouragement - Return or perish....
by Tornintwo ini haven't been able to post much recently, just started a new job with long hours... but i'm thinking of you all and drop in when i can.
anyway i've been meaning to tell you about this because thought it would tickle some of you.... 5 months after my last meeting, i've just had two "kind and loving" 'come back' messages/cards from different people both using the same days text from dec. 31st which says: .
"it is not a desirable thing with my father who is in heaven for one of these little ones to perish" matt 18:14. jehovah cares deeply about all those who have expressed love for his name, even if they are not actively serving him at present.
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Pete Zahut
JW: Oh look...a new brochure.....Return to Jehovah. Just reading it makes me feel warm and fuzzy and extra virtuous about myself. Who do I know that is surely going to die at Armageddon if I don't give them one of these? After all, it's my responsibility as a Christian to look around me and decide who is and who isn't in God's good graces ( like I am) and do my part to wake them up. Oh...I know, I'll give one to Tornintwo because let's face it, she (unlike myself) is a goner if she doesn't shape up in a hurry. She needs to return to Jehovah and start going to all the meetings or she'll wind up receiving the same eternal punishment as the likes of....oh, I don't know...Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Charles Manson and any number of other horrible horrible sinners who've lived on this planet down through the ages.
Yes...Tornintwo hasn't been to a meeting in at least 5 months (I've been keeping track) and when she did go, I saw her looking up additional scriptures and cross referencing things during the Sunday talk and during the Watchtower study. If she's not careful, she'll end up like that one guy....what was his name...Pete Zahut...he apparently is so cut off from Jehovah's spirit, he can't even grasp the simplest of concepts such as overlapping generations and blood fractions (sigh).
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Returning
by Doubtfully Yours ini was a member of this community a long time ago and have lurked for years.
well, i am back and still thoroughly conflicted, with my heart/loyalties as divided as ever.
please welcome me back, hear me out, and make me feel as welcomed as before.. the wtbts has changed so very much in recent years that i feel trapped in a completely different religion altogether.
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Pete Zahut
My basic story is that I, being a multigenerational JW, cannot emotionally handle losing my loved ones if I walk out on this religion.
Welcome DY....the first thought that came to mind after reading your post is whether or not you may unknowingly have family members who are sticking with the religion for the same reason you are, each thinking they are the only ones having doubts. There could be many of them who think that you'd shun them if they left or brought the topic up and have no idea you are struggling with it just like they are.
I think there are a lot of JW's who are thinking along the same lines as you are but have been silenced by the Organization. It makes life easier from day to day to keep ones mouth shut or do nothing but in the long run the problem festers and more and more people become victims just like you did.
If someone in the previous generation of your family would have been courageous enough to open up the can of worms or simply do a quiet fade, you and many of your relatives may have had the freedom to decide for yourselves what they wanted to do in regard to religion and God rather than be forced to believe or be shunned.
This is how it has always been for those who are being oppressed by others. Thankfully there have always been certain ones who had the courage to say "No More !" and were willing to do whatever it took to take their own personal power back.
There is something very wrong with an organization that harshly and forever more punishes anyone who simply chooses not to attend their meetings or recruit others. After all, that's all it takes to be a JW and that's all you'd have to stop doing to leave them.
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2 go bags
by johnamos inwill any of you post here if you hear anything in this coming thursday (1-14-16) meeting in regards to 2-go-bags being pushed again...
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Pete Zahut
Nothing calms the "restless JW natives" better than to start talking about the end of this system, survival bags, heading for the hills and by making cryptic comments about obedience to the mysterious instructions that will soon come from the Governing Body.
When the common folk down at the congregation level, get a little too mouthy, nothing puts them in their place and brings them to their senses than to remind them of the upcoming "Great Tribulation". Works every time and has for over one hundred years.
