Posts by Pete Zahut

14

"I should have known" moments

by dubstepped in

i got ready for the meeting.

my wife did too.

we drove out to the kingdom hall and the closer we got the higher my anxiety would spike.

I am not a person who drinks much or feels at all well when I do but towards the end of my JW career the years of anxiety became so unbearable that I couldn't make it though a meeting without ducking out to my car to have a nip of beer or wine in order to quell the flip flops in my stomach. (I'd pour a small amount into a container and place it in the trunk before going to the Hall) This is a highly irregular thing to do, I know and if you knew me, you'd realize how drastic things had gotten for me to resort to such a thing.

I tried every anxiety medication and treatment out there and it just didn't work. I fought what my subconscious had been telling me until finally there was a perfect storm of JW caused life ending (blood issue) and life threatening family events that occurred back to back that really opened my eyes to the dark side of the religion. Things finally came to a head JW wise and I was able to see clearly what my problem was. Memorial 2008 was my last meeting and within that week, the debilitating anxiety magically disappeared and hasn't returned.....vanished...pooof.....gone. It was such an unbelievable life changing relief. This was a huge indicator to me that leaving was the right thing for me to do despite all of the resulting fallout we'd experience. To this day, I feel almost giddy on what used to be "meeting nights" at the thought of not having to sit through those mind numbing anxiety promoting sessions anymore.

A sister from another Hall came to our door a year or so ago. She didn't realize we weren't Witnesses anymore. To the point of being almost annoying, she kept saying over and over how good I looked and how peaceful I seemed, how slim , fit, young and healthy I looked. She finally said didn't you have a terrible time with anxiety.....how did you get over it? I told her she wasn't going to like the answer and gently broke it too her in so many words, that the key to my current healthy state is a direct result of having left off being a JW. We had a long discussion after that and I could tell she was really thinking seriously about what I told her.

53

Disturbance during Memorial 2016.

by Ben131895 in

jw
friends

two documented disturbances during memorial 2016. type 'memorial 2016' on youtube.

Pete Zahut

This kind of thing makes me cringe a little.

To me, people should be able to teach/preach whatever they believe within the walls of their own building (or rented stadium) without being confronted by those who disagree with them. Once they step out the door and start teaching/preaching in public places, at peoples doors or start asking people questions about their beliefs, they are fair game as far as opening themselves up to hearing opposing beliefs/opinions.

I understood what the guy in the video was talking about only because after being on this site, his alternate un JW like line of thinking on the matter of the memorial, is familiar to me . To the folks in the audience, their train of thought is elsewhere at the moment and this guy very likely confirmed all the paranoid ideas they have about those who are simply former JW's.

I've heard an older interview with the this guy some time ago and he seemed quite well spoken and balanced for the most part. He seems to have declined as far as being a stable person. What can you really tell from a short video but I was surprised how poorly he came across on this particular one. I guess the bottom line is that it bothers me that because I'm no longer a JW, this is what people think I've become a part of, especially when I've made sure to maintain my personal dignity whenever I've had dealings with them. (just my 2 cents)

83

Why all the hate...

by Dystopia in

...toward jehovah's witnesses?

Pete Zahut

Ok gang it's time. From this point on, no matter how tempting it might be, let's not feed the troll anymore....it loves and thrives on the attention far too much and besides we wouldn't want to distract it from preparing it's Saturday morning magazine presentation.

35

July 2016 W T Article Gives Reassurance to Aging Publishers

by BluesBrother in

congregations are full of older ones who were led to expect the end when they were still young enough to work ,and stay forever young.

now these ones face a sparse old age with little provision set aside.

the article ""do not be afraid .

Pete Zahut

They need to economise, cut back on luxuries (Don't all pensioners?) and trust in God. They give an example of an elderly couple who face difficulties but because they were such good examples to the others, a young couple in the cong.took them in and provided a home for them

Wouldn't it just frost your hide to be an older person who has been frugal all of your life only to have a pinky ring wearing governing body member who lives off the donations of others, tell you through the pages of the Watchtower to cultivate more faith and be more prudent with your money? Especially when they've been claiming to be in need of more money themselves ! They didn't rely on Jehovah....they went out an solicited heavily for extra funding from the flock.

Seems like this might be the last straw for some who are beginning to question if these men really know what they are talking about and how wise it was for them to count on the future the gentlemen from the Watchtower assured them would arrive within their lifetime.

6

What's the difference between ignorance and apathy?

by James Mixon in

ask a jw.

they will say "i don't know and i don't care".

Pete Zahut

With ignorance you don't know who to spell the word ignorant but it's apathy that makes you not care that this the case.

23

Why did Jesus have to suffer?? Something I never thought about.

by ttdtt in

something dawned on me last night.

jesus was suposed to be a corresponding sacrifice for adam right?.

a perfect life for a perfect life.

Pete Zahut

It wouldn't have fed into the Judeo-Christian Martyr complex unless it was all really complicated and someone suffered greatly.

21

It's so awkward that people have to touch the emblems

by thedepressedsoul in

it's just so weird to me.

for a group that is against idolatry so much and yet each person has to "touch" the bread and wine.. one lady was standing and holding a baby.

she called the server over just so she could put her thumb on the bread and wine.. did jesus ever clarify what he wanted them to do in remembrance of him?

Pete Zahut

I remember at one Memorial there was a very thin frail looking elderly brother sitting by himself at the end of one row. There was a gap of about 8 seats between he and the next person so when the wine came to him he had to get up and teeter down the row holding the glass in his shaky hands and sloshing the wine as he attempted to hand it to the next person. Being hard of hearing and not realizing how loud he was speaking he said. " WELL....HERE YA GO, THAT IS IF THERE'S ANYTHING LEFT...har har har !"

Despite the solemness of the occasion, there were a few chuckles.

83

Why all the hate...

by Dystopia in

...toward jehovah's witnesses?

Pete Zahut

Don't hate the individuals.....hate the iron clad hold this man made organization has on otherwise rational people and the way they are often rendered unable to use their logic and reasoning skills to free themselves even when they clearly realize what is happening to them. I include you in this comment as you obviously know something isn't right and are visiting this site and possibly others yet can't seem to grasp how anyone would be angry.

83

Why all the hate...

by Dystopia in

...toward jehovah's witnesses?

Pete Zahut

Dystopia. I sent you a private message.

12

Nearly subliminal use of JW.AAARRRG on screen at Memorial

by burnedout in

i went to the memorial last night.

it was the first time i have seen two big hd tv's on the sides of the stage.

during the talk memorial themed 'art' work was displayed on screen.

Pete Zahut

As EACH image would fade to black or transition to the next image the screen would display the logo for their website for 1 second and then disappear. Really bizarre. Saturated advertising for sure.

Just couldn't have Jesus upstaging the Governing Body again this year...just who does he think he is?