Posts by Pete Zahut

20

"It's the demons..."

by pale.emperor in

one thing that really frustrates me inside is how quite a few jw's (especially my family) actually believe that demons like to inhabit second hand vases, or clothes etc.

my sister and mother are so bad with this that they wont even talk about it - because even talking about it "brings demons into your home".

so any attempt to show them that it's unscriptural is shut off with, sometimes them literally going "lalalalalalala im not listening".. i used to believe it myself (why wouldn't i?, i was told by my mother and father it was fact).. what i'd like to point out to anyone that would let me debunk it is this:.

Pete Zahut

The account in the Bible of the demons who were cast into a heard of swine and they all ran off a cliff, gives them license to say that if demons can inhabit swine they can inhabit anything.

Back in the day, it was common belief that demons were lurking inside inanimate objects and were waiting for unsuspecting JW's to come along so they could "demonize" them. As a kid during Halloween, I used to ask why our neighbors or the kids at school weren't demonized by the ghosts, ghouls and jack-o-lanterns they had as decorations on their houses and kept in their closets all year. I was told that Satan already has them in his clutches and wants to get us away from Jehovah and he is like a "roaring lion seeking to devour knowing he has little time left."

Magical thinking is part a parcel of the JW mindset. Living forever in paradise with lions that play with beach balls, the idea that Jehovah is watching them at all times and is sad when they miss a meeting and the entire world and an evil spirit enemy is plotting to get them makes them feel that they are the center of the universe because of their special religion .

21

Whats the one thing

by MrTheocratic in

jw's are constantly trying to prove they have the truth.

they always point to matthew 24:14 and say "who is accomplishing this work today?

this proves we have the truth and gods backing".. for those of us in this community looking from the other side what is one thing that proves to you that this organization does not have gods backing?

Pete Zahut

And yes, as another poster has said, the way they changed the Bible, they put Jehovah in the Greek scriptures where the word Lord is,

Can someone elaborate on this? This is a new one to me.

Thanks,

29

The Effects Of Instant Information At Your Finger Tips How Will The Watchtower Ever Survive Very Long?

by Brokeback Watchtower in

it is hard to teach that the earth is flat these day do to a more informed society, and now that we have entered the information age i see a whole new ball game is before a rather ignorant bunch of old farts called the governing body.

these guys are totally ignorant by choice and are trying desperately to keep their captive's ignorant for as long as possible.

the gb's internet apperances are all laughable to any sane individual and a total embarasement.

Pete Zahut

The GB's internet apperances are all laughable to any sane individual and a total embarasement. They can't let their light shine before men because they are really total idiot's who beleive in a fairy tale.
All this info is bound to trickle down to the average JW. I mean the Governing Body are total idiots on public display this has to get to many JWs.

Many have said similar things about Donald Trump but look how far his campaign has gone so far and how many are supporting him.

The WT will be around for a long time to come but the hold they have on people will be different. We were kept in darkness but soon, (except for the children) it will be the individual JW's own fault if he chooses not to acknowledge the information that's out there.

23

Generation Nonsense in today's WT

by Slidin Fast in

abraham was part of the 9th generation as a descendent of shem.

yet, their lives overlapped by 150 years.

yep, they were of the same generation!

Pete Zahut

When it comes to overlapping generations, I wonder how do they explain Psalms 90:10

"The days of our years are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away."

I can see how a person could consider someone born a few years before or after they were, as being part of their own generation. A 50 year old may think of a 55 year old as part of his own generation but these great overlaps of years where you and your grandfather are part of the same generation, don't make sense no matter how many times the Watchtower tries to explain it.

A lot of JW's go silent and their eyes glaze over when this topic comes up .

30

not all JW's are asleep

by Damascus in

jw
friends

i am an 'active' jw but i do not agree with most of the doctrines inc blood, baptism, the memorial etc etc.i took the emblems at the memorial because i think we all should recognise and accept jesus' command to remember him.

not for one minute do i think this is only for the so called anointed.

i know it is full of man made error and that my fellow brothers and sisters are in a state of mindless, spiritual unawareness.

Pete Zahut

So why am I still attending? Because I love God and I believe in Jesus' message to tell others of his kingdom which is coming. I don't preach the JW message and falsehoods when calling on people.

I completely understand this line of thinking and in the past wondered about doing this myself. Then I thought, if I do find interest at the door, where would I take them...why would I bring them to the Kingdom Hall if I don't really agree with a lot of important beliefs....how would I explain this to them especially during the Memorial while I was munching away on unleavend bread when the speaker just said it was only for the annointed ones? And what happens when the interested one becomes a JW and dies due to the blood issue....something I don't believe is correct. Would I be sort of responsible?

25

NOW it's Important

by TheLiberator in

i have spent 45 years of my life sacrificing my soul to the watchtower.

twenty-five of those years as a ms/elder.

i gave every moment to them.

Pete Zahut

You are preaching to the choir LIBERATOR...we know and feel your pain. The thing that is most maddening is that after all we've done and been through, to current JW's, none of it matters and it's as if we don't even exist. It's much the same as how an older person feels when some members of the younger generation come along and treat them as if nothing existed before they came onto the scene.

At least with the Internet and these forums, we can air our grievances so to speak. Imagine how it was for the thousands upon thousands of former JW's in our position a decade or more ago. They had to fade into the woodwork or resort to becoming "loud crazy apostates" just to have a voice.

We were oblivious to the JW's that went before us who threw their lives away slaving for the Watchtower and there are many current JW's slaving away now who will be in the same position in the years to come. The organization is a revolving door of individuals just coming in.....individuals caught up in the spin of activity or who are just along for the ride.....and individuals being spit out the other side.

This "organization" is being run by "victims" of the "organization". They have slaved for the organization all of their lives, worked their way up through the ranks and must now keep it going in order to sustain themselves in their old age.

I think, in order to keep from becoming bitter, it's probably best to focus on the momentary benefits that were gained when we were involved in Watchtower activities. Even if it was only a feeling of satisfaction or purpose or time we enjoyed in the company of others involved in what we thought was an important mission. That was then....this is now...we know better now....so the only thing left to do is to do the best we can within our own personal circumstances and be grateful that it wasn't worse.

33

"But WHY would you want to know those things??"

by stuckinarut2 in

i ran into an older sister who has always been very sweet.. it was a friendly chat...yet she pushed for a reason why my family have been missing from meetings for some time.

the question was deflected, until it just had to be said: "well, there have been some troubling and disturbing issues about the society especially the way things were handled during the royal commission, as well as many other issues".. she quickly cut in and said "but why would you want to know these things?

its best not to research and look at those sort of things - so we don't get upset!".

Pete Zahut

Why would you want to know?? Classic JW response, but most don't say it out loud or realize they are thinking it.

They often apply the scripture about "wanting their ears ticketed" to other religions. Seems to me they are no different.

On some level, people often want to be lied to and will go to great lengths to punish anyone who brings this to their attention.

33

Reminder about language and content

by Simon in

while the vast majority of posts that the majority of posters share are perfectly fine (which we appreciate) i've noticed we have a few cases where bad language, crude innuendo and outright misogyny is creeping in.. this is not acceptable.. we're not certainly not prudish and neither are we going to enforce puritanical rules - sometimes a politically incorrect joke is funny as hell and sometimes strong language is justified.

but often times content is completely out of place and cannot be justified.. so, please don't post crude content or use expletives just to be "shocking".

it's childish and immature and won't be tolerated.. thank you to all the people this has nothing at all to do with..

Pete Zahut

Even in the world we live in today, where people have a tendency to balk at any kind of restriction of their behavior, swearing in a public forum where there are a variety of individuals with varying sensibilities is still not considered good form.

If you used foul language in a court of law, during a public debate, in a job interview with a reputable company, when you were introduced to someone new, in most business situations or when speaking to neighbors you didn't know very well, chances are you wouldn't be doing yourself a favor.

Besides all that....Simon sez NO !

33

Reminder about language and content

by Simon in

while the vast majority of posts that the majority of posters share are perfectly fine (which we appreciate) i've noticed we have a few cases where bad language, crude innuendo and outright misogyny is creeping in.. this is not acceptable.. we're not certainly not prudish and neither are we going to enforce puritanical rules - sometimes a politically incorrect joke is funny as hell and sometimes strong language is justified.

but often times content is completely out of place and cannot be justified.. so, please don't post crude content or use expletives just to be "shocking".

it's childish and immature and won't be tolerated.. thank you to all the people this has nothing at all to do with..

Pete Zahut

Thanks for that gentle reminder.

16

After death

by Willie647 in

i'm not a born in but my parents became jws when i was about 3 years old.

i left at 18 after i was accused of having sex with my future wife.

truth is we hadn't done anything remotely close.

Pete Zahut

Unfortunately yours isn't an isolated incident. Such a loss of years of togetherness with your family....30 years gone...all for nothing. I can't help but wonder what is going through your parents minds now that they have grown old . If your parents are as afraid of dying as you say, I could see how they could write you off thinking they were doing the right thing for God and in turn saving their own hides in the process. I couldn't bear to cut my Sons out of my life, no matter what they may have done. Especially having done so because of a set of beliefs being enforced by a religion only to later see many of those beliefs fail or drastically change.

Did your first wife get DF'd too and did she loose here family? Is she a JW now? Did anything good come of all this?