Posts by Pete Zahut

80

Major Doctrinal Changes Must Be On The Way

by notsurewheretogo in

the statement in the article "who is leading gods people today?

" in the feb 17th study edition of the wt is very interesting.. it states: ""the g.b.

is neither inspired nor infallible" ..we can err .in doctrinal matters....".

Pete Zahut

To me, it's the same old double speak....
"We're imperfect...we make mistakes yet we are being directed by Jehovah ... we are his mouthpiece....we are being blessed....we are his faithful and discrete slave and he's chosen us to direct you, so even though we may misdirect you....you still need to obey us if you want to make it ".

What I want to know is why the February 2017 issue has been out since late October 2016 !

I can't remember, but is this earlier than normal ?

Did they need to get this statement out there earlier than normal as a reminder because something is pending?

If not, what's the purpose of putting the issues out, so far in advance?

29

If the GB changed a major teaching, would all witnesses just go along with it?

by stuckinarut2 in

so if the gb changed its "bible based beliefs" on some teaching, would witnesses all of a sudden change their individual beliefs too?.

witnesses like to claim that "their bible trained hearts and minds" make them believe as they do, but we know that the reality is that all witnesses hold their "deep seated beliefs" according to what they have been told to believe.. so what would cause the average witness to question those that dictate their "personal convictions"??.

thoughts?.

Pete Zahut

So I am wondering what it would REALLY take for a witness to wake up and question the authority?

On the whole, JW's will accept anything the Governing Body say's does or changes. Even when presented with the most feeble of reasonings, they are able to do an about face on just about any doctrine.

Individually however, if they are affected enough personally by a change or by an injustice done to them....that's when they'll wake up.

14

Lost and Sad, Then He Found Me...

by Sorry in

well, i got myself in a dilemma.

i'm currently 18, being baptised for a year.

i had my doubts, but due to a variety of reasons (getting subtle flack for not baptised, not having a support system even if i wanted to leave).

Pete Zahut

Hi Sorry,

I understand your feelings and can see the dilemma here but honestly I have to say that 18 is a bit young yet to be ready to send your family packing, over a boyfriend. I know you wouldn't be the one cutting ties but by choosing the boyfriend and knowing the consequence of that, you'd be choosing him, over them, in a sense.

It may be that some day if they don't soften toward you in regard to your not wanting to be a JW. you may have to make a difficult choice. Right now, insomuch as you're so young and haven't known this guy all that long, as well as the fact that you're quite torn as to what to do, I'd say you should give this more time. This isn't an emergency although at you're age, it might feel more like it is, than it would if you were 21 for instance.

A year ago you were in a place where you thought getting baptized was a good idea even though you had a hunch that things weren't all they seemed to be with the religion. You mentioned that your boyfriend isn't in the best place right now and given the fact that you've (wisely) come here for advice, I'm guessing you also may have a hunch that doing anything too drastic until you've known him a good long time, wouldn't be a good move.

Why not take a wait and see attitude....let this play out a little before you go all in with your boyfriend? I'm sure his Mother is quite fond of you but to think that she loves you dearly this quickly, might be a sign that you could putting a rosy romantic glow on this new relationship. People can love you dearly, then not love you dearly, just as quickly. I don't know the situation but the mother may well see you as the answer to her son's problems and a way to get him off her hands.Your parents for all their faults have been there for you from the beginning and it sounds like you love them very much. As JW's they have learned to be terrified of the idea of a child not remaining in their faith. It would almost be like a death to them to have you leave.

Perhaps if you get to know this guy within the framework of your existing situation and ease your parents into the realization that their little girl has a mind of her own, you can spare them much grief. It will take patience and maturity but things would be some much better if you could avoid a dramatic scene where voices are raised, doors are slammed and the sound of horses hooves over the frozen ground as someone gallops off into the night on horseback.

7

Watch Tower Farms ?

by Lostandfound in

may have missed this somewhere, but if bethel not providing meals anymore , what is point of the farms?.

or are meals still provided with simple self service now, without the waiter service of decades?.

seem to recall uk farm disposed of years ago as it cheaper to purchase requirements rather than sustain farm and its workers, was that the case?.

Pete Zahut

Seem to recall UK farm disposed of years ago as it cheaper to purchase requirements rather than sustain farm and its workers, was that the case?

Even as a 19 year old Bethelite, I couldn't understand why they had such a lavish set up at Bethel. (uniformed waiters, tailor shop, barber, etc)

I thought the same about the literature....it seemed to me they could streamline the whole organization by hiring the printing out to a printing company and save themselves the need to house and feed people who could be "spreading the urgent message" not to mention eliminate the need to purchase and maintain factories and machinery.

My relatives in Bethel have a kitchen and Bethel provides certain prepared dishes that can be picked up at meal time and brought back to the room. Most if not all rooms now have kitchens and certain "staples" and ingredients for meals are provided so Bethelites can cook in their rooms.

As far as Watchtower Farms...I believe it's still in existence but has been reduced greatly from what it was. I think the dairy is gone.

14

A sister at my door today

by careful in

i suppose it was just a matter of time till it happened.

i've faded, not been dfed or daed, for years now.

once they tracked me down and tried to reactivate me, but then i moved, and hopefully lost them.

Pete Zahut

Hi Careful,

Am I assuming correctly that since you've moved into a new area the "sister" that called on you didn't realize you were a former JW ? If she didn't know and if you didn't show any interest, you may not hear from them until the next go-round through your neighborhood.

We have a KH only about 3 miles from here and have only seen JW's in the neighborhood about 3 times in the last 8 years. We have a Mormon church about the same distance away and we get called on quite often by them.

13

Memorial observance screwery.

by Darkknight757 in

had a thought about the memorial observance that is held at the kingdumb hall every year.

there are a few youtube videos of people partaking of the bread and the wine and then making some grand speech before being escorted off the premises.

instead of that, has anyone tried getting a group of buddies together and when receiving the bread or the wine, just eat or drink it all?

Pete Zahut

Instead of that, has anyone tried getting a group of buddies together and when receiving the bread or the wine, just eat or drink it all?

Or just sit quietly in the middle of a row and sneeze on the bread and lick the rim of the wine glass as it passes buy.

But seriously...even after all I've been through as a result of being a JW, I'm not a big fan of entering into a place of "worship" and showing disrespect for someone else's occasion. Seems like they should be able to say and do what they please within their own walls.

Having said that...once they approach me, come to my home or are in a public place and ask me a question or try to interfere with my family.....it's go time.

22

How do you prove the watchtower organisation is not genuine using recent evidence?

by punkofnice in

when i was a jobo, i would say that anything in jobo history, eg.

miracle wheat, beth sarim et al (old light), wasn't worth considering as evidence that the wbt$ was a weirdo cult.. i think that's probably the jobo mindset now.. what would you show them from very recent lies teachings to encourage them to consider the possibility the wbt$ is a scam?.

Pete Zahut

A conversation I had with my JW Brother. (keep in mind that our father died a horrible death in his mid 60's just shortly before they made the ruling about the use of blood fractions, which would have saved his life)

Q. As a JW, can you donate Blood?

A. NO

Q. Is someone who donates blood, displeasing to Jehovah?

A. Yes

Q As a JW can you now accept blood fractions ?

A. Yes

Q Where do blood fractions come from?

A They come from blood that was donated.

Q. Since donating blood is not acceptable to Jehovah, why would it be acceptable to use blood fractions taken from blood that was donated?

A. It's a conscience matter. It's up to each individual to decide for himself.

Q. If this is the case, why isn't donating blood a conscience matter in the first place?

A. Because the Bible says to pour blood out on the ground.

Q. How is obtaining and using blood fractions from blood that wasn't poured out on the ground, acceptable?

A. Because the person using the fractions wasn't the one who donated the blood.

Q. Would it be acceptable for the society to use money that was donated to them by a drug cartel for instance?

A. No. not if they knew about it.

Q. What about if they only kept the $20.00 bills?

A. No,...all of the money was obtained illegally.

Q. Why is it a conscience matter to use fractions of blood that was donated and in violation to God's law?

A. It probably isn't.

Q. By accepting blood fractions at that earlier date when he needed them, would our Dad have been in violation of God's law according to the Governing Body?

A. Yes

Q What about two years later?

A. No

Q. What does this tell you about their decisions?

A. Their decisions aren't necessarily always spirit directed.

7

Tyler McCumber wins PGA tour event in Peru

by FatFreek 2005 in

tyler mccumber, no, you probably don't know of him.

he may be one of jehovah's witnesses.

his dad, mark, was a member the last i knew.. .

Pete Zahut

Imagine chasing a little ball around a golf course and becoming so proficient at it that you become a world champion, all the while claiming that world is going to end any day, people are going to be destroyed and they must be reached before it's too late ?

28

So getting disfellowshipped sounds kind of great.

by schnell in

i grew up in this religion, i was baptized at 14, married at 27, and now i'm 31. i'm also evolutionist and atheist.

i wanted this to be the truth.

i spent years as an apologist trying to reconcile everything.

Pete Zahut

For your wife's sake, if it's only been recently that you've started missing meetings etc., it might be wise to wait before drawing an official line in the sand. It may be that in time, the JW's in your life will get the picture and back off. If enough time goes by and you play your cards right, you may be able to have the best of both worlds in terms of not being shunned every time you see a JW and having your wife be the object of pity in the congregation. You can send a DA letter in at any old time if you choose to later....why not give fading a try?

You shouldn't have to strategize in order to leave a religion but it is what it is....a cult or at least cult like religion that you've / we've managed to get tied up in. I don't know your situation but for me it was best to little by little fade out and not play the game by their rules by sending in a D A letter. Who are they anyway that I should bother giving notification?? The relationship with God that you once believed in as a JW, was supposed to be between you and him. You don't need to explain anything to anyone. Just vague non committal answers (if that) should keep them off your back. Tempting as it might be, there's no need to give them a piece of your mind spill your guts, explain or justify your personal beliefs to any one of them.

17

Have a pretty interesting story to tell.

by Dexter in

i am new to this site, was always told by my elder father if the site accidentally appeared on the comp screen it was satans doing.

anyways, i am 28 y/m who had the unfortunate life of being the last of three kids to be born ins.

my oldest sibling lasted about 8 years before she was d,f.

Pete Zahut

There are plenty of parents who throw their kids out of the house when they get to be so stubborn they won't listen anymore. I'm so sick of hearing like this is some kind of JW thing.

The difference is,JW kids (minors) often get thrown out simply because they don't want to be JW's....don't want to get baptized or go to meetings, not because they are doing anything particularly wrong. I know a family that went to South America to serve where the need was great and their 17 year old didn't want to go. Without giving too much detail here I'll just tell you, their flight stopped in a southern state before leaving the U.S. They dumped their 17 year old off at the airport with no money no place to go and have never heard from their offspring again. They are now missionaries and the 17 year old is in their early 30's, has made a life of their own and wants no contact from family members....even the ones who are no longer JW's themselves.