Pete Zahut

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Posts by Pete Zahut

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  30

  Christmas arrogance

  by stillin in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  one of the witness rebuttals that is used to belittle the christmas holiday is the one where they say that people reduce jesus christ to being just a baby in a manger, whereas the witnesses recognize him as a mighty king, a much more accurate and current way to view jesus.

  a baby in a manger is a sweet sight on any day, it's true, but more is going on than meets the eye in the case of jesus.

  this particular baby is the first baby to have been born without an earthly father, the immaculate conception.

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  Pete Zahut

  @
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  24

  Question for PIMOS but all welcome

  by ZindagiNaMilegiDobaara in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  so once pimo how do you deal with going to the meetings, ministry, social getotgethers, conventions assemblies?.

  for one you know it is all off key,.

  two your 2 hours or more so just wasted (not counting the time getting ready,travelling etc).

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  Pete Zahut

  When I was fading there was one particularly obnoxious "Sister" who would always say in a loud voice

  "Hi Pete....we've missed you...where have you been ? "

  She did this one Sunday after the meeting so I nudged her gently with my elbow and said jokingly

  " Well I've miss you too Mary but you know, if you'd show up to the meetings once in awhile we'd see each other more often " ..

  Everyone nearby chuckled and she laughed uneasily but never said that to me again.

  My strategy was never to explain myself or seem apologetic about anything. If questioned, I'd give them the blankest looks I could muster and act as if I had no idea why they would be concerned about me or asking me such things.
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  39

  These days it not really that hard being a witness.

  by I believe in overlapping in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  if you are a true believer, then you are toast.

  because you will be a slave to everything the watchtower, circuit overseers, elders, pioneers, imply.

  believe me, there are not many true believers anymore, and the majority of them are old.

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  Pete Zahut

  I agree that compared to even 5 years ago, it is easier for JW's to skirt around their supposed beliefs and there's less required of them to be considered an "active "JW. It seems that the average JW (especially the younger ones) are more flexible when it comes to upholding a lot of the hard to live by doctrines.

  Because of the allowance of Blood Fractions, even the Blood issue has been made less stringent. HIPPA laws give JW's the assurance that if they accept blood, their choice will be kept private by their doctors and hospital staff.
  

  My Son's girlfriend is a newly graduated RN. (nonJW) She was hired at a major hospital immediately after graduation and attended the hospitals staff training program. There was an entire section of the training devoted to JW's and how to handle them. Part of the hospital protocol is to visit the patients privately once the Liaison Committee and JW friends and family aren't present to be sure they are making their own choice regarding blood. According to her instructor, more often than not the JW's (especially young people)beg them to do whatever it will take to save their lives and make sure no other JW finds out. The Hospital is obligated to carry out their wishes confidentially.
  
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  23

  Yet another example why you can't reason with a JW

  by nowwhat? in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so i mentioned to my pimi brother that the org.

  only grew by 1.4 % 2 years in row and if you factor in the birthrate of 1.1 % that's only 3/10 of 1% growth for all that hard work.

  i thought people would be streaming to the mountain of jehovah in the last days?

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  Pete Zahut

  So he says he's not concerned about numbers, after all only 7 people made it into the ark!

  Weren't there 8 people on the Ark?

  Anyway, (if the story is even true), the global flood Noah warned his contemporaries about, came in his own lifetime. Generations of JW's have come and gone since the 1800's even though they claimed all the while that the end would come in their lifetime.

  He's may not be concerned with numbers even though the Organization he is loyal to requires him to report his field service hours and literature placed because they are indeed concerned with numbers. If those numbers are favorable they like to use it as proof that they are the true religion.
  
• 
  30

  Christmas arrogance

  by stillin in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  one of the witness rebuttals that is used to belittle the christmas holiday is the one where they say that people reduce jesus christ to being just a baby in a manger, whereas the witnesses recognize him as a mighty king, a much more accurate and current way to view jesus.

  a baby in a manger is a sweet sight on any day, it's true, but more is going on than meets the eye in the case of jesus.

  this particular baby is the first baby to have been born without an earthly father, the immaculate conception.

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  Pete Zahut

  When we celebrate our birthdays we don't open up the photo albums, gather around and coo over "the baby". We want people to relate to us as we are. Why would Jesus want it any differently than we do?

  Typically the person being celebrated is in the room and everyone is aware of their age. I can imagine some parents reflect back on the day their child is born, look at their photos and review all the events that took place that day especially if there was something particularly traumatic that happened. I know I do.

  Again, Christmas is based around the miraculous birth of the son of God and the events that took place at that time. There are other holidays and customs that highlight important aspects of his adult life. I don't think you're truly concerned about anyone being confused about Jesus still being a baby or that somehow he'd disapprove. The feeble arguments you present come across as attempt to nit pick and grasp at straws in order to feel more knowledgeable and or virtuous .
  

  
  

  As the Israel of God, His people are called out of the world. We're to separate ourselves as a holy nation unto God...following Jesus and worshipping in spirit and truth.

  That was the nation of Israel and God ended that arrangement because it failed miserably. They were an actual nation of people long before Jesus arrived so they weren't even following Jesus much of the time. JW's somehow dare to call themselves spiritual Israelites even though as far as I know, there was no indication that Christians were to view themselves as an actual nation, spiritual or otherwise.

  It is solely a tradition of men. God is not obligated to honour our feelings about "why" we celebrate christmas and He's not obligated to honour the traditions of men. Since December 25th isn't Jesus' birthday, it's even less likely that God honours the christmas celebration with His approval.

  Who said anything about God being obligated to honor our feelings or traditions and how is it that you presume know so much about what he approves or disapproves of that you can criticize and or condemn other peoples customs? As JW's we sang bible based songs several times during each of the meeting just like the hymns in the churches of Christendom. That was a man made custom that was intended to honor God rather than something God required. Who knows if he approved of it or not? Hopefully he saw it for what it was...humans trying to please him.

  It seems to me that when it comes to religion we are all guessing at just about everything and it is likely that we are all completely off track. I figure it's best not to criticize other people's religious customs especially since God (if he even exists) is probably shaking his head at everyone's attempts to figure out what he wants. The important thing, (if any of it truly happened) is that 2018 years after his death, people still know who Jesus was.

  My father passed away and isn't here to speak for himself but I can't imagine my brother or my sisters being so presumptuous as to claim that they knew him better or that he approved of them more or that their relationship with him and attempts to honor him are superior to mine.
  

  I just don't understand the superior attitude some people have about their religious beliefs and what God supposedly wants or approves of. They act as if they have it all figured out and have a special "in" with God and or mock or condemn anyone who thinks differently than they do. This is why I want nothing to do with religion and more often than not, religious people.
• 
  30

  Christmas arrogance

  by stillin in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  one of the witness rebuttals that is used to belittle the christmas holiday is the one where they say that people reduce jesus christ to being just a baby in a manger, whereas the witnesses recognize him as a mighty king, a much more accurate and current way to view jesus.

  a baby in a manger is a sweet sight on any day, it's true, but more is going on than meets the eye in the case of jesus.

  this particular baby is the first baby to have been born without an earthly father, the immaculate conception.

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  Pete Zahut

  When it comes to Christmas itself Jesus is depicted as a baby because the holiday is based around the story of his birth and the celebration that went on in the heavens and the events that transpired when he was born. The rest of the year they show depictions of Jesus with children gathered around him or hanging on a cross etc but at Christmas they concentrate on his birth.

  One could ask a JW why they always depict Adam and Eve as young people in their literature. Adam is always shown as fit and strong and Eve is young and beautiful with long flowing hair. We all know that Adam and Eve (if they even existed) grew old and died and for most of their lives, they were old people. No one wants to think of that period of their lives rather they want to focus on the story of creation and the hope of returning to perfection.

  JW's and other insecure and resentful people, enjoy feeling extra virtuous about themselves by nit picking and pointing out the supposed flaws in the customs of others instead of marveling at the fact that 2018 years after his death, even though the details may vary, millions of people around the globe still recognize Jesus as the son of God and their savior and celebrating his birth is a happy occasion that keeps the hope of eternal salvation alive.
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  20

  What are your favourite Christmas songs?

  by LoveUniHateExams in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  here's one of mine .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyotvgpn0ru .

  how about you?.

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  Pete Zahut

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyPDQpel8bI
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  20

  What are your favourite Christmas songs?

  by LoveUniHateExams in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  here's one of mine .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyotvgpn0ru .

  how about you?.

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  Pete Zahut

  This isn't actually a Christmas song because it's from that old movie "The Greatest Little Whorehouse in Texas" but they play it at this time of year and I really like the sound of all of those beautiful women's voices together. I also like the very real expression on Dolly's face and the way she clasps each one of the ladies hands as she bids them farewell one by one at the end of the video.

  (Dolly explained that when she was a kid her parents were sometimes so broke that all they'd get for Christmas was a few pieces of inexpensive hard candy, each)
  

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivLpzyTA9ik

  This is another example of beautiful ladies (Shedaisy) singing and their voices in unison really get to me. (OK...I'm starting to see a pattern) LOL !

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6zrdQUvSjA
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  29

  Scary Experience

  by ZindagiNaMilegiDobaara in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  something weird and scary happened to us last nihgt.

  we had a few friends over for the weekend.

  we love to go hiking and long walks wherever and whenever we can.

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  Pete Zahut

  I think I'd have called the Police on my cell phone and whispered my location to them once the would be criminals were out of sight.
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  22

  Crazy WT stories

  by scruffmcbuff in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  dennis was offered £5 by cool kids smoking pot and fornicating.

  he turned it down and went to read the wt as he turned the page.

  what did he see?a £5 note.

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  Pete Zahut

  What about the assembly experience I heard where there was a burglar in a "sisters" house and when she came home, he hid under her bed. The "sister"went to bed and read from her bible and prayed out loud before going to sleep. Once she was asleep the burglar came out from under the bed and stole her bible and some publications. A few years later the burglar came up to the "sister" at an assembly and told her what he'd done, returned her bible said that now he was a baptized JW himself.

  Of course there was thunderous applause and many tears shed by the assembly audience but it was moments like this this that I used to think that there was something wrong and or wicked about me because I was always skeptical and had lots of questions that needed to be answered before I'd begin to believe such a far fetched story.