Posts by Pete Zahut

51

“We are not done yet!” – Candace Conti reacts to appeal court decision

by Watchtower-Free in

http://jwsurvey.org/cedars-blog/we-are-not-done-yet-candace-reacts-to-appeal-court-decision.

candace conti (pictured in her interview with abc) has spoken out for the first time about the appeal court decision.

as current and former jehovahs witnesses digest the news that watchtowers appeal against the candace conti verdict has faltered, albeit with the punitive element of the judgment reversed, candace has reacted for the first time by telling me: we are not done yet.. news spread on monday that the state appeals court in san francisco had upheld the $2.8 million compensatory damages in the original june 2012 verdict, but overturned the $8.6 million punitive award against watchtower.. the court decided that, though watchtower had neglected its responsibility to supervise known pedophile jonathan kendrick in field ministry, a church-sponsored activity, the organization had no duty to warn parents in the congregation that a pedophile was in their midst or report him to authorities.. an insightful report by investigative reporter trey bundy has suggested that the court reached its decision because the precedent set by the conti verdict might be too burdensome to enforce.. the burden would be considerable because the precedent could require a church to intervene whenever it has reason to believe that a congregation member is capable of doing harm, and the scope of that duty could not be limited with any precision, the judges wrote.. candaces attorney rick simons responded by pointedly telling bundy: they think in public policy terms that theres too much risk in broadening the churchs responsibility and liability so that it burdens what churches do.

Pete Zahut

The court decided that, though Watchtower had neglected its responsibility to supervise known pedophile Jonathan Kendrick in field ministry, a “church-sponsored activity,” the organization had NO duty to warn parents in the congregation that a pedophile was in their midst or report him to authorities.

The Watchtower has no legal duty to "warn" the congregation when consenting adults commit fornication or adultery yet they waste no time in doing so from the platform when they disfellowship someone and then have a talk that hints at the offense shortly afterward and they tell every congregation that the person later attends. Their congregation file follows them wherever they go.

16

Caleb and Sophia... Run... They're Alive

by Seeking agape in

.

Pete Zahut

Pretend Christians and Cartoon characters, passing out comic books, about a made up religion, in a make believe town. Yep....sounds about right.

48

Struggling

by Alive! in

i read here regularly and although i haven't joined in, i really appreciate all the wonderful contributions from those who are willing to share their experiences.... .

i was a convert.

i won't go into the whole history ( perhaps another day) - my story could easily be recognised in the small town where i live, with my husband.. so, we stopped going to the meetings around a period of time when we were going through severe emotional difficulties - at that point, we needed unconditional family love - the hectic, forced jw dinner parties and social occasions gave no real comfort.

Pete Zahut

Over the past 48 hours I can sense that I'm letting "stuff" that was really upsetting me over the years take on real meaning.

Be patient with yourself ALIVE...you are grieving in a sense and you'll have to go through all the stages of grief before you're out of the woods.

They say when you suffer a loss or are undergoing a big life change, you should allow one month of grieving time for every year you were involved in the (activity/relationship/job) you are grieving the loss of.

9

New Avatar

by mrquik in

jw
friends

i can't help but think how many committee meetings this photo would have generated.

this is on the caribbean side of cozumel at a quaint bar called mezcalito's.

this side of the island is virtually deserted.

Pete Zahut

Umm....hate to say it MrQuick, but anyone can stand behind a nude beach sign that totally covers the bathing suit he's wearing and claim to be naked. You're gonna' have to provide more proof than that mate !

48

Struggling

by Alive! in

i read here regularly and although i haven't joined in, i really appreciate all the wonderful contributions from those who are willing to share their experiences.... .

i was a convert.

i won't go into the whole history ( perhaps another day) - my story could easily be recognised in the small town where i live, with my husband.. so, we stopped going to the meetings around a period of time when we were going through severe emotional difficulties - at that point, we needed unconditional family love - the hectic, forced jw dinner parties and social occasions gave no real comfort.

Pete Zahut

I never heard the "songbook in the mailbox" thing, but I heard plenty calling "dibs" after Armageddon on some of the nicer waterfront homes in our territory.

One moment they are condemning the householder for being out "slaving" for their materialistic lifestyle, rather than being home to hear the "life saving message of JW's ". Then in the next breath, lay claim to the householders home after he's killed during Armageddon.

There were a number of home builders in our Congregation who would stand on the platform condemning the worlds materialism yet they depended upon those very people to purchase the luxury homes they had up for sale.

My eyes were constantly rolling, toward the end of my days as a JW.

36

How do stop myself getting too Bitter?

by stuckinarut2 in

jw
friends

you know, i always maintained that during this fading process, and while learning ttatt, i would not let myself get "bitter twisted and angry".... but, in all honesty, if i examine myself, i have become quite bitter toward the org, toward the false friends and the gb.. i have become angry as i see the extent of damage i feel being raised in "the truth" has done.... i feel hurt towards the lost opportunities in life etc.... how do i not allow myself to get too swallowed up by such bitterness?.

i have always been a very happy, positive, selfless person.

i can put people at ease, i am someone people feel comfortable chatting to.

Pete Zahut

It helped me to stop buying into the idea that I was a total victim and to own up to my own part of the blame. I realized that there were payoffs or benefits that I liked and perhaps I was too cowardly or maybe lazy to go against what others wanted me to do or believe even when I knew better. It helped to realize that so long as I am bitter, "they" still own me. It helped to admit that I screwed up and to make it my resolve that it aint' never gonna' happen again!

26

Wife wants a Family Study after the special talk...but initially refuses Bible only study.

by garyneal in

my wife asked me to attend the special talk with her because she wants to attend something like this as a family and feels that she "enjoys worshipping together" as a family.

i have not been to church for at least a year and have pretty much abandoned the practicing of my faith but i can remember how i used to want to have a church going family so i obliged.

i feel kind of apprehensive about doing these things because she wants the kids and i to be on our best behavior and has even fussed at me for playing tablet games during other talks.

Pete Zahut

a day ago My wife asked me to attend the special talk with her because she wants to attend something like this as a family and feels that she "enjoys worshiping together" as a family.

How is attending a meeting or studying watchtower publications considered worshiping God...what are you doing for him...what does he get out of it ? When I think of worshiping God, I think of prayer or heaping praise on him when you behold the wonders of nature. I think of the meetings and publications as instruction rather than worship.

48

Struggling

by Alive! in

i read here regularly and although i haven't joined in, i really appreciate all the wonderful contributions from those who are willing to share their experiences.... .

i was a convert.

i won't go into the whole history ( perhaps another day) - my story could easily be recognised in the small town where i live, with my husband.. so, we stopped going to the meetings around a period of time when we were going through severe emotional difficulties - at that point, we needed unconditional family love - the hectic, forced jw dinner parties and social occasions gave no real comfort.

Pete Zahut

Alive,

I don't have much time to answer as thoroughly as I'd like, but your story is very touching and it mirrors ours so closely that I had to say something. I just wanted to assure you that although it didn't seem possible at first, if a mid 50's couple like Mrs. Zahut and I can survive the same upheaval and disillusionment you've described in your post, so can you. If you are like us, the more distance from the watchtower organization you put behind you, the more the depression, anxiety and mental distress you've been experiencing, will fade. Once the scales fall from your eyes, continuing to force yourself to continue in the same manner as before, is terribly damaging and we did so for way too long.

it's like 'cake' - they said. All the ingredients make cake, but apart from cake they are something else, eggs, flour etc.

Your Pioneer friends explanation is just one example of the insane "red herring" style reasoning you are expected to sit by quietly and swallow as a JW. They use these illustrations that at first glance appear to be reasonable but a second later when they sink in, they make you want to tear your hair out and cause you to question everything else they say as well.

Comparing the baking or "putting together" of ingredients to make an ordinary cake, to the deconstruction or "separating out" of "sacred" whole blood, is a ludicrous comparison.

In one process you are using separate ingredients to build something ordinary, in the other, you are taking an already existing "sacred" substance and taking it completely apart. These are two very different processes, never mind the fact that If you took whole cake and tried to separate out it's ingredients, you'd have a pile of useless cake crumbs.

Anyway, I'm glad you've told us a little of your back story (there's always more isn't there ?) and I hope doing so has brought you a measure of relief . -Pete

105

LATEST NEWS: CANDANCE CONTI VERIDICT READY - WT LOST!!!!!!!

by Viva la Vida in

jw
friends

i'm not an expert but that is my understanding of this: .

opinion filed.. (signed published) the judgment against defendants on the negligence count is affirmed.

the judgment against watchtower on the cause of action for punitive damages is reversed with directions to enter judgment for watchtower on punitive damages.

Pete Zahut

Win or lose, this trial forced a lot of JW's to look twice at the policies of it's organization and gave cause for conversation among JW's as to why they never knew these things were going on before this. You can be sure that many, silently turned to the internet to find out more about this trial, which in turn lead them to websites like this one. Maybe they didn't walk away as a result but they will never look at the Organization in the same way.

Much national media attention was focused on this serious and ugly matter which was an embarrassment to the Governing Body and JW's alike who pride themselves in being "above reproach". Former JW's were now able to ask their family members if they heard about this trial from within the congregation and if not, why not ?

The Watchtower organization will likely not brag about this case for to do so will force them to acknowledge to it's members that this kind of thing happens in their God governed organization. To speak further about it would only encourage further conversation and possible questions rather than let it fade into the past like the nightmare it was to them.

The door has been thrown open and the path has been paved for others like Candace who were too afraid to come forward or who figured theirs was a lost or forgotten cause. More importantly though, JW parents everywhere, won't be so naive as to think that their children are safe with whomever they work with out in Field Service and that their leaders are above this kind of crime. JW children everywhere are a little bit safer now that these predators know that they are being watched and that a blind eye or deaf ear will no longer be turned should they commit an offense against a child within the congregation. Those who committed such crimes in the past now live with the fear that at any moment, one of their victims will come forward.

Candace had the satisfaction of seeing the man who used his power over her in such a life altering way when she was a child, get bullied and humiliated by the national media with their unrelenting news cameras and unvarnished questions. She saw him punished by the law of the land and was able to use her adult voice and power as a citizen of the United States to vindicate the little girl who was ignored by Jehovah's Witnesses in her hour of need all those years ago. She is personally responsible for saving, if not the literal lives, at least the emotional lives of untold numbers of JW children for evermore.

No dollar amount can be put on that.

205

Hi Everyone. Answer to prayer countdown...

by Stumpy in

jw
friends

i've been lurking for about 3 months now and thought i'd better finally sign up.

you have all been an immense help to me as i have come to realize that this isn't the truth so i want to say a great big thank you!

what a crazy, emotional ride it is to finally face the truth about the doubts that i have carried for many years.

Pete Zahut

My apologies if this has already been posted but here is a link to an excellent review of the "endurance" video .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLkzrUMKiXNLIpjobJEZuSlaWIX5R6g1JW&v=sGYKaN52nEg#t=3125