Posts by Pete Zahut

41

Help? :(

by BlackWolf in

i apologize for how rantish this is but please hear me out.

anyways i'm a 15 year old girl and i've never really wanted to be a jw.

its just never been something thats made me feel happy or loved.

If you are in the U.S., even though you are not enrolled in the public school system, you can still call your local High School and ask to speak to a counselor and explain your situation. Tell them that you are being home schooled, that your family is very religious and you can only associate with those of the same faith but there aren't any kids your age you can trust. Explain that you feel trapped and would like to know what advice or help they may be able to offer you.

Before you do that, and if you think it wouldn't make things worse between you and your parents, you could write a polite respectful letter to them and explain you feelings, just as you've done here. Putting your thoughts in a letter and letting them read it may diffuse the emotion that sometimes gets in the way when you talk to them face to face. I wouldn't say anything about your feelings about the existence of God or about being a JW because this is a scary thing for religious parents to hear. You might mention that you have prayed to God but you don't think he cares about you because he doesn't seem to help in the one area you need help with. Tell them that the only thing you could think to do is to write them this letter and maybe that's what he wants you to do. Tell them that you appreciate everything they have done for you (give examples) but your are feeling trapped and it's effecting your mental well being. Let them know that you don't want to go wild or do anything wrong but you need to be around others your age so that you develop normal social skills and outside interests. Remind them that the Watchtower advises JW's not to isolate their children from the world, instead they should insulate them and that you are feeling isolated. Tell them that you are concerned that you won't know how to act when one day do have to go out into the world. Just remember to be respectful, mature, don't cast blame, rather suggest solutions. Tell them that you want to go to the public school even part time if only to take an art class or some other subject you are intrested in. If you think it wouldn't be too weird, you might even suggest that you'd like them to answer you in a letter as well, just to keep emotions from getting the better of you all if that has been a problem in the past.

Remember, plenty of non JW 15 year olds who attend school and have friends and go places, still feel the way you do. They also have to deal with snarky gossiping friends and parents who they think are overly restrictive. It's part of being your age to be somewhat discontent but it sounds like you do have some legitimate reasons to feel isolated.

86

Updated Chronological Timeline of the Great Tribulation -- after the New Light from July Watchtower

by FusionTheism in

the july 15, 2015 study watchtower article entitled "your deliverance is getting near", along with the jw broadcasting video entitled "gerrit losch: fortified by "the prophetic word," and chapter 21 of the god's kingdom rules!

book presented a large amount of new light or clarified understanding of the events of the great tribulation.. here i am presenting it in chronological order -- this is the governing body's updated chronological order of events for the time right before the great tribulation through armageddon:.

the final sealing of the anointed occurs just prior to the outbreak of the tribulation.

Pete Zahut

14.The Heavenly Wedding Ceremony of Jesus and the 144,000 occurs.

The Bride will be we wearing one hundred and forty four thousand Vera Wang dresses each having sweetheart necklines and fitted bodices studded with tiny seed pearls in numbers that can't be counted.

29

17 year old son is blaming me for ruining his life from the Cult. He's complaining "I could have been a high school sports star!"

by PhilsWager2 in

you know about my not-so-ugly divorce and how me and my wife found out the religion is false.

she still attends while my 17 year old has been raging on me about all the wasted time he suffered from by being in this religion.

he think's his life is ruined, very angry we did not learn this was a cult earlier(he was 14 when he stopped attending after reading the revelation book, he said "in all time and history, how could a trumpet blown in revelation have anything to do with a jw bible student convention statement"?.

Pete Zahut

" I could have been a high school sports star !"

Having 2 son's myself and having grown up as a JW I understand how you and your Son feel;

I was asked to be on the High School swim team (my non JW Dad was well known for his swimming in his home town) however my JW Mom wouldn't hear of it. According to her all knowing Watchtower magazine, I might get into drugs or immorality if I was on the swimming team.

Much to the criticism of the congregation and eye rolling on the part of JW relatives, We allowed our boys to be on the wrestling team, Lacrosse team and one of them was a swimmer. They were both easy boys to raise and other than being very untidy, they were a parents dream.

Being on these teams helped them immensely in terms of being more outgoing, facing difficult tasks and sticking with things and they just had a lot of fun. We also let them go to the prom and one of them was the Homecoming King. The elders knew better than to say a word to me about any of this. One of my Son's is still attending the meetings (barely) but on his own has picked up on TTATT and the other one stuck with it until about 22 and then a few things happened in the Hall made him hang it up when we did.

Having said all that, they at one time or another when they were going through a difficult time or in a low mood or feeling that they weren't were they wanted to be in life, indicated that because of our religion, they sort of missed out on a normal childhood in terms of not getting to date and go to parties or stay at other non JW kids houses or go places with them. I found myself feeling a bit guilty or wondering if I could have done more for them. Then I realize that if we want to talk about could have beens , they also could have been in a car accident while out with friends, or had a pregnant girlfriend, or gotten hooked on drugs or any number of negative things, if we'd have given them any more freedom than we did.

I warn them in so many words, not to go down that road with me and remind them that there are lots of other weird religions out there that they could have grown up in and negligent unfit parents out there who's kids have a right to complain about their childhoods, but you two had the best of both worlds. Yes we went to all the meetings and out in service and didn't celebrate holidays etc but we tried to give you a balanced upbringing unlike the ones we had as strict JW's. Your Mom and I didn't just provide you with the minimum the law expects, we went above and beyond, giving you tropical vacations, took you snowboarding regularly, braces on your teeth, a clean home and delicious meals, bicycles, a car and mostly our undivided attention and love. That sort of brought them to their senses and got them off the pity wagon and back on the road to taking charge of their lives.

Your Son may just be feeling badly about his own limitations right now or what he views as personal failings and may be looking for someone other than himself to blame it on. It's good to let him get it out of his system but totally buying into the idea that your being a JW was the single factor in him not being a "star" is allowing him to use blame as an obstacle to moving forward. Remind him that you are the parent and what he thinks of your choices of religion is all very interesting but the bottom line is, as a parent it was your choice to make. Yes, maybe he could have been a "sports star" but he could also have ruined his knees or been in a debilitating sports accident. I wouldn't buy into the idea that this is your fault, rather I'd ask him how his life would be really be that much better or different even if he was a "star". Was it missing the fun of playing sports that he regrets or is it that he wanted the adulation of others. If so, why? I'm assuming that no one stopped him from being on the debate team or from being on the honor roll....who does he blame for not being part of that ? (I'm assuming he wasn't) Rather than allowing him to dwell on what could have been, I'd direct the conversation to formulating a Plan B. He's only 17 after all.

10

"Watchtowers growth strains budgets"

by zebulon in

i live in orange county new york.

i posted once before a few weeks ago.

i am losing my family because of this org.

Pete Zahut

Nope...less than a minute but then again, you had supplied all the necessary information.

(Good find by the way) If they ever do start taxing them, they'll say that taxation is the beginning of the fulfillment of Bible prophesy when governments will turn on religion.

4

I seized an opportunity to help my mother critically think today. This will just blow your mind

by joe134cd in

ok this is how the conversation went.. me= is cousin x (not jw) still going out with that arab guy.. mum=no.

he returned home and ended up marrying some one from his home country.

cousin x was telling me that she was quite thank full it ended as it never would of worked because his mother hated her because she wasn't muslim.

Pete Zahut

Mum= Yeah I know it's a real shame. To be honest i really hate religions that are like that.

You : " I hate that too but then again when I think about it more, they too believe theirs is the only true religion (otherwise why would they be in it?) and I suppose they too feel that all others religions condemned by God and it would be a terrible thing to marry someone from outside the faith since he's going to kill them no matter how good and nice they are. They may even think JW's are ridiculous for insist that their members marry only in the Lord since they are false religion anyway....so what's the difference who they marry?

10

"Watchtowers growth strains budgets"

by zebulon in

i live in orange county new york.

i posted once before a few weeks ago.

i am losing my family because of this org.

Pete Zahut

Here are the links to two articles on the subject.

http://www.recordonline.com/article/20150314/NEWS/150319601/0/SEARCH

8

Sometimes the most obvious connections are the most difficult to make

by neverendingjourney in

i had a sudden realization the other day, one that took me many years to make but that should have been fairly obvious in hindsight.

let me explain.. my parents are immigrants.

they moved to the u.s. when i was a toddler.

Pete Zahut

My parents were immigrants as well (Europe)...very trusting. Us kids,( putting our bible knowledge to good use), used to refer to Matt 23:27 when we'd say:

"Mom and Dad would probably buy a white washed grave if someone came to the door selling one"

When they first arrived in this country, they had 2 kids and no friends of family here. Mom (24) was lonely and talked to the nice ladies at the door that kept coming back.....the rest is history.

35

A Burger and a Hook-up

by John Aquila in

so i went to get a burger just now, and a couple of elders from my former congregation caught me off guard.

they started giving me the we feel so sorry for you, you must be so lonely bit.

i kept telling them im doing great and im not lonely but its like they couldnt hear me talking.

Pete Zahut

Wasn't there a talk of something recently where one of the GB said that there was something wrong with a brother who wasn't a Ministerial Servant by the time he was 23 and that a sister would be foolish to get involved with him?

One can only imagine what they'd say if they heard about these elders trying to set these sisters up with someone who hasn't been to a meeting in over a year.

This is just another example of how even those who are "taking the lead among you", are completely missing the point of the principals of their own religion and are not to be trusted.

55

Should I Make My Wife Watch the May Broadcast?

by TTATTelder in

jw
friends

for some background, i am still in.

still an elder.

very much awake.

Pete Zahut

‘All the gold and silver of the mountains are mine,’ fails to provide necessary funds, we will understand it to be time to suspend the publication.”

To me, Russell's comment is saying that the amount of funds they take in, is directly proportionate to the amount of approval they have from Jehovah. If the necessary funding fails to be provided, they will take that as a sign that Jehovah isn't backing them. If Jehovah isn't backing them, rather than solicit for money, they'd suspend or reexamine their current activities . If that is the case with the publishing of a magazine, it would be all the more so the case with the rest of their activities that also need funding to continue.

That was the premise this religion was originally founded on and it makes sense that if this is the true religion and it is being backed by Jehovah, then it would have everything it needs, all of the time. Didn't Jesus say he could even make the very stones cry out if need be, to get the preaching work done?

55

Should I Make My Wife Watch the May Broadcast?

by TTATTelder in

jw
friends

for some background, i am still in.

still an elder.

very much awake.

Pete Zahut

As early as the second issue of the Watch Tower, in August 1879, Brother Russell stated: “‘Zion’s Watch Tower’ has, we believe, JEHOVAH for its backer, and while this is the case it will never beg nor petition men for support. When He who says: ‘All the gold and silver of the mountains are mine,’ fails to provide necessary funds, we will understand it to be time to suspend the publication.” Consistent with that, there is no begging for money in the literature of Jehovah’s Witnesses. - *** jv chap. 21 p. 340 How Is It All Financed? ***

I suppose a JW could say:

" Technically, Russell's statement above was specifically made about the magazine Zion's Watch Tower and never soliciting for the funds needed to print it.

It also was about never begging for money, in the literature, which so far hasn't happened" (to my knowledge.

Russell's statement was not referring to the petitioning of funds needed to support the other aspects of the kingdom work."