Posts by Pete Zahut

61

Set the record straight!

by Colinconfused in

i would like to state publicly, on this forum, i no longer hold the views i had a year ago.. with much thought, research, study and logical examination i have come to a better understanding of my beliefs and where i stand on all these issues.. i'm very happy to announce i have returned to healthful teaching of the holy scriptures and i firmly believe that the governing body of jehovah's witnesses is the faithful slave.. sorry if i have contibuted to any kind of stumbling and know that if i can turn things around then there's hope for all who come to there sence.. phill4:6,7.

Pete Zahut

With much thought, research, study and logical examination I have come to a better understanding of my beliefs and where I stand on all these issues.

I'm guessing the research and study was done via the Societies literature rather than a thorough examination that included information from outside sources. I wouldn't even buy a new a new car based solely on the information provided by the manufacturer. To make a sound decision, I'd need information from outside sources that had no vested interest in the outcome of my decision.

Sorry if I have ~~contibuted~~ (contributed) to any kind of stumbling and know that if I can turn things around then there's hope for all who come to there ~~sence.~~ (sense)

To help undo the supposed damage you did to all those who read your posts on this forum, perhaps you could share exactly how you came to the conclusion that the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses are who they say they are. Even using their own literature, how does one possibly prove something so profoundly unprovable?

34

Just Offended A JW Cart Witness Without Even Trying

by pale.emperor in

on my way into town from my office.

two carts set up a few feet from each other.

one manned by a man and woman (i assume they're a couple) in their late 30s.. the guys walks off to the other cart as im walking by, i wasn't going to approach but the woman holding the awake!

Pete Zahut

I tried to keep it short and polite and said "im an atheist, i dont like that the bible condones slavery..." The man became offended and quite annoyed in his tone "slavery? Where does the bible condone slavery?"

At that point a good little JW wife, out of respect for the men present, would have immediately put a head covering on and quoted this scripture to you. and reminded you that there's a difference between a servant and a slave Deut 15: 16-18

But if your servant says to you, “I do not want to leave you,” because he loves you and your family and is well off with you, 17 then take an awl and push it through his earlobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life. Do the same for your female servant.

"It shall not seem hard to you when you set him free, for he has given you six years with double the service of a hired man; so the LORD your God will bless you in whatever you do.…

31

Humourous reasons to go back

by usualusername1 in

jw
friends

in my stand up comedy routine tonight i want to list humourous reasons why i shd go back to jws.. how about nobody throws parties like jws.. how about jws being at the cutting edge of fashion.. how about it being easier for men to get a date.. any ideas?.

paul.

Pete Zahut

Reasons to go back:

To get a refresher course on being judgmental toward others.
To take a break from thinking on my own
For the low brow and low cost reading material they provide
To get my moneys worth of wear out of all the suits and ties I bought
To have an excuse for not getting involved in my community or giving to charity
To be reminded to ratchet my self esteem back a few notches from healthy, to lowly of mind.
To be like my old friends and family who like to think of themselves as "faithful" when the reality is, they can't be bothered anymore and have given up searching.

26

Born Ins, How Did Your Parents Get "The Truth™"?

by pale.emperor in

born ins are in a unique position in that we never knew any other way of life.

no birthdays, christmas and overly superstitious family just seemed normal.

when my parents talked about their pre-jw life it seemed like they were talking about completely different people (actually, that's true, the cult had taken their real selves).. so i'd be interested in hearing how your parents were indoctrinated.. my dad.

Pete Zahut

My parents, in their mid 20's came to the U.S. from Europe for better opportunities for themselves and us kids. They left all of their family and friends behind.

Some nice JW' ladies came to call on my lonely mother. They offered her friendship, family and everlasting life. The door to all of the opportunities in terms of higher education, jobs, holidays, sports, life experiences for themselves and us kids, was slammed shut from that point on.

My Father never got baptized but studied for years and died from not taking a blood transfusion during a surgery. Everything he knew about the topic of blood transfusion, was learned from JW's during his Bible study with them. A short time after he died (horribly) the JW's decided that blood fractions were acceptable. In his case, the use of blood fractions would have surely saved him. The decision to allow the use of blood fractions because they weren't considered blood, would have tipped him off that these ordinary men, don't know what they are talking about and that maybe he should take medical direction from highly trained medical professionals instead.

21

The WatchTower conductor lied on stage

by Isambard Crater in

on sunday morning in the watchtower study, a "study" who was their for the 1st time put his hand up and said; "i have a question.

when the paragraph says give up everything, it doesn't really mean give up everything like the pearl merchant, does it, like be willing to lose my modest house, cheap car and other basics i own?

i mean, that sounds a bit much".. the watchtower conductor said in response; "no, it's just a parable and it doesn't mean give up everything.

Pete Zahut

I wouldn't say it was a lie...the question just wasn't answered very thoroughly.

In this instance, I understand the word "everything" to indicate that you'd do whatever it took to remain as a subject of God's Kingdom and the word everything indicates the importance of the matter. For some, it may only take modest adjustments in their lives but for others it may take drastic changes for them to remain subjects of God's kingdom (ie: selling belongings, changing jobs etc). The idea being conveyed is that one would be ready to make any sacrifice necessary, to remain in God's Kingdom.

25

The "Jesus is Michael" teaching soon to go?

by Island Man in

could the teaching that jesus is michael the archangel, be soon to be discarded?

first of all, watchtower is big on image and this is one of those teachings that paint the jw religion as being rather kooky and heretical.

secondly, this teaching is not an original watchtower teaching but one they inherited from their second adventist ancestry.

Pete Zahut

The teaching "Jesus is Michael" soon to go?

What brought that question to your mind all of a sudden?

5

keeping from being recognized

by road to nowhere in

anyone try to disquise their intellect,???

a lot of us have certain pet phrases, sayings, and opinions.

if you know me you could pick them out.

Pete Zahut

anyone try to disquise their intellect,??? a lot of us have certain pet phrases, sayings, and opinions. If you know me you could pick them out.

If I'm understanding your comment correctly I'd say you need to relax....I'm guessing you're not as unique or as recognizable as you may think you are.

18

Glen Campbell

by glenster in

rip april 22, 1936 – aug.8, 2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rucysj4ibwi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etkzk9pxmio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxojkdqdnbi https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/glen_campbell.

Pete Zahut

JW's love the way it makes them fell more legitimate, when they hear of someone famous "coming into the truth".

When I got baptized at the International Assembly in Vancouver Canada in 1974 when I was 17, there was a rumor flying around that Glen was there and was going to be baptized. People had their songbooks in hand and were looking for him to autograph them. They had to give a special talk about the evils of "idolatry".

40

Post Convention Euphoria

by Phoebe in

jw
friends

there is a plethora of convention photos on my instagram this morning.

(a lot of my jw friends have forgotten i'm on their followers list) .

smiling faces standing next to convention posters with comments like 'nope, i'm not giving up.

Pete Zahut

Most of the tweets and posts made by JW's on social media (especially after an assembly) can be classified as "Virtue Signaling"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtue_signalling

They all make the same superficial and Cliche' public expressions, in order to appear virtuous in the eyes of their peers.

#BestAssemblyEver...# BestLIfeEver.... translate to "Look at how theocratic I am everyone !".

They probably don't even remember what was said at the assembly nor do they think it was any better than the last one. They are more interested in how they appear to the others in the group and how virtuous they get to feel when they make these proclamations.

34

Really struggling to go on

by Isambard Crater in

jw
friends

so, so much has happened in my life over the years and continues to happen, but i won't go into the details as it would take a long time.. i don't really know why, but i returned to "the truth" 15 years ago.

in 2012 when the tv broadcasting station launched, i started to develop doubts.

the australian royal commission and other scandals made me angrier, and i now don't believe most of the core teachings.. the only reason i show up at 5 or 6 meetings each month is to keep in contact with my parents and a few other family members.. but it's killing me, literally.

Pete Zahut

I found out that living with your foot in both worlds, can literally tear you up. For me, going to the meetings was like going to a funeral 3 times a week. Constantly hearing about the imaginary "end of the system" and the "wicked world", was having a detrimental effect on me and making it difficult to navigate myself through the real world.

A week after I quit going altogether, the unexplained panic and anxiety attacks I had been having for the past few years, suddenly stopped. The only reason I completely stopped going to meeting was because my body finally said ENOUGH ! and forced me to stop.

If I'd have realized what was causing the suffering, I would have stopped years sooner. When I did finally stop going, guess what? They went on without me...no one cared. After 25 years of attending that Hall and raising our kids there and having our whole social life revolve around JW's, it took 3 years before anyone came looking for me and that was because it was the Circuit Overseers visit and he made them do it.

I hope you listen to your inner voice and take steps toward getting yourself away from their negative and destructive message, before you do something rash. If you're like me, you'll be shocked at how quickly you'll be well again.