Posts by Pete Zahut

33

Motivations for Watchtower leadership

by GetMeOutofHere in

i’ve struggled for some time with this question.

why would the elders, cos, branch committee, helpers to gb and the gb themselves devote their lives to progressing in the organization, if the whole thing is one big sham?

i have 3 ideas so far.. 1) money.

Pete Zahut

They claim to love Jehovah unconditionally but saving ones own hide is the major motivation especially since JW men are made to feel as if they'd be jeopardizing their eternal life if they didn't reach out for position, although being able. As a side benefit, they enjoy the accolades of their peer group and often times they make their wife proud of the feather she gets to wear in her cap.

Same goes for the door to door ministry. JW's claim obedience to God and love of neighbor is the main motivation but if they weren't so thoroughly convinced that eternal life vs eternal punishment was just ahead, it is highly likely that wouldn't do any of it. The higher ones level of service, the more likely it is that they'll get an eternal reward and enjoy the accolades of their peer group.

34

Seeking advice

by Mizalisa in

jw
friends

i'm not a jw, nor was i raised jw.

for the past three years i have been involved with a man who was raised jw, who at first told me he no longer believed as they did, but who, it has become clear over time, has not told his family or religious community the truth.

he has strung me along for years, never introduced me to anyone in his life.

Pete Zahut

Despite his good qualities, the fact that he wants to continue on with you in secret is evidence enough that he is not an honest man and he is very immature and cowardly (at least in this area). At this point he is incapable of being honest with himself let alone being honest enough with you, for you to invest any more time in him.

He has been lying to his family and everyone he knows, so why wouldn't it be logical to conclude that he's lying to you about his feelings and his intent? In order for JW's to be JW's and believe the doctrines that they know are nonsense, they have to learn how to lie to themselves. To survive on a physiological level, they must become adept at denying any reality that conflicts with what they've been programmed to believe. They don't even know they are doing it.

Hard as it may be at first, you've saved yourself missed opportunities with someone else and a lot of heartache down the road. Even if he were to suddenly come clean with his family tomorrow, I'd stay away from him until he has lived a good long stretch as a out of the closet non JW . It will take some time for him to find out who he really is, once he leaves. One of the things he may discover in the process, is his understanding of what constitutes a good relationship. You don't want to end up being the one who helps him make the transition out of the JW's only to find out that the growth he's experienced has moved him away from you.

13

Looking for Podcast recommendations.

by nicolaou in

jw
friends

i'm a postman so i get 4 to 5 hours every day with my headphones on and i'm really chewing through some stuff.

i'm after science (evolutionary biology and anthropology especially), history of religion and comedy.

old sci-fi audio books are also a favourite.

Pete Zahut

His language might be a little course at times but Stand-up comedian Dana Gould is a Sci-Fi movie and Hollywood History buff. You can download a lot of his previous stuff and it should keep you going for awhile.

https://www.danagould.com/category/episodes/

45

I was surprised today by what I saw a JW driving

by days of future passed in

i was out thrift shopping where my sister lives.

before i went in to the store, i went to donut shop a few doors down.

as i walked up, there by the window was a family and others eating donuts.

Pete Zahut

I think the point of the story is that :

JW's aren't supposed to make a showy display of ones means of life....especially while out in field service, lest they distract the householder from the message and/or stumble the JW's of lesser means. JW's are encouraged to pursue the ministry rather than procuring/storing riches in this system. The admonition in their publications and from the platform is to follow the humble and lowly example set by Jesus and the Apostles and to separate oneself from the world and to distain its materialistic pursuits.

(Although if you visit any of the new Bethel complexes, you'd soon realize that material comforts are first and foremost on their minds and they don't give a hoot how showy their properties are. When I was a Bethelite, the higher ranking members were driven to meetings and elsewhere in black Lincoln Town cars. I remember getting counseled when I was young because my car only had 2 doors and was deemed impractical for service.)

68

Your Top Ten Favourite Movies?

by LoveUniHateExams in

just thought i'd start a thread about favourite movies.

mine, in no particular order, are .... alien - a great visual film.

the chest-bursting scene is still great to watch, no matter how many times i've seen the movie.

Pete Zahut

The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man in the Moon Marigolds.

Directed by Paul Newman 1972 starring Joanne Woodward

The first movie I went to see by myself as a kid but I haven't seen it since. I want to find it and watch it just to see if it was as good as I remember.

30

Trump explains this generation

by eyeslice2 in

glad to see the president making good use of visual aids again after his hurricane debacle.. .

Pete Zahut

Lol. Good one. Thumbs up!

Speaking of thumbs...his thumb is missing in the photo.

15

Jw's mentioned in shows

by days of future passed in

have you ever been watching a show and suddenly, there's a reference to jehovah's witnesses?

i was watching an english mystery show from a while back and the main character hetty, was giving a list of religions that could have drawn off a young girl.

one of the "fringe" groups was tada - jehovah's witnesses.. there is plenty of other more well known clips like snl coneheads being approached by fake jw's.

Pete Zahut

https://youtu.be/Ki801ccg9Yo

16

Two Bible Beliefs of Jehovah`s Witnesses ,Do They Align with each other ?

by smiddy3 in

1.the first is 2 cor.4:4 that satan is "the god of this system of things" to blind the minds of the unbelievers etc.. so logically this "system of things" would mean the governments ,politicians, armed forces and law enforcement agency`s such as the police would it not?

so satan is in control of all of these under the banner of being the god of this system of things.?.

2. rom.13: 1-7 " let every soul be in subjection to the superior authorities for their is no authority except by god".

Pete Zahut

A few things that never added up were:

Wouldn't the world be in utter chaos if Satan had really been ruling the world all these thousands of years and he was the reason for all of mankind problems.

Or:

Wouldn't Satan make sure everything was running perfectly on earth if he were trying to prove that he could lure mankind away from god?

Or:

If Satan is running the world and he opposes Jehovah's and his organization, how come so many of his government agencies uphold the JW's right to practice their religion and even allow them to speak out and publicly criticize them?

27

Who Was/Is The Most Beautiful First Lady In USA?

by minimus in

jw
friends

jackie kennedy was considered the most beautiful for years.

melania trump is obviously an ex model.

michelle obama has been touted as a true beauty.

Pete Zahut

Back in the day there was Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren but it was First Lady Mamie Eisenhower who gave them all a run for their money.

6

The Day I Met a Midnight Cowboy

by Terry in

jw
friends

“the day i met a midnight cowboy”a hollywood memory .

he approached me at the service counter.

clutched in his hand : something in a small paper bag.

Pete Zahut

Carol Ann collected 'interesting' people as she went through life. I was a part of her collection.

Terry....when I read your stories, I wish I lived in Ft Worth so we could be friends. I would sit in Starbucks with you, with my chin in the palm of my hand and listen to whatever you had to say. Do I sound pleased? If so, it's because I am.

I read one of your stories over the phone to a friend who lives several states away from here and I could hear him sniffling, down the telephone line. He was as touched by your words, as I was and as I knew he would be.

I may as well have been a balloon salesman on the dark side of the moon.

Man....that just says it all. Who hasn't felt like that at least once in their life... LOL !

He was sort of like the sunny day that never was.

Ha....I think that description fits me... LOL !