My dad, an elder, had somewhat of a click

[u/HelloKanyeBeFearless]

I never expected to say this. My father has been an elder for MANY years. The foundation of his and my mother's lives is the organization. He is the last person ON EARTH I would expect to doubt anything about the JWs.

I've been PIMO for a good few years now, I'm 20 years old.

Today, coming back from a meeting, I heard my father and mother talking about something.

It was about a prophecy. Today there was a speech about one.

In short, sometime between 2017 and 2018, there was an episode of the JW Broadcasting in which they talked about the prophecy of the anointed. Who knows if that video is still available. I doubt it.

They stated in no uncertain terms that the current generation of anointed (the generation with the average age of the oldest GB members, 70 - 80 years old) was the last before Armageddon. They WOULD LIVE to see Armageddon begin to unfold. They said it clearly and my father memorized it. At the time, everyone around here memorized it.

Well, let's go back to today, 2025, and, in a conversation about a "crazy brother who thinks he's anointed," he and my mother start talking about whether there IS a new generation of anointed ones. My father said that obviously there won't be one, the last anointed ones are already old. My mother comments on an adjustment, that this was "explained again," in short, the same old story. I didn't even know they had patched up this part of the belief.

And that's where what scared me comes in: my father said the following words:

• "Did you understand what they said? I felt... that there was a lack of foundation, I didn't quite understand what the basis for the teaching was. It seemed a bit like an attempt to justify a vision..."

I swear it was scary to hear that from him.

My mother, as expected, said promptly:

• "I understood everything. I understood and comprehended. I think you understood but didn't comprehend."

• "No, I understood... it just didn't go down well with me."

"It didn't go down well with me," in my father's dictionary, means 1) "it didn't convince me," 2) "it took a little toll in me" . Knowing him, I 100% believe it was the second option.

Anyway. Honestly, I don't know if it would be good for him to wake up, that's the question. He has an ENTIRE life based on this, it's everything for him and my mother. He doesn't have anyone out there, and much less much "purpose" out there, either. Anyway, everyone here knows what clicking is like.

Just sharing this story. I still find it surreal to have heard this from my father. Don't think it'll be much of a twist on anything. But yeah, even the most fervent ones can doubt.

[u/constant_trouble]

He felt it. That was the sound of the wheel slipping off the track.

Doesn’t mean the train’s stopped yet. But he heard the sound. He knows it.

You’re right not to push. Waking up isn’t something you do for someone. It happens in the quiet. Over coffee. In the shower. On the drive home from a Kingdom Hall where the words didn’t quite land right. Again. And again.

He doesn’t need a shove. He needs space. Questions. Space for doubt to echo. Most enforcers (like me) don’t leave because someone dragged them out—they leave because the gears stopped lining up. Because they looked too long at the machinery behind the curtain. And it didn’t match the voice of God.

He has the internet. He has memory. He has cracks forming. That’s enough.

Want to plant seeds? Try questions. Small. Surgical.

1.  “Do you think truth needs to be adjusted?”

2.  “If Jehovah uses ‘new light,’ why did he let them teach the wrong thing for so long?”

3.  “Do you think Jesus would’ve needed to update his prophecy because people started aging out?”

Don’t argue. Don’t correct. Let silence carry weight. That’s where the real talk happens.

And if nothing changes? You still witnessed the moment the pillar trembled. That’s rare. That’s something.

Keep the door unlocked. That’s all you can do.

[u/HelloKanyeBeFearless → u/constant_trouble]

Man that's the thing. I worry about how having your whole ground taken off of you feels. I fear for his mental health yk

[u/constant_trouble → u/HelloKanyeBeFearless]

Little by little. I know the feeling because waking up was tough. I grieved the loss of my worldview, my life, my truth. It was like The Truman Show.

Your dad is already questioning. Make him keep asking while you hold your boundaries.

[u/Jay_quelin7 → u/HelloKanyeBeFearless]

Does he have hobbies? I don't know if he's going to leave completely but is there a way you can help him get some hobbies? That's a pretty pathetic replacement for an entire spiritual inner life but it's a start, in case it does happen.

[u/dddybtv → u/constant_trouble]

Question #2 is a back breaker. There is no logical response for it. I love it.

[u/constant_trouble → u/dddybtv]

Doesn’t sound loving to me if ‘He is love’

[u/Boahi1 → u/constant_trouble]

Socratic method

[u/constant_trouble → u/Boahi1]

💯

[u/HelloKanyeBeFearless]

Always heard about PIMI family members having a sudden moment of critical sense... always thought it was pretty hard to happen, in general, yet, here we are lol

Btw sorry for any grammar mistake not my first language etc

[u/NobodysSlogan]

If JW 'theology' is anything to go by (and im paraphrasing from memory, so may not be completely accurate) but the gist is:

the 'anointed class' consists of the apostles and a few thousand converted Jews / Gentiles in the initial years of Christianity. Then there was a near 1800 year pause before more anointed were gathered somewhere between 1799 and 1864 (depending on which book of Russell's one reads) which was when he originally taught Matt 24:14 was fulfilled.

This then got retconned by Rutherford to fit his new dates based around 1925, with the prevailing belief that the anointed were fully selected by 1935 after his new teaching on two class hope came out.

Funny how the majority of Anointed therefore were lower / middle class white Americans.

[u/HelloKanyeBeFearless → u/NobodysSlogan]

first indian anointed coming at #116.429

[u/artsparkles]

So I'm thinking that your dad is 50'ish, maybe older? Let me assure you that he is not to old to wake up.

Our children woke us up in our mid 50's and we were zealous so it was no small feat but once you start having doubts it doesn't take long for the house of cards to fall. We lost all our friends and alot of family members but it was the best thing that ever happened. Though it took alot of work to peel the layers of the onion back and an investment with a trauma therapist to work it all through, we have never been happier. To unload the weight off our shoulders and mind of a high control religion(cult) I can tell you honestly it is the sweetest feeling in the world. It's taken time to find new friends but they are ones that love us for who we are, not because of a religion. We now live a fulfilling life. Don't be scared that your dad may be having doubts.... Help them grow if you can.

[u/HelloKanyeBeFearless → u/artsparkles]

That's nice to hear, thanks a lot! I get what you mean, and it's SO heartwarming to know you guys live such a happy life, even after all of that. Can i ask ya how they woke you up? Was it TOO much? Did it scare you? I mean... how did it go?

I have a pretty much solid plan for leaving my parents house in the smoothiest way possible so i can get inactive, at least. You know, i took some good five years to process all of this. Clicked when i was 15 and like everybody else, developed some good trauma, born in, etc.

Anyway, the thing is: i took it the way i could cause and succeded cause i've never been the "example of a young jw". I acted good, i still do. But tbh i don't remember putting that much faith in all of that. But my dad (46) AND my mom (43) are SO devoted, their lives are all built upon the cult. The thing is: i'm affraid my dad loses his purpose. He's pretty much a melancholic guy. Not meaning he's just sad... i mean the temper, yk? Sensible, introspective.. that's why i'm affraid of putting too much doubt in his head. I fear it harms him internally.

What do you think? Like, honestly, really. Having someone questioning inside my family is PRETTY NEW to me. Thank you so much, i mean it.

[u/Malalang → u/HelloKanyeBeFearless]

I'm 46. I started my journey out 2 years ago. It's not that old at all. I was born and raised in it.

[u/Weak_Director1554 → u/Malalang]

Much better than wasting the rest of your life living a lie? At least you get to live the life you want from that point on.

[u/brooklyn_bethel]

It's good for everyone to wake up, even late in life. He is going to experience the real life and he'll stop serving an evil cult.

[u/Weak_Director1554 → u/brooklyn_bethel]

Imagine finding out on your deathbed, that would be a tragedy.

[u/Girlboss2975]

Eventually what has been taught is going to be so obviously wrong that more people will start to get the light bulbs

[u/HelloKanyeBeFearless → u/Girlboss2975]

Actually today we had an assembly with about 1600 people on the assistance. 13 baptized.

[u/Girlboss2975 → u/HelloKanyeBeFearless]

Yes, today. But the GB are swirling the toilet bowl and it’s going to become clearer soon they’re making stuff up as they go along. Not led by God.

[u/Weak_Director1554 → u/Girlboss2975]

It's already clear as day, some people just don't want to face the music unfortunately.

[u/Ok_Razzmatazz_5428]

This happened to my Elder dad back in the early 80’s. I think it must have been the Ray Franz deal because he knew him and respected him so much. I was a tweenager at the time so I didn’t pay much attention to how or why he started doubting but he did. He was not a born in. But converted in his early 30’s. After a stint in the navy. Anyway. He never fully rejected all JW beliefs but he stepped down from being an elder because he quit going to meetings and I remember him constantly researching and reading all the different Bible translations. I remember feeling scared for us but at the same time excited because I didn’t really believe any of it. My mom had us write him a letter to beg him to start going back to meetings. I don’t remember what that letter says actually but I remember it feeling like a lie. I do remember telling him how much I loved him and nothing would change that. I was excited he wasn’t going to meetings but he made us kids go with mom. He eventually came out of his funk but he was never the same with his beliefs. My youngest sister was then killed in a car wreck and he could not let the resurrection hope go so on he stayed. He did tell me he didn’t believe the JWs had the truth.. but perhaps closer than other religions. So when my obvious fade started he had nothing negative to say. Just that he loved me and would never shun me.

[u/Weak_Director1554 → u/Ok_Razzmatazz_5428]

I think you made him happy, he was glad you were not wasting your life. Thanks for telling your story.

[u/darthweef]

My stupid brain read this title very differently … specifically the word click.. and I was .. OMG where is this post going?! LOL

[u/HelloKanyeBeFearless → u/darthweef]

lmao 💔💔💔💔

[u/Sensitive_Pattern341]

A small crack can turn into a very large one and then boulders start falling. Esp if they keep dwelling on it and sonething else is said that makes the crack bigger.

[u/DebbDebbDebb]

Your dad already has doubts. For how long you don't know. This is the first time you heard such talk from him does not mean its the first time. Your dad might be trying to sow doubt in your mum mind? Remember many pimq/pimo are good actors having to keep up the jw pretence.

If anyone regardless of age is waking up please don't down grade them because of age. Everyone has the right to be cult free. Many jws don't believe and stay jw . His journey started way before he opened his mouth All the best to you all. I understand why you are worrying .

[u/Weak_Director1554 → u/DebbDebbDebb]

I'm 68 and if I were still in the cult, I would not consider my age to be a limiting factor to leaving, it's about truth for me and that truth maybe that we don't know if there's even a God.

[u/DebbDebbDebb]

Omg they are 43 type of age 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 to you they are old to me they are young . They have a good 50 years of life left. ANY are is a darn good age waking up from a cult.

Maybe he knows you don't truly believe. Quietly ask your questions.

I'm still laughing 🤣 😆 😂.

[u/Any_Art_4875]

Awesome! Maybe somebody recognizes the videos and could reference them....

[u/HelloKanyeBeFearless → u/Any_Art_4875]

HARD TO TELL WHICH ONE IT WAS. But i clearly remember it 100%.

[u/Elegant_Fail_5973 → u/HelloKanyeBeFearless]

Same. I remember that video.

[u/Sorry_Clothes5201]

We all started off with small cracks. Some regarding prophecy, "the friends" or something else. Your dad is probably tired of the rat race and wants it to end. We all do. But, if something isn't adding up then it's a waste of devotion to something that isn't inspired of God.

[u/Sorry_Clothes5201]

I wish I knew which episode that was so I can rewatch it. Maybe it was the one about the overlapping generations and the anointed chart.

[u/Weak_Director1554]

I saw something recently about the watchtower saying that the door for people joining the anointed class was shut in 1935.

My point is that in 1975 I knew 4 anointed, they must have been in their 60s or early 70s, so they must have decided they were anointed in their 20s. 1975-1935 is 40 years. If someone that young were to drink the wine and eat the bread nowadays, do you think they would be believed?