Just wanted to say glad you found your way here!! 
shelley
Did I miss my opportunity?
by StillGroggy 24 Replies latest jw experiences
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crazyblondeb
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garybuss
I'd rather be free with scars than in my shackles and chains.
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JWdaughter
I like your family-you both think and reason for yourselves. I wish that you were both people in my circle of JW aquaintance-haven't been any adult escapees in years. You will have other, better opportunities. I hope that you can take advantage of a real opportunity, like WT perfidy or bad teachings, rather than an obnoxious congregation member. When you both leave, you don't want the final straw to have been "Brother Jerk didn't like my tie" or "Sister Gossip is so mean to those poor kids". Know what I mean? I wish you both well. Looks like you are on the way. It may be hard breaking it off, but there are lots of great suggestions for people with families-so that you can keep them and escape the Borg.
WELCOME to the board, glad to see you are waking up!
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StillGroggy
Thanks JWDaughter. We've had some major issues in the org with Lies/Slander=Unofficial shunning and the like, and didn't leave for that.
The things that kill me are the views of JW Pseudo-Conscience. I've felt for a long time that conscience didn't really exist in the org, it was all what was the official stance and the people around you. I brought this up to my wife and she got real scared and said "Do you still think that this is God's organization"
At the time I did, so i said yes, but I've never thought that their views of the minutia of "conscience" issues are infallible.
So I've had inklings since long before I ever googled "Jehovah's Witness"
I hope you understand my ranting, like other "sleepers" I have NO-ONE else I can speak to openly without destroying my life.
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Mystla
I highly recommend going way back on this forum to when ithinkisee told his wife and what it led to. I particularly enjoyed her (freedomlover) first few posts here, watching the evolution of a freed mind :)
Here's a link (I hope) to the where it started http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/9/96258/1643345/post.ashx#1643345 It takes awhile to read, but it's worth it.
Good luck with your wife :)
Misty
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BabaYaga
WELCOME, Still Groggy! Yes, baby steps, ask questions to get her to answer them and hear them from her own mouth, plant seeds, wait patiently for them to grow. If YOU say something against it she in probability will knee-jerk and defend them. Let her say the things herself... with your loving, patient questions. Sounds promising!! Good luck.
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Lady Liberty
Dear Still Groggy,
WELCOME to the forum!!! I am sure your opportunity will come again. Have you done much research on the different issues?? If not, perhaps you could get into a discussion that would lead you both into a research on a topic that you know would help her open her eyes. Like say 607. Why is it that the only place a person will find that was the date for the destruction of Jerusalem is in the Societys own literature. Perhaps go to the Bristish Museum online and look at the cuneiforms that the Daniel book show and see what date the Museum gives for the destruction...etc.. Search together for one other place ANYWHERE outside the literature to support their date. You won't find it. And that will be the key to "Pandoras box". Anyhow..I am sure you will get alot of good advise from this board! Hang in there!! We are here for you!!
Sincerely,
Lady Liberty
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Lady Liberty
She pointed out a masonic symbol she spotted on an old pub in one of the mags, so eventually i want to get into the weird russel pyramid obsession stuff
Dear Still Groggy,
Hi again. Sorry I didn't read this until after I made my first post. PLEASE, pleasereadmyexperience!!! It is what made me wake up, and it was all about the cross and the crown symbols too!!! It may help you with ideas on how to get into the subject. If she brought this up to you, there is a huge possibility she already knows about this stuff, or that she is interested enough in it to find out what it means. Truely, this could very well be your door of opportunity. I would certainly waste no time in taking it. My experience is found under my user name, and it is the very first post I ever did here. Entitled, " It's High Time I Introduce Myself".
Sincerely,
Lady Liberty
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bluesapphire
previously I considered just DAing myself but It's probably better if I get her thinking FIRST and try to open up the communication. She pointed out a masonic symbol she spotted on an old pub in one of the mags, so eventually i want to get into the weird russel pyramid obsession stuff
It feels good to consider it and think about it but it's a whole other ball game to actually do it. I don't recommend it to anyone. Why play their game? Why acknowledge their authority? It burns them to not have any control.
I think your wife knows as much as you know about the Watchtower. Otherwise she wouldn't even ask the question, "Do you still think it's the truth?" A JW who believes cannot even imagine someone stopping believing. It's infathomable to them. So her asking you this leads me to believe she's open to the possibility that it is not the truth after all.
Use discernment and tact and especially lots of LOVE but go ahead and bring it up. Ask her if SHE thinks it's the truth. You may be pleasantly surprised in her answer.
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drew sagan
Well, I say this in just about every other post where people are talking about helping others see it's not the truth. Here it goes again...
You didn't miss your chance, there will be plenty of others. There is a standard practice to understanding how to teach JWs their religion is not the truth. This includes
- Never debating the Bible or Bible interpretation
- Never attacking character
- Never getting into a discussion that you haven't thoroughly researched
- Allways use kindness
- Be patient when wronged
- The Slower you move, usually the better
Remember that as much as the Witnesses try to say that the Bible is the word of God, it is the Watchtower organization and it's publications that are the real scripture in their lives.
Let us say you wanted to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a certain government is corrupt. Would you put the focus on debating social issues, global issues, party politics???? HECK NO!!!. This is what we do when we talk with JWs about the Bible. We say it can go this way, they say it can go that way. It's and endless cycle of criticism and arguments.
BUT THERE IS A BETTER WAY!!!
We instead must build up our case as if we where going to court, or breaking a story for the newspaper. We want facts, as many as we can get them. And what are some of the most convincing facts we have??? The Watchtower magazine itself!
We need to gather the evidence, mainly gathered from things the Watchtower itself has printed. Since the adverage JW view the Watchtower as the most important magazine on Earth, the must be shown how it is unreliable! No Bible talk will ever do.
There are lots of great resources on the web that give alot of help to finding older quotes, scanned articles, and so much more. I really feel this is the best and only way to help people really 'see the truth about the truth'.