Welcome to all the new members! It makes me so happy that almost every thread we have newbies! Bravo! Still Groogy, you have an unfortunate predicament here. You might have already asked yourself this, but does this make you wonder where is Jesus in all of this? Or is this just a total waste of your time?
You know about six years ago, before my mom got involved in this "religion," I admit I had respect (very very little, especially seeing how they treat their children) for them because they gave the appearance of good Christian people and sometimes martyrs. Now that I know it's all a cheap facade, I can hardly go five minutes without thinking about how they stole her away from me.
Now I can't help thinking how pathetic they have become. I've read everyone's posts and have pity on them, not because I think I'm better than them or that they're inferior, but rather because of the absurd dogma the watchtower has forced down our throats our whole lives.
If I'm not mistaken, there was much more enthusiasm among the JW's in the 1950's and 60's. Then they started leaving their magazines in hospitals and laundromats as a way to fill up their timecards. Everytime I see their literature in a public place, I make sure to throw it in the garbage where it belongs. And now they've resorted to this? I ask you current JW's, what's next? Will you simply throw your literature in a visible trash can outside a public place so people will at least see it and you will get to fill your time cards? Because if you think about it, that's pretty much what you're doing already.
If it was me, I couldn't look at myself in the mirror anymore. You guys have real courage because you have the real truth and you're forced to partake in this hypocracy. But fear not. Blessed are those who are poor in spirit and meek and humble, they will inherit the Earth.
Still Groggy, I neither judge you nor shun you. I welcome you with all the kindness, love, and tolerance that I recieved upon my arrival here. That by the way is what we call true sentiment, something you'll be shocked to discover upon leaving the watchtower.
The problem with going door to door for anything is it is inheritently selfish. This may sound silly because JWs sacrifice countless hours of family time in field service. But no matter how you twist it, in the end, you're only doing it for yourself. The only way to get ahead in the congregation is by recruiting new members. When they're at the door, no matter how sincere they seem, they're only there to save themselves, not you. And consider this: When they're giving you their pre-packaged presentation and painting a flowery picture of "paradise" with eternal beauty and dancing lions and children frolicking with pandas, keep in mind they're not really trying to convince you, they're trying to convince themselves.
A JW is no better than a door to door vacuum salesman, or a telemarketer, or even a trick-or-treater. In fact, the only difference between a JW and a trick-or-treater is that they're the ones selling tricks, and the joke is always on you.
Anitar