JWs came to my door, and I really dissappointed myself

jwfacts

Today I was woken by two 20 something year old JW guys. I let them offer the mags and then told them I was not interested in religion. After the Reasoning book comeback I told them I was a JW but left a year ago. That did not scare them off and we ended up having a conversation for a half hour. One had only been baptised 2 years and the other was not yet baptised.

I brought up a few questions, made a few points, but they kept coming back with the standard Watchtower answers. I got more and more upset, started speaking quicker and at a higher pitch, giving away my frustration. I feel really let down that I seemed to get no where, and ended up being the one that lost control of my emotions. Some of the comments were:

ME - Who was the Slave before Russell?

Them - I am not a historian so I don't know, but there have been JWs since the time of Adam.

ME - Doesn't it worry you that the Watchtower falsely predicted 1914 and 1925?

Them - They never predicted 1975

ME - I said 1925

Them - I have never heard of that (with a "I don't believe you and don't care" tone)

ME - I could not be part of a religion that says God will soon kill 6 billion people, just because they were not JWs, especially when 3 billion will never meet a JW

Them - God judges hearts so we will leave that decision to him

Them - You must agree that JWs are the only ones that teach truth

ME - It can hardly be truth when it constantly changes

Them - new light

ME - Organ transplants Yes 60's NO 70s Yes 80s

Them - God was protecting his people during the 70's as it was a new procedure.

Them - You'll believe it when God destroys all religion

ME - Yes well Russell said it was going to happen in 1878 and there still seems to be quite a lot of religions around

Them - Well they started to loose their power then

I felt I was hitting my head against a brick wall. Who knows, maybe they will think about something I said, though they were so totally robotic in their answers I seems unlikely. They are more likely to just dismiss everything I said as "apostate lies". The most positive aspect was that my wife (still a pseudo JW) was listening behind the door and gave me some ideas on how to do better next time. She commented how illogical their answers were, and told me to control my emotions more next time.

lisavegas420

ME - Who was the Slave before Russell?
Them - I am not a historian so I don't know, but there have been JWs since the time of Adam

that's funny.

You did good...next time breath deeply and remember...they are thinking like machines. You need to think with logic.

lisa

Junction-Guy

Well at least you tried, dont feel so bad for yourself. Im not sure I could control my emotions either. Those were good questions you asked. Since these were young guys they probably didnt know much about the WT Society's earlier predictions.

Junction-Guy

Also the fact that you told them you were a JW made their defenses go up, anything you would have said they would have brushed it aside.

jwfacts

What is the best approach when a person has a closed mind, or answers a question illogically? Has anyone found an approach that worked.

A friend recently was asked by a semi active JW why she was no longer going to meetings. Her approach was very simple, yet effective. She said:

Her: I hate religion. Everyone thinks theirs is the only true one

Him: But aren't the JWs right

Her: I referenced some quotes in the Watchtower back to the quoted encyclopedia and found the Watchtower had lied and misquoted, so the WTS can not be trusted either

Him: Really, But are you happy now you are not a JW

Her: I am far happier. I have a great life, better friends, and spend time enjoying my family

Junction-Guy

I would just try to tailor your questions to fit the people you are talking with, based on their gender, their age, etc etc etc. If you let them know that you are an XJW, then I think you should tell them how their doctrines personally affected you. If I ever get the chance to talk with JW's again, I probably wont talk about Beth Sarim, Miracle Wheat, or various scandals, or even their earlier false prophecies. I will let them know how following WT prophecies concerning the generation of 1914 affected my life. I want them to know how I was discouraged from going to college, how I was discouraged from dating, how I was isolated from my peers as a kid, and how all these things affected my life. I want them to know how I fell into a very troubled marriage, and how I have struggled financially to survive in a world that wasnt supposed to last this long. Tell them from the heart.

jwfacts

Good idea. I did not say I am d/f, and totally avoided mentioning I pioneered and was in Bethel. My wife said I should have told them. Let them know that I had devoted my life to The Truth, and the things that shocked me into realising the WTS does not speak truth.

Scully

Just remember that they are trained to go into zombie mode against any kind of doctrinal or historical objections.

Minds are like parachutes... they work best when they're open.

BlackSwan of Memphis

Minds are like parachutes... they work best when they're open.

I have to remember that. Good quote.

Other then jw, you did the best you could with the circumstances you had. They are definitley in "zombie" mode.

bernadette

perhaps one of them one day in the not too distant future will remember what you said and feel prompted to go away do some research

by the way your website is excellent

JWs came to my door, and I really dissappointed myself

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