The Watchtower calls it "leading a double life"
We call it survival.
The Watchtower demonizes those who "hide what they are"
We say "we are what we hide"
Perhaps the strangest role any enlightened witness will play is themselves, over and over again.
We are not talking about those who simply don't want to live by Bible standards.
We're talking about those who know the Watchtower isn't the truth, but...
because they have been raised a Jehovah's Witness and they have family and friends as Witnesses,
they need to pretend they are following the direction of the faithful and discreet slave
To do this they a) Attend meetings b) Share in field service c) Never say anything bad about the organization
At home they are on the Internet, doing research, engaging in lively discussion and debates about doctrine
While their family think they're doing good in the truth.
If I was to ask any of you here, "can you act?", you might say no. But for those who are still active as a Jehovah's Witness, you are by far a good
actor. I used to feel like a hypocrite, but someone close to me said you're not a hypocrite for keeping the peace - you're doing it for survival -
nothing more.
I feel no pride in playing an alternative persona. I actually get quite embarassed when I have to talk about my faith in front of fellow witnesses. But, I have no
choice in the matter. I have too much to lose right now and not enough to gain - certainly not enough that will give me peace of mind.
All of us here who are still going through the motions are actors. We've had to be to keep the peace, to keep our friends and our loved ones. It's a difficult job
to play your other self day after day among this strange religion, but for some of us it's all we have - the status quo.