My name is Ben and I attend a high school in Australia. In my English Literature class I sit next to a JW pole girl whom I have some grave concerns for, and the reason I am posting this thread is to see if someone can give me a reasonable explanation for her and her parents attitudes before I intervene. The situation is this - This girl is failing her final year of high-school because her parents force her to distribute JW leaflets and do other such activities instead of doing homework, she also vocally refuses to vote (which is compulsory in Australia) and criticizes Australians for not accepting her family as one - even though they insist they are not. More disturbingly, she believes that communism is a far better system than democracy as it allows god to choose the leader - I fear she has been brainwashed by her parents into this belief, and as her faith prohibits the reading of any contradictory material, she knows no better. Now, arguments about the one true religion aside, I do not believe that one who is forced into the embrace of Jehovah can truly accept salvation - that is a path that must be undertaken on ones own. Furthermore, I believe her future is in jeopardy as she places little value on her education and has no ambitions for after school leavers, apparently because Armageddon will have come by then. Unless someone on this forum can provide with a good reason not to try and do something, I will have no other choice. So,, this is your challenge JW's - give me your best shot - I would sincerely like an excuse not to get involved.
HELP!
by bendineen 6 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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RAF
We are for most former JW's
Do you have biblical knowledges?
because it won't be easy ... even with that knowledge to get a chance to prove how wrong the JW doctrine biblically.Also they have a very specific language (quiet powerfull with the way they are endoctrinated) - so you will have to cross that barriere too. not from your will but hers.
I leave it for others to give you some ideas ... I just don't know from where to start -
Frannie Banannie
Oh, dear, Ben. What a pickle.
Actually, this forum is comprised of active Jehovah's Witnesses, inactive Jehovah's Witnesses and former Jehovah's Witnesses, so you'll possibly get a mixed bag of responses. Welcome to the JWD forum, Ben!
If you're sincerely concerned for this girl's future, it would be prudent to find out first just how well-indoctrinated into her parents' and the Watchtower Society's teachings and practices the girl is. It's NEVER advisable to go head-to-head or toe-to-toe over ANY of their beliefs or practices, for they're trained to automatically go into the "glazed-eyes, fingers-in-ears, 'I'm not hearing this....LA-LA-LA-LA-LA" mode.
Become her friend first and leave religion as much out of the picture as she's willing to allow. If religion is brought into the picture, just nod your head and say you understand....nothing more.
There'll be someone along directly to post another reply to your querry and tell you where to take it from here. :)
Good luck!
Frannie
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Fe2O3Girl
Hi Ben,
Welcome to JWD. Most people who post here are ex-JWs. It is very kind of you to be concerned for your fellow student's welfare. I doubt there is much you can do to help her.
Firstly, some of her viewpoints (e.g. God selects communist leaders?!) are not JW beliefs. It sounds like she is coping with being an immigrant with an unusual religion by embracing being an oddball.
Unfortunately it is true that JWs think that Armegeddon is coming any time now, so it isn't worth planning for the future. Sadder still, they have lived that way for a century. I am 36 this year and my mum thought I wouldn't start school before Armegeddon. Some posters here who have retired weren't going to start school before Armegeddon.
I doubt very much there is anything you can do to help her, other than be her friend. There are huge amounts of information available on the history of the JW religion, odd things they have taught, changes in doctrine, and current scandals; but she won't want to know, she'd view it as an attack.
All the best,
Rachel
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Fe2O3Girl
Ben, I just wanted to add, when I say "Be a friend", DO NOT fall in love with her. That way misery lies for you both. You aren't already in love, are you?
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dedpoet
Hi ben, and welcome to the forum, I hope we can help you.
I admire you for wanting to help this girl, but it won't be an
easy task to undertake. Her views on education are par for
the course with jws, I'm afraid. They are taught to live in
expectation of armageddon occurring any day, and are
mainly concerned with being found to be right with jehovah
when it strikes.I nust say I find her ideas on god preferring Communism to
Democracy somewhat bizarre for a jw, as they are a sect
that steers clear of political ideals. That isn't a watchtower
teaching, so I have no idea where she got it from.I wouldn't criticise her beliefs too much, that will merely
alientate her. Just try to be a friend, maybe even take
an interest in what she actually believes, and look for
opportunities to present themselves, if they do, to
challenge what she has accepted. You may find the
Quotes site, which is dedicated to watchtower publications
and highlights the many doctrinal flip flops they have been guilty
of over the years, useful, so I have provided a link to it below.http://www.quotes-watchtower.co.uk/home.html
Good luck!
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Doug Mason
Hi Ben,
I too live in Australia. Like you, I have never been a JW, although I have researched them for almost 45 years.
The problem is that JWs believe, without question, whatever the organization says. JWs believe the organization because of WHOM it claims to be, not because of WHAT it is saying.
They call it "The Truth".
They praise "theocracy" (dictatorship from the top) and they despise democracy. JWs are not permitted to have independent thinking.
The organization says it is the only representative of God's "government" on earth (hence they do not vote, salute the flag, etc.). Their laws are above man's laws.
They will not hear you because you are not from their organization, no matter how compelling your facts. ("Even Satan can appear as an angel of light" they will reason).
For a JW, to be right with God requires an active affiliation with the organization. Outside of it, there is no hope. There is fear of being disfellowshipped, which may even happen by being dobbed in by another member of the family. So speech must be guarded, even in private.
Further, to be cast out (disfellowshipped) means to be completely cut off from contact with loved ones, friends, even family members. This is a most powerful tool. I have seen families torn asunder. Your lady friend does not want to see this.
Doug
Melbourne