How do you guys know that standing firm won't work

by dawg 37 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  OnTheWayOut

  Those of us who choose to fade don't prevent the rest of you from taking any action you want to take.
  We may even applaud such action. We just aren't willing to give up what we have.

  The guys at sixscreensofthewatchtower.com had their video of them protesting a Memorial in
  Wilmington (Mass?) and that was great. It disrupted the work, a little. A larger number of protests
  nationwide or worldwide would have gotten more press.

  Dawg, as you organize the rally to the call, notice how many won't join you. Some are afraid, but
  most just want to move on with their lives. Organized religion was their problem, and many reject
  giving more time to it, others reject anything "organized" now, including organized protests. If I am
  ever DF'ed, I promise I will go to some of your events, and even be the spokesman if you like once.
• 

  dawg

  look at what creeper wrote... there are many like us but too scared to do anything. We ARE RIGHT does that not matter to any of you? Does it not matter that your lives have been ruined and that you're just going to let others suffer the pains you've felt without standing for what is right? Be strong! Think of it this way, they are basically being disrespectful to what you think, telling you that you MUST think what they do or else they'll stop talking to you.. Does that sound right to you? WHat other subjest is this kind of blackmail acceptable? YOu must tell them the "truth" tell them why you think it's a lie... how many changes would this world have benefited from if no one stood for truth...I appeal to you since of justice here... do you think the pain you've expierenced has been warranted? Do you desreve your fdamilies not talking to you? and yet you do nothing, your scilence will ensure that many more will suffter after you! Is that what you want for your families and friends? Pain? Take a stand, there's strenth in numbers!
• 

  IP_SEC

  Im totally with you dawg
• 

  Lady Lee

  So, many of you have rightfully challenged my beliefs that standing firm and telling your families exactly what you feel about the WTBTS won't work.... I submit that it doesn't work becasue we don't stand together!

  I'm not one to challenge another person's belliefs but I think you are wrong on this one.

  If all of us would stand firm say what we know to be true, do it publically, and not back down then I guarentee you there are many in the congs that want out of this crap and their just too scared to do anything becasue they don't want to lose their families.

  The problem here is that JWs are just too isolated by the WTS to really know what ex-JWs are doing. Thw WTS has created many myths about xJWs that make it really hard for us as a group to have any real impact on active JWs. They won't listen because we have been demonized. Anything we tell them is a trap by Satan to lure them away from Jehovah/WTS. I also think that the more outspoken we are as a group the less they will hear that we are decent, moral people. Are some scared? Absolutely. The WTS makes sure they are scared of us. As long as the WTS can keep them scared the less likely they will hear the real truth.

  In my family there are many that call me privately and tell me they know the WT is a crock of shit but won't stand up against it!

  Not in my family.

  If we press the issue the're will be many to follow, at least we may disrupt the work.

  Maybe where you are. I didn't see silentlambs put too much of a dent in the WTS

  Dr. King stood up aginst injustice and never fired a shot, but the truth of his message was just too clear... our message is just as true...

  I don't think this is the same kind of thing at all. As you say King was talking about injustice - racial injustice. You can't change the color of your skin. King saw the injustice in being treated differently because of something you cannot change.

  Aren't you tired of not being able to look at yourselves in the mirror?

  I have no problem looking at myself in the mirror. The witnesses I know have a real good idea what I think of the WTS. I'll tell anyone who wants to know. It's a huge reason I'm still posting here

  I read too many posts where many of you are beating yourselves up for not making the proper stand;

  We are all at a different place in our road out of the WTS. There are so many factors that go into where we are on that road and I think that has to be respected. If we don't respect that then I think we can easily fall into one of the WTS' beliefs that we all need to be the same, act the same, deal with things in the same way. - unity at all costs Personally that almost killed me as a JW. I have no desire to travel that road again. And I have no desire to push someone else down that road. One of the things we need to learn on our trip away from the WTS is that we can be different. We can do different things believe different things and it is all Okay

  eliminate that shame by "taking arms against a sea of troubble and by opposing end them",,,,,!!!! I'm interested to hear what you have to say!

  I think that "eliminate that shame" is part of our personal journey. Some just walk away and never feel any shame or guilt. Others like my sister leave and live full of guilt and shame of not being good enough until they die. They say that the best revenge is not to fight back in protest but rather to learn to live well. It is easy to get caught up in anger or revenge. King's message was not one of hatred but rather one of peace. And I tell you. JWs are confused by that. According to the WTS we have lives of wickedness and debauchery. A happy life, a moral life is far beyond the WTS' ability to explain.
• 

  IP_SEC

  I'm not one to challenge another person's belliefs

  pedophiles LL?

  The problem here is that JWs are just too isolated by the WTS to really know what ex-JWs are doing.

  not if we all grew a little sack LL

  The problem here is that JWs are just too isolated by the WTS to really know what ex-JWs are doing.

  right is right LL

  I didn't see silentlambs put too much of a dent in the WTS

  Made a huge dent in me LL... prolly you to LL

  King was talking about injustice - racial injustice.

  Injustice is injustice is injustice LL. Dont presume to speak for the great MLK LL

  I have no problem looking at myself in the mirror. I have no problem looking at myself in the mirror.

  awesome

  We are all at a different place in our road out of the WTS.

  True dat LL. Personally I knew I'd have to da as loudly as possible from the moment I found this site. I hope that place is in the majority of those who find this site.

  Others like my sister leave and live full of guilt and shame of not being good enough until they die.

  Those like that are still in bondage eh?

  They say that the best revenge is not to fight back in protest but rather to learn to live well. It is easy to get caught up in anger or revenge.

  Even King stood up and told everyone he had a dream LL

  It is easy to get caught up in anger or revenge. King's message was not one of hatred but rather one of peace.

  I dont hate or seek revenge on any JW LL. I seek freedom and peace for all

  peace out
• 

  dawg

  I agree with alot of what LL said, but doing nothing doesn't work... we're all doing nothing and the WT holds to outdated beliefs and destroys families in the process...It's not about revenge LL... its about change, and nothing will ever change if good folks do nothng. And as for making others think like me, that's not what I want at all... I just don't want my family not to talk to me becasue I don't but into the WT bull.
• 

  fifi40

  The problem you may have is that it could be viewed as persecution and actually strengthen some peoples faith. You can sure the org would put a spin on it!!

  Fi
• 

  wozadummy

  I really like the spirit you show DAWG ,it's commendable and it's probably borne out of some frustration and emotion at what the WTS has achieved directly & indirectly at harming peoples lives ,but that is the reality of freedom of religion and some here made the choice as adults to join , though others ,whom I have feeling especially for ,grew up like my kids to be in a religion like this. These have been damaged particularly and it's sad but that is life and some of us try not to be down hearted by guilt for enforcing WTS policy on them but use our energy to repair where we can the damage .

  So a call to arms against the WTS is not reasonable for all as alot are managing the damage done or just leaving the old life behind and don't perhaps want to be reminded of the past .

  We're not all banner holding, public speaking opposers of WTS nor could we all be ,usually a minority like Martin Luther King types handle the front of the shop while others back up in what ways they can.

  I remember the effect of the many banner holding "apostates" at the district assemblies of the 80's in Adelaide and I doubt they had much effect on the JW's going inside ,except maybe to motivate them to secretly hate the ones outside and think of their eyes and entrails falling on the ground like the bible describes.

  But when we personally face JW's we know we can talk boldly to them just as they claim they do to others about their beliefs, such as giving them a real reason why we left when they listen, if they don't what can you do ? force them? no tell all your freinds and workmates who will listen the real story of the JW's and it will get back to witnessess when they knock on their doors, especially if we are specific about events and people and congos.

  My wife and I don't hesitate to tell anyone that will listen about her pedophilic family, and any congo members that happen to knock on our door we give them plenty of reason to doubt their lying and crooked organisation ,but in a way that they come to the conclusions themselves! If they don't well what can you do, certainly not become singleminded unthinking like them and come down hard on them .Some of us still care about ones in but who can't leave for whatever reason, and beating a loud drum will not move them ,but clear subtle comments and actions may.
• 

  truthsearcher

  My gutsy little mother refused to acknowledge the shunning of her family when she married my dad outside of her cult (not the JWs). Even though they crossed over to the other side of the street when they saw her coming, she just crossed over too. She would show up on their doorstep and refuse to leave until they had talked to her. She did not play their games. She pretended that everything was fine, even though they were treating her as a leper (that was their doctrinal position). Years later, when their eyes were finally opened, there was a great family reunion, and grandma and aunt confessed the torture they were under during this time. They loved my mom so much and yet were captive to men's rules.

  My mother is obviously a very strong woman emotionally!
• 

  carla

  Hey Dawg,

  I can't give you a jw perspective as I am just an unbelieving mate. I think it takes tremendous courage for exjw's to go public and they have my admiration. Whether anyone joins you in your campaign against the wt or not there are still tangible things you can do. I know when I read a story here or elsewhere that really touches my heart or really pisses me off, that's when I go and deliver antiwitness literature to mailboxes. Of course everywhere I go I carry a few and leave them in bathrooms or even in Kmart or garden stores right now on a few of the patio tables for sale. It may not do any good but then again it may. The Silentlambs trifold is a good one, Rebel has some good ones on her page too. I may not be able to change my jw's mind but I can feel like I am doing something tangible so no other family has to suffer the loss of a loved one to the cult. At present I'd say I have delivered about 1500 or so. I quit actual counting one day because I got annoyed with the jw counting time thing and didn't want to feel like on of them. So now I go when I feel like it or if something here really bugs me. (by the way, Sunday mornings are a great time before anybody is up and the very large Sunday paper has been delivered, simply slide the antiwitness flyer inside the large roll and the first thing they see when they squeeze that big paper out is anti witness stuff!!)

  Some exjw's make it their business to speak to churches about the cult, for that I thank them. I wish there were more but understand how very difficult it could be. Word of mouth with friends and aquaintances is huge! Do not underestimate that. If you talk to one person who finds it as incredible as the people I have talked to about the org they WILL tell someone else who will tell someone else and on and on. Some have even come back with stories of when a jw comes to their door after they have been informed about the org, some of their stories are quite amusing. Yes, all the evil apostates make small dents everyday, thankfully.