As many of you are aware, I've been writing letters to many in my family telling them where I disagree with the WT; Imagine how surprised i was when my cousin invited me to his kid's graduation knowing that there were sure to be many Witnesses there who I assumed whoud be in the mood for confrontation. Of course I went, as I'm trying a new policy of not backing down from the witnesses; using reverse psycology to try and get them ashamed of being witnesses instead of them trying to make me feel bad about my disssent.
After the graduation, my older cousin, who's much like a real brother to me said that we needed to talk. His first words were how much he loved me, and how disapointed he was that I'd been writing letters; I asked him if he disagreed with anything I said? He said that he knew about Beth Sarim, Pyramidology, and all that but it was a long time ago in the past, that the JW's had already admited their mistakes and that was enough... I said that wasn't enough when these men are making the claims they're making; like the claim that God is directing their work and that they can't be questioned without the one doing the questioning being ex-communicated. I asked him where the bible says I can't question men or that I should follow every dictate of the WTBTS, that if I don't my family and friends shouldn't have audience with me? He said he couldn't name a scripture that said that, "that's because they're stepping over the boundries as set forth in the Bible" said I. "THey're putting themselves in the place of God when they tell you that you haven't the right to intrepret the Bible for yourself".
I also mentioned that 1914 was derived from the occult, and that the date 607 isn't accurate because it came from pyramidology. Basically the whole conversation all boiled down to him not having anywhere else to go; he said he couldn't go to Christendom... SO I asked him "Why do you need the WTBTS to become involved with your personal relationship with God as it is to him alone you should be worshipping". He had no answer sans the sad attempt to define the Witnesses as the true religion because they had figured out that many of the holidays are worng... "Even a blind squirl finds a nut" was my response, reminding him that doing one thing right doesn't mean God is guiding them.
From what I can tell, everyone in the family is talking about the letters I've sent; he tried to discourage me by saying that my letters wern't doing any good, but I told him that almost everyone in the family had given me positive feedback about my letters, I told him that many are starting to see through the WT bull and they were happy I'd taken a stand. Believe it or not this is true, and my cousin who was talking to me at this moment hadn't even bothered to tell the elders on me; i asked him why he was talking to an apostate. He asked me if that was what I was, and I said absolutely as far as the WTBTS goes I am, but I will never be an apostate to God".
Most of the conversation was very respectful; almost the whole conversation swayed my way as I was prepared for his cookie cutter responses straight form the WT. I had a logical answer for everything he said; after 30 minutes of dialogue of which he had grown weary of his JW indroctrinated responses being destroyed, he finally said "well I guess you don't mind dieing at Armageddon". Now, this took me by surprise, but I remembered something I'd seen in "Awakeing of a Jehovah's Witness" How a vicitm can feel better if they always stay in command, so I responded by telling him that I didn't believe a God of love would kill his children in such ways, "in fact, that threat doesn't scare me at all" I declaired.
I would have to say that he did a good job of presenting his witness points, and he was very respectful and loving... I have nothing bad to say about him other than he's totally wrong about the Witnesses and I left there with a feeling he knew it. in A few more years; the WT is sure to do something stupid, they're going to have to change 1914 date for example; when this happens I truly believe that many in the family will drop out of this utter stupidity as this conversation made me feel that even the staunchest witness knows better deep inside. I'll keep you guys posted