Why is Talking to a Witness so Hard?

by Perry 22 Replies latest watchtower bible

• 

  OnTheWayOut

  When they talk to you it is like

  

  or if they knew a scripture or doctrine that seemed to answer your challenging point, it's like:

  When you talk to them, it becomes:

  They do their best to do this after you make a valid point:

  

  Ignore the long hair.
• 

  lfcviking

  Onthewayout, they're great pics mate. Good stuff.
• 

  Perry

  That's Awesome OnTheWayOut!
• 

  flipper

  Perry- The witnesses have a huge persecution chip on their shoulder, just waiting for the next person to come along and knock it off. Talking with them is like talking with a brick wall, because they have been told what to say and how to reply to any questions you have. Evasive answers, you know, we've all heard them : " Jehovah will provide, changed our views because the light got brighter, holy spirit is backing the governing body, holy spirit appointed the elders, have faith in Jehovah, if something is not clear his organization will correct it in time, if elders or someone in authority is doing wrong, be patient, Jehovah will correct those involved and discipline them in God's due time. " I could go on and on, you get my drift. They have these patent answers so they don't have to think, they just parrot what they are told by the governing body. So, that is why it is hard to talk with them. Like pissing against the wind
• 

  tula

  so how would you suggest softening the blow to get them to be attentive? How could you lead in your question or objections?
• 

  OnTheWayOut

  I believe the book CAPTIVES OF A CONCEPT and some others make this suggestion:

  Instead of informing the JW about the real truth, approach them for help understanding
  the doctrine.

  "Can you help me understand? This old WT says XXX, and this newer one says YYY.
  I want to understand this, especially because all historians seem to feel that both are
  wrong."

  "I would be happy to study if you could show me how AAA or BBB is understood. I have
  many questions."

  This is difficult for loved ones of members, as they know you, and know something's up.
• 

  cyberguy

  Perry,

  I would add that they not only like to feel hated, but they love to hate! This is what a cult does! It teaches hatred for anything and everything not supporting the cult! To me it's just another hate club!
• 

  MegaDude

  I think you're wrong, Perry.

  It's hard to talk to JWs because of conditioning.

  Can't you remember when you were a hardcore dub? For example, would you have talked to an assembly picketer? I wouldn't, and didn't. When they approached me the instant decision was there in my mind, "They are Satan's servants, I have been taught not to talk to them, they are dangerous, they are possessed by the demons, bleh, bleh, bleh." Thinking didn't even enter the picture. It was just a conditioned response.

  I talk to JWs every chance I get. And when I do I have no delusions of grandeur that I will liberate them in one conversation. I ask questions and hope the door of thinking cracks open just a little. Conditioning is very, very tough to crack.

  One JW that has shunned me for over a decade, who was one of my best friends, has only recently been regularly associating with me again. It has taken over 10 years of infrequent conversations to even begin helping this person to challenge the beliefs installed in him by the WT. I almost completely gave up on them, but something kept telling me to hang in there and make contact with them a couple of times a year. It's great to have them back in my life.
• 

  saywhat29

  "The witnesses have a huge persecution chip on their shoulder, just waiting for the next person to come along and knock it off. Talking with them is like talking with a brick wall, because they have been told what to say and how to reply to any questions you have." YES! Oh my God, I reember one time i was in a hated argument with my other and she threw- out of No EFFING Where- that when the Great Tribulation came I was going to Turn her and "God's people in" and I'd told her that I'd be the one hiding your a$$es! Victim, much? Matter of fact, victim of what really?
• 

  Ex Nihilo

  I agree with that point. I would talk about wonderful, intelligent people that I know and then at the end a family member would ask "are they smart enough to worship Jehovah?". It made me pretty sad.
  
  I like all people no matter what. Unless one is to be the biggest jerk on the planet, I will be reasonable to them. I saw no religion lines when I was in the church and it drove my parents nuts when I was growing up.