Sorry but I don't seem to be able to edit paragraphs. The post just comes out in one.
Worried for sister
by msiajw 15 Replies latest jw experiences
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Gopher
Hi "my sis is a jw", welcome to the board!
I was raised a JW, am now out as an adult and don't believe hardly any of it. Once in a while they're right, but even a broken clock is right twice a day!
As for Matthew 24 -- It's one of those "signs of the last days" chapters. The part your sister wants you to read is likely verses 3-14. These are verses that have been used by every end-time sect to prove that THEIR particular time in history is the one where the "end of the world" occurs. Ever since Gutenberg invented the printing press, making the Bible widely available, every generation has had these kind of predictions. So JW's have been using these verses to try to persuade people that THESE ARE INDEED the last days. (When I was a kid in the 1970's, I wasn't supposed to even graduate from high school -- the end was so near. Heck I could have gone through school 3 times by now.)
And then she'll want you to notice verse 14 that says " this good news of the kingdom will be preached, and then the end will come." So supposedly since JW's are the ones going to door-to-door the most, they're supposedly the ones fulfilling this verse. Of course, that's a very narrow interpretation. First, nowhere does the Bible command "door to door" preaching. That's a JW invention. Second, other religions have a lot more members who have heard a Bible message from their religion than JW's have. And other Bible religions are growing even faster. So it's only out of a misguided sense of pride that JW's apply this verse (which they quote ad nauseum, almost every week at their meetings) to themselves.
As always, if ever you want to bounce ideas or questions off this forum, please do so!!
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sass_my_frass
Every few days I'm reminded of something else that helped me change my mind about the place. I think it's a list of hundreds or thousands of things. 25 years in; she's got a lot to fight. Her biggest issues would be re her kids. Talk about them - what they're up to, whether she stays in touch. She'd be tormented by the thought of them not being saved at Armageddon - unless she's talked herself into thinking they would be. Ask her, if they are, even though they're not witnesses, why does anybody need to be a witness? If they're not, what exactly is it that they're doing wrong with their lives that god would judge them for? And doesn't that mean he'd have to kill just about everybody? What kind of loving god is that?
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flipper
MSIAJW- Sounds like you are close to your sister. As one poster said, she does have a place to go if she leaves the organization, her children ! They could be close to mom again , maybe like they were pre-cult indoctrination ! So , is your sister aware of the illegal activities being allowed in the witness organization , such as covering over child molestation, like the Catholics did ? That the witnesses settled multi-million dollar lawsuits with 16 child abuse victims early this year , and put a gag order on the victims so they wouldn't speak about it to anyone ? And that victims of abuse have been kicked out of the witness organization, disfellowshipped for going to the authorities about the crimes? This was all in the news back in the spring , in various newspapers across America. So your sister could not say it was from apostates . If it were my sister , and she was willing to talk about it, I would ask her questions as a concerned sister. The witnesses are all about damage control, so only about 10 % I'm estimating know of this child abuse settlement. The watchtower does not want to lose more members so they stay quiet about what happened. Anyway, it's something to think about, peace out to you, and welcome to the forum ! Peace out, Mr. Flipper
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jwfacts
It is very hard to change a persons beliefs, especially if they do not want to change. It is all the more hard for someone that has been indoctrinated. If you look at http://www.jwfacts.com/index_files/mindcontrol.htm it explains how JWs are indoctrinated, and will help you understand why it is so hard for you to get through to her.
http://www.jwfacts.com/index_files/5min.htm gives a summary of why JWs are wrong to claim to be the only group directed by God and lists a number of reasons that cause them to leave. The moment that awakens a JW varies greatly, and the only way to work out what would help her leave is to find out what has convinced her why she believes it so strongly.
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Gilberto
msiajw
Your sister is typical in not allowing herself to reason.
No one could have told me I was wrong, I would have argued for England and felt thoroughly proud of myself.
My guess is there will be possibly one issue that she has that troubles her. With me it was blood, my wife it was the love in the congregation, mother in law the static memorial partakers.
I tried to convince my wife the falseness of the WT by arguing the blood issue, this was useless because it wasn't an issue for her.
I say don't argue too strongly, she has to see it for herself.
It will be hard and a long road to take, but keep up hope that one day she will see it, just be there for her. My wife eventually came to to her senses. It is a great feeling.
Good luck