Before the internet even existed is when most became JWs who converted to be such and at that time without the internet there was no easy access to information refuting what was being taught by the Watchtower Society as now is the case. Many have gone online only in the past 5-7 years. Others have never touched a computer even to this time.
Family member coming around
by TweetieBird 13 Replies latest jw friends
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GentlyFeral
When presented with a WT, don't people do their own research??
I don't think many people do. The perception of JW's as a "cult" hasn't seeped very deeply into public consciousness, and religions that aren't perceived as "cults" don't seem to require research. A WT magazine is either read respectfully (by the few) or dismissed without though (by the many).
I then searched books to show historical evidences of the traditional Christian faith.
Well, before the JW's got me, this would have been the farthest thing from my mind. I was borderline anti-Christian when they approached me. What little I knew about Christianity made it seem ridiculous. When the jaydubs approached me (with their best foot forward, naturally), it was the first positive presentation of Christianity I had ever seen. (I was raised in an agnostic household; can you tell?)
how does one get entrapped into the JW org. without doing any independent research?
Well, in my case, I was not really aware of the possibility - even though I'd been reading books like "Had You Been Born in Another Faith" from childhood!
And, once you begin to study with the Witnesses, almost the first thing they teach you is that all other sources are unreliable. I can't remember how often Watchtower articles go out of their way to cast doubt on sources that disagree with them.
What is it in their teachings, that sway so many?
Matthew 5:5:
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Psalms 37:10, 11:
A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.
But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.I have to confess up front that I was a little heathen as a child; heaven did NOT interest me (and still doesn't, at least not as described in the Bible.) Inheriting the earth was immensely attractive. The "two classes" (heavenly vis-Ã -vis earthly) made sense; if you didn't want to go to heaven, it didn't mean God didn't love you, only that he meant you to enjoy paradise here.
GentlyFeral
edited for funny punctuation marks
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jayhawk1
Congrats Tweety! (maybe)
I hope those tears of sorrow turn into tears of joy for your neice."Hand me that whiskey, I need to consult the spirit."-J.F. Rutherford
Here is the page of the dumbest Jehovah's Witness I have ever seen.
http://hometown.aol.com/onjehovahside/ -
California Sunshine
Good luck Tweetie,
and if you haven't....do call her as 6/9 suggests.
Sunny
minds are like parachutes--they only function when open.