no need to read this, by the way. I was driving to work, thinking about this and that this morning. First of all, I know I come across on the JWD forum as cranky and pissy, probably because that's what I am deep down although I like to deceive myself into thinking I'm pretty nice. I feel sad that it's that way, but even though I work on it, I don't seem to change. I've even worked on my swearing and I like swearing! But I'm trying to tone it down. Oh well.
Anyway, I was thinking about the world view of JWs. As far as they are concerned, the entire world exists as a tool that Jehovah uses to take care of them. So if you do something kind for a JW, it's not because you are a kind and loving person, it's because Jehovah made you do it. And if you do something they don't like, Satan made you do it. So no one has any free will except JWs, the rest of us are drones, just idling by the side of the road until J. wants us to do something nice or S. wants us to persecute JWs. Interesting, especially since they never seem to notice that J. seems to distribute his favors rather randomly. Instead, if good things happen to them, it proves they are good people and god is blessing them. If bad things happen to them, it must mean they are bad people and haven't prayed enough or done enough or sacrificed enough. Except, if the other guy does well, in the congregation, it's because he is materialistic, and if you do well, it's because J. is blessing you.
So I have this sweet client who is a JW. I know her and her whole family and they are all sweet JWs. I have never let her know my background. It has been interesting to listen to her tell me things, and hesitate before she uses a JWism, which she then alters for the worldly person (me.) So today I told her I know the terminology, my mother was a JW. So interesting to watch her go through the whole mental gymnastic thing - 'what does this mean? Hortensia's not a JW but her mother was.' "Did you go to the KH with your mother when you were little?" I said yes. But I didn't say anything else, so she went on thinking her way through it - 'is Hortensia disfellowshipped, is she DA, is she a JW and she didn't tell me, did she get pregnant and do drugs and get kicked out? ' I saw all the stuff going through her mind as she tried to "place" me in a category that would make it acceptable for her to like me. So predictable. Finally she said, "well my son doesn't attend meetings and he's over 18 so he has the right to choose for himself. I can't make him go." Then she relaxed - she had placed me. Obviously I am a nice person but rebellious and my mother couldn't make me go to the KH once I was of age. Not the true story at all, but she had fit me into a category with which she was comfortable and we went on from there. The sad thing is she really is a sweet person, but there she is, a JW. I didn't say another word about it.