The fifth column

by Simon 7 Replies latest jw friends

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  Simon

  What is the one thing that the witlesses have and rely one?

  Isn't it the 'fellowship' and the 'love'... a 'uniting bond of unity' (puke).

  What if they didn't have it??

  I mean, what if, when someone visited a hall for the first time, they weren't welcomed with open arms and 'love-bombed' / conned into their clutches. What if when someone visited a different hall they didn't see any evidence of the love and unity that they expected. Maybe they would think?

  How could they be made to change their behaviour?

  By the fifth column.

  Imagine that a group of apostates invades a hall one sunday morning. Not with banners amd placards but dressed in suits with wives, families etc... and they answer up, tell the truth and unnerve the faithful with their open but non aggressive opposition to the thoughts and beliefs of the WTS.

  What if each week or month people showed up at a different hall?

  Of course, all of us know how to look and act and speak like witnesses. How would they know who were apostates and who were deserving of their love when they saw a new face?

  Maybe the love would cool off a bit?

  Just a thought (for now)!

  Of course, you could make a whole day-out of it... meeting in the morning, down to the pub for a good pub-lunch then to the park or something!
• 

  ISP

  Hey nice idea...I dare say we could terrorise a few congs..not so far away...and thats just the kids!

  ISP
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  Mindchild

  That's kind of a wild thought Simon but I think apostates can do better than this. In my view, part of the success of what keeps dubs inside (even when they know it isn't true) is thinking that they will have a miserable life if they leave. After all, think about it, you are going to give up everything if you walk out that door, your friends, your family (in some cases) and also the freedom of NOT thinking and NOT worrying about the future.

  When those dubs on the edge find out that there is a real life on the outside, that people who leave can be happy and have productive lives, and not live in fear of getting whacked by a very pissed off God, then this fear loses its power.

  The very thing I think the collective fears is the growing organization of apostates and just plain ex-JW's who are healing themselves and learning to explore and enjoy life.

  God help them when we get our collective act together and all have wonderful and happy lives.

  Skipper

  All great deeds and all great thoughts have ridiculous beginnings--Albert Camus
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  ISP

  Mindchild..I agree..its important that we lead happy lives. I think JWs are surprised when they ask you how you are and you respond 'Couldn't be better!' etc. They think how can that be? They have no idea how normal and pleasant life is!

  ISP
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  Frenchy

  You are sneaky, Simon! I've thought about doing the very thing you mentioned but I would have to go way out of state since most of the witnesses within two hundred miles know me! Ah well, there's always vacation time!

  ISP:
  I agree. I've been inactive now for about a year and when I meet up with a witness and they ask me how I'm doing I always reply that I'm doing fine and things are great. Why is there a look of disappointment on their face? Well, we know why. I do so enjoy it, though!

  -Seen it all, done it all, can't remember most of it-
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  mommy

  That is a really cool idea! Anyone wanna join me for a Sunday meeting in the upstate NY area?

  On a side note, when I moved to another state, I went to the KH the first weekend I came. I was all alone, had my bible, Watchtower, and dressed appropriatly. I was sitting in the hall thinking, "What am I doing here?" I felt like I was in the twilight Zone, it was a carbon copy of every other congregation I had ever been to. The same people, the same drone like characters, the same fake smiles on faces riddles with wrinkles. I was approached by two people, and even hung around after the meeting a bit. I went to the lit counter and was going to ask for a change for my subscription, and order some mags. I was standing in line still feeling like I was in a weird episode of Smile you are on Candid camera, when I walked out. I left and never looked back.

  I am sooooo glad I did that.
  wendy

  Blind faith can justify anything.~Richard Dawkins
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  Grout

  Anybody can lie or deceive themselves about what it means to be "doing well" or "being happy". So that's not going to help much, IMO.

  But I really like the Fifth Column idea. Really.
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  waiting

  Howdy Grout,

  Anybody can lie or deceive themselves about what it means to be "doing well" or "being happy". So that's not going to help much, IMO

  Met some old jw friends of mine in the store today. We both have df'd children. They asked how I've been doing? I said fine - and then went into detail about my children & husband, who they know well. Explaining just how fine we all were.

  I also made it a point to ask and talk about their df'd son. There was a time when the mother wouldn't have said a positive thing about him. Now? I heard about him, his wife, and their new grandson. I just kept asking questions about their family and the ones I knew didn't come to meetings. Kept saying positive things about them.

  They asked about my husband's beard, I told them about it in detail.

  It was an ok visit, even though I felt like I was fencing with them.
  I do think it helps as it makes the jw think about families & lives instead of just labeling people with closed minds.

  Of course, it was a tad ticklish to explain the Christmas tree ornaments I had in my cart. "Celebrating Christmas?" "No.......I put them in an antique bowl because I like the shiny colors." Was the truth, but a bit stupid-sounding (even to me!).

  waiting