My first "apostasy" mission

easyreader1970

Yesterday was my first small attempt at "apostasy". I thought I did a very good job of it myself. I had some interesting results.

I tried on two people: My wife (the biggest, baddest JW you could ever come up against) and my mother (who used to be but has cooled in the past ten or twelve years or so).

I recently learned through a youtube video that one of the ancient Egyptian symbols for Ra, the sundisk, was on some early copies of Watchtower literature. This was good for me to learn because it wasn't directly tied to any "apostate teachings". If I brought some other WBTS information out that I could only have learned by talking to another "apostate" I might have my cover blown. This was an innocent "discovery."

My wife already knows I am heavily into ancient anthropology and I specifially love the societies in ancient Egypt, Babylon, etc.

First I brought to my hardcore wife's attention that the sundisk was used on the cover of early Watchtower literature. I explained to her that this was the symbol of the Egyptian god Ra. As predicted, at first she glossed over. Then she responded in a way that would make the WBTS proud. The early Christians had gotten alot of things wrong back then but since then the light has gotten brighter.

Later that evening I went to my mother's house. She actually owns physical copies of some of these hundred year old publications and she has some of them on display. I told her the same thing. She responded: "I know." Then she told me something that shocked me. "Did you also know that Russell's grave was decorated with an Egyptian pyramid?" She went on about some other things she learned "on the internets". I was somewhat shocked but I didn't let it show. Could it be that she is really showing signs of thinking for herself?

er

drew sagan

The Watchtower has been very effective in convincing the average JW member that the past is not relevant. That the Bible Students, Russell, Rutherford, ect, could pretty make any kind of mistake and still be chosen by God. Rather than try to defend their past actions, they simply say "yeah, they were screwed up, so what?".

I remember learning things about Russell on the internet when I first started studying with JWs. I even saw a video of Ray Franz talking on freeminds. The point I'm trying to make is that such things didn't effect me because i didn't realize their relevance.

Understanding the relevance of these things only comes when one is confronted with a crisis of faith. It is impossible to get others to care about things you care about, at least in this context. You can go on and on about how weird the Bible Students were, but to a modern JW what is the relevance? They have been convinced their is none and will laugh when it is brought up.

But when you question, doubt and struggle through the Watchtower these things then have importance to you. You see that they are relevant. You attitude has changed.

I remember my wife telling me a number of times that it helped her when I showed that it wasn't just facts about the WTS past that was important, but it was how I continued to tell her that these things were not as irrelevant as they taught us they were.

New light for you

i agree,

they aren't going to think this matters, they can laugh it off. isn't gonna touch their faith. Now, how do you get them to see that it's NOT as irrelivent as they make it seem? I dont really know what "pushed" me there. When my husband pointed out things about the society i kept saying 'its run by men! Mistakes are going to happen, who cares?"

Then when he would bring up issues with the society i kept saying over and over... "who cares? This is what matters- Jehovah, Jesus, New system (TM), tha'ts what matters, not what mistakes the society has made." I could NOT figure out why he'd talk about the society so much, i never cared much about them, it was about the basic beliefs for me.

I dont know HOW i got out of that circle of thought though. Did he just wear me down? maybe. Good luck though, but I dont think you really accomplished anything too much today, but maybe it will add up over time!

Hope4Others

She went on about some other things she learned "on the internets". I was somewhat shocked but I didn't let it show. Could it be that she is really showing signs of thinking for herself?

Its cool she's on the Internet perhaps she has or will stumble upon this site or freeminds. I think a lot know of things past...but does it matter I think not...the new light

of course. We first started to question things when at a book study this elderly sister brings up a comment....about "you know I remember _______who had been

in a coma and woke up in 1935 and said did armageddon come yet?" What? my husband said; that's when he started hitting the basement library at the kh and found

old, old books that related to everything she said. She never knew what she did to help us out....tee hee hee

h4o

dawg

Drew Sagan says...."The Watchtower has been very effective in convincing the average JW member that the past is not relevant".

Drew's right about this, but what about how other religions have gotten things wrong in the past? Isn't the WT organization the first to point this out?

And, these so called "past" things are also about what's being taught by them now, the present... 607BC, the wring date for Jerusalem's destruction, was backed up by Russell using calculations in the Great Pyramid of Giza... the relevance? It's partially how they come up with the whole 1914 lie they've taught for years and still teach.

The light's getting brighter, and they no longer can shine their lies up my ass any more.

Eyes Open

I knew about the pyramidology and managed not to let it phase me enough to act. The odd pagan symbol from the past isn't going to stumble anyone who actually wants to believe in it.

Interesting response from your Mother, easyreader1970.