I dont know about the rest of you guys in here...but when someone tells me they are studying with the JWs I PANIC!!! It's like seeing a child on the edge of a cliff. They dont KNOW that they are in imminent danger. You dont want to run towards them because you are afraid they will move and fall...so we all are sooooo careful about what we say in case we chase the new study INTO the maw of the Watchtower Society instead of saving them FROM it.
You, our new friend, have the best resources available to you to find out the TRUTH about what the JWs call "The Truth" and you should without hesitation, take advantage of it. If indeed the JWs have the truth, there isnt ONE THING we or anybody else could say which would prove them wrong. Wouldnt you agree that that makes sense? The JWs want you to go investigate OTHER religions but as soon as you turn that microscope on THEM they begin to scream APOSTATE and JUDAS and BAD ASSOCIATION at you to divert you away from what you are hearing and seeing. WE ALL DID THIS as JWs and so we know of what we speak. If you look inside the Reasoning From the Scriptures book there is a whole section on Overcoming Objections....the purpose is to teach you how to sell sell sell this religion no matter what gets thrown up at you from objectors.
They scream that other religions spew propaganda...they are the BIGGEST proponent and distribution of self aggrandizing propaganda on the planet. They scream that other religions support and hide pedophilia when they THEMSELVES cover, hide and do not report the pedophilia in their own organization. AND they dont tell anyone in the congregations there ARE pedophiles amongst them! The pedophiles are allowed to stay there, be around children and go door to door.
They never have said ONE GOOD THING about any other religion on the planet ever. Not in their talks, not in their literature, not at the doors, not once not ever.
They believe they are the ONLY Christians on the planet. They even said those Christians who were mauled to death by lions, were not really Christians because "there is no proof they were ever baptized"
They believe that their organization is the mediator between you and God..Christ is NOT your mediator...THEY are.
They believe the entire book of Revelation was written for and about ...them and that ALL prophecies therein pertain to them and them alone.
They believe they have Gods ear to their prayers and NO ONE ELSE'S ARE HEARD. They believe they and they alone will survive Armageddon.
They believe that everyone who isnt a baptized JW in good standing is under Satan. Period. No grey area. That includes you even if you ARE studying.
They believe that it is alright to lie to anyone "not deserving of the truth" and that includes judges, juries, police, and anyone not a JW.
They believe that education past high school is evil.
They believe that they are Gods Mouthpiece on earth and that to question ANYTHING in their teachings and literature is to question God Himself and if you do...you are labeled apostate and your questions and concerns will NOT be answered and you will be before a Judicial Committee before your next breath.
They believe that ALL holidays, birthdays, including Christmas...are pagan, and satanic.
Any children you have will be expected to sit through 5 hours a week of intensive adult talks and training towards converting them too, including teaching them to begin plying the wares of the Watchtower Society and become recruiters themselves. No Sunday school, no toys, no books, no talking, no moving around or they will be dragged out of the hall.
Once you are baptized and that means taking a PUBLIC VOW and allegiance to the Watchtower Society, they own you. And you will then be required to be at all meetings. Required to preach door to door. And required to report in writing how many hours you spend doing so or there will be sanctions.
Anything they say is "voluntary" is not. Anything they say "is a conscience matter" is not. Anything they say "a true Christian" would do is them saying to you that you damn well better do it or you will be punished for it.
...so...is this the service to God and the show of your love of the Christ that you were looking for in your life? Nothing could be further from "the truth"
RUN!
LD