My one disclaimer is this: To my theistic friends, I am not saying the following to be disrespectful of your beliefs. However, since I don't believe as you all do, it is only honest of me to present this.
I bring this up because I have been caught up lately in debates that I normally don't involve myself in. I have been left a little drained and confused as to why I allowed myself to argue a point till its beaten to a bloody pulp. And I also realize, I must allow everyone here their personal views. (hey, no one ever really changed their mind EVER after talking to me.... for the most part...)
So this new method is one that I actually learned as a JW, going door to door. Let me give you some examples of this new/time tested method.
ME: "Hello there, I am returning to show you from the bible that there are 144,000 who go to heaven, and only a remnant remain on earth. These guys are represented by a Governing Body and rule over all that Christ gave them in 1919. Isn't that good news?!"
THEM using time/tested method: "Uh, I'm not interested." *closes door*
ME: "Hello there! I would like to show you that God's name is Jehovah, as clearly shown in the New Testament, and that he wants us live forever in a cleansed paradise earth, playing with formerly dangerous wild animals. We will spend eternity worshiping him. Isn't that good news?!"
THEM using time/tested method: "Uh, I'm not interested." *closes door*
ME: "Hello there! I would like to show you how by using calculations involving scriptures found in Ezekial, Daniel, and Revelation, along with the clearly established fact that Jerusalem was destroyed in 607 BCE, shows that Jesus came to rule invisibly from the heavens in 1914. Isn't that good news?!"
THEM: But Jerusalem was destroyed in 587/586 BCE, and you JW's didn't teach the 1914 date until close to 1930, after efforts to tie other previous dates to Jesus invisble return failed.
ME: "Well, some believe that 607 is the correct date. Also, we JW's get lied a lot about by those evil apostates who only leave because they are demonized haters of god, who have nothing better to do then hate their former brothers.....
THEM using time/tested method: "Uh, I'm not interested." *closes door*
It seems that most people in the "world", (gotta love that terminology, don't ya?) have the best method for figuring out how to deal with the hopelessly stupid. They did it to me while I was a JW, and they continue to do it to JW's today. I even got to do it once since I left. It felt real good....
So from now on, if someone insists on trying to shove some unproveable, weird, psuedo spiritual exegesis down my throat, or if they want to try and spin matters involving gods clear "taking his hands off the wheel" approach to ruling us, my response will be to learn a great lesson from those gusts of wind caused by doors heading in my direction as I was spewing intellectual poo....
"Uh, I'm not interested." *closes door*