Why Do Witnesses (and others) Continue to Defend So STRONGLY Things That They Can't Absolutely Prove are True or Exist?

by Crisis of Conscience 14 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Crisis of Conscience

  This is a little bit of a rant but I need to vent. So I apologize if some things aren't clear. Just ask and I will do my best to explain.

  I'm really trying to be patient with my wife. She says I ask valid questions about our Witness beliefs to which she has no answer or to which no answer exists. But regardless, she continually tries to defend something that I can tell she has no answer to or doesn't understand.

  For example, I brought up the 2009 Watchtower article about changing one's religion. I asked her when it said that no one should be forced to choose between their family or religion, who did that apply to, "worldly" people only or Witnesses also?

  Now I brought this up because presently I am being forced to do that. I've been regularly communicating with a disfellowshipped relative and she's given me heat about it, to the point of sternly warning me that I could be disfellowshipped if I continue to disregard Jehovah's arrangement, the "loving" arrangement. (She is aware though that I have lost my faith in A LOT of what Watchtower has to say.)

  Anyhow, this led me up to the point later of asking my wife that question. She replied by saying that it was written to wordly people. So I referred to another point in the article (don't remember at the moment what it was) and asked the same question. Here she said it could apply to either or. (I'm trying to indirectly get her to see the inconsistensies of what is said to others that supposedly and miraculously doesn't apply to or is applied by the Witnesses, this article being one.)

  I then asked what in the article indicated which points applied to wordly folks and which to witnesses. She said nothing but that as a witness who has made a dedication to Jehovah, they wouldn't be putting their religion ahead of their family because they would be obeying Jehovah's law first.

  I mentioned the scripture brought out in the article found in Deuteronmy about Jehovah giving the choice of life/death. I mentioned that if I choose death by communicating with a disfellowshipped relative, who's problem should that be? Mine, no? And no one else's.

  She agreed and said no one is stopping me from talking to my relative, but said that I would have to face the consequences of those actions.

  What kind of choice is that then? If it's in reality my decision, and according to the scripture I choose death, why should I face other consequences, be punished for it? In my opinion, there really is no fair choice on my part. If I am punished for it, then indeed I am being forced to unfairly choose between my family or my religion.

  She disagreed. So I gave the example of paying taxes. I can make the choice to not pay them. But if I don't, there is a good possibilty of receiving some sort of fine, perhaps even jail time. So in effect, though my CHOICE may be not to pay, I am in effect being FORCED to put aside my want to not pay in order to avoid the consequences. Is that really a fair choice then, my choice?

  I asked how this was different from speaking with a disfellowshipped individual but getting punished for doing it, for exercising my freedom of choice - life/death. Instead, I am being forced to unfairly choose between family/religion. What kind of choice is that?

  She didn't have a response and I could tell she felt scared to hear that so I changed the conversation. However I did manage to point out how much of what is said in the publications is speculation because of the use of words like possibly, evidently, etc.

  She asked me if that meant we can't trust anything the society says. I responded that saying things like possibly something took place or was said can also signify that an event DIDN'T happen.

  Example: Jesus possibly talked to his disciples about how to grow a fig tree that produces fruit after he condemned the fig tree. There is no evidence to prove either way but many witnesses, upon hearing or reading that, will run with it and say Jesus talked to his disciples about this as it were fact! They believe it as something real!

  That's why we have those stupid, unwritten rules about facial hair, tattoos, and R-Rated movies. People can't see the "possibles"! Its so annoying!!

  If you made it this far, thanks for "listening."

  CoC
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  ProdigalSon

  "Ive been regularly communicatingwith a disfellowshipped relative..."

  What did you expect? Since "disfellowhipped" is the same as "dead", you're a spiritist!
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  onemore

  I feel you CoC.
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  leavingwt

  Have you read either of Hassan's books?
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  miseryloveselders

  I know what you mean COC, its mind boggling. That article, "No One Should Be Made to Choose" was a definately a humdinger. There's a reason why that article was in the Awake for public consumption. Can you imagine if that article would have been a study article for the congregation WT Study? It'd would have planted a lot more apostate seeds than currently exist. It just goes to show how methodical and underhanded the GB and the Writing Department is. It's encouraged to be like the Boreans when it comes to any other religion, primarily other Christian faiths. When it comes to the JW faith, you're not supposed to question anything. They don't give you any room to agree to disagree on anything. And if you do have the studious inclination to dig in deep and develope a logical reason for not toeing the line, the've got the ultimate trump card, your family and close friends. Then they have the audacity to tell the public and even themselves, that this religion doesn't break up families. GTHOH!!

  I agree with you about things that cannot be absolutely proven, and having to support these doctrinal theories can be a real struggle at times. I was thinking about this last night coming home from work. I got to thinking how the Israelites witnessed things that one would consider supernatural today. If I saw fire come out of the sky and incinerate some rebellious folks in the camp, I wouldn't question anything from that point onward. One doesn't forget something like that. Or if I saw a sea split to allow myself and people escape and then close over my enemies, I'd be on board, not questioning anything. Yet the Israelites continued to question things and forget what Jehovah had done for them. Either the entire nation suffered with Alzheimer's on steroids, or the Bible isn't telling the whole story. People today have life altering situations, that completely change the way they think and act. Apparently not the Israelites after seeing some crazy things. Fast forward to 2010, and some old kooks in New York are asking me, cough cough, excuse me, telling me that if I don't recognize their book publishing company as God's chosen organization I'm going to be destroyed? If I question their track record, history, and questionable doctrines, I can possibly, well actually, I will lose my family, close friends, and in some cases my livelyhood? This is especially troubling if one has spent decades busting his or hair tail for this organization. Ray Franz put it I believe, with one stroke they completely erased all that he had done for this organization. Its sad, really really sad how much of a powertrip these people are on.
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  chrisjoel

  At least you are actually reasoning with her! Count your lucky stars that she is actually engaging you in conversation about this.. I hope in time she can realize how the societys position is all doublespeak and contradictory.....its an uphill battle but IT CAN be won.. I think in Rays book In Search Of Christian Freedom there is some excellent points about talking to DFD that may help ur wife see the light.....
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  Farkel

  Think of the trauma it cases someone when their long-held and most cherished belief system and the HOPE it created for them is exposed as a bogus bunch of lies, and that someone has spent much or all of their lifetime living and believing those bogus lies as truth.

  Then, perhaps, you can understand why people continue to defend their lies so strongly. Their entire world and reason for existence has been ripped out from underneath them.

  Farkel
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  minimus

  The JW religion is BUILT on the thought that they alone have understanding others cannot recieve. It gives them a sense of entitlement.
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  Terry

  Think of water running down the side of a hill.

  It takes a path.

  What path?

  The path of least-resistance!

  Obstacles aren't barriers if you can flow around them.

  Your wife's natural inclination to preserve her life, do good for her family, live a moral life, please god.....all these things are like water flowing

  downhill.

  You might think about this. The FLOW is going to GO no matter what you say.

  You can't change the direction of the flow. She will always go TOWARD THE VALUES she cherishes.

  You can make yourself an OBSTACLE by constantly bringing up complaints about the theology, beliefs, practices, failures of her religion.

  But, she will naturally continue to FLOW AROUND them----and you as well.

  Until....and unless......

  you DIRECT THE FLOW and become a partner in the direction rather than an obstacle.

  NEGATIVES are mere obstacles. They are slow poison. Negatives make you a whiner and complainer and poison your relationship.

  Get your OWN HOME STUDY going in which you prepare factual reading (histories, scholars, analysis) for BOTH yourself and your wife.

  Encourage it as a RESPONSIBILITY and her natural flow will converge with yours!

  Be POSITIVE in what you learn.

  Build up a momentum of facts, figures, counter-arguments which balance her thinking with additional information not previously considered.

  Always present it positively and grow together toward the natural downward flow AROUND THE OBSTACLE of the false Jehovah's Witness religion.

  She is every bit as smart as you are. She has had the momentum of her enthusiasm MIS-directed, however.

  Fuel her curiousity about Truth with rational reading, logic, exposure to fallacy identification, etc.

  In short, to quote a bromide: If you aren't part of the solution you are part of the problem.

  That's my two cents.
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  cyberjesus

  Farkel and Terry..... Awesome words.