Sometimes i feel like i am going to lose the 'battle' for my kids. It's hard when you only get to see them every second weekend and my boy even less now that he has his drivers licence...mates are more important than seeing dad you know.
Daughter is the deeper thinking one i think. Had a good little talk to her today about a flyer i got in my letterbox from the Christadelphians. Really good flyer actaully because although the layout and printing was obviously not watchtower style, the message was exactly the same as JW's; increasing disasters...unemployment...death...war...stable future...gods better world...bible...paradise... etc. You get the picture. I asked her who's message is this to which she made a guess at the witnesses. I asked how could this be? Are you not told that you are the only ones with this message? Led to a good little talk about adventists, millerites etc as well.
Son on the other hand, at the moment is just consumed by earning money, saving for a new car and chasing a JW girl. Acknowledges that he should be questioning the teachings before baptism but doesn't seem to think there is an issue really...has lots of peers and older ones he knows are JW but also go to metal concerts, party and get drunk...so it's given him a false sense of the dangers of being a witness. He feels it all just makes sense so he just goes with the flow it seems. He thinks he will not be made to shun his father...
I really fear and i told him so today, that he will upgrade this girl to girlfriend soon, want to marry her at 18 and have to be baptised before that...a line of thinking he agreed on. Already slowed down and started to be a little more good, because ''if i lose my licence i wont be able to work and be with her and provide for her''. So i see the subtle grip tightening on him. The little witness girl (or boy) love interest will be what has i think, no doubt suckered a good many into staying and not questioning the religion.
Had a good talk about how important it is to do his questioning now and not later when it may be too late. Wife, kids you know what i mean... Better to loose a girl friend now if you stopped being a witness that to lose a family later sort of talk. I asked what's important to him...is it doctrine? Does it matter what they have taught or changed? Is it history of the witnesses? It seems the only answer is that it makes sense to him.
so i guess my challenge is to find ways to show that it makes no sense. Somethings he can already see but wants to ignore...
oz down in the dumps