Dear Lee Updates

by Lady Lee 3 Replies latest jw friends

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  Lady Lee

  Well some news. Recently I started two new themes for the Dear Lee column on Freeminds

  On Mondays I will be using the Talk Outlines to address some of the poor critical thinking issues in the talks. The hope is to get you to hear what isn't being said.

  On Fridays there is a new series called "How To" which will discuss everything from "How to develop critical thinking skills" to "How to decorate your Christmas tree". At my Meet-up group this week they suggested I write something like a "How-to" because there are so many things we have no idea how to do or even begin to do. So I will do my best to start from the beginning knowing that it is some of those beginning steps that we often can't find information about.

  So if you have ideas about questions for the "How-to" feel free to let me know what they are and I will add them to the list the Meetup group gave me.
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  boyzone

  Hi Lee

  I always enjoy your column on freeminds, thanks for taking the time to write them.

  One disfellowshipped sister recently asked me how to handle her 9 year old (whose JW father has main custody) when he tearfully says, "mummy come back to the meetings or your gonna die".

  She feels very guilty as she was partly responsible for teaching him to think this way as a "good" witness parent is supposed to do.

  The only thing I advised her to do was to be honest with him. Tell him mummy doesn't believe thats true anymore.

  How would you advise putting the fears of JW children to rest?
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  Lady Lee

  Thanks boyzone

  That is a good question and one the group asked me to include. Sometimes as parents we think we have to have all the answers and be always right. In reality children learn to be honest when their parents are honest and admit sometimes that they were wrong. It is one of the greatest lessons I think we can teach our children.
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  Snoozy

  Maybe say Mommy believed it for a while but realized it was not true..some just haven't learned that yet and that maybe someday they too will realize that God loves everyone no matter what religion they are.

  I want to say that the "Damnation" teaching of the JW's are very powerful to a child and not one they will easily dismiss. Many that were raised in the religion still hold on to the thought of God destroying them the way the Paradise book described ..even tho they know the religion is wrong. It is embedded in their minds.

  I would seek help from a professional that knows how to answer the questions the child may come up with..

  Funny how the way you say things can sometimes be more persuasive than what you say.

  Snoozy