Is There A Nice Way To Say, 'It's Dying?'?

metatron

I got into one of those extended conversations with relatives I haven't spoken to in ages. It was full of things unsaid and careful avoidance of saying too much about The Organization. Lots of nice social hypocrisy, so nobody gets upset in the fairy-tale world of Watchtower-ism.

Is there any discreet, tactful, inoffensive way to tell them, "The Organization is dying"? My best guess is probably no. All their fantasies are caught up in this sad, doomed cult and opening their eyes (and minds) is nearly impossible.

Perhaps this way................ "The Organization is becoming obsolete" That carries a degree of ambiguity as to exactly what is meant and what will emerge to replace it. And it might easily fit the current developments in Watchtower-Land, in a manner that's understandable.

Donations aren't good. Magazines are cut back. Gilead is being phased out. Bethelites get laid off. Kids leave because the Organization has nothing for them. Meeting attendance is slack. And when all is said and done, the world just goes on......

Pretty simple. I may try it next time.

metatron

Mickey mouse

It's self evident to anyone with two eyes in their head (or maybe even one). Our congregation has lost 5% of it's members this year from walkaways.

willyloman

You're right, the WT is becoming obsolete. It did for me. These are my own thoughts on it, and in conversations like the one you describe, I usually say something along these lines:

"My experience is that eventually you outgrow it and it doesn't work anymore. And once that happens that, there isn't any reason to stay and go through the motions. This is happening every day, in congregations everywhere, including your own. If you're honest with yourself, you know that because you see it all the time."

ABibleStudent

metatron - . . . Perhaps this way................ "The Organization is becoming obsolete" That carries a degree of ambiguity as to exactly what is meant and what will emerge to replace it. And it might easily fit the current developments in Watchtower-Land, in a manner that's understandable. . . .

Hi metatron, your idea might work if you phrase it as a question and add something from WTBTS lore to keep JWs' shields down: "Is the Organization becoming obsolete because the end is so near?" It might be a good way to get JWs to express their doubts to you and to use their brains to think.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

stillin

I would probably toss something in from left field that they could chew on later.

"The ancient Isrealites just HAD to have something they could see, even though Jehovah is invisible. Remember the golden calf that they even named Jehovah?"

...and drop it. You will have succeeded in finding common ground in a Bible reference AND you will have made your point

Sayswho

I came across someone this week that I did not know, a nurse...and as she was administering aid to me (nothing serious) she said, “wouldn’t it be nice not to have these problems...and oh how she was looking forwarded to a time when all these things would be a thing of the past…and that her husband is dying…” I said ‘you must be one of JWs and that I was sorry to hear about her husband’ to that she said “why yes how did you know?”

I let her know that I also was a witness and thought by what she was saying she must be a JW too. She went on about the wonderful hopes that we have and what the future holds for us…

At first I was not going to tell her that I was a JW and going to ask her some thought provoking questions about what she was saying…since I felt she had to be a JW, but when she said her husband was dying and how she was looking forward to God resolving these problems I could not bring myself to plant any doubt…I felt it would be cruel (for me) under the circumstances.

And really what right did I have since I did not know her? The hope she has is what keeps her going...helps her get up, go to work, take care of her dying husband, and others in need.

I also feel there is a time and place for everything…we just need to be discerning and use our knowledge at at time when it will help in the best-positive way.
Is missed placed hope better then none? People lived and died to this day without knowing the real answers to life’s questions? Are we any closer to the answers today then 1000 years ago?

There are some good suggestion on this form…we need to apply then at the right time…

IMHO

Sw

compound complex

Excellent points, Sayswho.

I am an inactive JW who maintains close ties within the Witness community.

Comments made on this thread reflect what some of my friends are going through. Even those who do not know of these forums for former JWs have the same complaints, frustrations and anger concerning the Society's [mis]behavior and teachings.

CoCo les yeux ouverts

DesirousOfChange

"Is the Organization becoming obsolete because the end is so near?" It might be a good way to get JWs to express their doubts to you and to use their brains to think.

I think saying "Dying" is too negative of a term and will turn off the "thinking switch" in their head. But an "innocent" question may keep them thinking:

I had heard it said that The End would come when the greatest possible number could be saved.........if fewer new ones are coming into The Truth than those who are leaving and dying......could the prophesied preaching work be about over? (....and then then end will come.)

DOC

zoiks

stillin -

"The ancient Isrealites just HAD to have something they could see, even though Jehovah is invisible. Remember the golden calf that they even named Jehovah?"

Awesome.

metatron

Asking, "do you think the Organization is becoming obsolete because the end is so near?" is rather clever because it tricks them into answering a question no different from the cliched "Have you stopped beating your wife?".

There's no good answer. LOL!

metatron

Is There A Nice Way To Say, 'It's Dying?'?

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