Yes, I was and still am constantly surprised at the lack of *understanding* that people have about the JWs.
Even those who know about things, don't really get it (usually). In the past few years, though, I have noticed that more people are open to the fact that it is a cult. I've wondered if that has anything to do with some of the highly publicized crazy (and criminal) antics of the LDS offshoots in recent years.
I had an interesting conversation with one of my homecare workers 3 weeks ago. She has been coming here every 2nd week for quite some time to help me out around the house, and we've become buddies. She has neighbours that are JW, and started asking me questions as soon as she found out I am an exJW. As it happens, I know the couple that are her neighbours. I grew up with the wife, in the same congo, and pioneered in another province, where I knew the husband as a teen. So I know exactly what "kind" of JW they are.
We were talking about being DFd, and the shunning policy. She was shocked, and truly horrified, that my family (with the exception of my parents) has not spoken to me since I was 20.
That's when the subject of her neighbours came up. I was telling her how isolated I was as a child, and how, well, how miserable a JW kid's life can be. She said, well, so-and-so lives on my street, and their kids seem to be quite normal.
So, I asked her, do they ever play with your children? No. Are your kids ever invited to their house? No. Do their kids participate in any sports or groups (like drama or band, etc.) at school? No.
Then, I told her that the JW kids were taught that all the other children were actually doing Satan's bidding, and that all who are NOT JWs, are considered 'Satan worshippers'. I said to her,, "Just imagine, being in Grade Primary, and knowing that all the kids in your class are Satan's tools".
Her eyes widened, she raised her hand in a gentle cutting-off gesture, and said "Wait a minute, so you're telling me that these little kids are being indoctrinated to believe everyone else in the world is evil?"
Yes.
She believed me, and said that now she was thinking about it, the family is a little 'off'. They are polite, and their property is well-kept (these folks are wealthy, they own a very large company, and employ a lot of minimum-wage earners), but have no friends in the neighbourhood. The kids are only seen coming to and from school. The parents never socialize, beyond the required polite "hello". She remarked that, upon reflection, they were rather 'plastic', and had no real warmth.
And even though she knew about the blood doctrine, she had never really thought about it in relation to one's children. So she asked me about it. "So, they don't take blood transfusions. What if one of their kids needed one? Would they let their child die?" Well, here in Canada, the doctors just get a court order, but yes, the parents would refuse the transfusion. Another shocker for her. "You mean, in this day and age, they would refuse a blood transfusion and let their child die?" Yes.
I told her about a case that happened quite some time ago, with a family I knew. The parents actually kidnapped the daughter from the hospital (she was 14 or 15, I believe) after a tonsillectomy, because the girl was having post-surgical hemmorhaging (sp?), and the doctors were adamant that if blood was needed, it would be given to her. Luckily, she did not die.
Then I told her about the 2-witness rule and the JWs failure to report Child Sexual Abuse. By this time, she was not questioning the facts I was relaying, and accepted the personal experiences I related to her about that particular abomination without question.
People's eyes are opening up. Any chance to anti-Witness, is a good one. I don't bring the subject up with people, but when they ask me about it, I am more than happy to share.
The more people that know the 'truth about the Truth TM ', the better. She told me that she was going to do a bit more research, and the next time the JWs knock on her door, they are going to get a big surprise, because she will have some pointed questions for them.
Also, when people really understand, they may be more supportive if they befriend or otherwise come to know an exJW fader, or DF person.
Anti-Witnessing works.
xo
tal
