It gets better. Part II of "Apostates are blown out of the water"

by never a jw 36 Replies latest jw friends

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  AnnOMaly

  One email: I do not have a good answer to those questions because I have not taken the time to study them in detail.

  Later email: ... you are in pursuit truth, whereas I feel sure that I have found it. ...

  ... "Make sure of all things: hold fast to what is fine."

  My goodness! His head's all over the place. How can he have "made sure of all things" and have "found truth" regarding the issues you raise if he has "not taken the time to study them in detail"?

  He has not educated himself sufficiently to competently address your concerns. Perhaps ask him if he can refer you to somebody who has bothered to look into these matters who could help you. Time to cut him loose - as far as this line of enquiry goes, anyway.

  I agree with those that say he's scared. He may not have looked into those subjects because he SENSES where they will lead and he knows he won't be able to cope with what he'll find out.

  Eccl. 1:18 (NASB) - " ... in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain."
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  snare&racket

  My point was that he believes he has found the truth and that you are still looking for it, the Jehovah name issue would prove he has not got the truth about all issues and that by you seeking it you have learned things he has not.

  But all the best with it,
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  never a jw

  Thank you all for your great advice. As some of you suggested, I backed off and said I hope to resume the conversation in the future. It is rather strange that he actually answers my e-mails. We have exchanged in the last 10 months (since my daughter's baptism) about 30 emails each in subjects ranging from creation to failed prophecy. I threw a number of insults including one where I said directly that he "lacked critical thinking skills and should read COJ, RF and J. Penton's books". His response was: "I see".

  It is as if he is probing the enemy to concoct the "antidote" to prevent an apostasy disease to run wild in my JW family and the congregation. Who knows, maybe in the probing he gets the disease himself. Even as a non-JW I still am very much exposed to the effects of shunning. That's why I should act wisely. I have a great deal of interaction and emotional and financial interdependance with all the members of my large JW family (wife, my children, nephews, brothers, many in-laws in my side and my wife's side)
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  DanmeraDinglebum

  "Believe those who are seeking truth. Doubt those who find it" Andre Gide
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  steve2

  Religious "Truth" is inherently paradoxical:

  Those who have a need to search for [religious] Truth have an incentive to find it: They have everything to gain by finding it.

  By contrast, those who believe they already have found the Truth have no such an incentive to search. Indeed, to continue the search is risky because they may lose the Truth they thought they had found. Scary.

  Each religious system struggles with this paradox. The chief solution is to declare as dangerous the continued search for the Truth.

  In this unique regard, Jehovah's Witnesses are exactly the same as Latter-Day Saints, Seventh-Day Adventists, Baptists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Methodists, Catholics, Lutherans, Christadelphians, Pentecostals, Scientologists, Moonies among many many others.

  Whether some of these are "cults" rather than "Christian groups" is utterly irrelevant because they all share in common the need to protect themselves from the need to search for the Truth. They see no contradiction in telling others outside the religion about the need for outsiders to search for the Truth.

  Religious "Truth", as I said, is inherently paradoxical.
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  snare&racket

  You find it strange because you were never a jw, you have given him a free pass to discuss things he is not allowed to...

  As JWs we would have loved an excuse to have to talk to someone who knew anti JW stuff, just to hear it and contemplate it. I think every JW knows there is information they are not being told..... He wants to hear it, hence he reply's to you...... Give him something watertight to bite into.... He is asking for it, literally! As a CO there is nobody that can slap,his wrist and he has a legitimate excuse for having such a conversation. In that situation I think most of us would reply as JWs.

  Its like having a direct line to someone hidden in North Korea...... Even if they believe all the crap, part of their mind is open to at least hearing what the non believers have to say..... Give him something good, if you don't you will reaffirm his beliefs.
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  never a jw

  AnnOMaly,

  I liked your quote from Ecc 1:18. It's similar to the good Brahmin, but much better because it comes straight out of the Bible. Perfect to use next time...[editing next] Maybe not, it is in the "wisdom is vanity" section.

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  DanmeraDinglebum,

  Excellent quote, so germane.

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  snare&racket

  I certainly will keep in mind your words for next time I initiate another e-mail conversation. We have done it several times before, and never before did he write as much as he has this time. Your comment supports his rather unexpected willingness to respond to my emails. I just received his last email few minutes ago. Pretty much is a brief response to my desire to continue the conversation some time in the future and his agreeing with that proposal.