by never a jw 23 Replies latest jw experiences
.Dismissing servant,
I know I am confrontational. The reasoning and the nice language are behind. I tried them repeatedly. At this point I am mad as hell and I can't take it anymore. The elder has more self restrain than I do and he still answers my emails. Good, I am not finished venting.
"T he W ind and the Sun were disputing which was the stronger. Suddenly they saw a traveller coming down the road, and the Sun said: “I see a way to decide our dispute. Whichever of us can cause that traveller to take off his cloak shall be regarded as the stronger. You begin.” So the Sun retired behind a cloud, and the Wind began to blow as hard as it could upon the traveller. But the harder he blew the more closely did the traveller wrap his cloak round him, till at last the Wind had to give up in despair. Then the Sun came out and shone in all his glory upon the traveller, who soon found it too warm to walk with his cloak on."
Attributed to Aesop.
What is it you want to achieve? To spar with the elder or to be an advocate for the child?
Yep...Mary and Joseph found Jesus as a young boy preaching in the Synagogue but even he waited until he was 30 years old before was baptized even though he had a full grasp on what his purpose here was. How can an ordinary child with limited perspective on life know what it means to dedicate oneself to something and understand the future repercussions of his having done so ? JW's gladly site Jesus example when they argue against infant baptisim don't they? But they'll tell you age isn't important when a 10 year old gets baptized? If age doesn't matter, why not just baptize them when they are babies like the Churches do?
The WTS teaches that only baptized jws (and minor children of a baptized jw) will survive Armageddon. Parents feel that baptism is a talisman that protects them from sinning or being destroyed.
The WTS talks about the "age of accountability" but never puts an age number to it. Children not at the age to be accountable are "safe" but others are doomed.
never a jw: You, thank God (or whatever you believe in), are there for your children if they ever decide they want to be who-they-really-are and live healthy, happy and fulfilling lives. Your children are the lucky ones. Think of all the kids whose parents are both JW's. I'm very sorry your children have been brainwashed.
Mum, yes I thank wise people who lived before me and have helped humanity (some of it) advance and walk away from supertition that holds so many people captive to the whims of religious leaders, who everyday bend the content of old superstion books to fit their own goals (power, money, influence)
Nickolas,
I get what you are saying. I think I am mostly speaking my mind at the same time trying to cause the elder to reconsider allowing children to baptize. I had a conversation on the same subject with this elder, right in my own dining room, about 11 months ago. I was a lot more civil back then.
At this point, after learning all there is to learn about the WT, I no longer can have much restrain. Since I have been very open, even insulting, with my brothers, nephews and two elders (all JW's), I am actually thinking that soon I am going to be shunned by many. It may not be an easy decision for the elders to make because my wife and daugter are JW's in good standing. Also, I employ, and therefore am the financial support, for two JW's heads of household, and technically I am not an apostate. However, the shunnining, if it happens in full force, maybe a tough, but a necessary break. This may produce the incentive I need to move my family to a different location and start fresh with the intention to move my family into freedom and the real world.
I trust your experience and wisdom. Feel free to comment.
So sad. My husband's nephew was wanting to get baptized at 9...For some reason though after going through the questions, the elders told him he had to wait...The parents were royally pissed off, but I'm glad the elders said no!!!! I have no idea why they said no, but the kid is 11 now, and he's starting to get kind of rebellious. We are both hoping he doesn't get baptized!
I was 10, and now I wish I never had been baptized!!!! I had extreme pressure from people.
Gojira