This was the first time in almost eight years I have had a conversation with a JW . We were on vacation last week at my son and daughter in laws home . One morning the doorbell rang and as I went to answer it my daughter in law said she thought it was Witnesses . My husband said ," Don't answer it !" (He always thinks I am going to go balistic on them , whatever )
So this very nice pair of women are waiting on the steps as I shut the door behind me . The first one states they are JWs and that they were expecting my DIL to answer the door . I told them who I was and that i was visiting . She went on about how they knew my DIL had been raised in a Witness household and how great they thought that was . The sister talking mentioned how she raised her kids in "the truth' and that when they were grown they could decide for themselves to be Witnesses or not ...that was the great thing about their religion ..... WELL I NEARLY CHOCKED RIGHT THERE
However I held my tongue and just said ," Well yeah I guess they may have a choice ....as long as they don't mind the severe consequences they may suffer for that choice " Her partner kind of shook her head in agreement ,but the one speaking kind of let it go over her head ...
Then I began to tell them how I too was raised a JW ,for over 44 yrs I was associated with JWs . I also told them many of the reasons why I no longer am one .
This sister actually said " You can believe whatever you want as a JW especially in your own home ,it is between you and Jehovah " ......I said 'well that certainly is not what the Organization teaches in fact the Org teaches you NEED them in order to even approach Jesus because they are the mediator between you and him . She totally disagreed on that point and I said well maybe you should do some research on what the ORg really teaches on that point .'
.....I told her I no longer believe in God and she wanted to share a scripture ....??? That makes no sense to me, I said 'no thanks '. She was sure Jer. 29 :11 would have some magical effect upon my mind .
Before they left I told them about all the changes in belief I had seen in my lifetime such as blood fractions ,1914 , ect . I asked them how do you feel about it now that the numbers of those partaking has increased and the society now says the FDS is only those on the Governing body ???? The one sister said I was misinformed ,but the other said, "you mean the information coming out in the July Watchtower ? " " Yes ,the new opinion, I said .
I told them I would never return to a manmade organization . For years I felt not good enough and oppressed . Now I am happier than ever before ,Why would I change that ? They suddenly needed to leave for a Bible study .....
It was good to be just nice and friendly ,but get my point across . They were really nice women not haughty or pretenscious ....had they been I am sure the discussion may have gone a whole different way .
wonder if they stop by again what will be said to my Daughter in law .