Reverse-Witnessing leaves me mentally and emotionally drained... (page 2)

Oogie

@Jim_TX: that won't work...you know JWs are allergic to doing research...that's why they're still JWs.

Joliette

Yes, reverse witnessing is tough work.

Black Sheep

what can help me not be so shaken by my reverse witnessing and JW apologetics?

Don't answer their questions.

They are the ones claiming to have all the answers, so require them to provide the proofs for their answers to your question.

Guilt is good. Make them feel guilty for not answering your question.

Never ask a question unless you know they don't have a sane answer for it.

Don't make statements unless you know that they know that your statement is backed up by literature that they profess to trust .... preferably literature that is available immediately, (on their own bookshelf is best).

Remember at all times that it is not you that requires an excuse to stop worshipping a god that is hiding in his privey, it is up to them to explain why they still carry on accepting instructions from a bunch of Brooklyn religious nutters when that god never told them anything miraculous that actually happened .... ever.

Splash

VACCINATIONS 1921 - "Vaccination never prevented anything and never will, and is the most barbarous practice"

- Golden Age Oct 12 1921 p.17

1929 - " Avoid serum inoculations as they pollute the blood stream with their filthy pus."

– Golden Age11/12/1929 p.107

1931 - Prohibited as being a "direct violation of the everlasting covenant."

- Golden Age 2/4/31 p.293

Permitted in September 1945 Consolation- "When we lose our life because we refuse inoculations, that does not bear witness as a justification of Jehovah's name. God never issued regulations which prohibit the use of drugs, inoculations or blood transfusions. It is an invention of people, who, like the Pharisees, leave Jehovah's mercy and love aside."

Since 1952 permitted. WT 12/15/52 p.764 and AWAKE! 8/22/65 p.20

Vanderhoven7

marked

nonjwspouse

as Jim said

RE: Apologetics -
Perhaps you are doing it the wrong way. Instead of YOU doing all of the research, tell THEM to do the research, and present it to you - proving their point.
That way, they are expending their energy - and time. Of course... you may need to have your own research at the ready - to be able to refute them.

Exactly! But I agree that even the research we need to do to stay current in order to refute things is tough enough.

For myself, never having been or even studied with a JW, learning enough to be able to plant the seeds of doubt is exausting. It is either the desire to "prove others wrong" by engaging in research or trying to satisfy their own doubt, and so they research. Either way, when true research begins, that is the real goal.

Before they are ready to research, they are competely "loyal" and the real driving force behind thier behavior is accepting anythging the GB currently says, anything. Loyalty is the most important, period. Truth is not. 1984

Fernando

ILoveTATT, as many have suggested questions often work best.

It gets them doing the work while you relax.

They are more likely to appreciate facts they have uncovered through their own effort.

Two of my favourites:

Is "legalism" apostasy?
Can I as a "publisher of the good news" claim to be in "the truth" if the "good news" according to Paul, Moses, Isaiah and Psalms is not in my heart and not on my lips?

flipper

ILOVETTATT- There are some very good suggestions in Steve Hassan's books on mind control that help a person to see how to bring up subjects to ANY cult members, JW's Scientologists, Mormons, whatever. The key is to NOT argue doctrines with them because they will stubbornly back themselves and you into a corner with what's called " circular reasoning " which exhausts everybody involved- but especially you because you make sense and they don't.

Steve Hassan suggests other ways to reach friends and family cult members by aking probing questions that get them to think - questions that do not challenge their doctrines and put them on the defense, but help them think with more critical all encompassing thinking. Arguing doctrines is like pissing into the wind - just gets back in our face and messes us up. Annoying.

Here is Steve Hassan's website : www.freedomofmind.com. Check out what he has to say in those 3 books of his, it will really help you. Take care, Peace out, Mr. Flipper

Vidiot

ILoveTTATT - "Reverse-witnessing leaves me mentally and emotionally drained..."

Maybe, I dunno, take a break from it?

LongHairGal

ILoveTTATT:

As others may have mentioned: leave some information and let it be in their hands what they do about it.

You cannot wake up a JW. Something has to happen to them to make them see that something is wrong with the religion. It is different for everybody. Only when that happens will they be receptive to information exposing their precious religion.

Until that happens, you should not knock yourself out. You are only spinning your wheels.

I am not on any mission to drag anybody out of the kingdom hall and don't feel it is my job to do so. They can stay there for all I care.

Reverse-Witnessing leaves me mentally and emotionally drained...

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