What are the best questions?

by MissyM 36 Replies latest jw friends

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  Paralipomenon

  I like to ask them how did Jesus inform Rutherford that the Bible Students would be his exclusive channel on earth in 1919?

  To date I have not gotten even an attempt to address this point.

  I ask "If I claimed that in 1985, I was selected by Jesus to exclusively preach his will, what would you say?"

  Invariably they would scoff and ask what proof I had.

  Then I follow up with the question above. You can watch them starting to shut down trying to explain why they would demand proof for my claim but not of their leaders. They cannot refute my claim without refuting the claim of their Governing Body.

  As a side note, there actually is an answer. In "The Finished Mystery" Rutherford claims that Jesus sent C. T. Russell as an angel to continue to guide and direct the Watchtower Corporation. I don't usually bring that up since Witnesses seem trained to dismiss much of what was previously written as "old light".
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  Narcissistic Supply

  WTF is wrong with you!
• 

  ABibleStudent

  It depends on what are the consequences to the person asking the question(s) as well as the emotional state of the person being asked the question(s). Previous posters have written good questions for the authentic persona of a JW to question WTBTS doctrine issues, but what question(s) will help a JW's authentic persona to overcome their cult persona? IMHO if one cannot peak a JW's curiousity and help their authentic persona to overcome their cult persona, seeds of doubt will not grow very quickly.

  It is easy to determine when a question has stumped a JW because a JW will not be able to respond for minutes, so don't say another word until a JW says something.

  I like simple questions that target a JW's authentic persona, like when a JW asks when are you coming back to the KH, ask "How are you feeling? (pause to learn if a JW wants to talk about how they feel) Why are you still a JW (with an empathetic and concerned look)?" Once a JW's authentic persona is in control, then start asking one or possible two questions something like "I was stumped by something that someone asked me. Will you help me?" and then ask the seed of doubt question(s).

  Also, I like to learn how to respond to JWs when JWs use thought stopping platitudes. The nice thing about the WTBTS is that it teaches thought-stopping platitudes that one can learn how to overcome and then stump JWs when they use those thought-stopping platitudes. A good zinger may be able to pierce a JW's cult persona, because the JW is confident that they have the perfect protection. I hope that more people will share those good zingers for the thought-stopping platitudes, like in the thread Conversation-stopper STOPPERS needed!.

  Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

  Robert
• 

  ShirleyW

  Well this tine of year i would ask if they have seen that pic of the bethel family with the Xmas treee then ask why they don't celebrate now
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  Oubliette

  If the New Light teaching regarding the FDS being the GB is CORRECT, then what was the OLD teaching?
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  Simon

  Have a look at some of the interview experiences in http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/experiences for ideas (a page or two back).

  My favourite is "what would convince you that Jehovahs Witnesses weren't the true religion?"

  If they say "nothing" then that is a certain sign of a cult mentality and I think most people know it as they say it (or you can point it out).

  Even if they refuse to answer I think subconsciously it forces their mind to acknowledge the possibility which is the first step.

  If they do come up with some religious wrongdoing then there is a very good chance the WatchTower is up to their kneck in coverup for whatever it is - I think most JWs would trot out something about the Catholic Church (their favorite target) and Child Abuse which is then easy to compare.
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  Simon

  Something else to ask if they are into the bible side of things ...

  Was Jesus raised / resurrected as a spirit creature or a human / flesh?

  JWs teach the former.

  Now, ask them to explain Jesus claim that he would "raise the temple in 3 days" which they take to be his physical body. Are they saying Jesus lied?

  Ask why the disciples would be able to feel the holes in his hands / feet (if a spirit, they wouldn't he be lying to make them appear?)

  Ask them to explain 2 John 1:7 and other verses saying if anyone claims Jesus wasn't raised in the flesh that they are lying / false prophets / should be rejected.

  Just something to get them into the mindset of questioning the teachings and whether what they have been taught makes any sense or is consistent with the bible.
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  Band on the Run

  It depends upon the person. I like asking a person what concerns them or what is the JW doctrine that is most important to them. Perhaps talk about my own experience from a gentle perspective. What led me to have doubts even as a kid? It was the idea that God was so monstrous that he would destroy every human at Armageddon, except for the JW few who were good enough to merit not being killed. My second area was reading the Bibel itself in consecutive verses and discovering how distorted Witness beliefs are.

  A strong Witness isn't going to even listen to a nonWitness. All you can do is stay relaxed so maybe something in the future will trigger a re-evaluation. I know many Witnesses left our KH b/c of the experiences with the hall rulers vs. what their idea of fairness and goodness was. My family always had this concept of Jehovah as being above the GB/WT president. Jehovah was loving and fair. The brothers were not. Many Witnesses don't think until they are targets of JC or are reproved. In many instances, too, the issue may not be the conduct but the lack of tact and love from the brothers.

  A big issue for me was the treatment of women. This headship crap. I knew I was every bit as bright as any brothers. There was no role for me in the org. Women are systemically excluded from worship. I call it the penis worship in JWs. I do know from feminism that women can be entrenched in playing subordinate roles. If you were one to question, you would not be a Witness in the first place.

  Waving banners, yelling, picketing, threatening to sue when you have no cause of action makes the Witnesses stronger.
• 

  DS211

  Marked!
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  Vanderhoven7

  marked