NO, You will be wasting your time and might even encourage her.
Ok, this is it.......
by bchapp 24 Replies latest jw friends
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Pathofthorns
From a JW perspective she might try to answer the objections using standard JW replies that make sense to her but do not withstand a critical analysis.
IMO you would be just wasting your time because at this point in time she is unlikely to be convinced of anything coming from you and now that her suspicions have been raised that you have been in contact with "apostates". She will read anything you write with caution, if she even reads it at all.
I would just tell her you appreciated her visits and sincerity but you arrived at your conclusions through much thought and study and prayer and you formed some conclusions based on recent news reports in the media. Remind her to keep an open mind, just like you were open minded enough to consider what she had to say.
You are very fortunate to have not invested too much into this religion. I realize even stopping your study would be a difficult thing but it is better to see the true nature of this religion now than several years down the road. If this person was truly a friend, wouldn't she still be a friend? Maybe let her know that.
Path
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bchapp
Yeah, you're probably right. But nobody "gave" me the information. I found it on my own. I feel like my intelligence is being insulted. Like I'm too dumb to get from point A to point B on my own. Grrrrrr
"If the truth hurts most of us so badly that we don't want it told,
it hurts even more grievously those who dare to tell it." (Judge Ben Lindsey, 1869-1943) -
dungbeetle
Two BIGGEST mistakes people make in talking to JW's:
(1)They focus on doctrine, bad idea, all religions have doctrine, and JW's are taught "THEOCRATIC WARFARE" so they have thte right to lie to you AND THAT IS THE END OF THAT. It' such a totall wasted use of time to aregue/reason with people are (a) taught to lie and (b) lie so much they don't feel it's wrong anymore.
Focus on THE HUMAN CONDITION becasue JW's have no training or experience to argue with you on this. They have no defenses, are not taugh tany by the Watchtower.
For instance: Watchtower and alternative service. "Sister, isn't it wonderful that now Watchtower allows alternative service. Imagine how happy the 300 JW men languising in prison in Greece must feel, knowing that NO MORE JW's have to go through this experience!! I just feel like writing them all letters of support and encouragement for their sacrifices that have bettered the cause of all JW men all over the world."
(2) Asking the wrong questions the wrong way. Instead of asking, "Is it really true that Watchtower teaches that only Jehovah's Witnesses will survive Armegeddon". Big mistake. You're asking to be lied to here.
Rather: "Is it really true that JW's (PUT THE EMPHASIS ON THE PERSON HERE)carry Watchtowers door to door and in the streets, that say that only JW's will survive Armegeddon? That even being a person of good will, (say the Seventh Day Adventists whose help Watchtower is accepting)is not good enough? You carry these magazines AROUND with you and give them to people? (say it wiith an incredulous voice).
They have authorization from Watchtower to lie to your face, there isn't much you can do. Or they can rationalize "I'm not lying to him, I am just not going to give this information RIGHT NOW, but later."
Watchtower teaches these things for a reason.
It's their hearts you have to reach. Watchtower has many of their minds. They do not have the JW's hearts. They do not have that capability. That is the JW's strength, and reaching their hearts is what will help free them.
Just my 1/2 cents worth.
BEFORE YOU TRY AND REMOVE THE STICK FROM MY ARSE, REMOVE THE TELEPHONE POLE FROM YOUR OWN ARSE.
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NeonMadman
I just received a response to my letter. I thought I'd relay part of it.
"I am surprised about the list of reasons for wanting to stop studying. I do recognize those objections, having heard them from apostates. Has someone been giving you false information?"
Hmmmmm, I wonder if I should respond?
I think my first question might be, "Oh, really? Which apostates have you been talking to? Do your elders know about your having contact with them?" That should set her back a few inches.
Remember, that's one of their standard answers when they are confronted with the truth about their organization: "You got that from APOSTATES!!!" -- as if that somehow proved that it was not true. If you do decide to speak with her again, don't let her pull that on you. You are interested in the topic at hand, and the source of your information is irrelevant.
I sometimes like to ask JW's how they would know if the governing body ever became apostate. You should see them dance around that question. They can't say that Jehovah wouldn't let that happen, since he frequestly allowed it with kings of Israel and religious leaders both in Israel and in the Christian congregation. So how would they know? If you can get them to follow the reasoning through to its logical conclusion, they would have to admit that they would never know, since they believe anything the Watchtower says without question. If they started to teach some "apostate" doctrine, it would just be presented as more "new light" and the sheep would swallow it whole. This line of reasoning, if they follow it through, can help them to see that they are following man, not God.
But I digress. Sorry about that. Should you meet with this person? Only you can say, but if you do, make sure all your ducks are in a row as far as having all your arguments well planned, evidence and photocopies at hand, etc. If there's a hole in your argument, a JW will find a way to slither through it. Oh, and be sure to keep her on topic, since she will no doubt dance from topic to topic avoiding questions. If she brings up something off-topic, write it down, and say, "we can discuss that later if you want, but right now we need to resolve the question about -----."
Hope some of this helps...
Tom
"Gentlemen, he said, I don't need your organization, I've shined your shoes, I've moved your mountains and marked your cards. But Eden is burning"
--Bob Dylan
