Hi everyone,
I'd like to share with you all a personal experience that I had recently.
I had told a freind about the U.N issue (J.W) and she said to let her know when I got my answer from the governing body about why they joined.
She asked about it, I did not bring it up, and I showed her their response (the standard explanation from Brooklyn which you have all seen.)
We then got into a very interesting conversation.
She agreed with me that the explanation was very unacceptable, she did not even try to argue it.
She even accepted that it was wrong of the W.T to do this - I was very surprised. We got into talking about the Governing Body, and my problems with it, and she surprised me further when she said that she does not believe that the Governing Body should be followed or held in as high regard as god or jesus.
She believes that god works through this organisation, but thinks that there are so many problems with J.W's never questioning their stands or logic. She believes that they have made many, many mistakes which the bible said this organisation was going to do. (where the scripture is for this I have no idea.)
In the end, she sais, she is in this organisation, because she feels that it is between her and god. In the end, anything that is man made does not really come into place with her relationship. She does not agree with many of the stringent rules involved in being a J.W.
When she was growing up whe was taught by her mother (also a J.W- but has now left, and is strongly opposed) to question everything, to think for ones self, always. She beleives in this, she says. She has come accross so much opposition in her time, that has only made her stronger. In the end, she sais, she only cares about god, and does not dwell so much on Jehovahs Witnesses as an organisation.
She completely understands why I do not continue to want to be a JW.
I thought this was incredibly cool and impressive, to come from the mouth of a JW - I respect her so much more for this stand and view she has taken. I have never come accross a Jw so diplomatic in my life, I told her, if only they were all like you.
It is so different to the opposition that I have come accross with my family over the U.N issue, it is met with yelling and anger and then refusal to talk about it. I so much more respect this reaction than any other I have ever heard, I told her she is one in a hundred J.W's and now, I totally accept her stand and beleifs.
If only all J.W's could be like this, make it a personal stand with themselves and god rather than the organisation.
I really respect this, it made such an impact on me that I really wanted to share it.
A diamond in the rough.