by Faithful Witness 13 Replies latest jw experiences
I'm waiting for 'backcalls' from Mormons and JWs who have both made promises to answer my questions.
I'm assuming that they have had busy weeks. Actually, it's turning into months now. Maybe time goes fast when you're having fun. They still have time to visit the prospective recruits over the road from me.
I've been following your discussions with interest - thanks for sharing.
Your "elderette" seems to be quite an intelligent witness - she is using some professional sales techniques ( closing etc ) & expressions that most JWs don't use. Maybe she has had some secular training.
As we know, most JWs run a mile when someone starts asking any serious questions. Having said that , some JWs might view it as a challenge and/or they might be keen to get the extra time in ( sitting in a warm house certainly beats cold calling knocking on doors.).
I remember when I used to be a pioneer I contacted a guy who started asking some quite searching questions & occasionally lapsed into JW speak , so I guessed he might have been a witness in the past. We had a few chats not dissimilar to yours ( he had become a Baptist so our chats were mainly trinity etc related. ) Eventually I asked him outright if he had ever been a JW and he admitted that he had "left the truth" 20 years previously. I dropped him after that even though he would have been more than happy to continue our regular discussions.
The best teachers learn from there pupils..who learnt from who?
DATA-DOG: I would rather be a kindergartener JW, than to have any kind of diploma or degree! Miss W threw me, when she said that, but I did consider the source. In order to be a full-fledged witness of Jehovah, you have to literally lose your mind. Hers has been gone for so long. I feel bad for her, and watching her struggle to justify her beliefs and behavior makes me sad and angry. (See my comment to dozy below for the context).
Luke 18:16-17 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little childrento come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
villagegirl: I have a Christian friend who is warning me not to let these women into my home. I told Miss K about my friend, and how I am unsure whether I should be listening to her interpretations of the scriptures, and showed her some scriptures that my friend had used to warn me about her.
This has actually been a great tool for me to use... "My friend said..." It has given me a little more leeway, in what kinds of comments I can make, when the opinion is coming from an outsider.
Of course, instead of answering the concern raised by my friend, Miss K will start attacking my friend. It is an interesting tactic, but I just tell her, "I'm not asking you what you think of my friend, but when she showed me this passage in the bible, it raised some concerns for me..."
It is interesting the way she jumped right onto, "Oh, and what church is your friend affiliated with?"
My friend and her husband are starting a discipleship program, and I am sort of her student. We also study the bible together, and I ask the questions from the JW's, and get good points or answers to give back to Miss K.
dozy: Miss K does deserve some props. She is good, and she DOES have a different approach (and she knows it). She has also acknowledged the fact that I am in a unique position. My family has joined, and I have studied before. "You know what Jehovah's Witnesses believe. I think it's just a matter of your coming to the conclusion that we are teaching the truth. It doesn't sound like you are quite there yet." (this is where Miss W interjected with her comment, "That's because you are just a kindergartener. It will take you awhile to get to first grade, then second grade..." Miss W then went on to proudly proclaim her quick progress into the truth, and how she had wanted to be baptized after 3 months of study. This was in 1973.)
When Miss K says, "It seems like there are some flags being raised in your mind..." it is all I can do, to stop myself from shaking her and telling her to "WAKE UP! You are in a cult! Get out of her, you people! Can't you see the writing all over the Tower wall??" I really need a good response to this question.
When I mentioned this comment last week, Miss K gasped. "I did NOT call you a kindergartener!" and then later she made sure to compliment me on my intelligence. LOL. I do not claim higher intelligence, but I do have an analytical mind.
new hope: I hope Miss K is learning more than sales techniques from me. Maybe she will actually do some research, and find some facts that will cause her to start thinking also. If we start researching "together," who knows what she might learn? I sure am learning a lot about human behavior, and control techniques from her!
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Yesterday turned out to be the most glorious day! My JW mother texted me, and came for an impromptu visit with us. We did crafts, watched the kids on our new trampoline, played games and enjoyed each other's company. It was a great time, and the kids were so glad to have this nice day with Grandma.
My mom asked me if "the Witnesses" have been back, and I told her that I'm now considered a bible student. She seems pleased with this news, and is interested, when I tell her some of the things that Miss K is saying to me. I told her that Miss K and Miss W are very nice, and that it is interesting to hear some of the comments and statements that they make, and proceed to call it the "Truth." I'm going to start a different thread about my mom's visit.
Later in the evening, when I checked my phone, I saw that I had a text from Miss K after all. She had sent me a text, right about at the time of our usual appointment. I had told my mom that I was questioning whether I should continue letting them into the house, or just read the bible and follow the instructions from Jesus himself. I didn't understand why they had to go through an organization to get to Christ. My mom said, "That is a good question."
Since we are going on a trip in 2 weeks, I think I will agree to meet with Miss K next week Friday. If she is on the same schedule as my parents, she will be at the International Convention in Detroit the following weekend.
I can, but I don't need to put her off for a month. I think I'd also rather deal with her before the convention, then after she gets a huge recharge of her cult batteries.
