I was walking to town and I was approached by a smart young man.
"Can I interest you in this," he said and handed me a small card with JW.ORG printed on it.
"Oh, blimey," I said. "I'm an athiest. Used to be a christian but then I realised god doesn't exist."
I remained smiley and calm. He didn't recognise me and I hadn't a clue who he was.
He said that the magazines were widely published and I replied that they were now smaller and mostly on-line. He said something about translation...to be honest I was daydreaming about cake as he spoke.
I said, "What's all this trolley stuff about?"
Bless him, he said something about allowing people to see the truth or something....sorry....I started dreaming of that cake again...it was a walnut one now with lovely icing on. Yummy.
I just said, "Oh, a Watchtower vending machine." I gave a big friendly grin.
We had a natter about this and that. The conversation was too sporadic and all over the place to recall it all. My main points were:
Prayer is rubbish. You might just as well pray to my boots and you'll get the same answers.
Richard Dawkins is fun to watch on youtube.
Watchtower corporation ISN'T the fastest growing religion.
I think he had his own imaginary cake in his head as I spoke. I wonder what flavour it was?
He mentioned how god answered the JWs prayers with legal victories in the courts.
I finished with, "Have you heard of the Candace Conti case?"
Blank look. "Er, no!" He thought it was some secular thing about banning preaching.
I said, "I won't tell you what it's about but please research it. In fact I dare you. I bet you won't. Candace Conti. Remember the name."
We shook hands I asked his name. He asked mine and I just said the first thing that came to my mind. Well, theocratic warfare works both ways, maties!
I really went easy on the lad. I figured if I argued with him, he'd just retreat behind the JW forcefield. In another life I'd have a beer with him.............or better still...walnut cake.
NB. I told him I know of the JWs through family, so I can't escape it. He knew I knew a thing or two too. I deliberately referred to elders as vicars and the kingdumb hell as a church.......not to annoy him....just to make out I wasn't ofay with the cult. I didn't want to frighten him away....just give him things to think about....probably cake. Hope he wakes up.