What do ex-JWs owe the public?

by roybatty 6 Replies latest jw friends

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  roybatty

  Recently Ive wondered what we as Ex-Jws "owe" the public in general and even current Jws. What I mean is - what do we owe them in the sense of warning them about this cult or , if theyre already in, helping them escape? Most of us here probably agree that being a JW has a negative impact on an individual but how many of us here have actually helped someone leave the JWs? Considering the amount of time we spent trying to convert people to become a JW, are we obligated to warn the public or to help others leave?

  This has been bouncing around in my head because of the recent discussion about Bill and Ray. At first I was thinking "Yeah, why didnt Ray lead protests against the WT? Why didnt he picket the Societys headquarters in Brooklyn?" But then I started thinking that in his own way he has been very effective. How many people have left the JW ranks after reading CoC? MANY. And many will probably leave after learning about Bills crusade.

  Anyway, back to my point. Im sure that all of us jump at the opportunity to warn people we know about the Evil WatchTower. But how many of us have done so in a public manner? For example, in my area (North-central Illinois) growth among the "white" congregations is non-existent. However, among the Latino congregations, growth is explosive. Obviously the Society is taking advantage of a group of people that on average are less educated and typically do not have access to the internet. A part of me believes that an ad, written in Spanish and placed in the local paper would do wonders in warning these people. Or what about being more active by writing letters to JWs in the area, giving them information on the UN and pedophile issues?

  Just wondering if anyone else has given this issue any thought.
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  AjaxMan

  What do "ExJWs" owe the public?

  First, an apology for trying to convert them.

  Second, like you just said: Inform and Educate the public what the JWs are really all about: a mind-controlling cult that drains years of people's lives and money.

  My 2 pences.

  Ajax
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  freedom96

  I think part of the answer is to educate those that are not witnesses. They have not been brainwashed yet.

  That way, when they are approached, they will already know to stay away from the cult.
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  Scorpion

  A part of me believes that an ad, written in Spanish and placed in the local paper would do wonders in warning these people. Or what about being more active by writing letters to JWs in the area, giving them information on the UN and pedophile issues?

  Just wondering if anyone else has given this issue any thought.

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  roybatty,

  Another good way to inform people is to write a brief letter to all of the churches in your area explaining what the JWs are about and your experience and add some information with the letter about the WT.

  I did this in 1990 as well as putting ads in the papers and TV and today still provide information to many churches in my area. The pastors usually pass the information on to their body and the body passes it on to neighbors and family etc.

  Scorpion
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  Grunt

  As stated, we owe them a warning if not in and the facts on the "truth" if they are in. I believe the warning part is by far the most effective, but it is giving the facts to those in that I feel most compelled to do.
  I have talked to a lot of kids about cults in general, always using witnesses without calling them by name as local examples. They are perfect examples of a cult, love bombing, not telling all the facts, shunning, eagerness to convert others, separation from the rest of the world, time demands, they fit the mold perfectly and are easily used as good local models of a cult in action.
  I feel real good about the information on cults I have passed on. I feel real bad about the number of cult-members/witnesses I have helped out. The only ones I am around now are my parents and while I have been very honest with my dad, I don't push it unless he brings it up. I never see my daughter except at family reunions where she goes plastic and tries to act like everything is fine. This cult has gone through my once very close extended family like a cancer.
  Yeah, we owe them a warning. A loud, persistant, easy to understand, often repeated, warning. A warning backed up with human facts they can relate to. Telling about shunning does a lot of good there, as does their claiming only a few thousand still on earth are in the new covenant benefitting from Christ's mediatorship.

  Grunt
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  TR

  I think about the issue quite often. What to do. Anyone who talks to me at length will find out all about 'hovah shenanigans. That, and an ad for SL on my work vehicle and pass out a few flyers now and then.

  TR
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  roybatty

  Another good way to inform people is to write a brief letter to all of the churches in your area explaining what the JWs are about and your experience and add some information with the letter about the WT.

  That's a really great idea. Thanks! I'm actually going to do this. And that's for the other feedback as well.