So I ran into this brother whom I’ve known for a while and the conversation led into me being invited to come back to the Kingdom Hall. We talked for about an hour during which time I explained to him 607 being the wrong date and a lot of other stuff including the child abuse cases in Australia. But what I wanted to relate was the last few minutes of our conversation. I will write as best as I can remember.
So these were his final words to me:
I’ve seen
many apostates’ sites, don’t think we are not aware, but I want you to know that other families
in the Kingdom Hall that we know are very much aware of several ex-jw sites. And we've gotten together and talked about it and have considered our options. You can't help but see them on the internet.
Let’s say you are right. Let’s say 607 BC is the wrong date and let’s say the child abuse stuff in Australia is right and we leave the Watchtower, then what, what do you or any apostates have to offer. Do you have an answer why there is so much wickedness? Do you have a solution to stop sickness, suffering, and most of all death?
You and all apostates have nothing to offer. You have no answer as to why we were put on this earth and where we are headed. Most of you think this life is all there is. You debate among yourselves whether humans evolved or if they are in some type of computer simulation.
So when your parents or children die, all you have is these great memories for a short while. Then a few years will pass and those memories will die, because most of you believe this life is all there is. That is the saddest thing a human can believe.
It’s true that the WT doesn’t have all the answers, but neither do you. Perhaps they speculate, but so do you. And yes there are bad people in the organization, but show me an organization that doesn’t have bad people. It’s not just the WT that has bad people but all religious organization have bad people that exploit others. But that’s not all, you have Universities like Penn State, you have corrupt policemen, dirty politicians, and why don’t you google “fraud charities,” and see how many corrupt charities you get.
On top of
this the Bible shows very plainly that there was bad people causing heartache
and suffering to individuals within the nation of Israel? Saul was bad, David
was bad, Solomon died bad, in fact there were probably only one or two good
kings in the entire Bible. Weren’t we told in the Bible that there would be
lots of people having a form of godly devotion but proving false to it power? Well that's what's happening.
And if the end doesn’t come in my time and I die, how do you think I will feel if the last few moments of my life I see my wife and children and Know in my heart that I will see them again. Do you know the comfort that I will feel on my death bed knowing this? Or if I see one of my children or my wife dying before my eyes, do you even understand the comfort that I will have knowing that I will see them again. It’s a big deal to die with a wonderful hope rather than dying believing this life is all there is.
So don’t try to convince me to leave the Organization. If I want to leave, I will leave on my own; I don’t need anyone to help me. And it won’t matter how many facts you put in front of me because facts won’t change my mind. I mean if someone brought you facts that your son killed someone and your son denied it, only to be found out later that he was lying, would those facts that were brought to your attention stop you from believing in your son if he told you he was sorry and wanted to right the wrong and needed your help. Would facts make you turn on him?
So you can show me facts about 607 and you can show me all the failed prophesies, and point to all those covering child abuse but it’s not going to change what I believe. What I believe has a ring of truth. Me and my family are happy where we’re at and we don’t need to investigate or research anything anymore. I met my wife in the organization, been married 15 years and she’s great. I have two great kids, have a job, home, -----what else do I need? Why would I want to disrupt that?
And if we are wrong and you are right, we will never know- will we? Because once we die, neither of us will be able to gloat that we were right.
So listen, if you want to stay out---- then stay out. I won’t invite you again to come back. But at the same time don’t try to get me or any one in my family out of the WT because all you will do is disrupt the peace we have.
We talked a little more and he shook my hand and we both parted.
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