“Like I said I am not interested in uncovering the faults in the JW religion, I am just looking for an understanding heart.”
Sandy, please bear with me and realize that I’m speaking with kindness. But, I’m really confused! From your statement above, are you saying that you don’t think or aren't willing to entertain the idea that there are any faults in the doctrines of the Watchtower Society or are you saying that even if there were, you’re not interested in finding them out? If the case is the latter, I doubt that anything anyone says here will help you. As you have seen there are some sympathetic people towards God and even some of the teachings of the Watchtower. But, they’re not blind to the serious problems that plague the Organization.
I remember encountering a Catholic man while I was going from house to house during Field Service who firmly believed that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was always a virgin. When I showed him some Bible texts that indicated the contrary, he responded this way: “Well, that seems right, but I’m a Catholic and will always be a Catholic and that’s the way I’ll remain.” After we exchanged a few more words, it was clear that he’d rather remain “believing” (accepting) something that he was just shown to not be true than to change his way of life. There is nothing worse in my book than a blind man who doesn’t want to see.
From what I gather in your message, you had it easy. You were raised in the “Truth” and just simply shied away from it. Apparently you didn’t have to face the opprobrium that “brothers” and “sisters” and even family members can cast upon you by shunning you and making you feel less than a human being. When it becomes personal, it means so much more. When you suffer, it makes you realize and appreciate what really counts. It makes you question what sort of Organization is one that seems at times to act the opposite of what Jesus commanded. None of this takes away from the fact that there are a lot of good people in the Organization. But, even people with the best of intentions can also do harm. Most of my family will not speak to me anymore and I happen to know that they are good people, although misguided.
What makes a person reject another after a lifetime of family ties? What makes a seemingly moral individual turn his back on a child who is being sexually abused? If you are “not interested in uncovering the faults in the JW” Organization, if you’re not interested in knowing how those teachings encourage such behavior, you might do OK if you go back. I do hope that you don’t invest too much of your life in it, because sooner or later, you will receive a huge disappointment.
For many of us, that experience has been emotionally and spiritually devastating. That’s why you see so much anger, which you may interpret as ”JW bashing”. You say you want an “understanding heart”. Does that mean someone to agree with the way you’re leaning? Or, do you want people who care and tell you the truth as they see it, so that you can make an informed choice? Well, we understand and that’s why we welcome you in spite of your ambivalence with open arms. Hang around a while. Kick your shoes off.
Etude.
