Life in a Peaceful New World

Duncan

Listen, I know this has been done a million times before on this board, but…

…this morning I was called on by Jehovah’s Witnesses. Well, just one actually. A grey-haired chap, around 60 years I guess. There were others working the street also, I noticed. He offered me a leaflet.

I’m looking at it as I write. It’s called “Life in a Peaceful New World” and shows the usual Watchtower imagery: rural landscape, mountains in the distance, lake in the middle distance, assorted people, all different races, all grinning inanely, all clothed in exotic national dress.

I decided it would be a bit of fun to engage him in conversation, to see where it went.

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful” he said “if the world looked like this?”

On the whim of the moment, I decided upon a style: dumb, not-quite-following-his-logic.

“What do you mean? The world does look like this”

“Oh no, it doesn’t. Not like this”

“Yes it does. Some of it anyway. I stayed near a place like that last summer on my holidays” (This is actually true. We were in the south of Ireland in Kerry. There’s some stunning scenery there, mountains and lakes and stuff.)

“But no. Look at the people. Such peace”

I nodded, non commital.

“You see, today, the whole world is at war”

“Is it?” I said, with a touch of alarm. “The whole world? No one told me…”

“Yes, the whole world. Look at the evidence. Look around you”

Acting on his invitation, I made a big show of looking up the street and down the street. It was a beautiful, cloudless spring day today. Hardly a breeze stirring the trees, the loudest sound was birdsong.

“Pretty quiet here” I offered.

“No, I mean the world situation…” he said, with weary patience. At this point I think he had me marked down as a halfwit, and he decided to move on.

“…look, read the leaflet. If you like the message you can contact one of the addresses on the back.”

And he was gone. I went back inside with my leaflet.

I think the best bit of all was that “contact one of the addresses” line. He didn’t even direct me to the British one. Perhaps he thought too specific an instruction would be beyond me.

So, halfwit I may be, but at least I have some options in working out my path to salvation. There’s the Ghana office, or the Phillipines, Barbados…

pr_capone

LMAO @ Duncan

That is absolutly hysterical man! I would do that but I think my home has been marked as a do not call.

Kansas District Overbeer

Maverick

Too funny! The sad thing is he has been trained to see worldly people as basically dumb and blind. He's taught that you need him to tell you there are problems in the world. I was a graphic artist for two big city newspapers, (one in Fla. and one in LA) and was always well read on current events. I could hardly carry on any kind to informed, intellegent conversation with a Dud because their only news sources were the five minutes a day of hard new on the TV and the Awake mags! None of them ever read a book or talk to educated folks. I hung around the writers and reporters and pick their brains all the time. The J-dud are living in an information vacuum. Maverick

topanga

it's strange that when they come to the doors they don't really conversate.

It was like, if you don't accept our way of explaining we will stop our visits.

I had a pleasant experience a week ago with an older woman and her chatty friend.

She admitted something watchtower has said and done was incorrect and that she has seen many things go wrong in her 30 years of memberhip.

Finally, a real person. Sometimes they seem like thoses people from invasion of the body snatchers. I asked her why did you stay?

I found it all confusing my first instinct would be to seek truth elsewhere. She said There is no where else to go to.

You have to find someplace in gods organization and do your best, there isn't an organization on this planet that isn't a little devious, wrong or just all out phony. You have to pick one and try to find the closest thing to truth that you can. One thing that helped her was no matter what anyone said, taught, or fought over she kept her mind set on the prize, on getting her heavenly reward etc...etc.. that way she did not get caught up in scandals but could see the truth clearly and keep her grip on reality.

It was a long and involved talk, i invited them for lunch aqua grill.

I don't know what to think sometimes. but i guess being paralyzed by fear is no good either. Some witnesses agree with some things but not others, some only get so involved with the organization because you are at the mercy of imperfect humans.You have to give up your own identity, and your way of life and blend in with things that are just rediculous because it wants to create some image. But most just want to understand the bible and want to be happy and so miss alot of meetings. oh well that was some visit. I don't think i will come to much closer to them, i still talk to people from all religions now and then. in the end god decides regardless of what we think we or someone else deserves so i leave it at that and live my life.

sf

Hello Duncan,

Nice to see you posting.

I'd like to share with you my Saturday morning (this weekend) and the two jws at my door:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/48876/1.ashx

Oh, and if there is a paradise here on earth, it surely is called British Columbia. ~sigh~

topanga, thank you for sharing as well.

sKally

Shakita

Hi Duncan:

“…look, read the leaflet. If you like the message you can contact one of the addresses on the back.”

and he was gone.....to the Dunkin Donuts to get one of those cinnamon buns with all the glaze on top with a steaming cup of coffee....thinking to himself.....when will the new system come so that I don't have to go out on service and try to talk to all these halfwit goats.

topanga said:

She admitted something watchtower has said and done was incorrect and that she has seen many things go wrong in her 30 years of memberhip.
Finally, a real person. Sometimes they seem like thoses people from invasion of the body snatchers. I asked her why did you stay?
I found it all confusing my first instinct would be to seek truth elsewhere. She said There is no where else to go to.

I know so many witnesses who think this way, especially a lot of young people. They do not want to rock their safe little secure world of delusions and lies. There are probably lurkers here right now who know the WTBS is not reflecting the qualities of an organization who is the eyes and ears of God, but they do not want to stand up for what they feel is right. I just hope at the end of their life they can say that they lived their life being true to themselves and others.

Mrs. Shakita