by minimus 31 Replies latest jw friends
No, because:
One, people have to have their own epiphany by making the search themselves in the publications or by having seen the hypocrisy of other JWs applied unlovingly to them. Otherwise they won't believe you making lame excuses for the unchristlike behavior of JWs.
Two, they might have a change of heart and run straight to the elders to tattle on you and poof you're DF'd.
Blondie
When we were in and (trying to believe its the truth.."me") or firmly believe its the truth.Would you have listened? I know I wouldn't have.All depends who it is too.If its someone who isn't close to me,I would "try".To someone who is close,nope.
These are very interesting responses. My question is raised because I can see the potential of certain family members and other "friends" that I don't always see, getting to know that I am no longer a regular meeting attender or zealous for the "theocracy". It's already happening. My own brother recently said, "C'mon, Minimus, stop talking like an apostate, willya?" A friend of mine that moved to Florida is coming back to live here in the next couple of months. He's always complained about his fellow elders to me. He doesn't yet know that I am no longer an elder. When he finds out he will question me. I guess I'll have to determine whether or not it will be worthwhile for me to express any feelings. I have an opinion, that if cornered, I will express myself and wind up getting kicked out, anyway. time will tell.
My view for what it is worth is what is the point.. I have tried to speak to my mother and sister, and the excuses are unbelievable.. so wy waste my breath and time, when I can be doing something positive with my kids. When and only then, when my mam and sisters are ready to listen, will I speak to them.
Well thats my ten pence worth
Mrs Nightwarrior
Well thats my ten pence worth
Well, you've wasted your time then. Minimus deals in cents.
Dansk, you misspelled that. It's "sense".
I would always give it a shot.
You are familiar with the Zen koan? A simple statement designed to trigger englightenment? For example: Have you finished eating? Then go wash your spoon and bowl.
I attempt to make up "JW koans" that will get their attention in a short sentence or two, but leave them with something to think about.
One elder I helped get out of the Borg admitted that I did it with one of those JW koans. It came right after the Borg came out with smoking as a DFing offense. I said to the elder in question, "Smoking is verboten, huh? Did you realize that drinking tea originated in the tea ceremony, a religious practice in China that was taken to and refined in Japan? When are you guys going to get around to outlawing drinking tea?" And I left it at that. And, like a worm boring from within, it eventuallly got him.
I think long, complicated, elliptical arguments like the ones they use to "prove" a point are pointless. I think it's gotta be a quick jab and you're outta there. But you leave a "bump" for them to "rub" for a looooong time.
francois
i tried it several times and always failed miserably! or better
Francois, You are right on the money! I think that in most cases, it's best to leave them with a thought provoking question to ruminate over. For the average JW , giving them too much, too soon, only shuts down that inner mechanism to hear. When I talk to my mother, she can go into a defense mode and actually not hear anything that I'm saying. Her brain, it seems, is incapable of comprehending even the simplest truths............ I wonder though, if some here might not feel equipped to give an explanation properly.
Min, I'm almost at the stage of "giving-up". I tried and tired. But it turned out that those who heard my points were spreading either half truth about me or the false stories.
Do you have any good experience?
