Not sure what they are teaching anymore. The only contact I have is via my mother who breaks enough rules by speaking with me ( She does not consider the shunning of children as natural.....child? I'm 62 haha )
She will not talk about the bible however which seems a fair compromise since I dont want to talk about it anyway. Should she hint that the elders are pressuring her to shun me then I'm equally ready with dark threats about people who keep a 62 year-old-son away from his 85 year-old mum.
However the group of people known as Jehovah's Witnesses do appear to be morphing in to one of those 'feelgood' Christian groups where the main attraction is from social gatherings and meetings that feature cake or biscuits. Jesus? Oh yea, isn't he they guy they.......?
They dont seem to be mentioning dates anymore which shows they have learned something if only that god might be pointing the light in the wrong direction.
I remember the early 70s only too well. Pioneered for most of those years and being the self-righteous little prig that I was , even managed to be scornful of people who became witnesses pre-75. They were only jumping on the bandwagon to save their skin...right? One brother was seen as 'weak' for buying a new car in 1973. Others were discussing whether it was worthwhile redecorating rooms in their homes.....with Armageddon so close and all that.
There was a change after 75. There had been a very very strong expectation built up in virtually everyone and the Society face-saving didn't actually start right off. They waited a while and mentioned that it appears that certain brothers had created an expectation which was unfounded....and it was all your fault.
Seems that its got easier to be a JW in SOME respects. The old mind control has gotten worse.....no study material outside of JW.....that should have rung some bells.
I left around 1986 and never looked back. How many hours does a pioneer do these days and whats the business with those little mobile stands they spend hours sitting by and doing nothing.....wimps if you ask me. I recall some of the (seriously) old-school JWs that would let no one pass them on the street with being accosted.
