You have chosen a hard path but it is your choice. Been there, done that. Be as nice as you can, be as supportive of people as you can, always refer to the Bible and never the publications, try to give 100% positive talks and never, ever tell people they are not doing enough or they must do more, encourage people to do research, drop the names of a few non Witness sources, you can usually get away with it if it's historical stuff, try Edersheim. If a talk comes up that you just cannot tweak then come down with the Flu.
PIMO elder
by Reservations 51 Replies latest jw friends
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Jazzbo
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FedUpJW
get off the school, and stop commenting at the meetings
I did that. I would also add, quit singing or even mouthing the words to the songs. There is no law that you must bow your head for prayers, so quit doing that. Quit the trained seal clapping for Sunday talks. If you feel you must report F.S. time, just report that you 'participated'.
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Anony Mous
If you want to slow fade, the best method may be to give talks and drop truths. Just base it on the Bible, my last talk, right before I was appointed, a few people came up to me and said how encouraged they were (as far as I know they all left over time). I basically asked what Jesus would do about family members that were sinners and made my case that even if reprimanded, we should still be friendly and loving.
The congregation loved it. The elders wanted to have a talk with me about where I got my information, when you hit that point, the Bible defense is over and you are going to have a real conversation about who to believe, the Bible or the Watchtower.
I left soon after.
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Disillusioned JW
The first post (currently the only one) at https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/6236429431603200/what-jws-dont-know-they-believe might be helpful in helping people to 'wake up' from the WT/JW religion.
I remember that the WT or Awake once had an article which said that human babies who were born still born never were breathers and thus, according the biblical definition of "soul" never were a soul (and/or never a "living soul") and thus won't be resurrected. When I read that I was stunned. [Telling JWs about that WT teaching might help 'wake' some people.] Furthermore I was stunned because I then immediately drew the conclusion that if such is so, then from a biblical standpoint aborting a human baby (even a late term human fetus) from inside the womb could not be considered as murder or even the killing of a human. Yet, the WT religion says that the intentional aborting of human babies in the womb is murder.
Interestingly many people who say that abortions are not immoral or wrong say that is because the babies were never alive (so they say) because they never had been born as air breathers.
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joe134cd
I have found, when dealing with JWs, the less said the better off you will be. Good luck
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hoser
If you are in a position to have access to the congregation records shred them before you leave. Tell everyone that had “wrongdoing” in their file that their sins have been forgiven. That would make the next circuit overseers visit interesting.
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Sigfrid Mallozzi
I have found, when dealing with JWs, the less said the better off you will be. Good luck.
I agree. KQT! Keep Quiet and Think. You are now in the mouth of the Lion. Tread very carefully.
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Diogenesister
Well....you could take a leaf out of this elders book ....👀
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smiddy3
Hi Rez and welcome to the forum,
I was a MS who was being groomed to be an Elder but I did not want to be an Elder ,I did not want that responsibility.
After reading most of the comments I can only with those who say in essence that trying to wake up those in the congregation is a futile thing to do.
I became a JW in 1960 in the next 10- 15 years i saw and experienced some questionable things both in the religion and the people who were a part of the religion. Did I leave the religion then ? NO.
In the study of the revelation book when they made claim to the seven trumpets sounding relating to the Conventions starting in Cedar point Ohio in 1922 ,I said to myself whoa that`s a big stretch of the imagination ? i couldn`t beleive it. Did I leave the religion then ? NO
When the book came out pointing to 6000 years of human history ending in 1975 way back in 1968-9 , i beleived it not knowing then that this was the second time they had made a similar prediction back in the 1800`s.
And when 1975 came and went 1976 came and went with no Jesus setting up his Kingdom over the earth as was suggested by the WT/JW religion they tried to blame it on the R&F as running ahead .
I knew then, that that, was Bullshit .Did I leave the religion then ? NO
I didn`t finally leave until 1992-3 when I realised it was so many little things that had grown up over a long period of time that finally broke the camels back.
So please don`t waste your life trying to wake people up , they wont do so until they themselves are ready to be woken up.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Take care
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Longlivetherenegades
Whatever you do like others have said, no good or clean way of getting out.
Even as highly influential Raymond Franz was, he said his books are not made to get people out of the organization. It is more like, they will get out when their own time comes.
I always see THOSE wanting to leaving the ORGANIZATION as being on a LONG QUEUE. You are on the QUEUE when it gets to your turn, you will either drop the resignation letter, fade, disfellowshipped or disassociate.
Despite how close I was with a number of those within the congregation, sometimes reasoning with them both during meetings, field service, normal gatherings on some of the beliefs that call the organization being JEHOVAH'S organisation into question none ever asked me or seek clarification personally from me up till today the reason I decided to disassociate.
how do you think best to do this? Any ideas?
My advice is to watch out for the thought police(not limited to the elders, Ms but it extends to their wives, children and every other member of the congregation)
They will get you if you are not careful and in the will to get members woken up you will be brutally exited from the organization and the efforts and good standing all these years goes into the drain and get thrown under the bus. Watch your back. The Informant mechanism is always in place.