What's The Best Way To Jolt A Witness' Thinking???

by minimus 52 Replies latest jw friends

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  dannyboy

  My perspective on this issue is perhaps limited by what I myself experienced that led to my leaving, that said:

  For me, it was stuff that went on that affected me directly and personally, bad stuff that went on despite my "prayers" to "Jehovah" and a firm desire to do things "the organizational way"...ie....the so-called concept of "waiting on Jehovah".... Eventually it dawned on me (my awakening to the real "truth" if you will), that Jehovah's Witnesses DON'T have any special blessing from God.....and so on and so forth........

  So, the "jolt" for me wasn't something that some other person purposefully planned, with the thought of "getting me out"..... Indeed, as others have said, I seriously doubt any kind of contrived "jolt" would have done the trick.

  However, I think there is something to be said for Scully's "approach": Let your former associates know how things are going for you since you left....I've had limited opportunity to do that, but it seems a good approach to get around the usual JW group-think...

  Another approach that may be useful is to figure out a way to get a Witness to examine the answer to this question: "What would the Organization have to do to convince you that they don't have God's specific blessing?" If they can even begin to ponder an answer, it's a start.

  I don't consider myself a stupid or gullible person, either now or in the past, but with effort, I can understand why some here characterize those of us who stayed Witnesses for decades as in effect, stupid people who couldn't think. It is much more complicated than simply "not thinking", in my view. More of a betrayal of love and trust....afterall, the people you love and trust are not subject to the same skeptical thinking/analysis as would a stranger receive, at least not until they give you a reason to dig deeper........

  My two cents,

  ---Dan
• 

  minimus

  I enjoyed your 2 cents, Dannyboy!
• 

  Billygoat

  Scully, as usual, you are right on the money. The best revenge is living a good life. But then again my parents believe that Satan will give me anything I want to keep me out of the KH. So even with that line of thought, diehard JWs will find a way to nuke it.

  I must say that although my DFing was a jolt to my life (I wasn't expecting it - I thought I'd just get a reproof), it did not jolt my JW thinking. I stayed in a lot of JW think-style for many years afterwards even though I was not attempting to get back in. My new pattern of thinking took many years. It was a gradual thing for me. Although I will say that joining Simon's board definitely jolted me into a different reality: there are thousands of people out there just like me and they don't believe this crap anymore either. It has been since I joined this board that the truth about The Truth ? has been revealed to me. I will never go back. I could not go back knowing what I know now.
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  Incense_and_Peppermints

  Just when I was thinking I had thunk it all, you guys made me think twice at what I was thinking about before I really started thinking about things.

  .....................................
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  Soledad

  Actually it's not hard to get a JW to think a little--they are just extremely uncomfortable when they do.

  A simple question I sometimes got asked while out in field service "what do you think about what you're doing? How do you feel about it? doesn't it bother you that on such a gorgeous Saturday morning you're out here instead of doing something else?" was enough to get the grill in my head going.

  I literally quit being a JW while out in field service. On a beautiful early summer day in 1996 I just walked away from my car group and didn't look back.
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  heathen

  I think scully put it litely . The WTBTS and it's adherents want us all dead . I have never once in my visits to the kingdom hall ever heard them pray for God to intervene with the organization for some accurate prophesy , they just assume all is well in WT land and give thanks for the wayward crap they keep publishing . If that's all you are going to do then that's all you are going to get , IMO . The apostle Paul stated that it was of utmost importance to pray incessantly for prophesy because it is considered the greatest gift of the spirit.
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  steve2

  The question is not how do you jolt a JW into thinking, but rather, how do you jot them into acting on their thinking. Doubt of one kind or another is rampant in the organisation. So, it's not that JWs are incapable of thinking - and having doubts. It's encouraging them to see that they can do something about their doubts...that there are healthy choices beyond the Watchtower's walls.
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  stillajwexelder

  Persuade a man against his will

  You have not gained him still

  In other words just ask gentel questions and let them reason themselves - in time it may happen. Nobody can be jolted unless they want to be - or as Blondie phrased it - you can lead a horse to water but you can not make it drink
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  whyamihere

  I don't know whats the best way to "Jolt the Thinking Process."

  However, acting kindly and telling them as they argue and get mad thats its not very loving or Christan to be spiteful.

  Brooke
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  BrendaCloutier

  Ok, gotta say it:

  You can lead a Witness to enlightenment, but you cannot make him think.....

  Brenda

  Psst: Peace begins with me - pass it on!