by wordlywife 15 Replies latest jw friends
I like that answer Blondie! I will not ever be studying, but curiosity got the best of me and I asked the question here, in the forum, rather than from anyone else.
To me it is unvbelievable how complicated be a witness truly is. It is mind boggling.
Thanks, worldlywife. I grew up in a family where the father was not a JW but the mother was. I understand the pressures.
As long as your hubbie loves you just the way you are, don't worry about it.
As far as complicated, many of us grow up in it and don't know any better. I had it easier because we spent time with non-JWs. There are a lot of "rule" and some of them are unwritten and changing all the time. But then that is a characteristic of a cult.
One point, once you get baptized, JWs drop you like a hot potato; all the "love" dries up.
Blondie
It can't be emphasized too strongly that the method of study consists in answering the questions at the bottom of the page in whatever publication they are using. The answer is found in the corresponding paragraph. So, you really end up giving their answers to their questions. If you have attended any meetings, especially the Watchtower Study, you have observed them answering questions parrot-like. This is what you would be doing in your own home if you study with them. It's the closest thing they have to actual "brainwashing," but technically I don't consider it such. I'm sure that many people, if they had read a few publications through on their own rather than allowing themselves to be led step by step in a study, would not be JWs today.
WW,
If you want to know what happens once you start studying - read my thread entitled "Studying ... confused, conflicted". When you're married to a JW (I am too) and you start studying, there begins your whirlwind. And if you decide (like me) that you can't commit - it's damn difficult to get that point across to people without "bringing reproach" on your husband. ::sigh::
The JW's believe that worldly people are ignorant to the "truth" about Jehovah God, thus they have a "chance" - it's better NOT to know anything, than to know and turn your back on their "truth". Once you study and decide not to commit you must be "wicked" because you've seen the "truth" and turned your back on it.
It's no picnic to go back once you've jumped in.
I read much of the thread (not all), Rebellious. Thanks so much for directing me to it!
WW
If you have spare time and really wanna mess with em, go ahead and study. There's a couple of ways you could go about it.
Maybe by telling them that you want to actually study the BIBLE. Like start with Genesis 1:1 and cover verse by verse. They'll balk at that right away. They'll want to study the bible by studying their publications. Tell em that they can use what ever reference they want, but you want to study the BIBLE. And then you can have your own references. If you start in Genesis and you really get knowledgeable about it, you can really confuse and fluster them.
Or, if you wanna be more hospitable, agree to study their publication. Only you will have to prepare ahead of time. Get familiar with each chapter and be ready with opposing veiwpoints and questions. You can probably get through several studies before hardcore JW doctrine becomes an issue, but when it does you can unload with both barrels, shooting down their end time prophecies, questioning the 100 years of failed expectation, exposing the UN scandal, is Jesus my mediator or not, etc, etc, etc.
It could be a lot of fun for someone who wants to mess with their minds. It could also help free someone from the WTS.
