Your JW Family: Reason With or `Live' With ?

by Jodo 3 Replies latest jw friends

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  Jodo

  Personally, I've kept my thoughts on the "religion" to myself since I faded for fear of shunning. Now I'm starting to turn the other way and am considering taking some risks by talking doctrinal issues when occasions arise, but limiting myself to commenting on matters only on their instigation. To me at least, that seems less confrontational......and most witnesses can't resist trying to encourage family members back to the fold, which means plenty of opportunities present themselves anyway.

  What about you? Which way do you go with your family members?
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  ValiantBoy

  Depends on the family member. With my Grandmother and a few other really unreasonables, I just don't bring it up--it would only end up being a big nasty fight. With my mom, it depends on her mood. We usually don't discuss doctrine much because I don't have a problem with her keeping a lot of Witness beliefs--new world, 144000, no trinity, bible is the inerrant word of god, etc. We do sometimes discuss practices--child abuse policy, hypocrisy in her local congregation etc. Even then, I try to just bring it up---then let her do most of the talking. She'll usually realize the point I'm making on her own.

  Also, I don't hate witnesses. I disagree with them. I am still of the belief that if someone wants to be a witness, if it brings fulfillment to their life, if it makes them happy--than they should be a witness. There are a lot of Witnesses I know-not the majority, but a lot- that are good and sincere and happy being witnesses.
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  DHL

  I don't ever discuss religious matters with my parents because it has never been a fair discussion when I tried to: Whatever they believe is right and whenever I present a different opinion I then must off course be wrong.

  I don't feel the need to explain to them why I think what I think and I don't want to prove them to be wrong and that way steal their little paradise from them. They believed in this crap for all their life so live and let live.
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  Pwned

  i really want to reason with them but my fear that they would shun me has not allowed it. they almost shunned me before and if i brought up anything that could be interpreted as apostate i fear that my father would blame himself for not shunning me all along like he should have been, especially if i were able to plant a seed of doubt.