Hi Green Jade
Glad you read my post, and yes I am a free-born-in exJW and I fully understand your point of view here. I am also glad you understand the good and open-minded influence your parents had on growing as a child. I must also take this opportunity to congratulate your parents for this outlook.
If some thing works then why would I discount it? Don't get offended: but you have to have been a Witness to understand the complexity of growing up as a Witness. You mentioned my childhood as "fond memories", but it was more than that. It made me who I am now. I am not "brain-washed" nor believe was ever in a "cult". I didn't drink any coolaid(sp?). I know that I have always been "open-minded". It was my parents that taught me to give people the benefit of the doubt and understand the motives that influences peoples decisions. - Green Jade
I find that there is a very small percentage within the dubs that inspire people to join the religin because of the way they lead their lives... I call these the real models of christianinty. You can easily see them in KHs. They dont turn in ridiculuosly high service time at the end of each month and dont miss meetings. The husband is probably not even an MS but they lead a good admirable family life. The unfortunate thing is that these individual families are few and far between amongst the JWs. I think your parents fit this profile.
Notwithstanding the above I must answer a sentence in your post:
And those values were mostly based on being a JW. You mentioned filling a void and teaching my children about god and the bible. Yes, I can influence my children, but they need to be able to see other people and peers putting those teachings into practice.-Green Jade
This is where I disagree with you, your moral values are a matter of choice largely and to a small percentage that of community modelling. You dont have to be a JW to practice good moral values and standards. And consider a chance that you children will most likely see other JWs putting the opposite of those teachings into practice. Then what, do you now teach your children to discount those as true cristians? labell them as the Apostate?? do you now teach them that not every one in the KH may have "made The truth their own" and that they must learn to identify and avoid associating with these?? what about when a childhood friend of theirs become Dfed years later for some reason?? do you now teach them to shun these??
No, I dont think a KH or JW community is the "ONLY" place where your children can see "peers putting good moral teachings into practice".. so I will put my humble suggestion foward again.
"The truth of the matter is that in time you will understand that your children can enjoy their childhood without having to grow "in the buble" and there is nothing stoping you to teach them about god and the bible, and to encourage them to use their mental capacities when it comes to issues of faith.
Above all else, teach your children to "live life aboundantly", afford them all that is in your strength to enjoy every moment "alive" in every sence of the word (free of guilt or control)... it is the least you owe them."
