Posts by NewLight2

16

Alternate Activities

by Shawn in

can anyone suggest alternative activities that are group oriented that are allowed by jws and not considered "worldy"?

i am not sure where the line is in regards to right or worng here, if there is a line.

i am trying to get my friend into a group function other than the jws.

NewLight2

Check out libraries and book stores in you local area. They both sometimes have group meetings to discuss books.

NewLight2

70

I NEED HELP

by Shawn in

here is my situation: i am in the sacramento area of california.

i have a good friend of mine that is a jw.

she has recently not been attending meeting and not reading her watchtower.

Shawn,

Here is a minisry to JW's that I think you may be interested in contacting. It is a Christian ministry to JW's. I have personally talked with Duane over the phone and found his books very helpful. Since you live in CA, maybe he could suggest a group that YOU (not your friend yet) could attend and share ideas with.

Witness Inc
P.O Box 597 Clayton, Ca 94517
Duane Magnani Director
[email protected]

An Open Letter from Duane Magnani:

http://www.witnessinc.com/missions/missions.htm

http://www.witnessinc.com/index.html

70

I NEED HELP

by Shawn in

here is my situation: i am in the sacramento area of california.

i have a good friend of mine that is a jw.

she has recently not been attending meeting and not reading her watchtower.

NewLight2

The reason the JW's blindly follow these rules is because "The Society says" this is the right way.

This is why they are called 'a high-control group'. The basic reason behind each of these rules is to isolate the member from anyone BUT another JW. And they control the members by fear of shunning.

NewLight2

70

I NEED HELP

by Shawn in

here is my situation: i am in the sacramento area of california.

i have a good friend of mine that is a jw.

she has recently not been attending meeting and not reading her watchtower.

NewLight2

Shawn,

Most everything on that page IS current and true about JW's. The following are some comments that I have made regarding the list.

NewLight2

I do not know if this is current:
63. You cannot wear jade jewelry*
23. You cannot buy girl Scout cookies
47. You cannot play chess*

Some of the KH's do have windows, some do not
66. Jehovah's Witness meeting places have no windows

You may now take some 'allowed parts' see - http://ajwrb.org/ - for clarification on the blood issue.
19. You cannot take a blood transfusion

-A person who does NOT do any of the following may be labeled as a weak Witness called "unspiritual" or "Un-theocratic"
24. You must attend five meetings per week

-A person who does any of the following may be labeled as a weak Witness called "unspiritual" or "Un-theocratic"
14. You are discouraged from attending college
26. You cannot marry a non-Jehovah's Witness
45. You cannot have friends who are not Jehovah's Witnesses
55. You cannot have a tattoo
62. You cannot join any clubs or sports teams - Unless it is with ALL JW's and even then it is frowned upon
97. You cannot be involved in martial arts, boxing or wrestling
- Unless it is with ALL JW's and even then it is frowned upon
98. You cannot participate in a school play

70

I NEED HELP

by Shawn in

here is my situation: i am in the sacramento area of california.

i have a good friend of mine that is a jw.

she has recently not been attending meeting and not reading her watchtower.

NewLight2

Thanks for answering the questions. Shawn. This background info helps a lot.

NewLight2

70

I NEED HELP

by Shawn in

here is my situation: i am in the sacramento area of california.

i have a good friend of mine that is a jw.

she has recently not been attending meeting and not reading her watchtower.

NewLight2

"I understand what you are saying but it is hard. I want this all to happen tomorrow but it wont. I need to slow down. I just want to have a plan and have people who can support her when she needs it no
matter what." -- Shawn

Like I said, JWD will be here for her when SHE needs it, but it is going to take her a long, long time to come to this point. Since she is ALREADY a JW, just going to meetings is not going to cause her to be any MORE of a JW, than she is already. Just consentrate on being her friend for now. Be interested in what she is learning at the KH, but dont try to tell her it is wrong.

Can you tell us a little more about your JW friend?

Is she baptized?

How long has she been a JW?

What is the reason that she drifted from the JW's?

Was she Marked? Disfellowshiped?

The above answers may help us to give you future guidence.

NewLight2

70

I NEED HELP

by Shawn in

here is my situation: i am in the sacramento area of california.

i have a good friend of mine that is a jw.

she has recently not been attending meeting and not reading her watchtower.

NewLight2

Shawn,

My saying that JWD would act as a support group for your friend was not to mean that she should be reading JWD now. That is for much later in time, when she has decided ON HER OWN to question some of the WT teachings.

Likewise, if her family 'gangs up on her' using the contents of your letter, she will only dive head first into the cult so fast you won't even be able to see the 'streak' of dust that was left behind!

Again, my advise to you is to leave her non-JW family out of your 'crusade' right now. They will only apply pressure to your friend and SHE will NOT think of that as 'support'.

NewLight2

70

I NEED HELP

by Shawn in

here is my situation: i am in the sacramento area of california.

i have a good friend of mine that is a jw.

she has recently not been attending meeting and not reading her watchtower.

NewLight2

Shawn,
To format paragraphs just check the small box that says"
"Automatic Cr/Lf"

It is located at the bottom of the 'reply box' just above the 'submit post' box.

NewLight2

70

I NEED HELP

by Shawn in

here is my situation: i am in the sacramento area of california.

i have a good friend of mine that is a jw.

she has recently not been attending meeting and not reading her watchtower.

NewLight2

bebu,

That letter was written by Shawn to send to his JW friend's NON-JW family. It was not written to send to her. He wants to educate her non-JW family and friends about what he is learning. But nontheless,
I agree with you, that the letter should not be sent.

NewLight2

70

I NEED HELP

by Shawn in

here is my situation: i am in the sacramento area of california.

i have a good friend of mine that is a jw.

she has recently not been attending meeting and not reading her watchtower.

NewLight2

Shawn,

If your JW friend has access to the internet, do not worry about her finding a support group. JWD could function as a support group for your friend when that time arrives. Be patient. This is a long, long process! It will not take place over-night! You need to understand HOW your friend thinks as a JW before you can help her.

Ask her to explain to you why she had NOT been going to meetings and what lead her to stop attending. Gently lead her by asking questions about how she feels about the lack of love that some JW's show. The more she opens up to you, the more probing questions you can ask her. Get her to THINK for herself rather than just blindly drifting along with the current. Getting her to talk to you about all of the negatives that she has observed that happen in her congregation. Do not TELL her what these negatives are, SHE must be the one that brings them up.

Since she has already told you that she was 'unhappy', that may be a starting place. But if she is not ready to confide in you, do not push the issue. She must do this in her own time. Again learn to listen to her.

It is OK for you to learn about the JW's as fast as you are able to absorb the information, but you MUST go SLOW in trying to educate her.

At this point, I would not bring her non-JW family into the process. Your JW friend does not need her family 'ganging up on her' right now. And that could happen if you begin to share too much of what you are learning with her family.

The only time that an 'emergency' should be called is if your friend was about to die because she was refusing a blood transfusion. And I do not see anywhere that you have stated that that was the case. So SLOW down, my friend, and be content to just learn yourself.

NewLight2