First off, those who have left the Watchtower are extraordinarily courageous and thank you so much for having the fortitude to post your stories publicly. You are all no doubt helping untold numbers of people.
I am Catholic and I have a friend who is a JW. We have had a sometimes in-touch, sometimes out-of-touch friendship for years although I have only recently figured out the real deal with the Watchtower. I was prompted by some of her odd comments and panic about her "weakness" in letting her kids go to birthday parties to seek more information about the WT on the internet. Was I shocked! I thought Jehovah's Witnesses were an eccentric but harmless sect. At times, I had even encouraged my friend to go back to her Kingdom Hall and become active (assuming that in difficult times it would be a source of spiritual and moral support for her and her children). She has had a hard life with a mentally ill JW mother, and major problems with anxiety, depression and irrational fears. At one point, she confided to me that sometimes she thought it would be best for everyone if she killed her children and herself and I now believe that her religious background contributed to her despair and her willingness to entertain this idea. Fortunately, she and her children are still alive. This whole scenario is especially heartbreaking because although not highly educated she is a VERY intelligent person, reads widely, and is funny, interesting, quick witted and creative. Had she gotten an education she would have gone far. Her son who is in high school is now becoming very involved in Kingdom Hall activities. Like her, he is extremely intelligent and artistically inclined. He does well in school and has the potential to accomplish a lot should he pursue higher education rather than get pulled into this life-draining organization.
Could someone please tell me if a JW could be disfellowshipped for having a friendship with a Catholic? Am I considered a "bad association"? If so, can anyone shed some light on why she continues to associate with me? She has not seriously attempted to convert me (probably realizing it would be a waste of time). After periods of little communication she has gone out of her way to re-establish contact with me and I notice that most, if not all, of her friends are non-JWs. My heart goes out to her; however, it is unnerving to find that this person seems to be so sincere in her desire for friendship yet as a JW she must believe that my husband, my family and I are part of Satan's evil Babylon and will be annihilated by Jehovah.
Also, are JWs still disfellowshipped for smoking?
Finally, is there anything I can do? I have been inclined to allow our contact to taper off and end permanently since finding out how warped the Watchtower is. But knowing what I NOW know, I feel like I should at least try to do something positive on her behalf. I keep wondering if there is anything I can say that will make her think and put some puzzle pieces together. Should I attempt to initiate a dialogue? Should I just say nothing and leave the lines of communication open? I am really lost here. The whole thing saddens me since she is basically a good person with a loving heart who had the rotten luck to be born into this depriving, destructive belief system. Ditto for her kids.
I apologize for the length of this post. I would really appreciate any advice. Thank you so much in advance.
agr8day
