Classmate asks a question, so help me out guys!

by Odrade 17 Replies latest jw friends

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  Odrade

  So I'm in school, and make a crack about my fanatic parents. I've made other little comments to this lady before, but this time she stopped, looked at me and said: "What religion did you belong to?" I told her the JWs. She said:"I KNEW it!" Then she tells me she wants to get together with me and talk to me about it. Apparently she's dating a man whose wife (he's a widower now) converted to JWism. This man has said very little about it, but has told her that the JWs and the wife ruined their marriage. He wants nothing to do with any religion, which is fine with my classmate. She wants to know more about the Witnesses, because she says it's clear there's more to the story, but he won't talk.

  She knows next to nothing about JWs, except that they are very restrictive. She wants to know more about JWs so she can understand how his former wife's conversion affected the family dynamics and this man she is dating. I'm not sure where to start with her. So I'm looking for ideas to help me sort out how to explain it.

  Thanks all!

  Odrade
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  Stacy Smith

  Perhaps mentioning how the JW's use emotional blackmail to control their subjects. Most people can't imagine how a parent could turn their backs on a child. Then of course putting the society before everything, including your childs health (blood).
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  Scully

  Invite them both here!

  Love, Scully
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  Lutece

  How about how they try to interfere with a couple's sex life, such as "oral" is a no-no and other dumb things......
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  blondie

  Since she is dating a man who had issues with how the JWs affected his marriage, why not look at what the WTS says about a marriage between a JW and a non-JW and how it affects their closeness and how the JW spouse puts the WTS ahead of the non-JW spouse.

  How the wife views the husband as an adversary rather than a partner.

  How the wife will interfere with the medical treatment of any children, in the area of blood.

  How the wife will be encouraged to convert the husband. How the wife will teach the children in spite of his directions not to. How the children will try to convert the husband. If the husband doesn't respond, then he will be viewed as an opposer and ignored and the wife will be sympathized with.

  How the wife will be closer to the people at the KH than her spouse.

  Blondie
• 

  logansrun

  The book, "Apocalypse Delayed" by James Penton is an excellent book because it looks at the organization in all it's aspects -- history, theology, culture, good points/bad points, controversy, etc. There is little esoteric jargon and it is easily accessible for both former JWs and people who don't have a clue about them. She can probably go to a good library to find it or order it on Amazon.

  Best,

  Bradley
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  franklin J

  Be honest about it....you really can't make this stuff up ( its hard enough for people to believe the mind control)
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  rocketman

  It's interesting that she said "I knew it!". It doesn't seem like you'll have to try too hard to convince her. Keep us posted please!
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  stillajwexelder

  Invite them both here! Love, Scully I AGREE WITH SCULLY - and also to Randys site www.freeminds.org and of course loan them a copy of CoC by Ray Franz
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  Special K

  Hi Odrade..

  I love this stuff. Exciting converations.

  So what your school friend wants to know is kind of like a overview of Jehovah's Witnesses and how this ruined the marriage of the man she is now dating. I also, understand that .. his ex wife is dead.

  okay..

  Hmm. I think you need to give her some information of "mind controlling groups". And how drastically a person changes once they spiral into their influence..so subtle is the mind control, that Jehovah's Witnesses don't even see or feel that they are being controlled..

  Blondie had some "crunching" realities of being a J.W. all true.

  ..Scully's was good.. invite her to the forum, maybe..but maybe that is not what she is looking for..

  I'm still refering people here on the forum to get Steven Hassans book "Releasing the Bonds"..

  .. It gives all the indentifying marks of any mind controlling group, whether it be a cult that is political, religious, computer group, AA. .. once you read all the indentifying criteria it becomes very easy to pick out the cult type groups or organizations.

  It also talks about the changes in a person once they start being influenced by mind control. that one develops as "cult self"..which is very different to the "pre-cult self"..

  Good work Odrade..Sounds like your going to have some great conversations with this woman. Keep us posted..okay.

  sincerely

  Special K

  ..