Help me build a strategy to help get a Watchtower slave free...

by AK - Jeff 16 Replies latest jw friends

  • AK - Jeff
    AK - Jeff

    A very nice fellow at work - who happens to be direct line supervisor to me - is a Jw. Unknown to me, since we have few personal conversations, although I sensed he was 'religious'. In speaking with another Christian there one day about my 'cult experience', she mentioned that she thought this person was a Witness, and it seems now that is the case.

    I think, from what others have told me, that he might be relatively new to the Jdubs, but am not sure of this. Like most jw's he will bolt at the first sniff of an 'apostate'. He has no idea of my background [at least I think he not].

    He lives in the opposite direction from work, which puts him in a congregation that is prob not too familiar with me, if at all. I am pretty sure I know the hall he attends, though I have not made any effort to confirm that yet. I was a fairly prominent speaker in the area at one time a few years back, and so I prob gave a talk or two in his hall before he was in the 'truth'. Also, most likely if my name was mentioned in conversation with any of the 'brothers' there, I would surely be known to some of them, since I spent 40 years in the organization in this area primarily. And it would take only a call to the local elders here, since it would be obvous by my address what hall I would have attended, to confirm my 'evil apostate' status.

    I only know he has 4 children, a wife. But not much else. I can see he is under stress at his work, and I would not be surprised if he gets 'axed' at some point due to what appears to be a failure to accomplish his assignments well.

    I am trying to develop an approach that will let him become familiar with some of the witness cover-ups and scandals, that will not adversely affect my ability to aid him, though I know that is a long order.

    Any ideas? Any way to get anonymous info into his hands without his sourcing it to me?

    Jeff

  • Finally-Free
    Finally-Free

    I'd leave him alone. When I was a JW I had a policy of not bringing my religion into the workplace. Now that I'm out of the cult I see no need to change my thoughts on that.

    W

  • AK - Jeff
    AK - Jeff

    I have no intention of bringing my religion into the workplace. I am looking for stategies that will help wake this guy to the dangers he is putting his children in [blood, child molesters etc] with a view to helping him out of the cult. I wish someone would have done such for me before I wasted 40 years, don't you?

    Jeff

  • fullofdoubtnow
    fullofdoubtnow

    It won't be easy, Jeff. You'd need to know how he feels about the org, and if he is happy as a jw, nothing you do is likely to shake him. Leaving a few website addresses around where he can see them might be useful, but I'd not even do that until I knew how he stands with the org.

  • choosing life
    choosing life

    Hard to do. I do remember once in field service that a woman just looked me straight in the eyes and said, "I used to do what you are doing now." Then nothing else. I left, but never forgot and always wondered why she quit.

    Maybe some well placed statements to others in his presence would catch his attention. If you were talking to someone else, he wouldn't have to feel threatened or confronted. He might listen and think about the things you said later.

    What to talk about I am not sure. I think the United Nations, pediphile problems, or anything in the news would be fair game. I know I would have quietly listened if someone had spoken in front of me about those things when I was still in. This would give him the chance to decide if he wanted to talk about it. Kinda put the ball in his court.

  • OnTheWayOut
    OnTheWayOut

    If there is a totally anonymous way to help him, fine. Otherwise, I would say to leave it alone. It may jeopardize your work, you may be accused of bringing your religious differences into the workplace. Your supervisor may also use this as a (deep down) reason to make things worse for you at work, somehow lay you off or overlook you for privileges or promotions.

    While each of us wished someone helped us out of the organization years ago, we cannot all say that it would have done any good.

    Not knowing anything about him, bide your time and look for an opening. Perhaps you will find one. Perhaps not.

  • gordon d
    gordon d

    Hi Jeff,

    PROCEED WITH CAUTION!!!

    This seems about as dangerous as two Iraqi militants saying, "Look Najibahr... there are some men with tanks and machine-guns... Let's go throw rocks at them!"

  • moshe
    moshe

    I saw what happened to a JW at work a few years ago when anonymous expose' stuff was left in his work area. Not a happy camper! persecution, persecution! Poor guy.

    And if you open his eyes, what about his wife? She has to agree to leave, too-OR it's divorce time for them. There he is divorced and paying child support for all those kids.Tough break for the bloke and all thanks to a nice guy at work. Maybe he will read something on his own and leave anyway next year without any nudging.-- happens all the time.

  • AK - Jeff
    AK - Jeff

    You echo my thoughts OTWO.

    I do not wish to offend the guy, or hurt his or my work situation. I think there is a strong possiblility that he may lose his job soon, and I am thinking that is the opening. Go to his house with a bag of groceries, and some treats for the kids maybe, tell him I am sorry he lost his job and wanted to show that and help a little bit. He may contrast my actions 'as a worldly person' with the total lack of concern he will most likley get from the witnesses. Then get his # and stay in touch, still never telling him I was ever a witness, but referring him to websites etc that I 'found online' about his religion.

    But of course I hope he doesn't lose his job.

    Jeff

  • gordon d
    gordon d

    Hi Jeff, Your concern is warranted and admirable... If your personal situation allows, could you fake any past involvement with the religion and ask for a bible study where you could "discretely" pose their unanswerable questions? Or, Could you get someone else to do this for you? Maybe if you "ran into" him away from work you could tactfully mention something that would entice him to initiate the conversation. Once you have a sympathetic ear and a couple of seeds of doubt planted, I'm sure the members of this board would jump at the chance to offer input on a doctine-by-doctrine defense of your position... You'd probably get inundated with reference materials.

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