by Awakened at Gilead 74 Replies latest members adult
sf, I can count at least two JW's who've left due to my family's slow and gentle approach.
Your approach, sf, though it has it's place, is too radical for me. I don't picket family planning clinics either. But don't tell me I don't care or that I don't "get it".
If I see a child in distress, I will report it to the authorities no matter what religion the child's parents follow. I certainly wouldn't waste my time trying to argue with them about their religion.
sf, if you think "saving children" is as easy as "speaking up" you're pitifully mistaken.
I used to point out the errors and faults of the JWs to my devout sister. We always ended up in an argument and
hurt feelings. As I have gotten older, I've come to the conclusion that I don't want to be the reason for her life to
turn to crap.This religion is her life. It is what she is all about. If she left it for ANY reason, her world would be
turned upside down. She has a secular job she has had for 20+ years, she is well-off financially, she has status in the congregation
because she is devout and her husband is a long-time elder, she has a very strong clique of friends (also well-off)
and they take cruises together, vacation together, dine out at fine restaurants together, and entertain at each other's homes (all JWs).
She couldn't care less, imo, whether the doctrine is right or not; she doesn't believe she is mind-controlled or brainwashed;
she is happy and content that her life is as perfect as it can be. She believes 100% in the organization as God's channel,
and I could show her all the proof in the world with a signed decree from the Governing Body themselves, and she would still continue
being a Jehovah's Witness. She told me if Armageddon doesn't come in her lifetime, it's no big deal.
She will await in death for a resurrection if she remains faithful to the end-----and she will.
So why rant and rave and get all up in her face to MAKE her see the truth about the truth. All that is going to do is give ME high
blood pressure. At least this way, we talk occasionally about mundane things and we DO love each other and I don't want anything
to totally alienate her from me at this point in our lives.
To expand on this... it doesn't sound like many of us are "adamant about keeping our thoughts to ourselves." Our differences seem to be about the style and manner which we go about affecting change in others.
I tell everyone who knew I was a witless, that I am no longer a witless...but be prepared to be called, demon possessed, Satan's disciple, taking up the cause for Satan and any other nasty names, all because you want them to realize they have been had by a bogus religion! AND for some reason they think you are bitter when you have their best interest at heart.
Some food for thought for sKally:
Here's a quote from an article on Covert Operations:
Covert operations are employed in situations where openly operating against a target would be politically or diplomatically risky, or be counterproductive to the mission's purpose.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covert_operation
Frontal assaults do not work with JWs in the vast majority of cases. This is hard-earned wisdom from MANY who have gone before me.
"Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results"
Albert Einstein (attributed to Ben Franklin too)
If the direct approach works for you, great. But why criticize those who choose a different approach?
OM
Being an effective anti-JW takes as much skill as being an effective JW. Smile. Each person is a little different from the other and it's never a good ideal to mount a frontal attack unless it's to impress someone nearby. Smile. I left quietly and slowly and ended up taking at least ten people with me...quietly and slowly. I was the presiding overseer! Motive plays a big part in how effective you will be. If you're doing it for the wrong reason you'll fare badly because it will show.
As I have gotten older, I've come to the conclusion that I don't want to be the reason for her life toturn to crap. This religion is her life. It is what she is all about. If she left it for ANY reason, her world would be
turned upside down.
You make a good point Journey-on... Not everyone is better off by leaving the JWs. This was an important point I goy out of Hassan's book... that while we recognize the cult as being untrue, some people are better off inside than out due to their family situation. I can think of a few in my former cong whose lives also would turn to crap if they would stop believing in JWs.
In my case, I guess the hardest situation for me to deal with is the immediately family, namely my wife. If she would recognize the falsehood, then our life would go from crap to something more meaningful.
Quirky... have a drink on me!
A@G
By the way, I can appreciate your points about being subtle as you talk to a closed minded witness... I was reminded of this yesterday by my SIL who has successfully faded for the past 7 years...
She reminded me that I as a "good" elder counseled her about 9 years ago about her "worldly boyfriend" (TM). Her response to me was that she no longer believed in the truth. Since I couldn't fathom someone not actually believing in the truth, that comment kinda went over my head. Now it makes perfect sense. But I needed time to make my own realization of this... had she came out with a frontal assault, my cultish defense mechanisms would have taken over...
So, points well taken...
Cheers!
