I know a fellow who like me, was born into the JWs. His father (a long time elder) and mother are both hard core JWs. Let's call him "Robert." Even though he's about 10 years older than me (making him 48), he and I grew up together in the JWs.
Robert has always had a mouth on him. I remember him always whispering and snickering at stuff, from other JWs all the way down to biblical stuff. He was a lot of fun. Oddly though, he was never thought of as bad association. All the witnesses still talk to him and he even goes on trips with other JWs (those whom he can actually stand to be around).
He has faded, came back, and faded again several times in his life.
He has never married and never really had girlfriend. Honestly I think he's bisexual. He's expressed admiration for both male and female beauty. But really for any practical sense, he is asexual. He's celibate and, well, asexual.
Although who knows! He may have a secret boyfriend. Or secret girlfriend. Or maybe one of each!
Anyway, like me, he's never come out and renounced the JWs because of his family and friends. Right now, he goes to meetings off and on. Not fading, not active either.
Although his family and he doesn't go to the congregation I do, I am thinking about making contact with him.
I want to sit down, just him and I, and talk about stuff. I want to tell him that I think the WTBTS is a bunch of crap, I don't believe in any of it, that the whole thing is insane. I would explain to him that the reason I am talking to him is because I think he feels the same and how I'd like to get to know him all over again, but this time with the shared experience of being born into the JWs, thinking it's crap, and so on.
Thing is, although I'm about 75 to 80% sure he feels the same about things and I do, I'm not 100% for sure. Like Neo was told in The Matrix, you can never be sure who is an agent because everyone could be an agent. I'm worried that he might end up being an inactive witness but who still believes and may possibly turn me in once he finds out what I really think.
Aaargh this really sucks! I hate it. Always worried about getting 'caught', always looking over your shoulder, always worried about who may rat you out. All because of the Orwellian nature of the bOrg. Oh yes, such a "loving" organization it is.
What would you all do in this situation? Would you go ahead and contact him and talk about this, or would you play it safe and keep up the charade of being a believing JW?