Speaking at an evangelical gathering...

by Tuesday 13 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Tuesday

  I get alot of crazy messages through my youtube account, I got one the other day inviting me to one of those three day seminar things for evangelical christians. I keep picturing bible camp. Not to say this isn't someone just pulling my leg, which it entirely could be, basically they want me to do some sort of talk including all of my questions so that they can witness to Jehovah's Witnesses. Why me instead of any of the other experts around the web I'll never know.

  So I figured I'd pop on here and get everyone's consensus. I'm pretty adept at public speaking so there's not really an issue with being in front of a crowd and talking. The plus side is that it's a free three day vacation in upstate New York that I'd get to take my wife and child to. I'm sure I'd meet some nice people and maybe open up an opportunity to get more trips to cooler places. The down side is that I'm a pretty ardent atheist and would feel like a total hypocrite attending one of these gatherings. I also am rather outspoken when it comes to certain things, I couldn't see just smiling and going along with a crowd if they were talking about how evolution didn't happen, how marriage is between one man and one woman "as it's spelled out in the bible", Man is the head of the woman, etc.

  So what's the consensus, should I go to give people ammunition for JWs at their door and get a free vacation, or don't go because it will more than likely cause me to want to strangle someone?
• 

  insearchoftruth

  Tuesday,

  You have some of the best information I have read or heard on dealing with the JWs, but I think it would be very difficult to be amongst a bunch of evangelicals who I am sure will have beliefs WAY different than your own....sounds like a great vacation, but I would be very upfront with the organizer if you are thinking about it, would not want to put myself in a very difficult situation!

  ISOT
• 

  iknowall558

  The greater good would be accomplished if you went. You are in a prime position to prevent people being drawn into a cult. You have the inside scoop and will be able to tell it as it is, but also, more importantly you have the chance to equip others with information that would help them to bring others out. If you're a good speaker and don't get nervous, then it's not something you're gonna get stressed about , so it should be an absolute skoosh for you to do it. And it seems you're already thinking of the benefits of the 3 day break courtesy of this invite. Go for it ! There are more positives than negatives.
• 

  leavingwt

  Run like a scalded ape!
• 

  rebel8

  Where is the vacation exactly? Are they paying all your expenses? Those are my only questions.
• 

  Narkissos

  In the first few years after I left the WT I was quite often called to discuss JWs with Evangelical groups -- more than I would have wished actually, I was rather inclined to forget about it and move on; but that was a curiosity to them. In many cases it was fun because a relatively honest (I mean, not too caricatural) description of the JW group dynamic and mindset from the inside often served as an unexpected "mirror" to them.
• 

  jaguarbass

  Good to hear your an atheist and havent jumped on the evangelical band wagon.

  Life is full of decisions anytime you leave the safety of your hole,

  there is the posiblity of good things happening or bad things happening.

  Everything works on the quid quo pro system- something for something.

  So I venture you wont go speak unless you imagine your going to get

  something for it more than what you have right now.

  Personally I like to be in controll and

  free vacations always have strings attached.
• 

  Tuesday

  Where is the vacation exactly? Are they paying all your expenses? Those are my only questions.

  I forget the exact town, but it's basically Canada. It's extreme upstate New York. It's on a lake. They did offer to pay my expenses to get there, while I'm there the lodging is free, food and stuff wouldn't be. I'm fine with that though.

  It's pretty early in the discussion I just got the message the other day, it seems that I would only have to give my talk for the three consecutive days for whatever follow up questions might happen.

  Really it seems like a nice relaxing get-away. Again I keep picturing Jesus Camp in my head, or some idiot pastor going on a rant about evolution and me being beside myself pissed off by it then going off on a rant usually only reserved for the likes of Sam Kinison, Dr. Cox or Bill Hicks.
• 

  jamiebowers

  If every athiest exjw refused to expose the WB&TS for the cult that it is, there would be very little said about it. As long as your host understands that you're there only to give an exjw's point of view, I think it's a good idea. Rick Fearon is a born again Christian, but he has non-Christian people on his conference calls. Last Friday I was interviewed on a Christian radio show about my experience as a battered jw wife, and no one asked me what my current beliefs are.
• 

  Tuesday

  Thanks everyone for the advice. It seems from a follow up message the reason I was picked was because my questions don't hinge on knowing the bible inside and out. They also like the slippery slope way of my questions the way they lead into worse and worse conclusions. I take it they haven't seen my final tough question as it does that about believing in God.

  I'll do some more follow up to find out what else is going on at this conference, anyone else have some advice? Maybe I should offer Ex-Gilead Missionary, he has a better story than mine LOL.