'Field Service' - Instant Response

by Joe Grundy 6 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

• 

  Joe Grundy

  I was on the phone yesterday evening to an elderly lady friend of mine. She's almost housebound now, (we're fighting that) but is a fiercely independent spirit. Bacpacking in South America in her 50s, teaching in the wilds of Nepal, that sort of thing. She has pink hair and pink Doc Marten boots. She is an atheist and is as cynical and sceptical about religion as I am. She (like most people) knew nothing of JWs, viewing them as mildly weird people who pestered people on their doorsteps. We've had some good conversations where I've shared what I know about the truth about this dangerous and destructive cult.

  As we were talking she looked out of the window and noticed some dubs working their way up her street. I tried to think quickly of something she could use when they got to her door. Pyramids? 1914/1918/1975? Blood? Christmas celebrations? Creation and mankind being 6,500 years old? Beth Sarim? Post-armageddon survivors burying 1,000 corpses each? Divine radiation?

  All of these thoughts and more ran through my mind - but were dismissed. She and I went to our fall-back position, which is that it is futile to try and discuss religion with the brainwashed.

  As it turned out, they didn't knock at her door. Maybe their 'territory records' have a note that the pink-haired, pink DM wearing, elderly lady in a wheelchair is beyond redemption ...
• 

  Phizzy

  I try to give publicity to the Do Not Call list that JW's operate, I think the more homes they have on the list it may occur to them that the DtoD is a feckin waste of time.

  As I said on another thread, I agree with you that trying to reason with people who have had their critical thinking skills removed, if they ever had any, is a waste of time.

  Especially as the area you may pick to discuss is likely to be one they have no real knowledge of, (the Bible?) so they are forced to avoid discussion at all costs.

  I just have a feeling that trying to get them to focus on something they are not happy about with the Borg may be helpful.

  "In all the time you have been a JW is there not something you find difficult to understand ?" or somesuch question may get them looking closely at the very thing that may kick-start their thinking skills.

  I love the sound of your gutsy friend, Mrs Phizzy is aiming to be like her, I must buy her a pair of outrageous DM's for her birthday !
• 

  Chariklo

  trying to reason with people who have had their critical thinking skills removed, if they ever had any, is a waste of time.

  I don't thnk it's a total waste of time, Phizzy.

  Some of them will have had critical thinking skills. I did. I was always known as one of the most critical thinkers. Yet JW's got to me, brainwashed me, and emotionally, morally, psychologically blackmailed me till I couldn't tell truth from lies.

  Only the behaviour of their own local elders, plus some ridiculously narrow-minded and brain-dead sisters who thought they were truly among the Chosen Few, brought me to my senses.

  If it can happen to me it can happen to anyone, and that means that everyone is capable of being rescued.

  Just my two penn'orth.
• 

  Phizzy

  Dear Chariklo,

  I am guilty as charged ! I generalised and "He who generalise generally lies" ! I think that many have critical thinking skills deep down, even a born-in like I was had them, but as you say something needs to awaken them, I was just trying to find a method that may be more effective in doing so than discussing arcane doctrine or WT history etc with a JW.

  It is never a waste of time to try, whatever you do, because eventually what you have said may be one of the straws,

  or perhaps the last straw !

  But I just think to get the person to focus on what troubles them is the best place to start, not things that don't.
• 

  Chariklo

  You're probably right, Phizzy!

  I'm just in a euphoria of decluttering, and boy, it feels good!
• 

  talesin

  Maybe their 'territory records' have a note that the pink-haired, pink DM wearing, elderly lady in a wheelchair is beyond redemption ...

  ha! that would be me... at least that's where I'm headed ... only my Doc's are the ones with the Union Jack on them, and the streak in my hair is purple!

  Oh, and I am on the "do not call" list. :P

  Tell your friend she has an admirer across the pond! And give her this poem (she probably already has it, but one never knows) .... by a poet from another of the colonies, Australia, mate!

  Warning

  When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
  With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
  And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
  And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
  I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
  And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
  And run my stick along the public railings
  And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
  I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
  And pick flowers in other people's gardens
  And learn to spit.
  
  You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
  And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
  Or only bread and pickle for a week
  And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.
  
  But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
  And pay our rent and not swear in the street
  And set a good example for the children.
  We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.
  
  But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
  So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
  When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

  Jenny Joseph
• 

  Broken Promises

  I love the sound of that lady! I'd love to hear about her travels to Nepal - I've always wanted to go there!!

  The JWs called at my place yesterday. My door was open and I just called out to them, "not interested". Normally I'd try to engage them in a conversation to question them and get them thinking, but I couldn't be bothered yesterday.