So here's an interesting thing that happened lately. If you guys have followed my previous posts, you probably know my mother almost died from severe anemia, decided to take blood transfusions to avoid death and the elders announced the congregation she disassociated.
Well. last week a "brother" came to visit from a congo about 100 kilometers away. He's known my parents for a long time and visits us every few months to stay in touch. His wife (also a JW) suffers from depression and hasn't gone to any meeting in 6 years. He still goes though. Anyway, he comes into our house. My father was gone to do some work, so only me and my mother were home. The brother starts doing small talk, but my mother doesn't really answer. I entertain him for a while by engaging in conversation. He goes for a minute outside.
During that time I tell my mother to talk to him and act normally because he might not know she's DA'd. When he comes back he starts talking about how some things don't seem to be right with the organization. That when somebody disagrees with something is automatically labeled an apostate and treated like the plague. He says he thinks this is a form of emotional abuse. I say that I agree. Then he tells us that the brothers aren't perfect, that some doctrines still need improvement. He expressed somewhat jokingly his long-time passion for martial arts and how he doesn't understand why JWs can't learn more about self defense.
At this point I get an important call and leave my mother and him alone. I could only return after he left. She later told me that after I left, she told him her current status. He said he's aware, but doesn't care and wanted to know how we are doing. He also told her about the Australian pedophile scandal, some other doubts about the organization and that he's very discouraged and the elders have been very rude about addressing his doubts.
The brother also asked my mother what she thinks he should do in a similar situation when a blood transfusion is required. So clearly, this guy has some serious doubts. From the way he talked to me it seems he might even be an "apostate" like us. Either way, apparently the spirit of doubt is spreading and more and more JWs are hearing about the pedophile scandals. Their numbers are dropping in his corner of Europe compared to 10 years ago. I think these small indicators show that the future spells trouble for the borg.
Well. last week a "brother" came to visit from a congo about 100 kilometers away. He's known my parents for a long time and visits us every few months to stay in touch. His wife (also a JW) suffers from depression and hasn't gone to any meeting in 6 years. He still goes though. Anyway, he comes into our house. My father was gone to do some work, so only me and my mother were home. The brother starts doing small talk, but my mother doesn't really answer. I entertain him for a while by engaging in conversation. He goes for a minute outside.
During that time I tell my mother to talk to him and act normally because he might not know she's DA'd. When he comes back he starts talking about how some things don't seem to be right with the organization. That when somebody disagrees with something is automatically labeled an apostate and treated like the plague. He says he thinks this is a form of emotional abuse. I say that I agree. Then he tells us that the brothers aren't perfect, that some doctrines still need improvement. He expressed somewhat jokingly his long-time passion for martial arts and how he doesn't understand why JWs can't learn more about self defense.
At this point I get an important call and leave my mother and him alone. I could only return after he left. She later told me that after I left, she told him her current status. He said he's aware, but doesn't care and wanted to know how we are doing. He also told her about the Australian pedophile scandal, some other doubts about the organization and that he's very discouraged and the elders have been very rude about addressing his doubts.
The brother also asked my mother what she thinks he should do in a similar situation when a blood transfusion is required. So clearly, this guy has some serious doubts. From the way he talked to me it seems he might even be an "apostate" like us. Either way, apparently the spirit of doubt is spreading and more and more JWs are hearing about the pedophile scandals. Their numbers are dropping in his corner of Europe compared to 10 years ago. I think these small indicators show that the future spells trouble for the borg.