They caught me off guard...I didn't sleep well because I had to put my cat Rocco to sleep yesterday, and for some reason awoke at 2 a.m. to cry another hour...my eyes are puffy with big bags under them. So I went back to sleep.
Since I decided to write this as a big run-on sentence, I have put what they say in red, and what I say in yellow.
Dorothy was in her 70's, and she told me that in the new system, cats would still die but we wouldn't be so attached to them. She said we need love from animals right now.
She showed me a scripture, a tract, and then brought out magazines from March. I accepted, but then she wanted to come back, so I said, I am sorry to mislead you, but I am apostate.
Her husband, Gus, who identified himself as an elder, had his eyes bulge and mouth open. He asked if I used to belong to a congregation, and I confirmed, yes. He asked why I left. I said, initially, I was stumbled by the elders. He asked what congregation. I said Winter Garden, but I grew up in Eustis (where they were from.) I said, as time went by, I did research about the (and I used the quoting fingers) "organization," and found it to be corrupt and vile. He said, Like what? And I said, Their UN involvement, for one. They were members of the UN. He said, I lived in Brooklyn, NY, I know all the governing body, and that's a lie. I said, It is published. They are on the list. The UN lies? And he said, Yes! I rolled my eyes. I said, Also, the pedophile issue. He said, Oh yes, there has been a problem with that, but the wrongdoer is removed from the congregation. I said, I don't agree with not reporting it to the police so no reproach is on Jehovah, or the two witness rule. That does nothing to protect the victim. He said, Oh no, we had a letter from the society and we are to report it to the police. I said, How long ago did you get that letter? Without missing a beat, he said, Two years ago. (I couldn't believe he didn't try to tell me that it's been the society's policy all along.) I said, What about the victims 10 years ago? 5 years ago? He said, Well, they are not perfect, they admit they aren't. I said, Yes they do! I said, Any organization (more quoting fingers) that tries to control the information their members receive is a cult. He was almost jumping up and down. He said, I've been in the truth since 1943, and I believe it's God's instrument. Men are imperfect. In the end, after Armageddon, there will be paradise and that's what I'm looking forward to. I said, Speaking of Armageddon and being an oldtimer like yourself, how do you feel about Armageddon not being here yet in your lifetime? He said, Oh yes, they thought it would be in 1975. That was a mistake. They apologized for that. (They did? When has the society ever apologized for anything???) Then he said, They don't make predictions anymore. I said, What about the one that Armageddon would be before the end of the millennium? Before your lifetime? I hope when you pass away, that you look back and think the 50+ years you spent in this organization gave you everything they promised. He said, Even though the end may not come in my lifetime, this is the best way to live. I have friends, people who love me in the congregation, and I have morals. Are you saying the way of the world is better? I said, Do you see my freshly cut lawn you commented on earlier? My neighbor across the street came by with her riding mower and without asking or saying a word, mowed my whole lawn. And then she did my next door neigbor's too. A worldly person did this. The world is not all bad. He said, You mean a world where people kill each other and children kill their mothers is a good place? I said, Witnesses are no different. They kill each other and their mothers too. He looked at me skeptically. I said, It is all published. These are from newspapers. They are not made up. If you are open minded enough, I would be happy to get you copies. At this point, the wife, who had been dancing from foot to foot to avoid all the fire ants on my sidewalk, begged her husband to go. She asked me to still read the rags, er, I mean, mags. They left without really saying whether they'd come back, leave me alone, or sic some elders on me. Then I immediately came in and am here.
I very carefully and consciously made an effort NOT to mention the internet anywhere in the conversation, as any reference to the tool of Satan would have pushed their righteous indignation and denial buttons.