These are your words, Deano. They tell me that I didn’t stand a chance with you before you even got to this web site and that you don’t know what you’re talking about. If you’re this bigoted, then those words don’t deserve a real response because you aren’t going to listen anyway. Nice job reaching out, BTW. Good luck making converts this way.

You then proceed to mention a handful of experiences you’ve had with JWs, and equate that with the years of trauma that people who grew up in the religion have had. Then you toss their experiences and problems aside like they’re nothing because … what? … I made a post they could identify with and you disagreed with it? Boo hoo for you.

Deano, there is nothing constructive, useful, or remotely positive in your post. You are not reaching out. You are not trying to square any misunderstandings of mine or your own. And believe me, you’ve misunderstood a lot. The whole thing just seems like your stream of consciousness after a knee jerk reaction to the title of my post. Try taking a breath for pity’s sake. You sound (or read) like a crazy person. I can head you beating the crap out of your Bible with every double question mark.

If you actually have something useful to say, then that’s what you should have said. If you’re just here to lash out, then be a little more mature and let it go or I’ll ban you from posting here any more. I’ve thought about creating a forum here. If and when I do, that’ll be the place for tirades of self righteousness. And even then, only so long as they don’t get out of hand.

Ok?

I have been at the JWs memorial service every year for the past 6 years. I live next door to JWs and not once have they tried to force their opinions on me. All my life I have believed that their word, conduct and intentions are true… Infact if I consider what is belived to be the general theme of the bible I challenge anyone to prove it untrue…

The New World translation is a “traslation” i believe there is alot of room for speculation…what if bla bla bla….

How are so many prepared to pour their faith into Democracy, world leaders, war…even though none of the above have EVER worked out?? We are fed so much bull shit everyday and swallow it whole…

Were not here to kill each other, for our sons and daugters to die, to starve or suffer….

Jehovahs Witnesses are our only hope for the future we long for.. If theyre wrong then whats the point??

When Witnesses just keep coming back every once in a while, I honestly think it’s sort of like an itch that starts bugging them so they just HAVE to scratch it. Trouble is, you’re the itch. I’ve noticed a correlation between the times they do this to me and their big “go get’em” conventions. When family or friends come back from a big convention, they’re chock full of zeal. It’s like walking away from a new Rocky movie back in the 80s, ya know?

Suddenly, they can leap tall buildings and outrun trains and crap like that. So they try again with no accumulated memory of all their other failed attempts whatsoever. They make the same mistakes, say the same stupid things that only push us further away, and are just as blind to their own bad behavior as they were the last time. Darn, and they were so sure this would be the time that would get ya.

Next time this happens to you, you might try taking the wind from their sails with something like: “Uh, you didn’t just come back from *another* convention, did you?” Might be a good opportunity to seize the initiative and turn the tables back on them.

IsaacJ

Brian
http://www.godless-heathen.com

You don’t know how many times I thought about disassociating myself with a written letter. Especially during the first few years when the in-laws kept coming around. I finally decided to make it harder for the Elders. But even as it is, I do whatever the heck I like. If they come around, I’ll will calmly explain to them that I’m not impressed with their so called “authority.”

I know that the Society considers atheism grounds for apostasy. I read in the Insight books that a lack of faith in Jehovah or the Governing Body was grounds for apostasy. ::COUGH::Cult::COUGH:: At least some of my in-laws know I’m a dirty old non-believer, but nothing has come of it. Yet.

Thanks for your comments. It’s weird looking back and seeing myself *from the inside* as I was then. I wasn’t raised in the Society and I wasn’t a Witness for as long as you. But even so, my attitude from the Watchtower days makes me uncomfortable now.

They confuse believing with knowing. Hence, they just “know” it’s “The Truth” when in fact they only BELIEVE it’s “The Truth.” I think that’s the sort of thinking that lends itself to fanaticism.

What should we expect when the Society keeps telling them how right they all are…

In #4 you said, “Sorry folks, but if you want me to take this seriously, then you’ll have to treat me as an equal.”

The problem is they don’t view you or anyone else who isn’t a JW as an equal at all. Although they may deny it, JWs feel a superiority as an exclusive group entrusted with “the truth”, and as a result they treat every one with ill-concealed condescension. The reason I can say that is because I was there – I was one. Even as a teenager I would instinctively look down on someone who dared challenge or disagree with the ‘obvious truth’ I was sharing with them. I felt pity for them and thought them to be foolish. Imagine a 15 year old kid condescending to a mature adult on the subject of God. What the hell did I know?! It would almost be comedic if it wasn’t so sad.

Anyway, great article!