I left late last month at last. I live with PIMI parents (who i love and have a good relationship with). The elders who I saw to tell are also nice men. I explained the numerous reasons I left - in very brief I included evolution proof, being pansexual, having gay and trans friends, wanting to do activism, and parts of the Bible they deliberately change or interpret wrong, including 607. So far the only thing they've emailed me about is 607, trying to show it is correct sending this article again as if I hadn't read it many times. Now as I said these are some genuinely nice people. But it also bugs me. Do I send them back with the proof it is wrong pr should I ghost them? I told them I was open minded and when I dont respond I worry it makes it look like I dont have a good answer back.
I guess it depends a bit on what you mean when you say you “left”? Are you just “inactive”?
In general I’d say, take your time. Don’t rush.
You can always tell folks that you need some time to think (a few weeks?). People who wake up often feel an urge to try and wake others up, and sometimes have bridges burned on them.
Ahh I woke up recently and I’m trying really hard to keep my mouth shut. I failed a few times …
Thank you. I told them all I was out, didn't believe it and didnt want to be a part of it. But that I liked them as people and I wouldn't mind them talking to me.
So stick to what you said. You said that you want to be no part of it. If you engage with them, you are still acting like you're part of it A big part of exjw is not only having independent thought, but also being able to hold a firm no.
Not responding to them when they come back afterwards about 607 shows confidence. It a way to say "I said no'" without saying it again. Don't be baited.
If you really feel like you need to respond, I would only double down on my boundaries. You're not going to save these guys. They won't see what they don't want to see.
My mother send me the exact same article and I just told her that anything that comes from the Watchtower it’s an interpretation based on doctrine and it’s not necessarily historically accurate. The majority of articles like this one are made to reaffirm their doctrine and beliefs.
You can just ghost them and be happy with your life, they’re not going to change their minds and neither will you.
This is what made things so hard for me. What still remains such a challenge. Some of the people I left behind were genuinely nice people.And I still love my family.
But....
You have to understand that it is their mission to save anyone They can. It's not just a choice... They have been conditioned to believe that this is a life and death situation. They will continue to be relentless. Trying to argue with them will become frustrating. Because you are so brand new in your decision, it would be more appropriate to establish boundaries that are going to protect you as you discover who you really want to become. And in order to do that, most people have to stay away for a little bit.
It's hard for me to answer a question related to what you should do. Personally I would do nothing. Convince yourself that anything they send to you will never define you, and start trying to establish a healthier life. Some people choose to flat out.Tell them i'm not coming back...Stop sending me stuff, i chose to fade. Well, it was a little more complicated for me. Iwas also Didfellowshipd. But I made a pact out of anger that I would get reinstated to be able to speak to my family and then leave. And I did exactly that. Not even two days after I got reinstated.I told my family I would never come back.
I did my own thing for quite a while. It is now years later and I can go back and have a relationship with my parents that is healthier and has the right boundaries. The best part, they agreed to never bring up religion again.
Thank you for your message it sounds a good plan.
Maybe you can reply that you have read that article many times, and are not convinced, but acknowledge that it is something you don't see coming to agreement upon.
That's a tough one and I can see why you're on the fence about it. I guess the answer depends on if you're willing to be disfellowshipped over it. Showing the proof to them might result in that, or it might cause them to call a judicial committee to grill you until they find a reason to disfellowship you.
Slow, ghost them or not they don't care. You are not going to convince them. "Yea we too are gonna leave, we don't want to be important anymore"
You might be interested in this post about 607 / 1914. - https://www.reddit.com/r/exjw/comments/1jx5ia6/36_reasons_why_the_jw_understanding_of_1914_607/
in answer to the title, NO, no you don't try to explain. as nice as the elders may be, they are in a cult. they will give you the only thing they have to give you when you bring up falsehoods in the cult: whatever thei cult offers in way of 'explanation.' they don't understand the article they sent you, it's just what they had to send.
you cannot look good in their eyes, be approved, AND live a normal life, these are mutually exclusive. jws teach that EVERYBODY who leaves does so because they selfishly want to sin, they are turning their back on god, and that satan has gotten into their brain. have you EVER heard of someone who left for honest and honorable reasons at the KH? that's not considered a possibility.
there is no reason to continue the discussion, really.
Arguing doctrine will just get you labeled as an apostate. Unless you are willing to lose your family and those “nice men,” don’t do it.
Your proof does nothing to their indoctrination.