I had a little chat with a neighbor tonight and somehow we started talking about fanatical religious people. She started telling me about a priest she used to know that was fleecing members of the church and got away with a hefty sum of money. Well isn't this down my alley???
At the end I add in that the worst part of this is that a man of God betrayed the trust of the congregation.
Yes she says. Some of them still can't go into a church anymore.
I'm nodding and listening and then ask my question. Have you heard of Jehovah's Witnesses. I think she was expecting me to say I was one. But I told her I used to be one but left 20 years ago.
Well.... the story she had for me. Years ago she had a younger family member (forgot the relationship) but this fellow married a JW. (Turns out they went to the same hall I got married in. It is such a small world) Because they had hardly any money this neighbor invited the realive and hiw JW wife to live with them until they gor settled. The husband went to work and the JW wife went knocking on doors. The JW was able to get a Russian Bible for my neighbor and she was very happy to have it.
Now my neighbor says she went to some meetings and it sounds like the JW was studying with her. Then one day the elders came to visit the two couple. The elders sat down and told my neighbor and her husband that Mr X is disfellowshipped and you cannot invite him into your home or speak to him My neighbor used the trem "disfellowshipped". Years later she still remembers what it was called.
I don't think I have seen this woman that upset before. She said she stood up in front of the elders and told them that was the most unloving and unChristian thing she ever heard of. And she never went to another meeting. The couple moved out shortly after this because the JW was pregnant and they needed more space.
But my neighbor was still angry after all these years that so-called Christians would treat anyone like that. And she went on to tell me that from what she found out the JWs don't even beleive that Jesus died for them - just for 144,000 - how stupid is that?
Yes the WTS is making a name for themselves. This must have happened over 30 or 40 years ago and wow did it ever make an impression!!!