Could You Forgive the Watchtower? (page 2)

tall penguin

Thanks Ms. Whip for a great post.
I remember reading once that forgiveness has nothing to do with the other person. You forgive for yourself, to free yourself from the painful ties that bind you to the hurtful action of another. You forgive so you are no longer under the power of another.
In my experience, forgiveness is an intention, not necessarily a one-time choice. As we uncover more layers of our hurt there are more things that need forgiving. So it's an ongoing, unfolding process. It begins with the intention of forgiving and then our energy and resources flow towards that intention, freeing us from the anger, bitterness and resentment that can otherwise consume us.
I'm still learning this one. It's not easy. And I'm finding that the hardest person to forgive is myself.
tall penguin

Narkissos

Re: sincerity, honesty or the lack thereof...

I think one big flaw of Christian ethics (which promotes forgiveness) has been to overemphasise the importance of conscious intention. The serious sin is the conscious, willful, deliberate one. This results in excusing the unconscious and, in turn, to dissuade self-consciousness because the more conscious the more guilty you are.

It seems to me that only a very small part of the harm people can suffer results from deliberately harmful actions, and a lot more from well-meaning stupidity. So the question of forgiving or not forgiving the sincere idiots who never found the courage to look into themselves is a perfectly valid one imo.

juni

Based on godly forgiveness principle -

A person/persons would have to repent and turn around.

Can't imagine the WTB&TS doing that.

Juni

serendipity

I used to think that forgiveness would benefit the guilty ones. I realized that forgiveness is actually most beneficial for ME and is the greatest gift I could give myself.

beautifulisfree

Forgive, Yes although they do not deserve anyones forgiveness.

Forget, Nope

BizzyBee

There is nothing to forgive. We all make our own choices in life.

Hardly fair to those of us raised in it. I don't remember ever having a choice until I became an adult. So my first 23 years, when most of the important choices in life are made, were stolen from me. I say, bugger 'em, too.

daystar

BizzyBee

I'm with you for the most part, having been raised in myself. If I'd not been raised in, I'd probably see things quite differently.

However, Ms. Whip makes good points. It is important to get beyond the anger, etc. However, forgiveness is another matter entirely. The WBTS would have to make up things to me... an impossibility.

Sometimes, when the transgression is great enough, there simply can be no forgiveness, and one must turn their back and move on.

sammielee24

Sometimes, when the transgression is great enough, there simply can be no forgiveness, and one must turn their back and move on

couldn't agree more daystar....for those raised in the 'truth', there was never a choice. Decisions made knowingly by men that altered the lives and future for so many - decisions that time and again we hear were made by men who 'went along' with enforcing the rules following the decision but who did not necessarily understand nor believe them deep in their heart. Too many times we have heard of elders/CO's/PO's who enforced rules from the top, but who questioned in their heart or openly, the validity of those rules and discipline - but did nothing.

Any person who is violated in any way must move forward in order to heal and live a productive, healthy life - but forgiveness? of what? why? Why should a child forgive the molester? Why should a woman forgive the rapist? Are we forgiving the act or deed, or forgiving the person? Not forgiving does not reduce one to becoming a monster full of anger or vengeance..it simply means that one can accept the violation as one moment in a lifetime, learn from it, acknowledge it for what is was and put it in the proper place inside your heart and your mind.

The Watchtower has violated many people - they continue to do so.

sammieswife.

slimboyfat

Hardly fair to those of us raised in it. I don't remember ever having a choice until I became an adult.

Please see my "Some apostates are more equal that others" thread.

Slim

greendawn

If forgiving them means cooperating with them then no. As said above harbouring animosities can cause physical and health problems so that is best avoided.

On the other hand we have every right to expose and undermine them as long as they continue to lie and hurt people. They are very unlikely to repent and change their ways.

Could You Forgive the Watchtower?

Share this