by inkling 31 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
Ok, so whenever I would question the justice of the DF policy, I kept
getting the same line (even from my dad, an elder):
People are not disfellowshipped because of the actual SIN, they are
disfellowshipped because of their unrepentance. You can do something
really really bad, but if you are really really SORRY, you will not get
DF'd.
Is this true?
[inkling]
That may be the company line but in reality, if the elders want to disfellowship you, they will. Sometimes even without meeting with you to determine any such "repentance". And even so, how exactly does one go about determining "repentance"? It's so arbitrary and judgmental. And it varies depending on which elders are dealing with your case. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.
tall penguin
Yep, but they are the ones who determine if you are repentant or not.
This is why there have been cases of people being disfellowshipped for minor offenses or even false testimony, because if you defend yourself during a judicial committee meeting then that is a surefire sign of an "unrepentant spirit."
It used to be different, though. It used to be that the act alone was grounds enough to disfellowship.
It would help if you can sling snot and tears. I couldn't, so I got booted.
The jokesters, er I mean the elders also claim if a person makes a practice of sin, doing it multiple times , then alledgedly that shows lack of remorse right there . You can cry all you want , but they will DF you! What Tall Penguin said is right, if they want you out bad enough , if they don't like your personality, or you didn't kiss up to them while in good standing, eventually you will be on their "hit " list of people they want out. Especially if you are a independent thinker, as I was ! But , you're better off being out from under their control ! Peace out, Mr. Flipper
But , you're better off being out from under their control !
for sure, once you are removed of remove yourself from the witness circle
you are no longer under their control... But I don't think one has to get
disfellowshiped to take back your own life. We choose who has authority
over us. If you make your own conscientious decisions and refuse to be
put on a guilt trip by the elders, how are you still being controlled by them?
Recently I stopped going to the Book Study altogether. They no longer even
ask me about it.
I have to admit though, an evening spent with my parents sure brings back
feelings of guilt.
[ink]
I agree with the above comments about it being the elders' judgmentalism that mainly determines the outcome. (It also helps save you from being DF'd if you're able to squeeze out enough crocodile tears.)
There's one more factor -- and that is the notoriety of the sin. If it's embarrassing enough or well-enough known, it'll tick off the elders and be more likely to cause a DF'ing.
the november 15 2006 wt para 3 page 27 says
"disfellowshipping takes place only if a member of the congregation unrepentantly engages in gross sin" (italics their's)
this is a lie - and the writers, proofreaders, gb members who okayed this, cos, dos, and all congregation elders know it.
and i bet not one of them had the guts to say so when this was discussed.
I was under the impression that if the sin was consdered a practice, then it was evidence of unrepentice.That meant if you did the same "naughty" thing more than once no matter how sorry you were, you would be disciplined. I think people who accept blood once are screwed though, apparently they cant feel sorry for needing medical treatment.
This is utter crap, I was disfellowshipped after turning myself in for fornication. Their "reason" for dfing me was because I went and married the guy I fornicated with against their advice, now, it had nothing to do with unrepentant sinning, and everything to do with teaching me who had the power and how dare I go against them.
