by Frenchy 44 Replies latest jw friends
Amazing,
You say they claim to be a Christian organization, but they do not practice Christianity. I know this is off-topic in this thread, but I'd like to know what "practicing Christianity" means for you, and which are the organizations that in your opinion practice Christianity. From my point of view, Christianity has been so ambiguous from the onset that not even the Apostles could agree among themselves what Christianity was.
JJ
nytelecom1 "Peeped":
df'ing keeps whe crybabies out of the cong..Remarkable to note your general lack of humanity there nytelco. Tell me, should we string them up and boil them in oil now? Heaven forbid you have members of the "cong" with *GASP* actual PROBLEMS. Heaven forbid you to councel them and help them see past their weakness. Nah... "That would be what Jesus would have done, and hell, we have the governing body! WE DON'T NEED NO STINKING JESUS!"
Frenchy,
You are quite correct sir, shunning is something quite undesirable, in fact it is unscriptural as well. You mention something about another thread on this subject, not sure if you meant one of mine “Report on meeting with PO”, a few pages down or perhaps some other. The last I saw it had over 500 hits. As reported in that thread, I educating an Elder about how unbiblical the shunning practiced by the Witnesses is, also about the blood issue. I forced him to see my view, the biblical view, that we are instructed to treat someone dis-fellowshipped just like anyone that is a non-member, “as a man of the nations and as a gentile”. Your feelings are dead on, and as you suggested it is really a very uncomplicated issue. Unfortunately, the Watch Tower uses shunning as a very effective control device, and that is something they will not easily give up. My question is, if you and I can see this simple truth, why is it so hard for so many others to see this too?
Freeman
boil in oil....nope....that would kill them...and we will
leave that to Jehovah when Armageddon time comes around...(not that
ALL df'd people will die at armageddon)
we always need jesus and why do you feel he stinks???
p.s..what the hell is peeped
I wonder how congregations would react if an announcement were made that shunning was no longer practiced. I'm sure some would feel a sense of relief but I wonder about the many others who would be mightily unhappy if that happened. I think some people really need the sense of power and moral security that comes from shunning in order to feel special. I wonder if you took away their license to feel superior and act cruelly, if there wouldn't be at least a handful of people who would be entirely disappointed. In general, I'm far more concerned for those who demonstrate good, gentle hearts than those who get off on the superiority complex but I think it's interesting that there are probably some who would be more than a little miffed at losing their psychologically abusive upper hand.
detective, it's a sound thought, but also those people who were shunned and came back.....wouldn't they be enraged? What about the families who tortured their family members with shunning. Their guilt would be ridiculous. And people have killed themselves over bring disfellowshipped and such.....that's a heavy bruden of bloodguilt ont he org.
i wouldn't want to be in their shoes when it all hit the fan, which just shows why they'll never repeal their shunning edict.
ashi
Frenchy,
I pretty much agree with you. My definition of morality may differ from yours or the Watchtower society.
No problem, revoke my membership. Don't allow me to participate in your events. I have no problem with this either. All groups have rules for their members.
Coercing family members and friends to treat you as if you do not exist any longer is where they cause harm to people.
Joel
I doubt they will ever change the policy on shunning. I'm sure they no how many would outright walk away, no longer quietly. They must know how many continue to fill the R&F who truly don't "believe" this is the right religion, but do not leave for fear of losing family and friends. Without this punishment, they would lose control. Without control, they would lose publishers. Without publishers, they would lose money. Without money.............
petts.......nail on the head.....
The dfing has to stay in place to control the masses and to keep them from leaving the org. It keeps them so scared of losing their eternal life that they put up with anything that is thrown at them. Think of it. What is there was no dfing? So many would leave because the threat of losing out on life would not be in place. Then what would the GB do about the dwindling masses? The dfing keeps them in power over the r and f. Overload them with field service, meetings, and studying so that they cannot think or respond and throw in the dfing and you have total control of people and their lives. Religion is the Opium of the People - Karl Marx.
