Did you ever really believe that god wanted you to shun people? (page 3)

WTWizard

For petty offenses? Hardly--why would God want anyone to shun someone just because they didn't believe everything the Washtowel Slaveholdery tells them? Of course, I never believed that God was benevolent. In fact, I believe that God is not above making others suffer needlessly because His target needs to be "built" up with more tribulation and higher (totally unreasonable) standards that cannot possibly be reached.

It is wholly possible that God wants certain people to reject me (notably, the opposite sex) solely so I can be used at a Grand Boasting Session to lambaste (i.e., slander) those "secret" societies and worldly people, and then join the Value Destroyer Training School and plunge the whole world into the Second Dark Ages. That is consistent with all my direct observations of what kind of being God has been to me all my life. I wouldn't, however, expect Him to want anyone to be shunned simply for smoking, say, or buying a lottery ticket.

LovesDubs

I always hated it. I never thought GOD wanted shunning but I was QUITE sure the Society did and it was the Society I was afraid of not obeying! I went over and talked to some DFd folks who were attending the DC once and caught HELL for it! I said, "They came all the way here and sat through three days of talks and are trying so hard...I was trying to ENCOURAGE them!" And they warned me that I could be next if I did it again!

AHs

TIMBOB

It is not that I beleived thats what god wanted. I was born in. So, I never thought any different. In my pre teens my sister was DF'd and We all shunned her. Looking back now, I wish I was older. I would of screwed that rule. Now she has passed on. I lost a more then year of my sisters life. I try not to think about it now because it makes me bitter about the org. and that ruins my positive thinking of life.

So, now that I think about it, I guess I never really did think that God wanted you to shun people.

Its is funny. As a witness you look at other religions and groups and talk about how ludacris some of the things they do. Now on the outside looking in, I think, them are some crazy people. who in the world would get wraped up in that?

MY 2 PENNIES

TBOB

hillbilly

Back when Ray F was the only glimmer of light up in NYC he (I assume) wrote some good things about consciense and shunning.

Shunning ...if done in the sprit intended ... should be a personal thing, not collective.

If you have a problem with a persons actions ...maybe you should distance yourself for your own protection.

Yea.. I know the way the WT basterdizes the gospel... but after 20+ in that was how I read it.

I spoke to or looked at anyone I wanted to the whole time I was there. Most JWs are sheep, I guess I was a sheepdog.

Hill

Amber Rose

I was never really friends with anyone who was DF'd, so shunning them wasn't really an issue. I figured it was something that they had to work between thier own families - I wasn't a factor. But then a very good friend of mine was DF'd (technically he DA'd, but..). This really bothered me alot. It didn't make sence to me and I didn't know what to do. I believed that he was going to die because he couldn't force himself to conform to WT standards. And I know that he tried. Also, I didn't think that God was that much of a jerk that he would kill someone just because they weren't perfect - he'd have to kill everyone! I knew that ignoring my friend was not going to rewire his brain. And if he wasn't to survive the big A, shouldn't I be getting the most out of our friendship now, while I still had the chance? I decided then that shunning was wrong. Although I did seek him out and we are friends again, I wasn't there when he really needed his friends. I'm still disappointed with myself for that.

LongHairGal

No I didn't and I never played their stupid game. Whenever I saw a DF'd person I always smiled or made eye contact.

The reason they want people to shun a DF'd or DA'd person is because they are afraid members of the religion will find out some of these people found fault with the doctrines of the religion. So, they preach that it is for a protection that you shun somebody who is DF'd or DA'd. Actually, it is a protection for them. They want people to think the DF'd or DA'd person is out because of 'immorality' not because something is wrong with the religion.

LHG

joannadandy

I remember being young and falling for the reasoning, "They left us" -- I didn't equate it with God at that point, but that those people didn't want us to talk to them. It wasn't until I was MUCH older and on my way out that I finally saw the other side of shunning and considered what was going on for those being shunned and the reality of the "loving discipline" that was going on.

IP_SEC

Yes... well I believed that my shunning them might make them come back so we could both be together in pair of dice forever.

Hope4Others

I never played the game either...I always said "Hello how are you doing", never could bring myself to

their concept of df. Treat them like you would the "World" well I have nicety's for them too...

I even took my son and a df friend of his for breakfast one morning, although I did run into a jw from

my town who sat right across from us...never heard boo over it either..did not no what to expect when

I got back to where I live. Odds of that happening??????

hope4others

Switch

Yeah, I did and I followed the rules to the letter. I believed a lot of crap though including that the WTS was a good, well-meaning religious org. Hubby and I didn't talk to his sis for 17 years. Fortunately, she's held no grudge and we're getting to know her and her family now.

Did you ever really believe that god wanted you to shun people?

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