It's just dawned on me...

Billygoat

...that JW's have a hard time forgiving others because they themselves are rarely forgiven for their own sins. According to their beliefs Jehovah keeps track of every detail of your life...good and bad. That even if you are humble and repent of your sins, that there is still no true forgiveness until the New System. Only then are you completely sinless and forgiven for your past. Up until then you have no guarantee your sins won't be held against you. So basically they believe that Jehovah is quick to anger and slow to forgive. The total opposite of actual Bible principles. Is it any wonder that the rank and file are petty, angry, bitter, small-minded, unforgiving people? That's all they know when that's how their Jehovah acts. We all know many are just products of their leadership.

I know that probably doesn't come as a surprise to many of you, but it's just dawned on me and I thought I'd share how/why this has just hit me...

I've been in an email war with my dad the last day or so. I asked him yesterday for forgiveness for the pain my DFing has caused him and the family. His response? "It's not my place to forgive you for the pain you've caused us. It's Jehovah's." I totally disagreed with this, because even according to the bible you should be forgiving of others. And I know I don't need his forgiveness, but my point was to extend a hand of humility with the hopes that he would not be so hard-hearted towards me. Anyway, the email war was not an overly emotional WAR, but more a conversation. We've both been polite and matter of fact until my Dad's last response.

Andi,
I deleted the message without reading it. This is going nowhere. There is nothing more I can do.
Take care.
Pops

So I guess the conversation is over. I just find it so amazing that they are so quick to turn their ears off to hearing anything against their beliefs. So sad.

Andi

PS: And another thing I just realized...the way Dad signs his notes. I don't ever remember him writing "Love, Pops". He always writes "Take care, Pops". "Take care" is a way I sign off with ex-boyfriends and old co-workers...never family.

Does anyone want to adopt me? I'm little and quiet and fun and sweet. I don't take up much space and don't eat a lot. Well...okay...I do eat a lot, but I have a job and can pay for my own food.

YoYoMama

He's probably tired of you going on and on and on and on and on and on with silly doubts and criticism of Jehovahs people.

closer2fine

We'll adopt you! I can always use another Texas around the house :o)

(((((((((((andi))))))))))

of course we'll need to move in with you so we can get our Texas citizenship back (been in Yankeeland too long)

closer

closer2fine

YoYoMama -

Bite Me!

closer

JeffT

I find it appalling that people can be led to treat their own family like this. I'd love to adopt you, but I think the wife might have a word or two on that.

I agree with your basic premise. Here is an interesting contrast. Witnesses ALWAYS end their prayers asking for Jehovah's forgiveness. In twelve years of attending a Christian church I've NEVER heard anyone ask God for forgiveness, because everybody at our church knows they already have it.

Makes for a very different environment.

ashitaka

I will andi...although I'm younger so people may question the legitity of it all......I'm sorry, kid. I've heard the same coming from my wife's side. The top of your posts speaks to me the most. That's why I am an ass when it comes to the foriveness of JW's....I was given no leeway myself.

I'm sorry Andi. The offer still stands!!!

ashi

ashitaka

Oh, YOYO,

Kiss our collective asses you simplistic fuck!!! Stay off of the threads that are sad, or wanting for a kind word; stick to the Fred Hall posts, you degenerate.

ashi

Pierced Angel

That's terrible Andi considering how humble you were being. {{{{Andi}}}
Want to come up and go tobogganing, skiing, ice skating and singing Christmas carols with us? I could use a friend right now too. It's hard because I can't really call anyone anymore and my mom always cuts our conversations short now.

Really, if you ever want to have some winter fun in Michigan, consider yourself officially invited to be our guest.
Try to cheer up and be thankful you're free of that negative brainwashing. Your Pops still has time to come around and change. Don't give up, but don't get discouraged either.

Anne

Billygoat

(((closer and ashi)))

Yeah - I think you might be too young to adopt me, but thanks for the offers! I'd believe Neil might have an issue with me being adopted by a guy younger than me too. Haha!

Yo yo ma - I've been very careful about not criticizing the JW beliefs in my last couple of emails. Those emails have been about my relationship with Dad. That's it. But he's taking it very personal that I don't intend to go back. So he acts like a jerk. Well, the way I look at it is this: If it's not his place to forgive, then it's not his place to act like an ass either.

But then again...I wouldn't be surprised if he was in on this board posing as You Know, Fred, or ... perhaps you?

Andi

siegswife

Andi, It's terrible that your dad continues to alienate you to the extent he does. Maybe if you looked at it from a different perspective, your pain would be less. (Maybe not)

My dad isn't a JW, but he continually does and says things that translate into rejection of his children (except my brother). It sounds to me like you actually have BETTER communication with your father on a personal level than I do with mine.

I'm sure there are many people who don't communicate well with, OR feel loved and accepted by their parents. It seems like you and your dad suffer from this more in that regard than anything directly related to JW's. (Other than that is what HE believes and you don't)

At least you can talk to him about deeper aspects of your differences on some occassions, which is more than I can say about my dad. (((HUG)))

It's just dawned on me...

Bite Me!

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