What are the percentage of reinstated JWs that really repented for their sins or fake their repentance?

by asilentone 15 Replies latest jw experiences

• 

  Gayle

  I seem to remember, somewhere I read, about 1/3 of disfellowshipped ones get reinstated. Some getting DF'd on a personal issue, get reinstated I think sincerely, just wanting to improve their life, but I don't think the act of DFing in reality was necessary or helpful for them.

  People in all realms get into bad/tough spots and, eventually improve or move on. At least their circles, family and friends, don't shun, but remain with them, loving and encouraging them. The scourge of social shunning and aloneness doesn't help anyone.
• 

  Heartbreaker

  I didn't feel quilty as much as shamed.

  I wasn't repentant as much as wanted off punishment.

  I should have just been more brave and not went back. I regret that more than "getting caught" or "sinning".
• 

  upnorth

  Years after getting out, I recall hearing comedians joke about how guilty Catholics are. And then I'd remember how every step as a Dub is guided by guilt payable to men.

  I'd say the percentage of Dubs that have lied to be reinstated is close to 100%.
• 

  JWoods

  Back in the 1970s, when I was first an overseer and then an elder, we had far fewer DFs in my area than is reported to be the case now. I can remember probably less than 10 cases and maybe half that many who were reinstated.

  Looking back, I would say that every single case we reinstated were essentially like what Heartbreaker wrote above:

  I wasn't repentant as much as wanted off punishment.

  I might also note that back in those ancient days, it was inconceivable to us that an elder could be DFd, later repent, and within a year or two become an elder again.

  I think the standards for being DFd, and being reinstated, (and in turn being made elder again) have been considerably reduced.
• 

  aSphereisnotaCircle

  One of the difficulties is that the very act of reinstatement or reproof leads many to feel that they didn't do anything wrong in the first place or lets them claim that the original decision was wrong. I've heard lots of people say that "I should never have been DFd or reproved" , which leads me to wonder just how repentant they really were.
• 

  luna2

  Who can tell? Ah, if the elders could only read minds, eh? Of course, then they'd get their own minds read by the other mind-reading elders and that might not be good for their JW careers.

  I never got into a DFing situation back when I believed, but I suspect I would have been the sorriest of the sorry and knelt down to take my lashes like a proper little slave if I'd gotten into hot water. I was kind of stupid that way. Hopefully, not so much any more.

  I'm also sure that there were any number of JWs who got caught and were only sorry for getting caught, not for whatever transgression they committed.