Hi all;
As you can tell, I am another newbie, so I thought I would introduce myself. I have been quietly reading the posts for some time now and thought it time to join in.
I am a 53 year old grandpa (neither daughter or their husbands are JW) married to JW woman with three kids, ages 15, 16, 17. Therein lies the source of my discourgement and subsequent disassociation from the JWs. I outlined my involvement with the JWs in my profile, if any are interested. I am a conservative free thinker, not bound to any mindset and research matters on my own. I do not have a problem with what the Watchtower teaches, in general, but came to realize that what they teach is not necessarily what they follow, especially down at the Kingdom Halls locally. To me, that is hypocrisy.
Maybe I should have seen it when I was studying. The Brother I studied with, along with his wife, let me know up front that I was really stupid for serving in the US Army and doing two tours in Vietnam. But, I let that comment slide. You see, the JWs are close to what I actually believe, but not completely. I don't think anyone actually is.
After my trouble started within the congregation, an elder iinformed me to hang tough, that I was just going through a "test of faith." This is the same elder that chewed me out privately for 50 minutes outside the Kingdom Hall over some manipulative ;ies my then 8 year old step-son told him about me. This is briefly addressed in my profile. He also told me that satan attacks us where we least expect it, including using those in the Kingdom Halls, which led to the question I ask in my signature, how can satan and God's spirit both work inside the Kingdom Hall? I thought the KHs were a place of peace and comfort and a way to avoid satans influence. Of course, no answer, just told it was a "test of faith."
I don't have a problem with being shunned by the JWs as I did initiate the DAing myself. However, I do have a problem with them coming into my house and taking advantage of my hospitality, goods and wares and then turning their noses up at me if I walk into the room. Therefore, I placed a notice on the outside of my front door stating;
"NOTICE TO ALL Jehovah’s Witnesses !
If your conscience dictates that you
shun and ignore the disassociated head
of this household; Then your conscience should
also dictate that you not enter the premises
or take advantage of the possessions purchased
or owned by that same disassociated head
of the household.
In plain English, if you cannot be cordial
and friendly and greet ALL members of
this house, then please exercise your
freedom to leave the property!"
Needless to say, I succeeded in upsetting the wife and her kids. In fact, the 16 year old daughter ripped the notice off the front door while I was at work the next day. I put it back up and informed them all if it came off again, I would paint JWs NOT WELCOME in two foot high letters across the front door. The wife came to agree that I was well within my rights as the main provider of the household and as the head of the house, to post such a notice, after she asked her elders and they stated that I was within my rights. With her asking the elders if I am permitted to do certain things tells me that our marriage is not going to last much longer.
I do see the JWs as not being very family supportive, unless you are towing their party line. Even then, this "pure language" message they claim seems to vary a large degree from area to area.
In closing, I bid you all a good day and pray that we all find the peace that God intended for us.
If God's Spirit is filling a Kingdom Hall, how is it that Satan can manuever the ones within that Kingdom Hall at the same time?