I would describe the Watchtower's Disfellowshipping as truly merciless

by sabastious 29 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  sabastious

  In my experience in dealing with disfellowshipping, the disfellowshipping arrangement doesn't in anyway match the criteria you described. For starters, we live in a cold world where people turn their back on each other all the time because a person has no value to another person. This is not the case amongst Jehovah's Witnesses. The disfellowshipped person is highly esteemed in the Christian congregation and their reinstatement is greatly desired. You compared the arrangement with the criminal justice system where there are no second chances. Even if the person is sorry and intends not to repeat the offense, they're still subject to criminal prosecution if deemed guilty in a court of law. If we lived in a perfect world, there would be no need for prisons and the disfellowshipping arrangement. Until that day arrives, the Christian congregation is far more merciful than the secular criminal justice system where a prisoner is in no way guaranteed a welcome back into society as in the Christian congregation.

  Welcome to the forum SuperSpook. I look forward to your posts.

  I believe you when you say you had a different experience and that is part of the problem as a whole; it all depends on what congregation you go to. We condemn "Christendom's permissive worship", but what we don't get is there is a reason they stay out of certain personal arenas (at least they do now). They let the Bible do the teaching and God do the judging. Sure if someone is promoting immorality within the congregation they should be removed until they can provide evidence they will follow the standard set for all Witnesses.

  I don't spank my kids, but I don't judge others for doing just that. Why? Because I do not, and never will, have enough perspective to dictate to another how to raise a child. Many other things besides child rearing are just as complex. How does anyone DF a 17 year old kid that has depression and had sex with his worldy girlfriend because his dad beats him. What if his current circumstance has placed him in a dark place in his life that will translate poorly to anyone who gets in his way? Is his wicked? Does he deserve solitary confinement? In the Wintess framework YES! But it really doesn't matter because he blew his head off.Why? Because he was tested beyond what he can bare? No. He dedicated his life to a religion obsessed with holiness to the point where they can't see the forest for the trees. Unity becomes more imporant than quality of life and what's born from that is exactly what Jesus stood up against in the first place.

  I am very glad that you got to escape the horrors of the Watchtower Society because I do not wish them on anyone. But please do not come to a group where healing is taking place and attempt to minimize their pain because that always ends in more tears.

  -Sab
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  SuperSpook

  "Have you been disfellowshipped, superspook? And if so, did your family and friends shun you?"

  Yes. Some family members wouldn't associate with me, some would. It wasn't the “end of the world” as I got reinstated within a year. I have a disfellowshipped cousin that could give a plugged nickel about family that are Jehovah's Witnesses. She knows the door is always open if she chooses to return to the Truth. For the time being, other things are more important for her than anything to do with family that are Jehovah's Witnesses.
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  poopsiecakes

  "No one should be forced to worship in a way that he finds unacceptable or be made to choose between his beliefs and his family."
  Awake! 2009 July p.29 (p.28)
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  baltar447

  SuperSpook, despite the fact that some family shunned you while others didn't, the official policies are that Jehovah's Witnesses are NOT to have unnecessary contact with Disfellowshipped family members except for "necessary family business".
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  DanaBug

  Our experiences have been different then. The experience that I had made me never want to return. I can't really fault them for it though, they're doing what they're told God wants them to do, it's perfectly acceptable in their minds. It was the end of the world for me, I was dead to God, dead to my family, I would be destroyed at Armageddon. But if my experience had been more like yours, or even if an elder had stopped by to check on me in the previous years I'd been out, maybe I would have tried to get reinstated, even just to have my family back.

  My parents are good Witnesses. They did everything they were told to do. I was baptized at 12 and my sister at 8. I was a regular pioneer at 13. It didn't turn out well for either of us. It's not that I'm a bad person or even love "wickedness". I just don't like being deceived, controlled, blackmailed, or guilted into something. If something's true, there's no need for any of that. I don't think God would operate that way either.
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  journey-on

  The disfellowshipped person is highly esteemed in the Christian congregation and their reinstatement is greatly desired. You compared the arrangement with the criminal justice system where there are no second chances. Even if the person is sorry and intends not to repeat the offense, they're still subject to criminal prosecution if deemed guilty in a court of law. If we lived in a perfect world, there would be no need for prisons and the disfellowshipping arrangement.

  Super Spook, you are looking at only one aspect...an offense or act so reprehensible that it violates the moral code of conduct, an act for which one should logically be repentant. Then, perhaps, in that case, the congregation would be within some reasonable bounds to encourage reinstatement.

  However, what if the disfellowshipping offense is simply that the individual has read, studied, researched, and even prayed about the teachings and finds that they no longer believe the WTS is "The Truth" and desires to leave and not be known as a Jehovah's Witness any longer. How merciless to be faced with loss of family and friends because of one's sincere spiritual search!
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  bobld

  I agree.Just think if a Roman Catholic church treated their members the same.You are a R.C from birth you have no choice but if you left the R.C. church, your family gave you the boot when you turned 18.Is not the WT religion the same for born in J.W.that is a born in J.W. does not have a choice.

  One other thing,the WT gives you the boot for not agreeing with their wishy-washy bible interpetations.Also their are many J.W. that disagree with the policies of the WT but are in for family.

  B
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  poopsiecakes

  I'll never forget the analogy I learned as a witness about religion - if there's one drop of poison in the glass of water, the whole glass is poisoned so don't drink it. The WT swapped the original greek meanings of 'greeting' in 2 John 10. That's one drop...
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  Kensho

  Superspook

  I have experience on both sides, DFd once and involved with many JC cases as an elder. (no longer serving obviously)

  I have noticed over several decades a more merciful approach by the elders to try to help the brothers ( remember the elders are playing by somebody else s' rule book), and only in extreme cases DFing was needed. These were individuals who were repeat offenders and those who just refused to cleanup their act. When I was DFd the JC looked at things more black and white and you got whacked for really stupid stuff, but while serving I only experienced the elders doing their best to extend mercy and they approached things from a loving way considering we were forced to tow the line for the Org.

  Be that as it may, I was always very stressed in passing judgment on my fellow screwed up imperfect humans and thought there must be a better way to discipline wrongdoers without cutting off all association with family that could be an encouragement to come back.

  I tried to imagine Jesus as the head of the cong. sitting on a committee and it just did not fit.

  Finally I had enough and I'm relieved I no longer have to endure that nightmare.

  People get freaked about DFing with the JW's but it is not exclusive to the org. (Catholics excommunicate members) The big difference is the families being forced to shun each other because of men taking things beyond what is written in script. and using DFing as a sword hanging over the R&F members.

  It is a highly effective way of keeping total control- and forcing those who would like to leave stay ( for family & friends) and forcing some to return for the same reasons.

  At any rate whenever or if ever the Creator returns there will be some heavy dues to be paid by those who have convinced themselves they are serving him by this unloving practice of disfellowshipping.

  Welcome to the Forum

  Kensho Satori
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  pirata

  Superspook, welcome to the forum!

  SuperSpook

  Spade

  Your IP hash is similar to another poster who used to post here, but likely a complete coincidence.