Two kindly old gentlemen came to visit to see if I would like to come to the meetings againa.
I explained to them kindly the full circumstances for me leaving and that I had found information that disturbed me a great deal about the background wheeling and dealing within the society and that it was enough to make me have greater doubts about the authenticity of teachings given.
I told them that the cosietys stance towards those who leave and the labelling of "mentally diseased" and "sick" are words that would never come out of Jehovahs mouth as he is God of pure love.
The kindly listened while I told them that I indeed miss the congregation and I knew how it was hard for those who know me to ignore me but that was proof enough that such a stance of shunning hurts even those who had nothing to do with any event that resulted in disfelowshipping.
I forcefully told them that those who are labelled as 'apostates" are not out to do anything to the congregation, they are simply people who can no longer believe what is being taught and freely expres, in the majority of cases, scriptural grounds for their disagreement. Many still hold fast to alot of techings as they want truth.
One of them smiled the whole way through the conversation, the other looked at me as if I was the devil! I told them I respect them for the stance they take in their life but it equates to the stance I take that I will not be told what I believe is wrong and therefor should be accorded the same respect I give to them.
"what is worse?' I asked. "someone who goes along with a non belief just to be part of the congregation, or someone who walks away so they are not hypocritical"?
I closed the door.