Divorce and Separation-2/8/02 Awake!

by Mister Biggs 25 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

• 

  Mister Biggs

  In the past, didn't the Society always say that under
  no circumstances one may get divorced EXCEPT on the
  grounds of adultery?
  They always cited the scripture that God is hating a
  divorce.
  Read the imformation above carefully. I have come to
  the conclusion that the Society is not so much
  frowning on divorce but, rather, they are saying
  that one can divorce they just can't remarry
  unless they were divorced for infidelity.
  Is this, like, 'new light' or have I just been ignorant
  of this belief?
  In summation, the article says:
  Divorce?: Yes.
  Remarry?: Yes, only if there was adultery
  involved. No, if not.
  Separate?: Yes. Only for willfull nonsupport,
  extreme physical abuse (I suppose some physical abuse is okay as long as it's not too extreme.
  Oh, and I guess mental abuse (extreme or otherwise) is
  fine to inflict, too!), and absolute endangerment
  of a believer's spirituality.

  "If divorce is pursued under such circumstances, one would
  not be free to enter a new marriage" (except on the grounds
  of fornication).

  Oh, and the title on the actual cover of the Awake! is
  'The Wedding Day - Making It a Joyful Beginning'
• 

  Moxy

  nothing new here since about 10 years ago.
• 

  dedalus

  Another is extreme physical abuse.

  Only extreme abuse? So, if it's just some mild physical abuse, you have to stay together, is that it? What makes it "extreme abuse," anyway -- do a certain number of bones have to be broken before one qualifies for a divorce or seperation?

  And psychological abuse is something everyone should tolerate too, right?

  Here's a radical idea -- why not let the people who are in the marriage decide? Christ, I can see the ignorant judicial committees now, grilling Witness women as if they were guilty of some sex crime: "So, did he hit you with the back of his hand, or with his fist? Did he leave a bruise? What color was the bruise? Oh, that doesn't sound too extreme to me, sister -- I usually beat my wife to a bloody pulp!"

  Dedalus
• 

  Mister Biggs

  Well, Moxy, I guess I've been living in a bubble the last 10 years. LOL!
• 

  zev

  And psychological abuse is something everyone should tolerate too, right?

  HELL NO!

  -Zev
  Learn about the Wtbts and the U.N.
  ** http://www.geocities.com/plowbitch69 **
• 

  Mister Biggs

  dedalus-

  I was quite surprised when I read that, too. Who defines
  "extreme"? The elders? The GB? If it leaves a mark or
  scar, is that what they mean by extreme? Any current or
  former elders like to provide any insight to this? It's
  really a demented rule they have.
• 

  Gopher

  Yes, this is a re-hash of stuff they published earlier, like in the footnoted 1988 article.

  So you can divorce without "grounds", you better just abstain from sex or God's gonna get you!

  Agreeing wholeheartedly with Dedalus -- why not let those involved decide?

  The reason why not is that the WT Society loves to control every aspect of their members' lives!!!

  The rules are man-made and transparently bad. How does the elder body or any outsider know if there's been "extreme" abuse? What does "extreme" mean? Do you need two witnesses to validate the degree of abuse, so that the woman (most likely) may separate?

  And that last one, "spiritual endangerment".... That sounds like a one-size-fits-all excuse that a person can trot out on their non-JW mate at any old time!! What it means in reality is that the mate sees through the mind-and-emotion control techniques of the JW's and objects to their mate's being subjected to that!!!

  That "spiritual endangerment" clause is an element of spiritual warfare that the WT Society conducts against the institution of marriage.

  They just love that CONTROL!!!

  J.R.Why shouldn't truth be stranger than fiction? Fiction, after all, has to make sense.
  Mark Twain (1835-1910)
• 

  Bodhisattva

  Not so much in a bubble, Biggs. I only remember this because it was recapitulated in a daily text, not from the original article. The concept that 'only fornication' frees one to remarry has been much discussed in these forums. Experiences include former mates setting up surveillance in hopes of discovering that someone else's car remained parked overnight, or lonely men and poor single mothers being told that they should not even think about seeing each other till the woman's abusive former spouse remarries or is caught doing something with another woman other than slapping her around.

  On the other hand, if a JW is widowed before age 50, you can bet they'll be hitched again within six months to two years. After all, your dead spouse will not be allowed to marry you again; resurrected people will not marry. At least so the WTS conjectures, and so it is law. So quit grieving already, move on with your life in Jehovah's service.

  Sometimes I wonder if some of the teachings are designed to cause more pain, so that people will be hurt and desperate for the acceptance, conditional though it is, of the organization.

  Then I realize, of course they are.
• 

  Mister Biggs

  Gopher-
  The "spiritual endangerment" reason doesn't seem to match the scriptural references. I think they are trying to spin it on the 'obey God rather than men' verse.
  They really are saying "obey the GB rather than men...er...
  God...no. Um, wait. We are men, but you should obey US!
  Yeah. Obey US because we say so!"

  Bodhisattva-
  Excellent point on the teaching techniques and the dependability factor! Good insight.
• 

  NameWithheld

  spiritual endangerment = yet another easy way to control the JWs since if you want to leave the WTBTS it more than likely means the total ruining of your marrage on top of loseing friends/family. Yet in the meantime MANY women suffer terrible marrages to 'spiritual men' who abuse, neglect, and mentally torment them. Or the 2 people are simply worlds apart since they married 'in lust' to legalize sex...