If The JW Religion Wasn't So Strict Would You Be Against It As Much As You Are?

by minimus 23 Replies latest jw friends

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  cedars

  minimus - I'm the same. I doubt I would be as active against the Watchtower if it wasn't for shunning. It's not just the shunning, but the morbid fear of those who disagree with the Society (and "worldly" people in general) that is encouraged in the literature. This sort of thinking is pomoted to the extent that, even if shunning of relatives was abolished overnight, I'm pretty sure many would still shun their non-believing former JW relatives "just to be sure".

  If the Society could somehow do a complete U-turn on shunning so that former JW relatives are no longer shunned in any way, I think I would move on to other things.

  Obviously, they're not going to do that, which is why forums such as this are so popular. Nearly all of us have been damaged in one way or another, and we come here for a place where we can all find acceptance and empathy.

  Sometimes I wonder whether the Society is aware that if they just showed a little more mercy in this single teaching, the level of apostate activity against them would plummet dramatically.

  Cedars
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  minimus

  Cedars, I'm glad YOU are here!!!!
• 

  XBEHERE

  If they relaxed their stance on disfellowshipping a lot and allowed birthdays, thanksgiving, mothers and fathers day I would stay in.

  Oh and a paid clergy, unpaid clergy is just plain stupid. Half the elders are ass kissing idiots who don't give a shit, and the other half are beaten down by that half. To endure that for free is insanity.
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  SophieG

  The ‘strictness’ is control IMO. I respect scriptural guidelines; I never had a problem following them for the most part. That I can deal with. However, when they started making things up and “punishing people” while professing to be a loving org, that’s when I took issue. If they would let folks “be”, learn how to guide and help people, allow people to form opinions and have free thought, then I would go back.

  The shunning is a BIG problem. But the true issue is that people get shunned for the wrong reasons. The only way the shunning would stop is if they allowed people to think for themselves…which the org won’t do…because they know they are lying to people…and if folks found out…more would leave….hence the control!

  So basically, I guess the Org would have to come CLEAN for me to ever put my foot back in it!

  (I have this fantasy where a Special Talk is given and they APOLOGIZE for all the misleading things they have been doing…like a Jimmy Swaggart: “I have sinned” moment. Of course what elder would be left to give the talk….since once the outline is opened each one would be so PISSED….So first time in JW history, a sister would give a talk…everyone would walk out the KH either crying or doing cartwheels…yeah I fantasize A LOT! HA)