I am having a hard time understanding why the current JW doctrine is to DF a JW who associates with a DF'd person. However, the elders cannot do anything to you for hanging around DF'd family, even if you admit it is not necessary and they know it. can someone explain this?
DF
by turtleturtle 6 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
-
-
rather be in hades
they can make up rules as they go and manipulate scripture to give themselves enough leeway for whatever.
sadly, i wasn't being facetious. like any church, they can manipulate the bible to support whatever they want.
this ultimately being an organization run by humans, you'll have a wide variety of ways the df issue is handled.
-
Hoffnung
it is all about controlling the information active witnesses get access to. If somebody is disfellowshipped, nobody is supposed to spread any information about the case. This is ensured by this rule. If you are unrighteously disfellowshipped, you have no chance to defend yourselves, as none of the 'friends' wants to hear your story. They absolutely do not want the dirty little secrets see the light.
Hoffnung
-
Elephant
turtle-
by 'associating' you mean...what?
-
RayPublisher
@Turtle - If you live with the DFed family member then there is almost nothing they can do about you associating with that person.
However, if it is a child or parent that does not reside in the same home as you, then they can (if an aggresive enough elder) counsel you, or even give a "marking" talk telling the friends not to associate with you any longer.
If the person is NOT a family member and you hang out with them and are seen together then they can even take it all the way and DF you as well...although it is not done often in my experience.
-
Black Sheep
They may choose to remove 'privileges' if the JW doesn't respond to psychological abuse, but they won't form a JC unless there is persistent spiritual association or they openly criticize the DF decision.
As for why a particular JW is behaving in a certain way, you have to ask that individual. Even then, my experience is that they will not neccessarily be honest with you and you may have to badger them for a while to get the true reasons. Getting an honest answer out of a Dub is like trying to open an oyster with a plastic spoon.
-
notjustyet
I think they can DF you for hanging around a Df person. They DFd a previous Governing Body member for eating a meal with his landlord, a person who happened to be DF.
NJY