What if you simply IGNORED being disfellowshipped and continued as before?

Terry

I know this is an odd idea. Maybe it is even silly.

But, I do daydream....

What if you were informed that you are disfellowshipped and you flashed a huge smile and said, "Nah."

The elders would clarify in no uncertain terms and you could shake your head good-naturedly and reply, "That's just silly."

After that you continued to come to meeting without your tail between your legs. You act as if NOTHING has changed.

You grin, put out your hands and love bomb with the best of them!

Most certainly you'd get pulled aside and chided at the serious breach of DF-ing protocol. You'd be warned and admonished and blah blah blah'd.

But, instead of arguing or making snide remarks you would just treat it like a ridiculous prank on the part of the elders.

"Jehovah loves me and doesn't want me disfellowshipped. You guys will come to your senses eventually. I'm waiting on Jehovah."

I actually don't think you could be barred or blocked from this approach. They would not lay hands on you and escort you outside as long as you acted natural and did not disrupt any proceedings.

The rank and file would be flummoxed!

How long could this continue before the whole Kingdom Hall was in a policy turmoil?

I actually find this idea to be very interesting. It would have to be done without exaggeration. You couldn't be an asshole about it.

The key to it is being NORMAL as a JW. You smile. You exhibit friendliness. You raise your hand to comment. (You'll never be called on!)

Also---YOU SHOW UP FOR FIELD SERVICE!!

What in the world would the elders do besides council you to the point of exasperation (which you'll nod and smile and shrug off as nonsense)?

What is the WORST thing they could do to a DF'd member who acts normal, is friendly, doesn't interrupt or act rudely?

My guess? NOTHING!

tec

Terry! So awesome! (this thread, too )

It would be your joy, as much as your refusal to follow that df rule, that would flummox them.

Peace,

tamm

I still talk to active JWs, most are dumbfounded when I say "hi how are you", "long time no see", they usually say a polite hello and make a bee line to the exit door of the local supermarket. But most put THEIR heads down and walk away without talking. Since I did NOTHING wrong, I refuse to be shunned. I just no longer want to be a JW and they forced ME to write a letter about it, or they would keep dropping by.

In a way the "punishment" is on their own active JWs, because wheras they cannot speak to certain people, I can speak to whomever I choose to.

I don't believe wanting to leave a religion merits shunning, it is not a sin. I would like to be shown where a bible says its a sin to leave a religious organization? If that were true all the Apostles would need to be Df'd as they left the old ways of the law and entered into Christ. Thus they left their religion behind.

jam

You would be viewed as a nut case and then the question

would come up, how can you DF a person who is nuts.

BluesBrother

I actually don't think you could be barred or blocked from this approach.

Hmm. I guess that at the next meeting a couple of heavyweight doorkeepers would prevent you entering the Hall. The r & f would be told firmly not to speak or return a greeting. Backs would be turned to you. In the old days I recall telling a d/f one that he had to sit in the back row, not where he had sat himself. He glared, slowly rose to his feet, eyeballed me as if he was threatening me but ,walking tall, strode out of the Hall.

Mind you, I have family in another part of the country, where it would not be announced and they do not know anybody around here . I have often mused that if the d/f happens to me, I could just forget to tell them. I could carry on as normal when we visit even go to the Hall over there if I wanted........Provided Sis Blues would go along with it , of course.

J. Hofer

this would make a good flash mob for the memorial. some 100 DFed people engaging averagae JWs in the usual after meeting chit chat.

lisaBObeesa

Hmm. I guess that at the next meeting a couple of heavyweight doorkeepers would prevent you entering the Hall.

I agree. The elders would say that if you don't agree to go along with the rules, you are not welcome in the Hall, and that as soon as you are willing to go along with the rules, you would be allowed back in the Hall to shunned (but only if you're good!).

The Searcher

@ BLUESBROTHER

If someone was d/f and subsequently refused entry for trying to be friendly, (ignoring the shunning 'protocols') I think a strong case could be presented to the Charities Commission regarding the refusal of entry to a Public Meeting, based on religious prejudice.

Perhaps that might focus some Organizational minds as regards practicing in-house hatreds!!

wha happened?

I've heard stories of people moving to a different area and "studying" with dubs and getting baptized again

Finkelstein

Don't think it would work Terry, the commotion that you would cause would spread around the congregation

so much probably to a point that the elders might just call the police over the disruption.

The police would come and escort you out themselves.

The Elders would make the insinuation that your mentally diseased and once that was announced and spread around

the congregation, no one would talk to you.