"I no longer want to be 'Bloodguilty'"

by stuckinarut2 14 Replies latest jw experiences

• 

  Make Lemonade

  listen to punkofnice.

  If you want to DA or be invited to a JC, Simply say,"I used to believe that, but now I do not." This is good for your own peace of mind. It all depends on your loved ones, what you want to accomplish, etc.. Even if you just say it to yourself. Try it. See how it makes you feel. I find it very peaceful.

  Many Witnesses are not in a position to show love because it becomes about them. How will they be affected by talking to us? Will the elders begin to question their loyalty? Is their everlasting life going to be taken away as a result of contact? The foundation for this thinking is: The religion is true, so the person not "whole souled" is defective. The questions are not to help, but to evaluate potential danger.

  The point is you better know your audience when saying anything to them.

  Witnesses can become very insecure when their comfortable world is questioned. I am afraid your comment "I no longer wish to be considered bloodquilty thanks," will be perceived as a comment about them. Their possible response: "so you think the work of Jehovah's Witnesses causes bloodquilt?" Now you have the baloney hitting the fan. That is not what you want is it?
• 

  tornapart

  Stuck... why worry about what other people (especially JWs) think? If challenged, just shrug your shoulders and say you don't want to talk about it. End of discussion.

  Yesterday I was confronted by a close relative about not following the 'organisations' directions. I told them to drop it. They did.
• 

  gingerbread

  Stop thinking like a good Jehovah's Witness.

  You don't have to justify your non-activity or give any reason or excuse.

  The first step to freedom is realizing that they only have power over you if you give your freedom to them.

  ginger
• 

  AudeSapere

  I think most of understand the 'bloodguilt' concept, but, in my mind, when I finally up and walked out of my last meeting, I had a different stance.

  At the time, I thought the org was Jehovah's channel on earth and his people but that they were headed down a wrong path (ie: Child Abuse, pedophelia, etc). I felt that to sit quietly in my chair at the hall was to be complicit with the org. My conscience would not allow me to stay there. So I got up and said a short and silent prayer as I walked out the door in the middle of the public talk. "Jehovah, you know better than I do why I can't stay here."

  I tried to recall an incident from the Bible when Moses was taking too long receiving the 10 Commandments and the Israelites started worshipping the golden calf. Weren't there some individuals that separated themselves from the rest even though their elders condoned the activity? Maybe I imagined that scenario. Maybe I had heard speculation along the way.

  Now the scripture that comes closest to what I was feeling back in the weeks leading up to my Sunday departure is: 'Get out of her, my people, if you do not want to share with her in her sins, or receive any of her plagues.'

  Regardless, that is how I felt. I needed to separate myself from the errant heart and not plead ignorance or subjugation to wayward shephards. I did not go anywhere. I was a walk-away believer - until I really got see and learn what was really happening.

  But of course, I could not tell any JW about my thoughts or feelings so I just silently slipped out the door.

  So rather than fear of 'bloodguilt', I was my moral obligation and my personal accountablilty to Jehovah (as I believed him to be back then) to be steadfast in my dedication (pre 1985) that led me out.

  13 years later I stumbled on Freeminds and JWD/JWN and my world changed.

  -Aude Sapere (meaning: Dare to Know; Dare to Have Wisdom/Understanding; Dare to Think for Yourself)
• 

  Phaedra

  I was just thinking about the term "bloodguilty" earlier this week, and had one of those epiphany things that made me realize, "well, no wonder I could never get away from GUILT as a JW!"

  I mean, the words are as plain as day: BLOOD GUILTY.

  Don't go out in service and knock on doors = you can be bloodguilty.

  First of all, why is it even MY responsibility to "save" other humans (when a perfectly good God could do so much more than stumble through a 1-minute presentation to sell place the latest issues of WT and Awake!.

  And then I'm in trouble if I don't go recruit? That's putting a lot of responsbility on a child and instilling fear that knows no ends. Catastrophic illustrations of buildings falling on unbelievers who don't become JWs. "If you don't preach, you're responsible."

  Stupid cult.

  Phae