Interestingly, I was very surprised what types of books THE SOCIETY had in Brooklyn in the writing dept. They have these books for "research", so just having these books doesn't mean , necessarily , that you have sided in with "apostates".
Can owning/reading apostate material get me DF'ed?
by PandaJ 30 Replies latest jw friends
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JT
In a word Yes------------- it can But it all depends on a few addtional things:
1. WHO KNOWS THAT YOU THE BOOKS -- such friends in your hall, the pioneers, elders wives or the elders themselves
2. How the "who knows THAT YOU HAVE THE BOOKS feels about it"-
if the person who knows about it feels it's your personal biz-- then no problem,
but if the person feels you have touched the unclean thing of Satan and takes this knowledge to the elders then you could have some serious problems, ESPECIALLY if the elders are SOCIETY MEN
then you will be given the chance to repent and get rid of the material promising never to do it again and be ordered to improve your meeting attendance, hours in service and feeding on the food from the slave as to the food from demons- you can KISS THAT ms APPOINTMENT GOODBYE by the way
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IF after you are approached by the elders and display a "I CAN READ WHAT I WANT"
TYPE ATTITUDE
they will give you perhaps a week or two to get rid of the material and if you don't they will indeed DFed you-
so there are many factors that will go into play- perhaps the elder that recieves the report of you having these books-- he too is also having issues himself then he may try to lay low the issue,
but if he is a SOCIETY MAN, then you are shit out of luck
just my 2
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Amazing
Much depends on the local Elders. I once loaned out the book, Combatting Cult Mind Control (not an ex-JW apostate book) ... and it caused the Elders much angst in their Judicial hearings with the person I loaned it to. I have absolutely no doubt that if I had been caught with some of my ex-JW material I would have been DF'd ... and yet, had I been in my old congregaton in California, I could have probably convinced the Elders that it did not affect me, and that would be the end of it ...
... then again, that was because I was a fellow Elder ... a rank & file JW might not have as easily gotten away with it ... also, even where a body of Elders is largely rational and moderate, there is always the bad Elder who bullies JW around ... and it seems that almost every congregation had one of these tyrants ... and they can and do make life hell for most JWs ... so in all likihood, a JW will get DF'd for having ex-JW literature around, especially if you arre starting to fade away from meetings and service.
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kenpodragon
Sorry to tell you, but if the elders find out ... your out of there!!!!!!!!
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Pork Chop
Obviously there's a wide range of response here. It probably depends on the local congregation, there might be a few that would disfellowship just because of some books you owned but probably very few. It's difficult to think of what you could be charged with, I can't really think of any heading that it would fall under.
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PandaJ
Thank you for the replies, I really appreciate it.
I am in a very fragile state in my life right now, where I can't actually tell the truth on how I feel because it would harm my families life more then I will accept at this time.
I would love to tell me name, history and how I came to where I am today but that will have to wait for another day, as I do not want it leaking out or being too simliar for someone reading to place who I am. Sad, I know.
I just finished reading Crisis Of Consience, I read it in about 7 hours, which should show my true hunger for researching the religion I was raised in, as it is a 400 page book, as most of you probably already know.
I have a very hard time hiding things, or lying about anything in my life. If someone was to ask me a question I have always felt and experienced telling the truth is simply better for everyone. Which could show to be a real problem in the near future as a turning point in my life begins.
My committee meeting although not yet scheduled or even planned, will happen soon, I assure you.
I am just sort of planning ahead on what all I can go into. I will not let the Society win, I will not be disfellowshipped. I will not let an orgnization take away my family from me, simply because I was baptized at a 12 years old, completely oblivious to a true understanding, or even my own understanding. It was all I knew, taught to me by the same people whose every word I believed, my parents.
I am caught in a battle between wanting to be true to myself, and not having to hide my true feelings, and not wanting to get disfellowshipped and losing my life long family and friends.
After reading this it may appear I am truly unbelieving of the JW's teaching. This is not the case, I do not fanatically deny it is the truth, I do however have serious doubts, of which I will ask about to my local elders. In doing so, I know I will be attacked on where I came up with these thoughts, and how I came to question my life long religion. I am scared on what I might say.
Thanks for listening, any further feedback is welcomed. :o)
PandaJ
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DakotaRed
From the situation you describe, Panda, maybe a slow fade away will be best for you. Neither DA'd or DF'd. Your family will still speak to you and encourage you to return, but they will at least speak to you.
You are free to believe as you wish. No one can tell you that a belief is right or wrong, that is what is great about being away from the JWs. There are things in theology that I still believe from the JWs. Some, I believed before becoming a JW. Some other things, I have rejected. But the point is, you are free to believe as your heart dictates.
I wish you the best of luck in your search and journey to truth. We are always here if you need encouragement. My email is always open too.
Lew W
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seedy3
Ok here is my expierence on this matter, as if that really matters
First, it depends on your local elders and how much they Like to use and abuse authority.
Second, it dependson what you tell others about it, for instance, if you start talking in a way of amazment of what you have learned, your a gonner, bu tif you say "Do you beleive the crap?" your in.
Third just owning one or more is not really gounds for DF'ing unless you refer to the first item. My father had a few apostate books he read, but never really bought into them and he had them laying around the house, as an elder, he felt it was keeping up with the enemy, I never remember anyone ever having a problem with it.
All IMHO,
Seedy
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apostate
Article 19.
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
/ Universal Declaration of Human Rights /
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sunshineToo
PandaJ, I went through almost the same thing for myself.
I wasn't really raised as a JW. My family is not JW except for my mom. I'm not married to or have a child who is a JW either. I don't know your situation well, but I can tell you that mine is quite simple compare to others.
First, ask yourself when you began to have this "doubt". Was it before you read "Crisis of Conscience" or after you read it? If it was after, then have you done any research to confirm what Ray Franz says in that book? I'm not trying to discredit Ray. I read the same book for myself and respect his courage and conscience. If I get to meet him, I would love to give him a big hug.
The reason that I ask above questions is that I don't think you should make a such big decision based on hearsay. Then the elders and other JWs get to have an excuse to say,"See. He read an apostate material, and he left God." I DO NOT think Ray's book is an apostate material at all.
For me I began to have a doubt almost from the beginning of my life as a JW. Yeah, and I stayed for over 12 years. But when the Child abuse case came along, I just couldn't take it any more. And then I got to do more research, and decided to follow my conscience. I DID have a crisis of conscience for myself.
I believe no one can and should not live a life of lie. But do not make the decision hastily or by popular opinion. There ARE people who were DF or DA going back to the JW organization. I'm sure they have their own reasons. For me I would never go back. But for you, I don't know. I'm not in the position to say that. So give it a lot of thought so that later years you can look back and say, "I did the right thing, and I never regret."