When "called a brother"?

by metatron 4 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  metatron

  When is a Witness no longer "called a brother"? Logically, they would not be disfellowshipped.
  If a person is df'd and makes clear that they no longer wish to be considered a Witness by anyone, how are they
  "called a brother"? By who? At some point, they must return to being an ordinary worldly person.
  The same would be true of anyone who da's himself. They make clear to all that they should not be called a brother. After a period of time, they cease to be called a brother by anyone.

  Of course, this is all academic since the Society has no interest in the scriptures apart from the maintenance of their own power.

  metatron
• 

  Kingpawn

  When is a Witness no longer "called a brother"? Logically, they would not be disfellowshipped.
  If a person is df'd and makes clear that they no longer wish to be considered a Witness by anyone, how are they
  "called a brother"? By who? At some point, they must return to being an ordinary worldly person.

  I'd imagine a df'ed person might still be called a brother because they figure that person might try to be reinstated sometime later. Sort of like being suspended with pay from a job. You're "out" of the congregation but they haven't given you a brushoff (removing the title of "brother") yet, so as not to alienate you and discourage you from trying to rejoin.
• 

  metatron

  and if you don't want to go back? -You're df'd eternally! If you turn into an atheist, you can never honestly

  come back. This is all bogus. The Society's sense of justice is straight out of 'Les Miserables' - they never want

  to let go.

  metatron
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  MYOHNSEPH

  For the purposes of shunning, the answer is "never, never, ever"! My daughter was disfellowshipped about fifteen years ago, at age eighteen, because she was living out of wedlock with a young man, a non-JW. In time she married the young man. Today they have been married for almost thirteen years, have two beautiful children and just about anyone who knows them would tell you that she and her husband live a clean and upright life. However, she has never had the desire to re-associate herself with the Witnesses. She and her husband both believe in God and Christ and teach their children to do so, but neither are inclined to attach themselves to any organized religion. But the quality of her life and character today means absolutely nothing to the WTS. If she happens to see an old acquaintance from the Kingdom Hall on the street, she will not get so much as a "Hi". Until she comes crawling back and begs to be forgiven and reinstated, she's still just this wicked little disfellowshipped kid, and will likely remain such until she dies.
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  minimus

  WE'LL CALL YOU A BROTHER UNTIL WE FEEL LIKE IT.