by freedom96 32 Replies latest jw friends
As usual, JT is right on the money. The elders won't listen
and don't care. Don't waste your time arguing about how right
you are.
Do you consider yourself a Witness? Hell yes, I'm stuck with
that designation, like it or not. Even if you get df'd, they'll
still call on you to get you back - as if you owe them something.
Just say you're not very active right now.
metatron
freedom96:
There is no clear cut answer for everyone. Each person has to weigh their own circumstances and make a decision that is right for them and their family.
Some choose to make a stand and DA themselves to separate themselves completely from the org. People who have done this feel a sense of freedom.
Others choose to fade away and not play by the rules of a corrupt and unfeeling org. Some people choose this way to try to keep a relationship with their family members who are still in. You cannot help those family members who are still in to see the org. for what it is, if you are da'd and they won't talk to you. This is the way our family is dealing with the situation right now.
If the elders come around and ask us "if we still consider ourselves Jehovah's Witnesses", I think I will do what Mulan suggested, and ask them "how do you view me?" What I predict is a non-answer to that, though.
Mrs. Shakita
Wednesday
Thanks for your candid and honest answer. I can certainly understand your feelings, although I can't really agree with them. It must be hard for you to see the "wrong" things that go on in the org. when you still believe it's Jehovah's org.
I guess i'm probably waiting on jehovah to clean up his org.
I personally don't think that God would allow such shenanigans in the first place if it really was His org. And I don't buy the excuse that "it's made up of imperfect men" when they claim to be God's mouthpiece. I don't believe He has an org. here on earth. He's never needed one before, He's God!!
Anyway, I do agree with you on the statement that He accepts more people than the JWs believe. Amen to that. In any event, I'm glad you are here!
Hugs 2 U
PurpleV
Freedom96,
JT is right in everything he has advised you. We went throuth this with the "Mo Larry & Cruly Judicial Committee wanting to meet with us after not appearing at the meetings for several years. In our case we were being interviewed by the media and Dateline, and Headquarters wanted us out fast before the show aired. They made the phone call with the same bullshit you speak of. One elder lurking on the other end. We told them that we had nothing to say that, we have done nothing unscriptural and that we wanted to be "quietly left alone", even though this was not a DA'ing. Of course we knew their whole game plan and expected all there tactics, so we decided to "play" with them and not make it easy. Since we were already in the public eye and we had already gone through a court proceeding over abuse issues, we had our lawyers send them a letter. Of course we already knew there legal rights that they hide behind. The Society uses these rights., however we wanted to give the local body as much inconvenience as possible. This dragged on for months and the local body could not do anything without dealing with our lawyers and the Legal and Service Depts. They probably had to come out many nights and put on their monkey suits only to be frustrated by not having the pleasure to ambush us at the JC Meetings. I remember their faces as we allowed them to set up a date for a JC meeting through our lawyers, expecting that we would sit down with them at the KH to meet with them. Jeesh, we delivered more legal words in letter form and walked out leaving a whole body of turkeys in thier monkey suits sitting in a circle in the library. I can only imagine how they were looking forward to pouncing on us even though their letters to our lawyer said even though we were being brought up on charges of apostasy, they wanted to "help" us. Our letter explained they had no authority over us since we had left years ago. Eventually we were df'd as we knew we would be, but we took advantage of the media attention and had them frustrated dodging reporters. It was satisfying to show them that we were not fearful of any of their rediculous rules. As for your young child, trust me, over time, the witlesses won't be able to have a hold if you are the example of what is normal, in critical thinking, enjoying all people without the intolerance of the JW doctrine. School will reinforce that attitude. Human kindness towards all even when they don't believe as we do. Kids understand that in this generation. Good luck with your decision to distance yourself from such a destructive, dishonest cult.
kelsey
Actually I agree with you. That's my philosphy as well. I'm not afraid of the elders and if they come over on a "shepherding" call then I'll do battle. However, realize that my post was in response to this statement from freedom:
I normally would not care, in fact I would DA myself, but with a young child involved, and about 2 friends, I do not want any label on me except for "spiritually weak."
This thread was started by freedom seeking opinions and alternative ideas on how to avoid being DF'd or DA'd. I was simply offering my opinion in response to this statement.
We all have to live our lives by our own rules and our own truths. I've been out now for 14 years; my wife only for a few months. The elders know where we live so it's only a matter of time before they come nosing around. But realize that not everyone feels this way. Some people have legitimate reasons for wanting to avoid being labeled. I respect that. We're all here to help each other.
You crack me up, James!
I never thought of lying to elders. "It wouldn't be the right thing to do!" I always thought. Well, like you said, they really don't give a shit about me, so why not. Good advice.
I've been "inactive" for more than five years but they haven't come to see me yet. When (if) they do, I finally have a game plan.
Thanks, Bruh.
I have been inactive for some time now, yet I never missed a meeting once over and I regular pioneered. The stark contrast baffled them. So when I was asked by one of the elders that question in my own home, I just said that being a jw was something that I had worked very hard at.(They could not disagree.) I just said that I consider myself to be a jw that is unable to do what I once could.
Whatever they wanted to make of that statement was up to them! They were then free to assume that either I had burnt out, or whatever!
That is up to them.
And now what I do, is up to me
I never thought of lying to elders. "It wouldn't be the right thing to do!" I always thought. Well, like you said, they really don't give a shit about me, so why not. Good advice.
the way i figure it you might as well have some fun the way i see it-
since i know most of the "Players/elders" here in the washington dc area if they every stopped by our new home i would do to them like i do to the publishers who stop by
i give them literally hell-
i tell the story of my "Aunt" who died due to wt rules no transplants and how 2 weeks later my "Uncle" got new information from the wt and commited sucide- to see the look on thier faces it priceless and then i tell them how would you like me to accompany you across the street to let my neighbor know what i just told you, it is priceless,
but since we have requested to particapate in the jw program of do not call we dont' get any now--
my wife wife runs the home owners association website and we ran it for almost 4 months about requesting if the jw could put thier homes on the list
we presented it just like an OPT -OUT PROGRAM FROM ANY OTHER COMPANY
SINCE wt is a company
i wrote the mayor out in Ohio and told him he could have saved a ton of money by using the wt program of DO NOT CALL
I WISH i could see the terrirtory card where we live it has to have 50-60 homes listed
i know the CO must be freaking out
I removed myself from the theocractic ministry school two (2) years ago.
I have not been to a service meeting/theocractic meeting in over a year.
I have not been to the Sunday meeting in over four (4) months.
I have not gone out in field service in over a year.
The elders have come to my house to "encourage" me many times.
My response: I listen. Thank them for their spiritual concern. Tell them only that I am very busy and when I can I will come to a Sunday meeting.
Anything else is none of their business and I do not need to tell them anything else.
Result: no harm done to anyone.
By the way, I have a sister who is disfellowshiped, a brother who is disfellowshiped, a brother who was disassociated by the WTS, and a brother who is inactive. We are all close and I make no secret to anyone that I keep in contact with my siblings. And my husband does not go regular to the meetings anymore either or field service.
We have all seen the "light" of the "truth".
Ronin1
PurpleV,
yes it is hard to see all the many bad things in the org.-knowing as i do , that there are people in it that truly believe they are trying to help mankind. they are just dead wrong that they are they only people Jehovah accepts-so wrong. I have been shunned and treated like dirt for so long -- and through it all i have felt God's helping hand.When the jws didn't help us in our time of need- other people did. somehow we have survived. And i always wondered why people left the org-after all "where would they go". But until recenlty i did not get up the nerve to check out the internt sites. I decided to go against the wt and read what others were saying about jws.I am appalled, but i really think most religion has skeltons in its closet. All i know, i cna't go back -not nunless major changes occur. taht does not mean i do not believe in God, and continue to look for guidance.
I like what someone said a few posts back "i'm a jw that cannot do as much as i used to' or something to that affect. The reasons i cannot do as much as i used to -well they are many and varied. But i think that statement will get the elders off someones back..
