The following is copied from off another forum, as I thought it ought to be given as wide a publicity as possible because it seems most people here don't have a really good understanding of the issue and policy of the WTS.
Can JWs Be DF'd Just For Believing Differently?
http://www.channelc.org/cgi-bin/eboard30/index.cgi
Posted by QuestionFromViewer on Thu - Dec 19 - 01:30am:
Question From a Viewer:My husband and I are trying to help a dear elder friend who has questions and doubts, but still believes that the org is our "mother", just imperfect. He does not believe in 1914 and has talked about it to us. We are "feeding" him a little at a time and think that his most sensitive spot at this moment is the society's harsh disfellowshiping policy. I have seen somewhere, I thought it was in a Watchtower, words to the effect that we do not need to be trying to teach others our ideas to be disfellowshiped, just believe differently.
He is a very sincere loving brother, and knows he has done nothing to deserve Christian punishment. We would just like him to see the reality of the policy. Could someone please help?
Posted by Nicodemus on Thu - Dec 19 - 2:27pm:
In Reply to: Can JWs Be DF'd Just For Believing Differently? posted by QuestionFromViewer on Thu - Dec 19 - 01:30am:
This is an interesting question.It can be argued that Jehovahs Witnesses insist on strict conformance to their teachings if one wants to be an approved associate. This argument can be supported by quotes such as the following:
"Approved association with Jehovah's Witnesses requires accepting the entire range of the true teachings of the Bible, including those Scriptural beliefs that are unique to Jehovah's Witnesses." (Watchtower, April 1, 1986, page 31.)First, since oneness is to be observed, a mature Christian must be in unity and full harmony with fellow believers as far as faith and knowledge are concerned. He does not advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbor private ideas when it comes to Bible understanding. Rather, he has complete confidence in the truth as it is revealed by Jehovah God through his Son, Jesus Christ, and the faithful and discreet slave. By regularly taking in the spiritual food provided at the proper timethrough Christian publications, meetings, assemblies, and conventionswe can be sure that we maintain oneness with fellow Christians in faith and knowledge.Matthew 24:45.
(Watchtower, August 1, 2001)However, it is a simple fact that many, perhaps even most, Jehovahs Witnesses have at least some level of reservation with one or more of such unique teachings. For example, some sisters who have lost their mates in death have expressed (i.e. verbally communicated to others, including to elders) at least some level of doubt regarding our teaching that they will not be reunited with their mate in the resurrection.
In other cases, others, including elders, have discussed questions, even disagreements, directly with the Society, without undue adverse reaction. My experience has been that, if one is dealing with balanced elders, one will not experience difficulty unless it is felt that they are actually teaching (i.e. continually speaking with other JWs about) some disagreement.
In summary; Are you at risk of judicial action simply because of believing differently one a point? Likely not.
Could you be at risk if it was felt you were promoting your views to fellow Witnesses? Yes, with some variance in each circumstance depending on the perspective of local elders.
Posted by TomCabeen on Thu - Dec 19 - 5:30pm:
In Reply to: Re: Can JWs Be DF'd Just For Believing Differently? posted by Nicodemus on Thu - Dec 19 - 2:27pm:
My personal experience is that, if the elders want to take a hard line for one reason or another, someone can be disfellowshipped just for admitting that they have questions, let alone actually believing something that is not in harmony with the current official understanding of some doctrine. I was disfellowshipped for that very reason after 23 years as a baptized Witness, having served in full time service for over 12 years (including a very successful Bethel career) and never having been disciplined for any reason during my entire life as a Witness.After some at the Brooklyn WT headquarters (John Williams in the Treasurer's Office and Vern Wisegarver on the Factory Committee, among others) spread completely false rumors suggesting that my wife and I were "apostates," the local elders called us into a meeting and began quizzing us. They had heard that we may have had some doubts, but had no idea what they might be about, so they just "fished" for about an hour and a half. Since they had no idea what they were looking for, the main line of questioning was along the lines of "do you think this is Jehovah's organization?" At the time, I could only reply: "I see evidence that Jehovah has worked through this organization, but I am not willing to say that God, who can do anything he wants to, cannot use other means as well." That was interpreted as "having doubts."
Later, it was reported to me by a relative that was an elder that before the elders met with me, one of them called the Service Department at Brooklyn Bethel and were told "If he has any doubts whatsoever, he is an apostate and should be disfelloswhipped." I was unable to reassure the elders that I would never have any doubts, nor could I agree not to ever discuss any of my doubts with anyone else. Just prior to making their judgement of our case, as they were exiting the meeting room, the chairman, John Gebhard of the Lancaster, Pennsylvania congregation, asked my wife "Do you agree with your husband's biblical views?" She replied "Yes, pretty much." After a brief discussion (no more than ten minutes), the elders returned and we were told "You've left us no choice." We were both disfellowshipped.
Let me stress that in our case, no specific doctrines were ever discussed that I can recall except for the matter of my statement of belief that Jehovah God was free to use any means to accomplish his will that he wanted to.
I admit that our case is probably not typical, but the fact is that elders have wide latitude to interpret matters and take action as they see fit. If they err, they will not have to answer for it, for no JW in good standing can ever go to the disfellowshipped individual to hear his or her side of the story, even if they suspect that the elders acted inappropriately without seriously risking their own standing. A disfellowshipped individual has little or no credibility with most loyal JWs, no matter how spotless their previous reputation was. If they attempt to defend themselves, they can find no hearers within the organization.
Tom Cabeen
[email protected]