""Taichi: Some of us were born into it and strongly encouraged to get baptized at a tender age. I was not in possesion of full mental capability at age 13 of distinguishing the effect baptisim would have on my adult life.""" I came in at 10 years of age. Did you ever shun anyone when you became an adult, or when you could tell right from wrong? If you did, then you must take responsibility for this on-going madness. As an Ex-Elder, I take even a larger share....
If Disfellowshipping Were Forcibly Banned
by AlanF 39 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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unique1
ThiChi, No I never took part in this. I would sneak off and see my disfellowshipped friends when my parents weren't around.
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hillary_step
Your statement then begs the question: How can one claim "Emotionally Unencumbered" defense when it was Family and friends you helped shunned?
Yes, of course I participated in the shunning process, though not perhaps as zealously as the WTS would have liked. My point is that once within the confines of a high-control religion like the WTS, important elements of a persons critical thinking processes are dominated by the culture of 'organization' and as such the decisions one makes are not ones own.
Best - HS
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IslandWoman
Is this discussion about passing a law that bans disfellowshipping?
How about discussion boards who ban members? lol
How about people who refuse to conform to the dress code of their employer, would the employer be banned from firing them?
What about a church who does vigorously root out pedophiles and seeks to protect their children, would they also be forced to accept a pedophile back in their association?
IW
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ThiChi
""ThiChi, No I never took part in this. I would sneak off and see my disfellowshipped friends when my parents weren't around.""
How about publicly, when they needed your friendship the most? Or stand up to the Elders and tell them its wrong? No offence, but to state that you did not participate, at all, is unbelievable!
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ThiChi
Island Woman:
I agree the Bible supports withdrawing fellowship under certain circumstances. However, my objection is the misuse of this provision by the JWs.
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Sunspot
VERY interesting posts on this topic!
Deep down I really wish this could be put into effect, it would certainly narrow the WTS playing field some, wouldn't it?
This would also separate the "men from the boys" aspect, and allow all those who'd LOVE to walk away without being ostracized----the open opportunity to do so.
JWs who then would have "issues" with others on this, could then be able to deal with these on a personal level with the individuals, rather than "blanket coverage" on a corporate level. Like if cousin Bobby or Uncle Lou decide they don't want to be JWs any longer.....each friend or family member (JWs) could decide how each person would be dealt with (or not) instead of having the WTS dictate who can talk or socialize with whom.
Annie
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onacruse
One possibility: Millions of JWs would come out of the closet and openly associate with their DFd family and friends, without fear of themselves being DFd for so doing. And along with that, all the ramifications of what many DFd know that JWs don't...perhaps a flood of "revelations" that would undermine the WTS faster than a flash-flood.
At the very least, 100s of thousands of family and friends would be re-united. A pre-millenial resurrection paradise.
Craig (of the knows he used numerous "trigger-words" here )
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Faraon
Shunning is inmoral.
An institution ordering the severing ties of their members is looking after its own interests only, and not those of the ones serving the institution.
Shunning is a tool used to curtail freedom of speech to those who don't believe as they did at a time. If they would really believed in the truth, they would not be stopped from searching it, and would be able to debate openly.
If someone wants to do it in private, it's ok. But institutionalized shunning is shameful.
On the other hand, it shows people's true colors, and who are your real friends and relatives.
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sf
I'd say that re-instatement would be null and void in the process.
Think of it Alan....
I could walk into ANY kingdom hall and be accepted with open arms. I could go home and let them all kiss my ass.
Is this what you are getting at? LOL
So then, there would in turn, be no need for 'baptism according to WTBTS'. Yes or no?
Plus, just think of how I would then be treated at the door! LOLOLOL Yahoooooooooo!
I could walk right up to Raplh!! And do what I always wanted and he would say...'welcome'....hahahaha It would actually be a dream come true when ya think about the implications of such a re-verse.
sKally, oh the possibilities klass