WT FAQ about shunning changes again!

by izobcenec 22 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  izobcenec

  http://www.jw-media.org/beliefs/beliefsfaq.htm
  
  before july 2002
  
  Do you shun former members?

  Those who simply cease to be involved in the faith are not shunned. In compliance with the Scriptures, however, members can be expelled for serious unchristian conduct, such as stealing, drunkenness, or adultery, it they do not repent and cease such action. Disfellowshipping does not sever family ties. Disfellowshipped members may continue to attend religious services, and it they wish, they may receive pastoral visits. They are always welcome to return to the faith. -1 Corinthians 5:11­13

  before juny 2003
  
  Do you shun former members?

  Those who simply leave the faith are not shunned. If, however, someone unrepentantly practices serious sins, such as drunkenness, stealing, or adultery, he will be disfellowshipped and such an individual is avoided by former fellow-worshipers. Every effort is made to help wrongdoers. But if they are unrepentant, the congregation needs to be protected from their influence. The Bible clearly directs: "Remove the wicked man from among yourselves." (1 Corinthians 5:13) What of a man who is disfellowshipped but whose wife and children are still Jehovah's Witnesses? The spiritual ties he had with his family change, but blood ties remain. The marriage relationship and normal family affections and dealings can continue. As for disfellowshipped relatives not living in the same household, Jehovah's Witnesses apply the Bible's counsel: "Quit mixing with them." (1 Corinthians 5:11) Disfellowshipped individuals may continue to attend religious services and, if they wish, they may receive spiritual counsel from the elders with a view to their being restored. They are always welcome to return to the faith if they reject the improper course of conduct for which they were disfellowshipped.

  today:

  Do you shun former members?

  Those who become inactive in the congregation, perhaps even drifting away from association with fellow believers, are not shunned. In fact, special effort is made to reach out to them and rekindle their spiritual interest. If, however, someone unrepentantly practices serious sins, such as drunkeness, stealing or adultery, he will be disfellowshipped and such an individual is avoided by former fellow-worshipers. Every effort is made to help wrongdoers. But if they are unrepentant, the congregation needs to be protected from their influence. The Bible clearly states: 'Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.' (1 Corinthians 5:13) Those who formally say they do not want to be part of the organization any more are also avoided. What of a man who is disfellowshipped but whose wife and children are still Jehovah's Witnesses? The spiritual ties he had with his family change, but blood ties remain. The marriage relationship and normal family affections and dealings can continue. As for disfellowshipped relatives not living in the same household, Jehovah's Witnesses apply the Bible's counsel: "Quit mixing with them." (1 Corinthians 5:11) Disfellowshipped individuals may continue to attend religious services and, if they wish, they may receive spiritual counsel from the elders with a view to their being restored. They are always welcome to return to the faith if they reject the improper course of conduct for which they were disfellowshipped.
• 

  Gopher

  Thanks for bringing this to our attention!! You have sharp eyesight !!

  The WT Society will get this right someday. They have to keep modifying it because it is still a slimy way to try to get an uninformed reader to infer that this is NOT a cult, you can leave easily. But informed readers know that one job of the local JW elder body is to make life a living hell for anyone who tries to leave!

  Those who become inactive in the congregation, perhaps even drifting away from association with fellow believers, are not shunned. In fact, special effort is made to reach out to them and rekindle their spiritual interest.

  Those who become inactive are viewed as "spiritually weak". While not being formally shunned, the counsel about "bad association" is often meant to include such ones. If a person is not actively sharing in the JW ministry, is he really viewed as a desirable associate of the congregation? Not if you read the publications which tell you that the best associates are the ones setting the best example (i.e., doing the most in the ministry).

  Special effort is made to reach out to inactive ones -- yes, as in the campaign earlier this year to try to get all such ones to reactivate before the annual Christ-rejection ceremony Memorial. The elders were also instructed to ask if a person still considered themselves a Jehovah's Witness. If the wrong answer was given, the inactive one could be read off as disassociated at the Service Meeting! This program was in reality an effort to thin the ranks of the inactive ones, who are viewed as those passing on critical non-favorable (but often accurate) information about the WT Society to active JW's. We can't have that now -- so instead of fighting back with information, the WT Society fights back with its best weapon -- fear and shunning!!
• 

  pr_capone

  Those who formally say they do not want to be part of the organization any more are also avoided

  Yeah right! I'm sure that all the Elders have no problems with people who continue talking to those who leave the troof as long as they do not "formally" say that they dont want to be a JW anymore.

  Goes to show to what lengths these people will lie just to keep the members who are already in. I remember being told more than once not to associate with some people because they were not attending meetings anymore. Of course, me being the good ass kissing JW that I was did so. *puke*

  Kansas District Overbeer
• 

  Reborn2002

  Do they not contradict themselves in the very same paragraph?

  Those who become inactive in the congregation, perhaps even drifting away from association with fellow believers, are not shunned. In fact, special effort is made to reach out to them and rekindle their spiritual interest. If, however, someone unrepentantly practices serious sins, such as drunkeness, stealing or adultery, he will be disfellowshipped and such an individual is avoided by former fellow-worshipers. Every effort is made to help wrongdoers. But if they are unrepentant, the congregation needs to be protected from their influence. The Bible clearly states: 'Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.' (1 Corinthians 5:13) Those who formally say they do not want to be part of the organization any more are also avoided. What of a man who is disfellowshipped but whose wife and children are still Jehovah's Witnesses? The spiritual ties he had with his family change, but blood ties remain. The marriage relationship and normal family affections and dealings can continue. As for disfellowshipped relatives not living in the same household, Jehovah's Witnesses apply the Bible's counsel: "Quit mixing with them."

  I see how they tried to dance around it and insinuate that someone who "fades" is not shunned. But, as has been proven over time, the JW's change up the website policy every few months. Before it was those who leave the faith are not shunned. Now they proudly proclaim that the DF and DA'ed are AVOIDED (like the plague) which constitutes shunning.

  What a bunch of slithery snakes. I hate the *#!!!!!
• 

  Amazing

  Good catch Izob. The final, current policy has actually been in effect for a long time, and still have some catching up to do. But the PR JW Media site has been out of line with policy. However, I suspect that some recent litigation which may have used the PR Media information could have influenced the Watchtower to make their site more accurate.

  ReBorn: You are absolutely correct. The PR media has yet to catch up to the fact that there is no fading away. So, today, no one can argue that they can simply cease to be involved or even fade with no formal announcement ... the reality is what you say ... if the JWs don't follow the party line 100%, they get the axe.

  Jim
• 

  kgfreeperson

  There has been mention of something like "15 minute publishing" (I'm not a witness; please forgive my ignorance!) so I'm wondering if the strategy isn't to somewhat relax what keeps you in good standing while being stricter about what happens if you aren't trying at all?
• 

  Mary

  What a load of shit...........anyone catch yesterdays Watchtower?? The first article tells you how you shouldn't just "accept" the religion you were born into, just because your parent, grandparents and ancestors have been a part of that religion, and then there's a freakin' picture of "four generations" of women who are "Jehovah's Witnesses" all sitting there, all smiles.

  I will assume that at least 3 of these "generations" were "born" into "the Truth". Should we apply the same logic and not just accept the religion we were born into? What happens to someone who was born a JW but realizes as an adult that this isn't "the Truth" and wants to leave? More likely than not, if you don't just drift away, you'll be considered either DA'd or DF'd and won't be allowed normal relations with family members to are part of the Borg....................

  I wonder if any Witnesses who actually read this article can see that there's a wee bit of double standards going on here.....................
• 

  madamewalker

  Hi Mary,

  You've got to be kidding me ... do you mind posting the actual article title and date of the Watchtower?

  If its not too much trouble, possibly the paragraph number and the text?

  I'm busy composing a letter to my mother who's still a JW (I'm disfellowshipped); she's so curious, I know she'll read it and I'm trying to fill it with a lot of good stuff.

  Someone remind me how the GB is so adept at dodging LOGIC? Oh that's right, 'ya can't bring those 'brains' in here!
• 

  Mary

  Sure, I'll post it as soon as I get home (in a couple of hours!)
• 

  ThiChi

  Thanks for the info.

  When I DA, some friends tried to use the "Leave the Faith..will not be shunned" with our local Elders, so they could continue to talk to me.

  One Elder stated to my dear friend Joe "I don’t care what the printout states, if we catch you talking to him you will be disfellowshipped."

  Well, dear Joe still calls from time to time to try to encourage me back into the fold......