To help those who are fading and those who visit this site anonymously - due to Org-induced paranoia regarding "evil apostates" - I'd like to offer some examples of doctrinal teachings for them to examine closely.
Hopefully it will provide a bit of comfort for some, to see that their doubts are fully justified.
I'll post a few - one each day - to demonstrate that "the truth" of the Org is not what J.W.'s think it is. One or two previous topics will be repeated for the benefit of new friends to the site.
What the Org says:
If a sinner is found to have committed a serious sin, they should be confronted by a witness who has first-hand knowledge of the offender's sin.
If the sinner expresses regret, the witness should tell the sinner to report himself to the elders,* in order for a judicial committee of three elders to be formed to hear all of the evidence. They will then hand down a judgment on the sinner, a private reproof, public reproof, or disfellowshipping.
If the sinner is unrepentant, the witness should leave and then return later with 2 or 3 witnesses - people who can witness the accusation being made, and not necessarily having witnessed the sin.
If the sinner accepts the witnesses' "counsel", he will report himself to the elders, after which a judicial committee of three elders will be formed to hear all of the evidence in order to hand down a judgment on the sinner - private reproof, public reproof, or disfellowshipping.
If the sinner remains unrepentant, they should report everything to the elders who will set up a judicial committee in order to disfellowship the sinner for his behaviour.
*Certain"serious sins" such as fraud or slander are somehow exempt from this procedure and can be dealt with privately without squealing on the sinner to the elders - according to the self-proclaimed and self-appointed "faithful and discreet slave".
Watchtower May 2016, page 6, par.14 says this - "Most (a) differences between Christians can and should be resolved privately by the individuals concerned. However, Jesus noted that some situations (b) might require congregation (c) involvement. (Read Matthew 18:15-17.) (Yes - read it very carefully!) What would be the outcome if an offender refused to listen to his brother, to witnesses, and to the congregation? He should be treated "just as a man of the nations and as a tax collector." Today, we would say that he should be disfellowshipped. The seriousness of this step indicates that the "sin" was not a small disagreement. Rather, it was (1) a sin that could be settled between the individuals concerned but it was also (2) a sin serious enough to merit disfellowshipping (d) if not settled. Such sins might involve a measure of fraud or might include damaging a person’s reputation through slander. The three steps Jesus outlined here are applicable only where these conditions exist. The offense did not include such a sin as adultery, homosexuality, apostasy, idolatry, (e) or some other gross sin definitely requiring the attention of the congregation elders." (f)
(a) Jesus was referring to all sins, not specific differences!
(b) Some? No. Every time a sinner was unrepentant the congregation was involved – and only then!
(c) Jesus & Paul both stated that the congregation (ecclesia) was to be told, not the elders (presbyterion)
(d) So a J.W. publisher can privately deal with some sins worthy of disfellowshipping..........
(e) ….......but not the juicy & salacious ones? (elders' wives would probably be bored gossiping about a "measure of fraud.")
(f) Jesus never mentioned the elders once in his counsel - nor adultery, nor homosexuality, nor apostasy, nor idolatry!
No repentant sinner should be reported to anyone - end of story.
What Does the Bible Really Teach?
At Matthew 18:15-17 & 1 Timothy 5:20:
A sinner is confronted by a witness who is personally aware of the offender's sin.
If the sinner expresses regret of the serious sin to the witness, the matter is ended.
If the sinner is unrepentant, the witness should leave and return later with at least two other witnesses who are also personally aware of the sin.
If the sinner now expresses sincere regret and accepts the correction from the witnesses, the matter is ended and no one else is told or involved.
If the sinner remains unrepentant, then the witnesses must reveal the sinner's behaviour to the whole congregation! This serves as a warning that the practice of such serious sins is not acceptable behaviour for a Christian.
If no one has observed a person committing the sin, then contrition/forgiveness is between them and their God alone - no one else!
The Org disparages the Catholic church's one-to-one confessional, yet claims in law courts to have "clergy/penitent privilege" with a gang of three confessors (elders).
Wouldn't the practice of disfellowshipping & shunning by J.W.'s be totally different if they applied the scriptures truthfully?