Remind Your Relatives To Shun You! (page 2)

run dont walk

I like the one I get from my family ..........

"You know why we can't talk to you. "

actually I don't, and will never understand

Gopher

I think it would surprise many here if they were to call some old friends or relatives to see what the response might be.

Well I have a sad case in point. I had been thinking about calling up a boyhood friend of mine, someone I'd known for 35 years. We shared a love of sports and music. Heck, he introduced me to the Beatles. He was like a big brother.

And, he never really seemed to care about status in the JW organization. His dad was well-known as a presiding overseer back before they called them that.

I didn't call him, though. I saw him, his wife and stepdaughter at a local restaurant, and here he was at a booth right across from the table where I was sitting. I was thinking to myself, maybe we can rekindle something after all these years. His wife smiled at me (she's an old friend who herself had been DF'd before, so she knows what it's about), but he looked down, across at his wife, every direction but mine. Then the family held hands and said a brief prayer after their food came to the table.

At that point I knew I was being shunned, and thought that maybe status within the JW's now has come to take on some meaning to him as he gets older.

He didn't want to talk to me, so who needs friends like that?

Jimmer

Hey, Gopher. It's Jimmer. Who's that you're talkin' 'bout?

gumby

Hey Gopher,

Thats too bad about your friend you were very close to who treated you this way. My comment wasn't all inclusive, but a general idea. I suppose a person would have to be a bit selective in who they tried to contact as many still play the loyal part.

I think people shun for various reasons.

Some are not really loyal themselves, but they still trust the formula the society has handed down to the point of believing the method might work in the long haul.

Some just robotically follow advise without question.

Others feel a sense of loyalty to God

Any many shun only if you shun first....but would talk if you broke the ice. These are the ones I'm looking for and I think there are quite a few of them.

Gumby

Tinkerbell4125

I have j.w. siblins that actually talk to some of my disfellowshiped and *faded away* ex j.w. siblins. I think the reason that they don't talk to me is because of my stand on the Silent Lamb issue. It put me in the catagory of an apostate. I've never had a problem of speaking my mind and they are threatened by that. I think some of my ex j.w. siblins keep their mouth shut about the hovah witnits, out of respect for our die-hard j.w mother that has passed away. My j.w. siblins will speak to them, but they don't do lunch. There comes a point when you just let it all go. It's just too unhealthy and toxic to deal with anymore. It's their loss for sure!

One thing for sure, love is thicker than blood and I've found that love in many friends. I am truly blessed with some great friends and a loving husband. I also have some loving family left, and I realize that some people don't even have that, so I am thankful for what I do have.

I'm thankful for you guys too! I hope you all know that! You've pulled me up off the floor many times!

cruzanheart

Oh, metatron, that's so funny and so true!!! The past year, since I stopped going to meetings, I wondered if I'd been DF'd without my knowing it, but then I remind myself that no one much bothered with me when I was going, so nothing has really changed. You're right -- it's hard to tell the difference! Maybe they should send shunning cards: "Just a note to let you know you're being shunned! Have an unhappy day and get your butt back to meetings!" Perhaps they should include one of those brilliant Armageddon pictures on the cover of the card. Hey, with the great number we have leaving the Borg, they might start doing a brisk business!

Hmm, I think I might start a thread on this . . . .

Nina

blacksheep

The "love" of JW's is conditional upon good behavior (following the JW rules, meetings, service, etc.) Jehovah's love to them is conditional (same activities). No service, no meetings, no love.

I am sure there are a few exceptions, but JW's view of "love" is very warped and conditional.

FTR, I do think your JW relatives care for you, but the've lost the ability to demonstrate it normally because they've been brainwashed by a cult which tells them your fundamentally evil for leaving the JWs.

Remind Your Relatives To Shun You!