Claire, Karl and I have never been disfellowshipped, but an elder gave a marking talk (the elder I told to leave my house the day he helped Stephanie move out) which pointed directly at us! Dominic has never been baptised !
As most people here know, I've been diagnosed with cancer and am classed as being terminally ill. I've passed my first sell-by date, now I have to get past February 2005. My daughters have refused to have anything to do with us. Not even a telephone call to ask how I am. I ask you, how in God's name can this religion be Christian?
On the day my elder daughter, Jody, helped Stephanie move out of the house because they knew we were exiting (almost two years ago now), the last words Jody said before going out the door was: "I can never see you again!" True to her word, I've never seen her since!
Whether one is DFd or marked, the outcome is the same. While my door will always be open to my daughters they have yet to want to walk through it. Disfellowshipping is used ostensibly to make the "erring one" come to their senses. In reality, it is to keep other family members tied to the flock so that they will continue to make contributions and also because the society is worried that the more who leave will have a knock-on effect with others in the congregation. There is more "Christianity" in Buddhism!
Apart from my illness, I've never been happier!
Ian
