Does the WTBTS still control your life? (page 2)

Petruska

They don't controll my life I havent seen them for a long time but they disturb me...

Because of them part of my family is completly lost. I will have a scar for rest of my life.

Personally I feel like shunning someone is in most instances (not all) a bit too harsh. There is scriptural validity however to the thought that someone who is a congregation member, guilty of serious and is not repentant should not be treated as if nothing has happened.

As far as the shunning that goes on between congregation members on a personal level, I don’t think it is right but I understand it. There are people who shun me and there are certain people I shun. This is all petty but old wounds are hard to heal.

GetBusyLiving

They have no control whatsoever over me anymore. It's sweet.

GBL

greendawn

Shunning is to a great extend a political weapon to be utilised against dissenters. Otherwise they have taken it to ridiculous extremes burdening people much as the Pharisees used to do instead of helping them.

Total shunning is a very unchristian and diabolical behaviour, they could have considered mild forms of shunning for certain "violations" of the protocol and many things should not come under shunning at all.

xjwms

I have scars from the battle, I just continue to find new information that helps me get over the control.

So I live in the new world I created.

LouBelle

it's all bollocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ah it just shows their total lack of love and total lack of scripture interpretation.

TheListener

I've lost two of the best friends (non-spouse) that I'll ever have to disfellowshipping on separate occasions. If only I could find them both now and apologize for how I treated them (or didn't treat). Just when they were in emotional pain and turmoil I up and cut them off. They've never gone back to the truth; one day I hope to find them. But, I can't seriously look until I'm free myself.

Truth2Me

For a number of years, there would be times when I seriously considered going back, so yes, the was still a level of control over my life. I have learned from studying high-control groups, and the recovery from them, that this is a totally normal response, and that helped me to get through it without actually getting myself reinstated.

I realize now that it was the times when I was really depressed and lonely that I wanted to go back. I missed my friends and those that I was so close to, they treated me better than my own family and losing them due to my own actions was devastating. Though my journey out of the WTBTS was a long, painfull one, it was worth it. I have learned SO much about myself, and about how others can exert control over others, even though they may be well-intentioned.

Since no one knows me in the city I live in now, I don't get shunned here, but if I happen to venture back to where I lived in the past, then I do risk it. Although, in the past when I have run into one of the Friends while in a public place like WalMart, then they will talk to me.

I still have one friend who is very much an active Witness who will still talk to me, but out of respect for her I have only called her a few times. She doesn't know that I no longer believe, and if she did know that, I do not think she would talk to me anymore =(

I think that the shunning has a place, but no in the way that the Society practices it....I think that deciding not to enable a person to commit/practive something wrong or hurtfull is more appropriate. Just as with someone who has an alcoholic family member or friend, at some point you have to decide to stop enabling the person and let them hit bottom on come to their senses on their own.

RichieRich

I think Witnesses think that they are morally ambiguous; meaning that the have to do what appears to be wrong in order to do whats right. They really think that shunning is what it takes to stay "safe" from the world.

Anyone who isn't a witness would agree that it is wrong. To sever ties with someone because they had sex or wanted to chnage religions... its religous discrimination!

Sadly, for a few more months... the WTBTS will continue to try and control my life. It won't stop me from having a great senior year in high school, and it won't stop me being a free thinker and talking with my new found friends on JWD...

clementine

I wouldn't say they control my life... but I must admit that I often think "this is good" or "this is not good" before acting...

Does the WTBTS still control your life?