Marking brothers and sisters

jurs

A few weeks ago in the chat room, I learned that JW's didn't always mark their brothers and sisters. I was baptized in 1994 and I believe that "marking" was done as early as that. Was this "marking" New Light ? How did the org establish this new practice ? How does someone know if their marked since their not shunned. An elder during a talk about marking said that these ones would not be invited over to social gatherings. I can think of plenty of JW's in good standing that were at every party and were a bit on the worldly side and in contrast I can think of JW's who lived the JW life without hypocrisy and were never or rarely invited to gatherings. Wanted to hear your thoughts on this subject as well as when it started....
jurs

Prisca

Hey Jurs,

What do you define as "New Light"? As you were baptised in 94, you are a comparative newbie to many of us on this DB. But I remember marking being a doctrine around in the 80s, and it could go back even further than that. Same as ppl who were unbaptised and committed some wrongdoing were treated exactly the same as those who were baptised, and hence, treated as disfellowshipped.

When the elders spoke about "marking", no names were mentioned, only the wrong-doing that apprently occured. Thanks to the internal grape-line, most of the JWs would have known who was being spoken about, who was probably cringing in one of the back rows avoiding all eye contact.

I agree that most JWs with their judgemental attitudes tended to "mark" others without anything having been said from the platform. Those who would have benefited most from being invited out occasionally, were ignored, in favour of the popular "in crowd" members.

logical

Not very nice loving Christian behaviour is it?

Francois

It does go further back than that. The first time I heard of it was somewhere in the 1974 timeframe. And boy did some of the more abrasive people in my congregation outside Atlanta jump right on the bandwagon. People were being "marked" right and left, especially by CB, local "glorious one" and abrasive twit par excellence.

Franc

philo

The only official marking I know about is done from the platform. No names are mentioned, but the context is made clear so that everyone who knows the sinner well enough gets the message. So a courtimg couple, for instance, who are often alone together can be marked with a stern, and lurid 'local needs' talk on the very particular dangers of 'heavy petting'. This happened in my congregation in 1996, and afterwards people who didn't know, wanted to know WHO was being marked, the rest just went away feeling guilty for something. Marking is a wonderful gossip-mongering exersise.

That's marking.

philo

TweetieBird

Hi Jurs,

I was in the chat room that night when we had this discussion. I remember about 10 years back, a friend of mine was trying to catch her husband who was fooling around on her. She wanted to get a scriptural divorce so I would sit outside his apartment with her to try to get the goods on him.

Well, one night we hit the jackpot. We saw him go in with his girlfriend and after several hours we left. After reporting this to the elders (of which one was his father) we were told that that wasn't enough proof.

In the meantime, he was seen publicly (out on dates) with this girl. Several more reported the incident to the elders and finally they gave a talk on it.

The congregation was told that when someone who is married starts dating someone other than their spouse, that person should be marked. I guess the BOE felt like they had handled the situation properly.

I do, however, remember the skuttle-butt after the announcement was made, it went something like, "you mean it is now okay to date someone other than your spouse if you are married." I guess so, as long as you do not spend the entire night with them.

What a joke.

"By doubting we come at truth" -Cicero

BoozeRunner

Hi Jurs, I was born into the Borg, and I can tell you that I remember "marking" from my teen years in the mid-70's.

...in contrast I can think of JW's who lived the JW life without hypocrisy and were never or rarely invited to gatherings.

This is not as strange as it may seem-truly faithful JW's would be completely distracting to a really nice WORLDLY JW party, LOL. Folks trynna get their groove on would be scared to do so with such a presence in attendance.

I remember parties where only those on the edge would be in attendance. Made for much better parties.

Boozy

drahcir yarrum

I always thought it would be fun to literally mark someone with a magic marker. Of course a "magic" marker would in and of itself be un-Christian wouldn't it?

jonjonsimons

Jurs,
I don't know when the official policy of marking began but I also remember it from the mid 70's in my early teens. The reason I know about it was beacause I spent the years from age 13 to age 16 being "marked". Then they just went ahead and da'd me. The reason I was marked the first time was because after my mothers funeral I told a brother who was trying to comfort me to quote "get his fucking hands off of me".
From then on they always seemed to find one reason or another to keep it up. That initial talk about cursing and not showing respect was a hoot though! Didn't bother me since I didn't like anyone at the KH anyway and wouldn't have wanted to be around them socially.
Peace and love,
jjs

Moxy

lol @ rich.

actually the 'marking' procedure went thru an adjustment sometime late 80's - early 90's i think. ill have to check it later.

mox

Marking brothers and sisters

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