Posts by Divergent

23

Why Marrying An Outsider Is NOT A Disfellowshipping "Offense"

by Divergent in

jw
friends

so yeah, i was thinking about this.

marrying an unbeliever is considered to be wrong, but at the same time, it is not a disfellowshipping "offense".

well, the reason is simple: there is more to gain than to lose by not disfellowshipping.

Divergent

wisdomfrombelow:

You can get disfellowshipped for marrying an unbeliever. And it is automatic if the unbeliever is a disfellowshipped witness.

This is unusual and has never happened in my country before to my knowledge. There were quite a number of cases of JW's here marrying outsiders and almost none that I know of got disfellowshipped. The only exceptions were a sister who married an outsider and had a wedding involving other religious rituals and another sister who slept with her "worldly" boyfriend and got pregnant before marrying him

33

"You Can Do Just Enough Ministry To Dislike It"

by pale.emperor in

when you were "in" did you ever actually enjoy the ministry?

and i made no secret about it.

instead i would joke about me feather knocking, and made sure i had my bible in hand so as they come to the door they know what im about so they can shut me down before i even start.. i always wondered how or why there were people who enjoyed it.

Divergent

Wayward:

Hated every aspect of it. I was very shy as a kid and it was sheer torture going to strangers' doors. And then wanting to die of humiliation when a classmate or teacher would answer.

Similar feelings here! I was not a shy kid by nature, but being a JW made me withdraw out of embarrassment

23

Why Marrying An Outsider Is NOT A Disfellowshipping "Offense"

by Divergent in

jw
friends

so yeah, i was thinking about this.

marrying an unbeliever is considered to be wrong, but at the same time, it is not a disfellowshipping "offense".

well, the reason is simple: there is more to gain than to lose by not disfellowshipping.

Divergent

It all depends on how you interpret the bible. If you want to, you can find a justification for almost anything, including polygamy

23

Why Marrying An Outsider Is NOT A Disfellowshipping "Offense"

by Divergent in

jw
friends

so yeah, i was thinking about this.

marrying an unbeliever is considered to be wrong, but at the same time, it is not a disfellowshipping "offense".

well, the reason is simple: there is more to gain than to lose by not disfellowshipping.

Divergent

The Searcher:

I know of a J.W. who has been "marked" and shunned by many in the congregation for getting engaged to a non-J.W.

NewYork44M:

I cannot recall anyone getting disfellowshipped. However, these ones were "marked."

Marked, shunned, etc. but not disfellowshipped. That's my point. They are doing something which is considered to be "wrong", but the loophole is that it's not a disfellowshipping "offense" due to the reasons I mentioned above

23

Why Marrying An Outsider Is NOT A Disfellowshipping "Offense"

by Divergent in

jw
friends

so yeah, i was thinking about this.

marrying an unbeliever is considered to be wrong, but at the same time, it is not a disfellowshipping "offense".

well, the reason is simple: there is more to gain than to lose by not disfellowshipping.

Divergent

So yeah, I was thinking about this. Marrying an unbeliever is considered to be WRONG, but at the same time, it is NOT a disfellowshipping "offense". Why is that?

Well, the reason is simple: there is more to gain than to lose by NOT disfellowshipping. If they did disfellowship everyone who married "out of the truth", there is a high chance that such ones WON'T be coming back and the org would lose them forever. So why not take the softer approach - make it permissible, with the hope that the believing one can eventually bring their mate AND any children that they may have into "the truth!" This would be an acceptable solution for many single ones (especially sisters) who are not able to find a marriage mate within the org. So while the org considers marrying a "worldly person" to be wrong, they still allow it!

7

Counterfeit Christians

by Chook in

counterfeit christian beliefs can only be discovered with a close look.

the problem with anything counterfeit is that it looks genuine even under close scrutiny.

us 100 dollar bill is the most counterfeit currency, some of the best bank staff have trouble sorting genuine from real.

Divergent

nicolaou:

There are over three thousand Christian denominations

The correct figure is 40,000+

10

JW Baptism

by James Mixon in

http://abc7.com/religion/video-kid-cant-wait-to-be-baptized-/1500814/.

ok folks not a jw.lol but it would add some excitement at the assembly..

Divergent

This kid won't be shunned if he chooses to leave the church in future. Can't say the same for JW kids who get baptised though!!!

30

Why is it so hurtful to be shunned? Why object to it?

by stuckinarut2 in

it seems like many feel hurt or saddened by the practice of shunning by witnesses.. yes, when ones who we were close to, perhaps family or ones we thought were close friends choose to follow the warped directions of the society, it may seem hurtful.. but really, our reaction is up to us.

the fact is, these ones have shown that in reality, their love for us was never real or genuine.

no, those relationships were superficial and lacking in substance.

Divergent

stuckinarut2:

I just don't understand those that desperately WANT to go back into an abusive situation.

Stockholm syndrome is hard to understand. It's extremely difficult to help people who actually believe that their abuser is doing what is best for them!

If one is emotionally beaten up by being ignored, neglected or punished by witnesses, is it not better to move on from that circle of association?

The problem is that many still believe that JW's have the truth after all that they have been through! That was what kept me in as a born-in until my 20's. Once I awakened and realised that it is NOT the truth but rather a man-made organisation, I was out!!!

10

Ever notice this contradiction?

by stuckinarut2 in

so witnesses love using the scripture that says that "narrow and cramped is the road to life, and few are the ones finding it" as proof that they have the truth.

yes, a small number.. yet they also love boasting about the "increases in numbers coming into the truth" as proof of jehovah's blessing of the society!.

so, which is it?

Divergent

My problem with this scripture is this: If God REALLY is a God of love and DOES NOT desire any to be destroyed, he would make truth VERY clear and convincing to people, resulting in the broad and wide road leading to life and NOT to destruction!

9

Possible two Leprosy cases in Riverside California elementary school. We have come a long way from the Bible GOD of the OT.

by James Mixon in

the earliest account of the disease appears in an egyptian papyrus around 1550 b.c.. hansen's or leprosy infected around 100-200 people in the u.s each year and most are.

in the south, texas and louisiana no idea why.. in the bible leprosy is mentioned upwards of 40 times.

the main reason why leprosy is talked.

Divergent

By means of science, humans found a cure for leprosy, while God did NOTHING!