Thanks for the info. I did not realize it was in print. That new organization book came out when, about a year or two ago? So you're right, I guess the brothers in my hall weren't caught up with the new light.
I guess I can't expect it to make sense. Basically they have removed some of their liability but none of ours, right?
As far as I am aware, they just started doing this new announcement a few months ago. About a year ago, two people in our hall were disfellowshipped, and they announced, "So and so has been disfellshipped." Then, several months later, a letter was read about someone else:"So and so is no longer one of Jehovah's witnesses". I checked around with witnesses I know and they all said it has been similar in their congregations.
You are right, ocsrf, that is exactly what happens. I just can't begin to understand how the elder body can enforce a stand that they can't even come out and tell everyone exists. The new announcement doesn't give anyone a basis for not speaking to the person. For all we are told, we know no more about him than any other person in the entire world. But I am guessing that they would discipline me if they knew I was socializing with this person.
a poster on this site was kind to direct me to an ' 03 topic for discussion that dealt with the question whether ex-elders who were on a jc should feel responsible for the hurt and damage to families that suffered df in their family and therefore seek these ones out and apologize.. some felt that these elders were only following what they felt was expected of them and others felt it was a good idea.. how do posters here who were former elders on jc feel about this now?
thank you to all for your input.
juni.
It seems to me that it would be impossible for an elder to undo even a fraction of the past, no matter how bad he feels about it. I think if someone is no longer an elder and feels bad about harm he may have done, that is much better than one who stays an elder just because he can't admit he's wrong. I think the major weight of the blame should go to the incorrect policy that is imposed upon the elders. They really just get suckered into doing someone else's dirty work.
a poster on this site was kind to direct me to an ' 03 topic for discussion that dealt with the question whether ex-elders who were on a jc should feel responsible for the hurt and damage to families that suffered df in their family and therefore seek these ones out and apologize.. some felt that these elders were only following what they felt was expected of them and others felt it was a good idea.. how do posters here who were former elders on jc feel about this now?
thank you to all for your input.
juni.
I was never an elder, but I am ashamed to say that I was partly responsible for someone getting disfellowshipped (tattled on him for smoking.) After I realized how wrong I had been, I made a point to tell him that I was sorry and I really tried to make amends, although realistically I know the damage had been done. I still feel bad every time I think about it.
I can tell you that I have heard one such announcement at the kingdom hall, it was just a few months ago. I couldn't believe my ears and started asking everybody - what is that supposed to mean, "no longer one of jehovah's witnesses"? Is he disfellowshipped? When no one could answer the question, I asked the person himself. It turns out he had been gone for at least 2 years. He had been tricked into meeting with a brother under the pretense that the brother wanted "to encourage him". One brother turned into three, and they immediately started asking him about a weekend he had spent with an ex girlfriend over a year prior. He was truthful, and so they told him that he would be disfellowshipped. He did not even know about the new announcement until I told him. It just blew my mind.
Damn, the enter key got me again!! Newman.......
Anyway, something that has been really bugging me: Most of you probably know that they changed the announcement; when someone gets df'd or da's themselves, they just announce "So and So is no longer one of Jehovah's witnesses".
So my questions are these:
1. Was there ever an announcement or talk to explain this change?
2. How can they expect the congregation to enforce the shunning of somebody who is not even publicly disfellowshipped or disassociated? Because technically nobody from this point on will be. If someone is just simply "no longer one of Jehovah's witnesses", then we shouldn't have to treat them any different than 99% of the people we talk to and interact with every day.
3. How can they discipline anyone for associating with someone who is disfellowshipped if that was never technically announced?
I realize that the society is trying to minimize their liability, but this volunteer work thing has gotten out of control. They are expecting everybody to draw a specific conclusion, from something that wasn't exactly announced, and then enforce the punishment.
I think they have opened a can of worms with this one.
.
when i joined the jw org.
the truth was that we were separating sheep from goats by preaching door to door.. today this isn't so.. name a few truths that were true back then but are lies today.. .
TD that is so true. Even the most hard-core dubs disagree with this thought and are not afraid to say so (outside of the kingdom hall).
As for what was truth, when I was growing up anybody who went to college was looked at as practically wordly. Now I know of ministerial servants and pioneers (mostly boys in their late teens) who are going to college and don't get any flack at all. Sucks to be 30 and plenty smart but working a labor job because I followed popular opinion at the time and turned down scholarships.
do you believe that's a superstitious saying?
do you think that when a person gambles that they believe in the "god of luck" as the witnesses say?
what does pagan mean to you?
I think it is very superstitious. Also arrogant, in a way. Witnesses say "Jehovah willing" about the smallest things. I always thought that was funny. Sure, the supreme god of the universe will be personally deciding whether or not your boss gives you a raise. Whatever. Actually, that kind of thinking really messes with your head, because if you really believe it then everything bad that happens will make you wonder if you really have Jehovah's blessing, then to wonder what you did to lose his blessing, then to get depressed, etc.
