when they reach a certain age they are expected to "sign up" (get baptized).
in many cases if they choose not to their parents essentially "disfellowship" them.
so a lot of children get baptized under pressure from the parents and when they fail to live the jw life and get df'd the folks are the harshest shunners.
Trevor
you said that their love reflects the God they worship....obey me or die. I think a lot of the principles that the bible says are a protection, and obedience is a protection, just as a child obey their parents who are wiser, so to is Gods words, so obedience to Jehovah is a protection. However the shunning is wrong, unless the person is a threat physically or a trouble maker for the family I find that shunning is unloving.
it was the 14th of april last year that i had to sit my mother down and tell her i was an apostate.. i was closer to her than anyone else.
my father and mother are still married, but he let her raise me as a witness, and that meant it was me and mom.. me and mom in field service for 100 hours in july because she had to make her time as a regular pioneer.. me and mom fighting over what to bring for lunch to the district convention.. me and mom up late at night, when she would berate me, and then unload all her problems on to me.. me and mom and our 4 hour family studies, where we discuss 2 paragraphs of a random book, and then she would browbeat me until early in the morning.. somehow, through all that, i pretended to be a witness for years, just to appease her.
looking back, i don't know if i loved her, or if i was just afraid of her.
Hi Rich.....and that you are, you're mother was sick, unbalanced and cruel. I'm sorry that she tainted the religion so badly and was not a good example of a christian. She has a lot to answer to and for, but I do believe that Jehovah has and will always love you, he sees all and knows you're pain. You are a very strong person and should be proud of that, no doubt you wouldn't never have been able to survive that onslaught of emotional abuse without Jehovah's help. She treats you like an apostate but you are not.
Cheers
for whatever reason.
do you question it sometimes and think you should try to "reach out" to them again?
i was this morning and then came across the thread above and was reminded why i need to stay away.. but, still, i read threads of people who have managed somehow, despite being d'f'ed or faded or d'aed and think i might try to be more understanding, supportive, reach out or something.. despite all the problems growing up in a fairly dysfunctional family, i still feel a deep attachment to them and hope against hope that they might come to their senses (if they ever had any to begin with) and get help and leave the cult of jehobo; and we might reconcile,etc., etc., blah blah blah dream dream dream.. i deeply wish for them all freedom and happiness and healing and feel so helpless to free them of their bonds and yet see so much possibility for it, if only they could be reached somehow.
I cant believe that families still shun disfellowshiped ones, depending on the reason, if of course the disfellowshiped person hates and is putting everyone else down for their beliefs that is a reason you wouldn't want them around. But to shun them because they choose not to be a JW and is still the same person without the tag, then they need to learn about Christ's love.
i went through our morning paper, twice, but the article is not there.
it is online though, but you have to have the link.
the front page has no information to get you there.
The two witnessess for abuse cases no longer exists as much as I was told. I came back last year after being out for nearly 14yrs. The first question I asked was what does the Society do about child abuse, I was informed that the two witness was not necassary (that was ridiculous, as we all know how that could have even had that for this sort of crime) and they said that they are disfellowshiped, for life or a very long time, I think they said life. As I do believe there is no cure for it. But one sister told me of a case in the congregation ten yrs ago when a brother was accused of trying to interfere with children, the kids went to their parents in turn the parents went to the elders, a trap was set for him at the kingdom hall outside, and he was caught trying to coherce a couple of younger sisters. He was handed over to the police and disfellowshiped.
i put the following comment on answers.yahoo.com about changes to watchtower revelation doctrine.
there have been three different versions of god given light in the watchtower publications so far;.
1. calvin studies in the scriptures series vii- the finished mystery p.151 "calvin is entitled to the honor of having at one time been a papal star .... is called wormwood.
Hello JWfacts.........I understand what you mean, yes I am a JW, I have been back for a year after a long time out. The thing that stricks me the most is the abuse cases and also the lack of love from some of the elders, I also find it difficult to understand the certain biasness with in the congregations to certain ones that have property. But the only thing that I objected to was the slagging of witnesses personally unless we know them and have a grip, because I find the majority I know to be really nice people, that believe in what they are doing.
Cheers
i put the following comment on answers.yahoo.com about changes to watchtower revelation doctrine.
there have been three different versions of god given light in the watchtower publications so far;.
1. calvin studies in the scriptures series vii- the finished mystery p.151 "calvin is entitled to the honor of having at one time been a papal star .... is called wormwood.
Well you have aired his or hers email, they have an oppinion and a right to express it just as you have done. One thing I must say is I wonder if people are going to the meetings (some of) and then coming on here shooting. I find that really sick.
press release 5/10/07.
http://www.freeminds.org/history/16lawsuits.htm.
sixteen child sex abuse lawsuits against jehovahs witnesses are settled.
I think MAD has just as much right to oppion as all of us....I do believe that the majority of JW are disgusted and revolted at these accustations and cases. Why is lot here browning of all witnesses, when they are being just as judgemental as those they profess to dislike.
I of cause don't condone sex crimes of any sort especially of children. The justice system of this world is not justice, but Jehovah's is, so they have his judgement to worry about. Not that is any help for the victims, and niether is the worlds, where someone will get away with it or be sentenced to a few years, but Jehovah's justice is pure. Many may fall within but that makes no difference to those that have faith. Why blame Jehovah.
i had to listen to jw craziness starting in 1960 when my mother started studying.
recently, i was reading paul and pat blizard's website and came across "101 strange beliefs and practices of jehovah's witnesses".
granted.......some of these beliefs have gone by the wayside because of bud light.... i mean new light!
My sister in law is a witness of over thirty years and loves jade, was a gift from my brother to her in the 70's. My thought on this would be some unbalanced nutter that saw some freaky connection Satan and jade, china and the colour jade which is used in some ceromies in new year and healing. Kricky.
"mature" jw's, what do you "believe" you are accomplishing by coming on this board?.
page 371 paragraph 22 of the june 15, 1967 watchtower magazine says, "in addition to all of this, a persons faith can be weakened by what he reads and takes into his mind, dwelling upon "higher criticism," relying on worldly philosophers.
it should be remembered that, when we are reading a book, the author of the book becomes ones teacher, and for this reason great care should be taken in selecting reading matter.
Talking to the young ones as Timothy was. Protecting the young from out side influences that could corrupt them into behaviour that could be damaging to their well being. Not for kiddies as you said.
just hearing the comments at this week's bookstudy, i marvelled at how black-and-white the typical jw is with regard to "us" vs "them"--with the main "them" being the "churches of christendom".
this whole mindset, and its ability to promote loyalty and motivation really showcases the power of granfalloon tactics: .
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/12/132810/1.ashx.
Yes there are those self righteous hypocrites amongst JW's, but on the whole they are ok people. I prefer not to hold that in contempt rather I would just show some love to those that are ignorant of Christs love. Do unto others yes please do.
