This religion was started in Ireland around the same time as the JW's were in the mid to late 1800'S. and is still alive today in Europe and America. My Grandfather and his family were of this religion. They have a lot of the same ideas about things as the Witnesses. They don't have a clergy, they don't have members, rather they have a fellowship, women have a secondary position they wear head coverings when teaching, their kids aren't allowed to be involved in school activities, they only marry within the fold and they shun anyone who doesn't live up to their beliefs. The Witnesses would still view them as of Babylon the great however, remember, only JW's have the absolute truth. My Grandfather was in his fourties when he married my Grandmother and because there just weren't any eligible P.B. women in his village he married her even though she wasn't of his faith. As a result, except for one sister, he and his wife and 6 children were shunned for the rest of his life. His sister was seen coming out of a movie theatre in the 1930's and was also shunned by the family and Congregation. The two siblings stuck together for the rest of their lives helping eachother through lifes difficulties. My mother never knew her father's side of the famiy even though they lived in a village nearby. (sound familiar to anyone?) My Grandfather raised his 6 children in the style of someone who still believed in that religion. My Grandmother was the village school teacher and taught the Bible to her students using the name Jehovah. Because of this background, my Mom was ripe for the picking when she came to America and the Witnesses called on her. She had no friends or family in the country and the pretty young lady with two little boys, who already prayed to Jehovah, was an automatic celebrity when she started attending meetings. My Dad never could overcome his shyness enough to go from door to door so he wasn't allowed to be baptized but he did die not taking a blood transfusion because of what he was taught by the Witnesses. Plymouth Brethren kids today who attend public school have to go home for lunch or eat in a seperate area as they aren't allowed to break bread with unbelievers in a lunchroom. They can eat on a bus or airplane however because this is not considered eating with but next to unbelievers. When they oust followers, the whole congregation meets to discuss the crime and they all come to the decision together. (depending on the crime, this might be more embarrassing but you at least would be judged by a jury of your peers and family members) They are allowed to have cars so long as there isn't a radio in it. TV and Movies are out of the question, Anyway, there are support groups available for former members of this religion today. Much like us, they have suffered the casualties of having come under the control of an overly religious group. Here is the Plymouth Brethren website in case anyone is interested. They list thier beliefs alphabetically. Look under "C" for Church dicipline or "A" for apostacy. Here
