Hi Gayle,
It was so nice to see you and others! Thanks for reaching out to the Chandler Ex-JW meetup to help with this -- it was really wonderful, if at times, painful to hear some of the accounts!
Cheers,
-Randy
Posts by rawe
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6Great Meetup in Phoenix AZ yesterday!!
by Gayle inabout 28-30 of us there for two hours at the phoenix library.
alot of personal experiences of those being raised jws and experiencing shunning!
it was filmed but sensitivity was certainly given for those there, were several there, who could not be filmed because of jw family yet.
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Shun Run 2013 - Good turn out!
by rawe in20 made it out for our shun run 2013. we walked the 2.3 miles, then attend a meetup at the library.
although we planned only for 1 hour at the library the speaking went on for additional 45 minutes, with no objections or anyone falling asleep (acts 20:9).
this is a bit cheesy and hopefully no one will mind too much, but i'll let you know i posted more details and pictures over at the yuku ex-jw forum: http://exjehovahswitnessforum.yuku.com.
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rawe
Hi Everyone,
20 made it out for our Shun Run 2013. We walked the 2.3 miles, then attend a meetup at the Library. Although we planned only for 1 hour at the library the speaking went on for additional 45 minutes, with no objections or anyone falling asleep (Acts 20:9). This is a bit cheesy and hopefully no one will mind too much, but I'll let you know I posted more details and pictures over at the Yuku Ex-JW forum: http://exjehovahswitnessforum.yuku.com
If you look in the "The Help and Discussion For Ex-JWs" area there are posts and discussions. The "Picture Forum" as 8 pictures.
Thanks goes out to everyone, who was able to come out and support this event! But also thanks to the many kind folks here on this forum and over at Ex-JW yuku forum for being there in spirit and posting words of encouragement. If my circumstances permit, I would like to run the event again next year -- 2014 -- ah, that seems significant, ;-)
Cheers,
-Randy
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Shun Run 2013 - Final Booster & Details
by rawe inwelcome to the shun run 2013 show love, don't shun.
every year thousands of individuals leave the faith of jehovah's witnesses.
although we have asked the leadership to consider softening their stance on extreme shunning it seems they've chosen the opposite course.. in fact the watchtower study for march 10, 2013 was an article entitled: let nothing distance you from jehovah .. paragraph 17 acknowledged the pain shunning causes in a family, when it said:.
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rawe
Hi Robert,
I most often post on the yuku ex-jw forum than here. When I decided to share my life story, one of the things I did was use my real name. Since then I've been operating in that mode. Thus in the letters I've sent to SDB:SSY (the otherwise anonymous JW at HQs who wrote me) I signed off with my full name and post that. Not all ex-Witnesses are in a position to do that of course, so I do feel fortunate that I can. It can give folks who might want to join our Chandler meetup group confidence about who they are meeting. So... having decide that, I wouldn't want to reverse towards an anonymous approach, but it does mean I self-impose a few limits on what I do on FB.
Your post does remind me, that I need to shoot an email over to the other organizer with your suggestion. I'll do that after this post.
Cheers,
-Randy
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Shun Run 2013 - Final Booster & Details
by rawe inwelcome to the shun run 2013 show love, don't shun.
every year thousands of individuals leave the faith of jehovah's witnesses.
although we have asked the leadership to consider softening their stance on extreme shunning it seems they've chosen the opposite course.. in fact the watchtower study for march 10, 2013 was an article entitled: let nothing distance you from jehovah .. paragraph 17 acknowledged the pain shunning causes in a family, when it said:.
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rawe
Hi Robert,
I'm the organizer of the Chandler, AZ Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses meetup and we don't have a FB page (we're on meetup.com). However, the West Phoenix group does, so I will pass along that suggestion. I have a FB account, but keep my posts about the faith fairly neutral out of respect for a few extended family members who are in the faith.
Cheers,
-Randy
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Shun Run 2013 - Final Booster & Details
by rawe inwelcome to the shun run 2013 show love, don't shun.
every year thousands of individuals leave the faith of jehovah's witnesses.
although we have asked the leadership to consider softening their stance on extreme shunning it seems they've chosen the opposite course.. in fact the watchtower study for march 10, 2013 was an article entitled: let nothing distance you from jehovah .. paragraph 17 acknowledged the pain shunning causes in a family, when it said:.
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rawe
Hi Everyone,
Welcome to the Shun Run 2013 – Show Love, Don't Shun. Every year thousands of individuals leave the faith of Jehovah's Witnesses. Although we have asked the leadership to consider softening their stance on extreme shunning it seems they've chosen the opposite course.
In fact The Watchtower study for March 10, 2013 was an article entitled: LET NOTHING DISTANCE YOU FROM JEHOVAH .
Paragraph 17 acknowledged the pain shunning causes in a family, when it said:
It is normal, therefore, to be deeply grieved when a beloved family member leaves Jehovah. “I was devastated,” says one sister whose daughter was disfellowshipped. “I wondered, ‘Why did she leave Jehovah?’ I felt guilty, and I blamed myself.”
Here a grieved mother wonders why her daughter would make such a choice, yet the leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses demand she not take logical step of asking her directly. Rather Jehovah's Witnesses demand a “resolute stance” against the former member, that includes having no contact, even through e-mail!
Really, what your beloved family member needs to see is your resolute stance to put Jehovah above everything else —including the family bond. . . .Do not look for excuses to associate with a disfellowshipped family member, for example, through e-mail.
The West Phoenix and Chandler Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses meetup groups are happy to be hosting a public awareness event to bring attention to these cruel family-dividing policies. Our event is primarily intended to be of encouragement to all who have left the faith or considering this option. There is life beyond Jehovah's Witnesses and although shunning is painful it is possible to cope.
Please plan on arriving at the west parking lot of Papago Park by about 11:55am on Sunday, March 24, 2013. From the south side you turn off of E Van Buren St onto N Galvin Pkwy. The first left off N Galvin Pkwy will bring you to the west parking lot. We will leave at noon heading north on the east Double Butte Loop trail #5, keeping right until it takes you around the Butte, over to the fence by the golf course and back to the parking lot. It should take about 50 minutes to walk. For those planning on running it is 2.3 miles of relatively flat dirt trail. Bring the normal summer time supplies of water, sun screen and at hat.
When we get back to the Ramada we will unroll our 6' x 3' Shun Run 2013 banner for picture taking. If you do not wish to have your picture taken, please let us know – we understand!
Our combined meetup will then convene at the Burton Bar Public Library. The address is: 1221 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ. Our meeting will be held in the Lecture Room on the fourth floor.
Our meetup is not like an assembly of Jehovah's Witnesses. We are not concerned about up-holding the “image” of an “organization.” Our speakers will speak from the heart and share their unique perspectives. Expect to be informed and moved by the real story of what it is like to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses, discover the awful truth about the truth, then make the painful decision to leave.
Randy – Welcome – 2:00 to 2:05 ( 5 min )
Jonathan – Why being one of Jehovah's Witnesses was the best thing that ever happened to me. - 2:05 to 2:17 ( 12 min )
Elizabeth – Shunning -- Impact and coping. 2:17 to 2:29 ( 12 min )
Matthew – Matters of life and death – 2:29 to 2:36 ( 7 min )
Christine – Role of “Sisters” – 2:36 to 2:43 ( 7 min )
Curtis – Leaving the One True Church – 2:43 to 2:55 ( 12 min )
Randy – In Conclusion – 2:55 to 3:00 ( 5 min )
I hope as many as possible are able to support the event.
Cheers,
-Randy
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Shun Run 2013
by rawe ini am the organizer of the chandler, az ex-jw meetup group.
last year our group organized a "shun run".
nine of us walked and ran to bring attention to the issue of shunning.
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rawe
Hi sacolton,
That is very cool! I had Ts made year at a local shop in Scottsdale and this year I order 10 Ts online. I will definately direct folks to your site if we need extras.
Cheers,
-Randy
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Shun Run 2013
by rawe ini am the organizer of the chandler, az ex-jw meetup group.
last year our group organized a "shun run".
nine of us walked and ran to bring attention to the issue of shunning.
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rawe
Hi Robert,
Last year the sub-title was "Coping for today, Hoping for tomorrow." This year I tossed around a few ideas, but in the end wanted to focus on the fact that shunning hurts and I personally don't mind saying I feel the pain in my own case. I like your suggestion. I also like the idea of highlighting the courage of folks willing to break away from the faith, then stand up for right principal.
Cheers,
-Randy
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Shun Run 2013
by rawe ini am the organizer of the chandler, az ex-jw meetup group.
last year our group organized a "shun run".
nine of us walked and ran to bring attention to the issue of shunning.
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rawe
Hi PaintedToeNail,
A few have asked that. I am not opposed to the idea of media coverage per se, but I am not seeking it either. Part of this speaks to my personality. I am up front about who I am and what I believe, etc. Randy is my real name and when I write SDB:SSY he knows my address. So my interest in keeping a low-profile is not tied to being shy or anything.
Like a lot of folks in the ex-JW community I do not desire to cause unnessary pain to family and friends who remain in the faith -- some who are in their 80s. So it does become a question of how to strike the right balance. On the one hand those who are considering leaving or have doubts may still find themselves under the influence of the faith. Even some who have not gone to meetings for years may still identify with the faith, even while sensing a form of religious abuse is going on, but are not sure what alternatives are really available. For such folks I hope events like this, posts here, a regular meetups can help. To show that it is okay to speak up, to make obvious points that religious shunning really amounts to unwanted third party influence in otherwise private relationships.
On the other hand I fully appreciate how important the faith feels to those who truly believe it. The faith itself of course is responsible for much of the stress that members feel. Constant calls for more service, more loyalty and constant reminders one is sinner in need of forgiveness is a huge burden. I am not resposible for this mess, nor is any of us in the ex-JW community, yet, I really don't want my actions to add to this burden.
I also think certain modes of actions can help refute the sort of thought-stoppers Witnesses throw up in regards to former members. How many times have we heard, "apostates" simply have an axe-to-grind? Or they are trying to "draw away disciples to themselves"? Or that they are disrepectful or glory seeking or always negative and offer no positive alternatives?
So... these are the sort of thoughts and concerns I put into the pot and stir it up to come up with the Shun Run.
Cheers,
-Randy
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Shun Run 2013
by rawe ini am the organizer of the chandler, az ex-jw meetup group.
last year our group organized a "shun run".
nine of us walked and ran to bring attention to the issue of shunning.
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rawe
Hi Everyone,
To Robert's point, last year our Shun Run included an ex-LDS (aka Mormon) member and two others who were never Jehovah's Witnesses. Our total was nine. When I left the faith in 2007 at first no action was taken against me. Our depature as a family was rather dramatic since we were very active. Our house was used as a Bookstudy location. In fact I was out in service in the morning and left the faith that afternoon. However in 2009 when I decided to celebrate Christmas for the benefit of my 6-year-old and because I no longer believed it was correct for me personally to continue to show open agreement with the edict of Joseph Rutherford from the 1920s, it was then the elders came calling.
I told them I would be happy to meet with them, provided the meeting was recorded and I could have a lawyer present. I also told them I was happy to have them make a public announcement as long as used the wording I provided, that made it clear that while I was not one of Jehovah's Witnesses, that the sharing of such information was in no way intended to incite shunning and that I was not being disfellowshipped, nor had I disassociated myself. Well... despite my explicit instructions that I be kept informed of any intended announcement a standard short-form announcement was made in the spring of 2010 without them telling me.
I eventually got a letter from headquarters with the code SDB:SSY. I responded to this letter when I got it and have since written SDB:SSY annually. I now do so as part of the Shun Run -- which I hope I can keep going each year near the time of the memorial. For those that may be interested here is the first three paragraphs...
Dear Mr. SDB:SSY:
Last February I wrote to inform you of our first Shun Run. Myself and my friend who is a former member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were joined by seven others. The nine of us walked on the public roads near the Casa Grande Assembly Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. Given this was the Sunday prior to the Memorial, I was surprised to see a Spanish language group were using the facility. I approached one of the parking attendants to inform him of our plans. I was further surprised when a deputy from the Pinal County Sheriff's department showed up at our starting point!
I am planning on repeating this event again this year on Sunday, March 24, 2014. The exact location has not been chosen at this point, but will likely be a walking path near the center of Phoenix. I am deeply committed to being peaceable and law abiding (Romans 1:18, Mark 12:17). While some who oppose Jehovah's Witnesses may desire to be flamboyant and disruptive, this is not true of me or my friends. The intent of this event is not to embarrass Jehovah's Witnesses, instead, I hope to be of encouragement to members of the ex-Jehovah's Witnesses community.
The sub-title for this year is: Show Love, Don't Shun. I chose this to highlight the choice involved and the fact that shunning hurts. Admittedly, there may be circumstances where shunning is a reasonable choice. Consider the case of a child who was sexually molested by an adult family member. When that child grows up she may choose not to have any contact with her molester. Who could blame her? Jehovah's Witnesses attempt to justify shunning by suggesting the target of their shunning is deserving – that such shunning is a form of “tough love” (Hebrews 12:11). Yet, can such account for every case of shunning? In most cases, individuals who shun do not even know what the facts in a given case may be. Rather, it is a matter of being unquestionably obedient to men in authority.
Cheers,
-Randy
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Shun Run 2013
by rawe ini am the organizer of the chandler, az ex-jw meetup group.
last year our group organized a "shun run".
nine of us walked and ran to bring attention to the issue of shunning.
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rawe
Hi Hb48,
Looking forward to seeing you there! It was a lot of fun last year. We did the walk then headed off to Dairy Queen for an ice-cream all dressed in our Shun Run T-Shirts. I should also mention that I sent a couple extra T-Shirts to two moderators on the Yuku Ex-JW forum -- so we've hit three spots on the globe (USA, UK and Australia).
Cheers,
-Randy