I think nugget had the best response. Kill them with kindness and keep the lines of communication open. If they decide to shut it down...you can go to bed knowing its their problem and not yours. They will be the ones wasting mental/emotional energy doing something unnatural (shunning their own children).
iamwhoiam
JoinedPosts by iamwhoiam
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71
MIL letter to my wife
by AggieNostic inbackground: my wife and i are inactive, we stopped attending in 2005. raised as jws, were pioneers, i was elder etc... .
our kids are in college, also inactive but are baptised.
my wife went back to college, getting her degree this month at age 48!
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154
Thoughts on the new AAWA video and other things!!
by iamwhoiam inso does this mean aawa is going to stop shunning?
are they themselves not guilty of shunning those who shun?
shunning can never be stopped no matter how bad you want it to.
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iamwhoiam
Originally "other things" covered the general subject of shunning. However, in hindsight, the term was a bit broad and turned into whatever you want to talk about (gripes or kudos) related to the AAWA, which is not a bad thing. People get a chance to speak their mind and get everything off ther chest on the subject..all in one thread.
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10
Paris Jackson Puts Her Foot Down! No More Going Door-To-Door As Jehovahs Witness
by iamwhoiam inhttp://radaronline.com/exclusives/2013/05/paris-jackson-prince-michael-jackson-jehovas-witness/.
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154
Thoughts on the new AAWA video and other things!!
by iamwhoiam inso does this mean aawa is going to stop shunning?
are they themselves not guilty of shunning those who shun?
shunning can never be stopped no matter how bad you want it to.
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iamwhoiam
Paralipomenon: "Many that don't like AAWA's recent handling spoke out in support of the video being good."
I agree with this statement. I don't personally like the AAWA's recent handling of thier launch, I don't personally like the fact that its an "organization" (reeks to much of what i try to avoid), but i do like the video. I just don't think something like that is going to change the policy of shunning among witnesses. All shunning among all religions would have to stop. Its like fighting terrorism..it can't be won as your battling a concept.
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154
Thoughts on the new AAWA video and other things!!
by iamwhoiam inso does this mean aawa is going to stop shunning?
are they themselves not guilty of shunning those who shun?
shunning can never be stopped no matter how bad you want it to.
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iamwhoiam
Oublilette: "True, but the issue here is the institutionalized form of shunning which is coerced on JWs by the WT Leadership. It removes individual conscience and choice by falsely claiming it is a scriptural requirement when it is not and by falsely claiming it is a matter of loyalty to Jehovah when in fact it is only a matter of loyalty to an organization."
Regardless of whether it is or is not a scriptual requirement...regardless of whether its institutional or personal...it will still always exist in one form or another. of course i would love for it to stop...especially in the jws since that was the religion that played a major role in my life. but its just not going to happen. and thats just an opinion i have from studying and observing human nature. its as old as the hills. if there was no such thing as shunning...then we would be living in a utopia. and utopias rank right up there with unicorns and leprechauns.
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154
Thoughts on the new AAWA video and other things!!
by iamwhoiam inso does this mean aawa is going to stop shunning?
are they themselves not guilty of shunning those who shun?
shunning can never be stopped no matter how bad you want it to.
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iamwhoiam
Wha happened?: "To those that can see the forest through the trees, they see it"
Exactly my friend, you hit the nail right on the head.
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20
What are your favorite hypocritical sayings of the WT??
by iamwhoiam in"religion is a snare and a racket".
...ironically, today the wt is a bonafied religion..
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iamwhoiam
"Religion is a snare and a racket"
...Ironically, today the WT is a bonafied religion.
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154
Thoughts on the new AAWA video and other things!!
by iamwhoiam inso does this mean aawa is going to stop shunning?
are they themselves not guilty of shunning those who shun?
shunning can never be stopped no matter how bad you want it to.
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iamwhoiam
I personally think the video was tastefully done. hits you right in the heart and many jws should see this. i hope the AAWA puts out more of this type of thing to educate others and get the word out. With that being said, I just don't think an organization needed to be started to accomplish this type of education; unless people just really feel they need to be a part of something or just part of a group. The WT no longer has to use a blanket statement about apsotates, now they have a face to put on it...the AAWA. Maybe not all apostates want to be labeled/affiliated with the AAWA.
Hell, maybe all this will work, maybe it won't.
From all the shit I have been through, another group is the last thing I wan't to be a part of. Thats just me though...everyone else is free to do whatever they wish. And freedom to choose is a great thing. Just think critically before you decide to be a part of something..thats all im really saying.
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154
Thoughts on the new AAWA video and other things!!
by iamwhoiam inso does this mean aawa is going to stop shunning?
are they themselves not guilty of shunning those who shun?
shunning can never be stopped no matter how bad you want it to.
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iamwhoiam
So does this mean AAWA is going to stop shunning? Are they themselves not guilty of shunning those who shun? Shunning can never be stopped no matter how bad you want it to. As long as there are humans, it will never cease to exist.
How do you stop a crowd of true believers? Taking too much action only reinforces the doctrines of true believers does it not? Its a mental war you cannot win. The only way shunning can be slowed is to educate yourself, set an example to others, and provide info when they ask for it. Let it work its way out on its own. Then, change just happens all by itself.
The WT is its own worst enemy...and we forget that sometimes. No matter how bad one family member (such as a mother or father) shuns another (own child or parent), I'm fairly certain they still think about them before they go to sleep at night..thats human nature in its purest form. They fight these natural feelings with the doctrine they have been taught..it is not thier fault...they are just not in control of thier own minds; but let me tell you...they are certainly feeling miserable. And when that happens, you've already won the war without fighting. They have to want to change..and only they can do so.
Lets use a useful forum like this to talk about our feelings and to support others who feel the same. It's a good theraputic process that will help us to move on; not to mention we can make a few friends in the process...and thats all it is...a process. We don't need another organization...we just need each other. Let the AAWA members (governing body) and thier "volunteers" (organization) do whatever they want. Sometimes the "good intentions" of people don't turn out so good; they then become thier own worst enemy...rinse and repeat.
Am I wrong on these issues? I encourage feedback.
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iamwhoiam
well put talesin. that is what true activism is all about.
its interesting how you can actually organize something without having to start an organization. when you start organizations...you start to bring control into the picture..and that never works out very well...especially in the information age.
human nature is a funny thing. the more people try to force an issue or start a war, blowback will always follow..and the cycle repeats.