from everything i've read here, the jist seems to be that if you're disfellowshipped, you have little chance of winning a lawsuit against the borg because the government still gives them the right to "shun" members if they see fit.. it occurred to me that perhaps we're ignoring a potential ray of light at the end of the tunnel.
what if we tried to lobby the government into changing this, so that it would be illegal for any religion to shun former members?
it's a long shot maybe, but if it could be shown (maybe on another program like dateline) of how unfair, cruel and inhumane it is to tell people they must shun family members or close friends simply because they don't think the same way as them, then maybe eventually, one day, a law would be passed forbidding shunning in any religion.. it's not just ex-witnesses that would support this: ex-mormons, ex-scientologists, ex-seventh day adventists etc.
Mary
I am not willing to give up religious freedom just to outlaw the practice of shunning, however horrible it is. The price is too high. You are naive if you think the government, given that much power over our lives, would not abuse it eventually.
id like to hear some *reasoned* explanations for why you believe the bible is gods word.
ive been so fascinated by the study of *real* biblical scholarship since i began educating myself, i now find it incredulous that i used to take the bible as divine, along with all jws and tons of christians, including a good number here.
so id like to entertain your very best lines of evidence that this is the real deal.. mox
I wonder why it is that *fundies* condem the worship of idols or graven images and see nothing wrong with worshiping a collection of books.
as i look back at my life i realize that i have said and done many stupid and hurtful things.
sometimes in anger, sometimes i've allowed "buttons" to be pushed that allowed me to turn ugly.
sometimes i have allowed my sensitivities to overcome reasonable responses.
Hey! What a great way to start the New Year. Isn't it great to be able to choose to change! One has to be willing to be healed. You have made a good choice.
we have nothing to eat.
then eat.
"try some of the kugel," his wife said as she pushed the plate back to him.
Raindrops
The next time you think you hear the voice of the "collective", just repeat to yourself, "My name is Hugh" lol.
May I recommend the book Illusion by Richard Bach. It is a quick read and a life changing experience. That was the method that the "sneaky Holy Spirit" used on me. Grabbed me by the throat, it did.....
well guys its been 3wks.
23 years gone, she has truly become a true jw.
even her non jw family feels bad for her.
Rowdy:
I'd be willing to make a wager that the "JW support structure" is not nearly as strong as she thinks it is. Give it another few weeks, but enjoy yourself in the meantime. Life does go on.
my mom raised us as witnesses, and finally left the wts after we grew up and left the house.
my dad left after too.
now my mom is so sorry about it all, and how we had to live, with my father an elder, the strictness, and of course all the things that a good witness family could not do.. how many of you raised your kids as witnesses?
My wife raised our 6 kids as witnesses. Since I was in the military service and gone for extended periods of time, there wasn't much I could do about it. I am glad to say that all are out now except one who is married to a witness and whose family are all witnesses. I think that he would leave except it would likely mean divorce. Their getting out was a painful process for them and for my wife. Several divorces have taken place as a result of their leaving. The shunning process that took place as each got out has left some deep scars, some of which have yet not healed. When my eldest daughter married outside the "truth", neither my wife nor any of her brothers and sisters attended the wedding. When they married in the Kingdom Hall, she was either not invited or asked to sit apart from the family in the rear of the hall. I had a real problem with "anger management" during this time. Things are much better now, but their relationship with their mother is somewhat strained. In my opinion, the members of the GB will have much to answer to God for in view of the damage they have done to families.
its just not supposed to be like this.
i just put my jw husband on a plane to san fran so he can spend the entire holiday week out there, get this, dog sitting his nonjw brothers shitzus while he goes to visit family for christmas.
i told him i was going to miss him...and he replied, well "i wont miss christmas".
LovesDubs
I know where you are coming from as I am in the same boat. My "annointed" JW wife doesn't celebrate Xmas. For many years, I was the only Xmas keeper in the home. Lately, however, I am able to celebrate with our children (Megadude, Jade, and Roo, and Angela) who have finally seen the light. My advice is to keep the celebration simple and don't get stressed out. Remember that the celebration is about the birth of Holiness into the world and into ourselves. Go to a Xmas Eve Candlelight service or mid-night communion. Tell your family and friends that you love them. Make a donation to the Salvation Army. It will return and bless you. Treat yourself to something that you thought you couldn't afford. Invite someone else who is alone to share a meal with you. There are so many alone these days. Let the Christ be born in You!
have to share this experience with you all.
years ago we were advised in england that computers were frowned upon not to bother with them,anyhow i never listened & therfore we bought into the computer market,we were allso advised not to spend to much time with televisions,of which i took alittle note got rid of it for six months,it gave us back family time ,any how as you guesed it the persuasion came from the local elders ,(geting rid of things.).
we then decided to buy a caravan ,yes this was frowned upon ,as we wanted weekends away to enjoy life with the family,people complained that we wouldnot be able to meet for field service transgresing against jehovah stealing his time,anyhow we went out and bought a 23 foot twin wheel caravan the one you have to pull behind a car or jeep.. we visited lots of areas of natural beauty in england .but the story now gets interesting ,we ended up storing our caravan down in summerset ,we had great times at the site meeting all types of different people & familys,we met a special middle aged couple & there famiy became good friends,the husband has developed cancer ,has been given six months to live,he was left for deadby the hospital with no hope of seeing next christmas or beyond,, he had cancer in his liver ,i found a article on the internet wherby a (cancer surgeon ) had a way of operating on the liver ,i informed my friend ,gave his wife the contact address,and three weeks later he is booked in for an operation that will save & prolong his life,the surgeon is going to starve the infected cancerouse liver then remove the slight infected other liver which will then start to grow ,kapow a new lease of lifeto a man who was resigned for death.. my point here is.. if,we had listened to the society, (about bad associations ).
Night Warrior
Good story. I don't quite understand the plan however. As far as I know, we only have one liver. I don't understand your reference to the "other liver". Is he going to get a transplant?
Mulan
Did you rat on us to Santa?
we have nothing to eat.
then eat.
"try some of the kugel," his wife said as she pushed the plate back to him.
Raindrops
Stories like this prove something that I have always believed; That the Holy Spirit does not stop communicating with us just because some committee got together and closed the canon on the Bible a few hundred years after the death of Jesus. This is the sort of story that Jesus would have told to his followers. It is the sort of story that speaks directly to our hearts. I can't define what truth is, but I know it when I hear it. Thanks for posting this.
