Being publicly confrontational towards a JW to make them feel uncomfortable is an asshole strategy. You're attacking the person, not his ideas, because you have the intent to humilliate them in public. It's all about YOU feeling good about it. You won't win anyone to your field, rather, you generate even more radicalism on the other side.
On the other hand, [back to the OT] if someone would shun me inside my own house, I would ask them to leave there and then.
Eden
hello everyone.. after months of neglect, i've resumed writing for my website.. the new article deals with the issue of shunning among the jehovah's witnesses.. it attempts to disentangle disfellowshipping from shunning, and demonstrating that shunning is a practice unbecoming of a christian.
i hope you find it interesting the article shunning - unchristian psychological torture.. it's divided into the following sections:.
introduction.
Robert
The article is mostly concerned about the grounds for shunning as presented by the JW's leadership currently and over the years. As I think I was able to demonstrate, such grounds are false. Since shunning is pushed upon all those who leave the congregation, either by disfellowshipping or dissociation, I don't really make much of a distinction, although due warning to the reader is made about that.
Naturally, what drives a disfellowshipping and a dissociation are very different things, one being the result of disciplinary action, the other being a voluntary decision. But the article deals with the outcome of both: Shunning.
The shunning practice became norm under N. Knorr's leadership, although it's well known that it was F.W. Franz who was driving the theology. Nevertheless, the shunning policy pre-dates the ordeal with Raymond Franz by more than two decades.
Eden
hello everyone.. after months of neglect, i've resumed writing for my website.. the new article deals with the issue of shunning among the jehovah's witnesses.. it attempts to disentangle disfellowshipping from shunning, and demonstrating that shunning is a practice unbecoming of a christian.
i hope you find it interesting the article shunning - unchristian psychological torture.. it's divided into the following sections:.
introduction.
Adamah
I'm not sure about the pertinence of your comment, especially given the fact that I clearly make mention of the gnostic docetics as being the targets of John's remarks about the "antichrists". May I ask you if you've read the article?
Just FYI I've read all the apocripha, including the gnostic gospels and apocalipses, the Shepherd of Hermas, etc ... there are excellent websites that contain all those documents plus commentaries and historical background about each one.
Check out www.earlychristianwritings.com
Eden
hello everyone.. after months of neglect, i've resumed writing for my website.. the new article deals with the issue of shunning among the jehovah's witnesses.. it attempts to disentangle disfellowshipping from shunning, and demonstrating that shunning is a practice unbecoming of a christian.
i hope you find it interesting the article shunning - unchristian psychological torture.. it's divided into the following sections:.
introduction.
Robert,
I would make the distinction between disfellowshipping and dissociation if shunning was warranted in any of those circumstances. But it's not, so I don't make a distinction. Actually, at some point during the article I state that when "disfellowshipping" is mentioned, it also includes those who have disassociated themselves.
Also, you make a good point with your understanding of John 6. I've included that reference in the article (Part 7). Thank you.
Eden
hello everyone.. after months of neglect, i've resumed writing for my website.. the new article deals with the issue of shunning among the jehovah's witnesses.. it attempts to disentangle disfellowshipping from shunning, and demonstrating that shunning is a practice unbecoming of a christian.
i hope you find it interesting the article shunning - unchristian psychological torture.. it's divided into the following sections:.
introduction.
Hello everyone.
After months of neglect, I've resumed writing for my website.
The new article deals with the issue of shunning among the Jehovah's Witnesses.
It attempts to disentangle disfellowshipping from shunning, and demonstrating that shunning is a practice unbecoming of a Christian. I hope you find it interesting the article SHUNNING - UNCHRISTIAN PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE.
It's divided into the following sections:
Since this is something that most ex-JW's and faders and active Witnesses care deeply about, I found it beneficial to look at it in more depth.
Your comments and debate are more than welcome.
Eden
i really don't like people disparaging active jws on this site by calling them stupid, idiots, morons and that, and making out like they're willing puppets to the gb or cruel at heart.
or describing them like they're puke or as having no desire to learn or listen.. to you, all these things may be true.
we all have opinions and are entitled to them.
Wise words, Julia.
Eden
the jws stopped by my house a couple weeks ago on a saturday morning.
i knew that with others most likely waiting for them out in the car they probably did not then have much time to engage in any serious conversation.
so i let them talk while i feigned interest in what they had to say.
Julia,
Usually because someone on the atheist field resorts to insult on someone we, believers, consider in high regard, or make patronizing remarks about our intelligence. That's not the way to pursuit a civilized discussion.
Eden
the service reports for jw's always toots their horn about all of the "lands" that the good news is being preached in.. has anybody got a clue?
how many lands are there, total?
are lands the same as countries?.
What Jeffro said.
The use of "Land" is an attempt to be politically correct. Example: Taiwan. By calling it a "land", they aren't pissing off the chinese, who consider Taiwan part of their territory. "Land" also may referr to an autonomous region. Example "Azores", are a group of islands that belong to Portugal. Yet, in the Yearbook report, they have been treated treated as a separate territory than the mainland Portugal (same for Madeira island too).
WT geography isn't necessarily tied to geopolitics.
Eden
the jws stopped by my house a couple weeks ago on a saturday morning.
i knew that with others most likely waiting for them out in the car they probably did not then have much time to engage in any serious conversation.
so i let them talk while i feigned interest in what they had to say.
CG
Thank you for your comment on Paul's views about women. I wish it had been on a thread of its own. It really opened a lot of new possibilities for me, not only about this sibject, but also about other subjects that Paul wrote about, and his peculiar writing style as well.
Eden
the jws stopped by my house a couple weeks ago on a saturday morning.
i knew that with others most likely waiting for them out in the car they probably did not then have much time to engage in any serious conversation.
so i let them talk while i feigned interest in what they had to say.
marked
