like any other Christianity based religion or Catholic religion I do not disrespect them nor treat them as anything lower then myself. I don't insult their beliefs nor argue with them for a "I'm right your wrong" conversation. Respect others the way you'd want to be respected don't insult their religion or other beliefs what's the point in that?
As a Jehovah's Witness I can say without a doubt that no religion is perfect because noone is created perfect therefore our flaws cause us to sometimes overstep boundaries and such. When I was young I was blessed to have such an understanding mother who let me attend Christian and Catholic church so I could understand why she thought being in the congregation was best for me. She was right. As of today I'm as happy as could be serving Jehovah and although I didn't necessarily
RIDICULOUS! Jesus was baptized at the age of 30 years, and HE WAS A PERFECT PERSON. Watchtower Society is just a mirror image of Roman Catholicism whom they criticize for infant baptism.
I feel you, I was baptized last year after being in the "truth" for only two years. Now I'm thinking about leaving the organization. I agree that kids should definately NOT be getting baptized.
First thing that comes to mind is that people don't WANT you to be disfellowshipped. That only happens if you've been involved with a serious wrong-doing, and are completely unrepentant. Think it's possible that you could simply say "sorry, my bad" like a big girl?
Obviously you don't have to go back, but there's a difference between someone who was disfellowshipped, and someone who just disassociated themselves.
There is no practical difference between how people are treated whether they're disassociated or disfellowshipped; they still face ostracism by friends and family who are still in the cult.
As for your condescending remarks with regard to apologising "like a big girl", you seem to be making judgements about what her "serious wrong-doing" was. It could simply have been a declaration of disbelief. Would "Sorry, I don't believe this anymore" be sufficient?
Oh no, I'm being excluded from a group JUST because I'm insulting their very faith in God and accusing them of being a cult... for not wanting to associate me after I called them a cult and impugned their faith.
How surprising!
I know many people who've left the congregation gracefully, without throwing a fit. Guess what... although I disagree with their opinion, I still love them as people and associate with them. Try the whole "not insulting people" thing.
Sorry, it's not clear from your comment but it seems that you claim to be a Jehovah's Witness and also associate with people who have left the cult. If I've read that correctly, how do your elders feel about that? How do you reconcile that with very clear dogma that you are not to do that?
As for "Try the whole "not insulting people" thing" - who did I insult?
@fishbutnormal Most people with faith sort of take offense when you impugn their faith. Disfellowshipped people are still welcome at meetings and are still to be treated respectfully as any stranger would be. However, if someone's intentionally and unrepentantly done something that could put others in danger they're considered to be suspended from the congregation -temporarily- until they address their dangerous habits.
The problem comes when an elder oversteps his bounds.
I'm not impugning your faith, that is a matter between you and your deity, should it exist. I'm simply asserting that the organisation that controls JWs lies to, manipulates and controls its victims. I mean members.
To address your other points, is ignoring people the same thing as treating people with respect? Is having to sit at the back of the kingdom hall the same thing as being welcome at meetings? And please don't lie about this, we both know it's true.
But yes, I've been a JW for over 20 years. I have disfellowshipped family. I have friends who have fallen away for various reasons. The majority of my friends aren't JWs at all. And I treat -everyone- with love and respect. But if someone leaves and obsesses about how we're all evil because of why you left... you're not exactly asking for friendship
Yes, there are some fundamentalist JWs out there that are way too judgemental and give the rest of us a bad name. We're not all like that.
The thing is that according to your dogma you SHOULD be like that. Jehovah's Witnesses is a fundamentalist cult that teaches that apostates should be shunned and you are strongly discouraged from cultivating friendships outside of the the organisation.
Whilst I concede that not all JWs are evil, I'm afraid I can't agree that the organisation isn't. It's not just the mechanics of how disfellowshipping works, but the sum total of what the organisation is and does.
@dasgregorian You don't only get DF for "sin" some of us get DF for reading the bible alone and realizing it doesn't jive with the literature. Some of us chose God over the GB. They DF you fast for that. Biblical sins are more readily forgiven than questioning the WTS. All I did was ask questions, they couldn't answer. All I wanted was the truth. They couldn't answer, I needed answers, I found answers. I am an apostate, just as Jesus was, I turned away from the WTS, to follow Jesus.
@Danmera it's all in HOW you ask the question. If you ask an honest QUESTION and are open to possible answers, there's nothing wrong with this. I've done it myself for years. If you think you already know the answer and are trying to pin -accusations- on someone in the form of a question... that action is hostile and... yes... if you're hostile to the congregation, the congregation won't be exactly welcoming.
Basic human psychology, same as in ANY group of humans.
up to this date my mother have a hard time accepting the fact that i don`t believe in the JW. some how she thinks that i`m in denial. but presented with the facts,she`s the one who runs for cover.. but i still love her.
It's funny how that works. I was talking to a family member and she gave me the run down on all the bad stuff about the "World Empire of False Religion." So I pointed out some things about the WBTS and she said, "Why are you attacking my religion?" I couldn't believe she fixed her lips to say that. But as you said, I still love her! lol
It won't make you feel better, but you would likely be in the same position even if you weren't officially disfellowshipped. I'm not DF'd but majority of my family doesn't speak with me because I'm still living again God..blah blah.
I was baptised at 18, and i had to have 2 meetings with elders before i was permitted to go through with it, but at 22 i fell away, but my point is you must try and keep your relationship going with Jehovah and his son Jesus christ, i know its painful with brothers and sisters not behaving the way they should with you, but try and look on it as part of your journey, if these brothers and sisters are been unfair and unkind then thats their problem but dont you be put off...
...with your journey and relationship with God, just keep been the best person you can possibly be, love those who are your enemy or are unkind as the good book tells us, and Jehovahs blessing be with you allways.
JWs moan about Catholics baptising infants but they do the same thing with minors. Sorry for your troubles, I too am baptized although I am a fader. JWs need to wake up to the reality and start questioning their little perfect world with OBJECTIVE EYES. If you have the truth then why be scared to test it? Why does the society discourage secular research? Why are only a bunch of men in brooklyn able to research?
Thanks for your video. If one JW is helped to awaken then its worth it!!
I'm sorry this happened to you. It's like a mixed blessing that JW family members still talk to me cause they can't accept that I never want to come back and can't be close. My former friends are pissed that I'm still out too and show their disapproval. It sucks feeling invisible. Sometimes I pay them back but where does that get you? It doesn't even matter why I'm out, I won't take their discipline. cant get unbabtised can't walk away. stuck. I'm going to be like Randall Waters if I can.
Yes, the whole "disfellowshipping" principle is generally corrupt & unfair. I'm sure you aren't a "moral" threat to your family, and in my view, they SHOULD NOT be cutting you off in this way.
Disgusting.
And yes, 13 is a tender age to be dedicated to 'any' religious group - but unfortunately, we do not choose our parents or their beliefs.
The reason children are pressured to get baptized is because it is a way to keep people in the cult. The reason df'd people are shunned is to keep those who remain jw in the dark about the true nature of this vile corporation. My jw mom has shunned me for 21 years. It's painful, but a least I'm not subject to association with people who are under cult mind control. It gets easier with time. See jehovahs-witnessdotnet for support.
Yup, that sounds about the way I remember it. Realizing that doing the right thing meant giving up friendship with everyone I'd ever known was quite a humdinger. I didn't even get DFed or DAed and it works the same. As if a child can really make a responsible decision about something that is presented as that serious. Don't worry though, it gets much better.
I am so sorry that you had to undergo all those things. I still can not fully grasp why would a parent shunned their child just because they were disfellowedship.
I don't know what God would want there parent, to turn on there child, it's just not logical.
I know I will never understand it eaither. They just go blindly along with what they are taught and think they are serving god but I still don't see how they can completly justify it.
like any other Christianity based religion or Catholic religion I do not disrespect them nor treat them as anything lower then myself. I don't insult their beliefs nor argue with them for a "I'm right your wrong" conversation. Respect others the way you'd want to be respected don't insult their religion or other beliefs what's the point in that?
AddictedNonsense 2 weeks ago
As a Jehovah's Witness I can say without a doubt that no religion is perfect because noone is created perfect therefore our flaws cause us to sometimes overstep boundaries and such. When I was young I was blessed to have such an understanding mother who let me attend Christian and Catholic church so I could understand why she thought being in the congregation was best for me. She was right. As of today I'm as happy as could be serving Jehovah and although I didn't necessarily
AddictedNonsense 2 weeks ago
RIDICULOUS! Jesus was baptized at the age of 30 years, and HE WAS A PERFECT PERSON. Watchtower Society is just a mirror image of Roman Catholicism whom they criticize for infant baptism.
BLITZKRIEGBIKER 3 months ago
I feel you, I was baptized last year after being in the "truth" for only two years. Now I'm thinking about leaving the organization. I agree that kids should definately NOT be getting baptized.
kingofyal1 1 year ago
First thing that comes to mind is that people don't WANT you to be disfellowshipped. That only happens if you've been involved with a serious wrong-doing, and are completely unrepentant. Think it's possible that you could simply say "sorry, my bad" like a big girl?
Obviously you don't have to go back, but there's a difference between someone who was disfellowshipped, and someone who just disassociated themselves.
dasgregorian 2 years ago
@dasgregorian
There is no practical difference between how people are treated whether they're disassociated or disfellowshipped; they still face ostracism by friends and family who are still in the cult.
As for your condescending remarks with regard to apologising "like a big girl", you seem to be making judgements about what her "serious wrong-doing" was. It could simply have been a declaration of disbelief. Would "Sorry, I don't believe this anymore" be sufficient?
fishbutnormal 9 months ago
@fishbutnormal
Oh no, I'm being excluded from a group JUST because I'm insulting their very faith in God and accusing them of being a cult... for not wanting to associate me after I called them a cult and impugned their faith.
How surprising!
I know many people who've left the congregation gracefully, without throwing a fit. Guess what... although I disagree with their opinion, I still love them as people and associate with them. Try the whole "not insulting people" thing.
dasgregorian 7 months ago
@dasgregorian
Sorry, it's not clear from your comment but it seems that you claim to be a Jehovah's Witness and also associate with people who have left the cult. If I've read that correctly, how do your elders feel about that? How do you reconcile that with very clear dogma that you are not to do that?
As for "Try the whole "not insulting people" thing" - who did I insult?
fishbutnormal 7 months ago
@fishbutnormal Most people with faith sort of take offense when you impugn their faith. Disfellowshipped people are still welcome at meetings and are still to be treated respectfully as any stranger would be. However, if someone's intentionally and unrepentantly done something that could put others in danger they're considered to be suspended from the congregation -temporarily- until they address their dangerous habits.
The problem comes when an elder oversteps his bounds.
dasgregorian 6 months ago
@dasgregorian
I'm not impugning your faith, that is a matter between you and your deity, should it exist. I'm simply asserting that the organisation that controls JWs lies to, manipulates and controls its victims. I mean members.
To address your other points, is ignoring people the same thing as treating people with respect? Is having to sit at the back of the kingdom hall the same thing as being welcome at meetings? And please don't lie about this, we both know it's true.
fishbutnormal 6 months ago
But yes, I've been a JW for over 20 years. I have disfellowshipped family. I have friends who have fallen away for various reasons. The majority of my friends aren't JWs at all. And I treat -everyone- with love and respect. But if someone leaves and obsesses about how we're all evil because of why you left... you're not exactly asking for friendship
Yes, there are some fundamentalist JWs out there that are way too judgemental and give the rest of us a bad name. We're not all like that.
dasgregorian 6 months ago
@dasgregorian
The thing is that according to your dogma you SHOULD be like that. Jehovah's Witnesses is a fundamentalist cult that teaches that apostates should be shunned and you are strongly discouraged from cultivating friendships outside of the the organisation.
Whilst I concede that not all JWs are evil, I'm afraid I can't agree that the organisation isn't. It's not just the mechanics of how disfellowshipping works, but the sum total of what the organisation is and does.
fishbutnormal 6 months ago
@dasgregorian You don't only get DF for "sin" some of us get DF for reading the bible alone and realizing it doesn't jive with the literature. Some of us chose God over the GB. They DF you fast for that. Biblical sins are more readily forgiven than questioning the WTS. All I did was ask questions, they couldn't answer. All I wanted was the truth. They couldn't answer, I needed answers, I found answers. I am an apostate, just as Jesus was, I turned away from the WTS, to follow Jesus.
Danmera 7 months ago
@Danmera it's all in HOW you ask the question. If you ask an honest QUESTION and are open to possible answers, there's nothing wrong with this. I've done it myself for years. If you think you already know the answer and are trying to pin -accusations- on someone in the form of a question... that action is hostile and... yes... if you're hostile to the congregation, the congregation won't be exactly welcoming.
Basic human psychology, same as in ANY group of humans.
dasgregorian 7 months ago
up to this date my mother have a hard time accepting the fact that i don`t believe in the JW. some how she thinks that i`m in denial. but presented with the facts,she`s the one who runs for cover.. but i still love her.
joesatva 2 years ago
It's funny how that works. I was talking to a family member and she gave me the run down on all the bad stuff about the "World Empire of False Religion." So I pointed out some things about the WBTS and she said, "Why are you attacking my religion?" I couldn't believe she fixed her lips to say that. But as you said, I still love her! lol
Jewelsheam 2 years ago
i know the felling!!.. lol
joesatva 2 years ago
It won't make you feel better, but you would likely be in the same position even if you weren't officially disfellowshipped. I'm not DF'd but majority of my family doesn't speak with me because I'm still living again God..blah blah.
sundaymorningsleeper 2 years ago
I was baptised at 18, and i had to have 2 meetings with elders before i was permitted to go through with it, but at 22 i fell away, but my point is you must try and keep your relationship going with Jehovah and his son Jesus christ, i know its painful with brothers and sisters not behaving the way they should with you, but try and look on it as part of your journey, if these brothers and sisters are been unfair and unkind then thats their problem but dont you be put off...
chigaloo2 2 years ago
...with your journey and relationship with God, just keep been the best person you can possibly be, love those who are your enemy or are unkind as the good book tells us, and Jehovahs blessing be with you allways.
chigaloo2 2 years ago
JWs moan about Catholics baptising infants but they do the same thing with minors. Sorry for your troubles, I too am baptized although I am a fader. JWs need to wake up to the reality and start questioning their little perfect world with OBJECTIVE EYES. If you have the truth then why be scared to test it? Why does the society discourage secular research? Why are only a bunch of men in brooklyn able to research?
Thanks for your video. If one JW is helped to awaken then its worth it!!
xcellxior 2 years ago
Hey Ashley, good video I enjoyed it.
TimKilgore 2 years ago
I'm sorry this happened to you. It's like a mixed blessing that JW family members still talk to me cause they can't accept that I never want to come back and can't be close. My former friends are pissed that I'm still out too and show their disapproval. It sucks feeling invisible. Sometimes I pay them back but where does that get you? It doesn't even matter why I'm out, I won't take their discipline. cant get unbabtised can't walk away. stuck. I'm going to be like Randall Waters if I can.
bababybwoo 2 years ago
Sorry to hear what you are going through.
Yes, the whole "disfellowshipping" principle is generally corrupt & unfair. I'm sure you aren't a "moral" threat to your family, and in my view, they SHOULD NOT be cutting you off in this way.
Disgusting.
And yes, 13 is a tender age to be dedicated to 'any' religious group - but unfortunately, we do not choose our parents or their beliefs.
beardfreak1969 2 years ago
The reason children are pressured to get baptized is because it is a way to keep people in the cult. The reason df'd people are shunned is to keep those who remain jw in the dark about the true nature of this vile corporation. My jw mom has shunned me for 21 years. It's painful, but a least I'm not subject to association with people who are under cult mind control. It gets easier with time. See jehovahs-witnessdotnet for support.
exjw44288 2 years ago
good vid
korvitsasalat 2 years ago
Yup, that sounds about the way I remember it. Realizing that doing the right thing meant giving up friendship with everyone I'd ever known was quite a humdinger. I didn't even get DFed or DAed and it works the same. As if a child can really make a responsible decision about something that is presented as that serious. Don't worry though, it gets much better.
bananagraveyard 2 years ago
I am so sorry that you had to undergo all those things. I still can not fully grasp why would a parent shunned their child just because they were disfellowedship.
I don't know what God would want there parent, to turn on there child, it's just not logical.
JoJoStar22 2 years ago
@JoJoStar22
Deuteronomy 12:18-21 is a start.
ReverendLondo 2 years ago
BULLSHIT!
JoJoStar22 2 years ago
@JoJoStar22
Haha, don't get mad at me, get mad at the biblical sources of hatred.
ReverendLondo 2 years ago
Man please, ain't nobody mad i got other things to do then get mad. lol
JoJoStar22 2 years ago
@JoJoStar22
I know I will never understand it eaither. They just go blindly along with what they are taught and think they are serving god but I still don't see how they can completly justify it.
foragoodreason 2 years ago
You make an excellent point. Sound logic. Absolute truth.
jaker2880 2 years ago
@jaker2880
Thank you.
foragoodreason 2 years ago