"The division is entirely one sided. I didn't end relationships when I became an atheist. Christians ended those relationships, and it was because their particular religion cannot tolerate - I have letters from people who said 'We can no longer associate with you. You are of the devil." - Matt Dillahunty
This always makes me smile.....why would you want to associate with those who hold views that are diametrically opposed to your own....and basically insult everything you hold dear? You would have to hold your tongue on just about every subject in case it led to an argument. Who can have successful relationships on that basis? For the sake of peace, isn't it better to just not associate with those ones? If one was a former believer and has defected, then what person wants the company of someone who views everything they believe as hogwash...family or not.
Should we just pretend that there is no barrier and walk on eggshells? No thanks. That is just being a hypocrite. I can love my children without loving who they choose to become.
That's what I think when I see them on the street. They're all creationists, right? If so, they're probably mostly undereducated in areas like science and critical thinking, especially evaluating evidence. And then there's the locked in thing when faith extinguishes the last flicker of doubt.
And here we see the elevation of those in the science community suggesting that those who question science must be some kind of uneducated morons. Hang the fact that there are many scientists more "educated" than these detractors who disagree with the suggestions that science cannot prove. Apparently, science is a substitute for religion to some. Talk about "locked in"....
Sorry if any of this offends you, Deeje. It's not my purpose. But don't forget that it is you who comes here to start a discussion on who has the truth, and I know that you think that it is you. I hope that you agree that others are entitled to rebut you openly. That's the purpose of the site.
I am not one to be easily offended IANS. I have been here for 10 years so please don't tell me what the site is for. You know what condescension is I assume....? There it is.
Being exposed to various viewpoints is good for all of us. But when my beliefs and the actions of my brotherhood are called into question by defectors, I will naturally defend them as I would any member of my family who is wrongly accused.
When twisted half truths are told, I will correct them. I have been a JW for 46 years and in all that time I have experienced the defection of quite a few. (Some in my own immediate family) In each case the one who defected was in direct violation of the Bible's rules for Christian behavior. When approached by the shepherds, after their conduct was called to their attention, if there was no remorse or if the offender refused the loving counsel offered to them, disciplinary measures were taken, not to remove them physically, but to disassociate from fellowship with them as the scriptures tell us to do. Those who are baptized into our Christian family, know the rules but out of spite, will often air their grievances publicly so as to get back at those who showed them up as false Christians. You can't have your cake and eat it too in our organization.
I am happy to report that my family members who left, returned and are now happier than they have ever been. Their brief sojourn in the world proved that it is no place for those who have experienced God's love and lost it. He is very forgiving of those like the prodigal son.
This is the story we keep reading from ex-Jehovah's Winesses.
@Deeje implies it doesn't happen. We see the same from ex-Mormons and practicing Mormons: "They shuned us" "We don't do that. That's just disgruntled people maligning us"
We act in accord with the Bible's counsel to remove those from the congregations who violate the rules unrepentantly. Nor do we tolerate hypocrites in our ranks. We make no apology for that. But the other side of the tragic story is always about the "innocent victim" being badly treated by the ones who should have overlooked or ignored their unchristian actions. Sorry, but we don't operate like that. A good parent disciplines his children......God is a good parent and it is he who lays down the rules for his household. Break them without remorse, and expect the discipline to be applied. Its as simple as that. If you want to operate by your own rules, then don't come to us. Christendom will welcome you, and your money with open arms.
I have a grandson who was never baptized and who decided that being a JW wasn't for him. He doesn't expect friendship with former congregation members as he no longer accepts our beliefs, but we don't treat him like an alien. And he doesn't go around bad mouthing the Witnesses. He is still my grandson and I love him dearly. He still loves us and we still love him, but he understands that he no longer has the same mindset as his former friends in the congregation. They don't shun him, but they don't seek him out for company either. He has a new group of friends now, and is happy. That is the balanced approach.
All the sob stories we hear on the net are always from the "victim"....they are only "victims" if they make themselves out to be such. Its an art form for some. The only "control" exercised in the congregation is over those who have no self control. These are often the weak ones who want to blame everyone else for their problems. It is hard to help such people who play the victim card and try to convince others about how hard done by they are.
It has been my experience with those who suffer with mental health issues who sometimes leave over delusional thinking and people often avoid those ones because they don't know how to interact with the mentally ill at all.
Mental health issues can affect people in different ways as you are no doubt aware. I have had a lot to do with such ones, but we leave their care to the medical professionals. We are not doctors and we have no control over their perceptions.
