As I already said, I find it useful to exactly know who I'm dealing with when talking to a JW, unlike a "Christian", who may may have all kinds of ideas about his faith and the world.
JW’s have very little in common with other “Christians” which becomes obvious when you consider that we do not involve ourselves in the incredibly corrupt business of politics, or when nations declare war. We will not take up arms to kill anyone for any reason. We will not even hold employment that requires us to be armed.
Others who identify as “Christian” as well as their clergy will justify their involvement and participate in what Jesus taught us is really none of our business. A Christian cannot be nationalistic or patriotic to this degree because we see ourselves as citizens of God’s Kingdom, which Jesus said is not part of this world. Having said that, we try to be model citizens of whatever nation we live in. You won’t find JW’s in jail as murderers or thieves. If any JW was to commit such offences, they would cease to be part of our brotherhood by engaging in that sort of conduct. We have strong beliefs, but they will never make us violent or dishonest. Self-control is part of what the Bible promotes.
Jesus taught us to be preachers of the Bible’s peaceful message and to do whatever we can to promote it to those who need to know what God requires of those who will enjoy the benefits of his incoming Kingdom.
So I do understand that someone who doesn't adhere to all the rules (I'll use this instead of dogmata, though it is not strictly synonymous) is no longer seen as a JW.
The very nature of Christianity is divisive....it is supposed to be.
When Jesus returns to judge this world, (which the Bible indicates is not too far away) he will separate the “sheep from the goats”.....everyone living at this time, we believe will already have shown God which category they have placed themselves in. He is their judge, not us. Their choices are theirs to make.
But if we can’t live up to the rules laid down in the Bible for Christ’s followers, thinking that we can make up our own rules, then his judgment will come as a bit of a shock. (Matthew 7:21-23)
And I understand that JW regard themselves as "not of this world" so they don't split their life into religious and secular, thus not wanting people around who are "from this world". But is that enough reason to expel people even from their family?
Shunning as explained above.
We do not seek “friendship with the world” (James 4:4) by dropping our standards to match theirs. That usually means that we seek close friendships with those who share our moral values and our extreme disdain for immorality, drunkenness and violence. That doesn’t mean that we judge them as unworthy of God’s forgiveness, as we will share the Bible’s message with anyone who wants to hear it. Jesus himself demonstrated this. Let the message touch their heart....and change their attitude and then their life.
Do you seek close friendship with those you have nothing in common with?
The unity we enjoy as a global brotherhood, is safeguarded by the fact that we will not tolerate any in our ranks who want to promote their own ideas or their personal interpretation of scripture.
This is entirely based on the first century model and it prevents discord and division. Those who can’t or won’t accept the terms of their inclusion in our brotherhood or who break God’s laws unrepentantly will be expelled....disfellowshipped....excommunicated from our ranks. Some leave of their own volition.....same rules apply. They know this before they make a commitment. We make no apology for following through on these Bible based instructions.
If it affects family members, our loyalty to God comes first. No matter who it is that breaks God’s law, if they have taken the vow that comes with baptism, they will be expelled. If they are minor children, they are not expelled from the family home, but will be excluded from family worship. It is spiritual fellowship that is withdrawn, not normal family care and physical support. Many who are of age make the decision to leave the family home so as to live life as they wish....that is their decision.
All are still free to attend our meetings, but until repentance is demonstrated and a change in attitude is seen, we will not include them in our spiritual activities. (1 Corinthians 5:9-13) Those who seek reinstatement and demonstrate their desire by actions, will be welcomed back with open arms. We love it when that happens.
Rejection of blood transfusions can be a death sentence. (Not all transfusions can be replaced by plasma.)
From this comment it is plain that you have no real understanding of this issue, which I have discussed extensively on these forums.
This is a non-issue these days. Not having a blood transfusion is not a death sentence....in fact it is medically accepted now that blood carries more risks than alternative therapies that are way more successful in the treatment of both trauma and surgical patients.
In the following link is a video which was put out by the Australian Government’s Blood Authority.
For Media | National Blood Authority
Please watch it, especially the scan of a patient both before a blood transfusion (with saline plasma volume expander) and after a blood transfusion.
We no longer have to defend our religious position on this subject because it is backed up by world medical experts in this field. It was a sweet vindication of God’s law.
And rejection of science, especially evolutionary biology. I concur that is only an annoyance and not really harmful. I don't think it should be a rule to reject evolution. It is not essential and really makes you look more crazy than spiritual.
We do not reject science...let’s be clear on this. We reject evolution as the sole explanation for how life originated and how it supposedly evolved from a microscopic single cell (which spontaneously popped into existence for no apparent reason) with all the necessary biological functions to eventually become all the lifeforms that have ever existed on this planet.
The fact that this idea is presented as the
only explanation for the existence of all life, without anything but the unsubstantiated musings of scientists as a suggestion about how it all supposedly happened, creating a hypothesis that somehow became a fact.....that is what we have a problem with.
I see how much ‘suggestion’ is incorporated into the interpretation of “evidence” and I see a lot of blind acceptance of those suggestions and assertions. That is “faith” and “belief” in action....the very things that evolutionists use against us Bible believers. You have your ‘prophets’ making predictions, and your ‘scripture’ which you hold to be unerring and sacred based on the credentials of those committing them to writing, and you practice your “beliefs” just as zealously as we do. You can see how strongly and passionately those things are defended. What does it matter what we say? It shouldn’t matter if what you believe is true. If we are presenting as “crazy rather than spiritual” then it beggars belief that the response to our expose’ of science’s weak foundations with regard to macro-evolution, would be so voluminous. Not with facts confirming science, but with mostly demeaning comments about our ignorance.
(And I'm not even sure if it is a rule. I just have never met or heard of a JW who accepted evolutionary biology.)
I hope you understand that what science can actually prove, we don’t deny. Why would we? Adaptation is seen in laboratory experiments, demonstrating the amazing ability, programmed into all living things, to ensure survival of their “kind” as well as a producing wonderful variety within any family of creatures. To take that beyond what science can confirm and then promoting it as fact, is concerning. It seems as if science is promoting the idea that “if a little is good, a lot must be better”......that is hardly scientific in its approach, but to me is a deception of magnitude, especially to young students who are not taught to question the validity of the whole theory because they are already convinced that it is an absolute fact. I know it isn’t....so I am going to expose that truth.
Especially that what I (initially) find agreeable. There are quite few things that I no longer question after intense consideration.
Me too. I have been on both sides of this fence and God came up as the logical winner for me. But I am a spiritual person and the spiritual aspects of creation fill a void in me that you may not have. We are who we are.
The person who explained evolution to you did a **** poor job.
I have based my conclusions on the articles that have been provided online from the institutions who teach evolution to their students. And there is also links that have been provide here as well. Perhaps you need to point your finger at them. I read these things through a different lens. It just depends on the glasses I guess.