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People who join the JWs are not told that they'll be required to completely shun someone they might love simply because a group of local elders applies the "disfellowshipped" or "disassociated" label to them. The practice is glossed over in the "Bible studies" leading up to formal baptism into the JW organization. Nor is a convert told that one of the baptismal vows is a legally binding one of absolute loyalty to the JW organization.
Children who are baptized as JWs -- even as young as 7 or 8 years -- are treated exactly the same as adults in terms of shunning. There are many stories of young teenagers doing the normal teenage stupid things, and ending up being shunned for life by their entire families.
Interesting reading about the history of a Watchtower family... New Page 1 (http://www.exjws.net/pioneers/alanf.htm - broken link)
I must say, you really need to get your facts right about the JW's, the DO NOT babtize children as young as 7-8. I don't think I know of ANYONE who has been babtized younger than 16.
I must say, you really need to get your facts right about the JW's, the DO NOT babtize children as young as 7-8. I don't think I know of ANYONE who has been babtized younger than 16.
My cousins were baptized when they were 12 and 14.
I must say, you really need to get your facts right about the JW's, the DO NOT babtize children as young as 7-8. I don't think I know of ANYONE who has been babtized younger than 16.
Who cares when they are baptized...It's the shunning of family and friends that I find cruel and heartless....Why don't you address that abhorrent practice?
Who cares when they are baptized...It's the shunning of family and friends that I find cruel and heartless....Why don't you address that abhorrent practice?
Maybe you need to read all of the posts that are pretaining to this thread. It has been stated several times why JW's disfellowship members.
Maybe you need to read all of the posts that are pretaining to this thread. It has been stated several times why JW's disfellowship members.
I know why, and the reasons are mostly trivial...I know two good friends who's families have been devastated by this stupid practice...There are no good reasons to turn a parent against their children, husband against wife, or children against parents...You cannot justify that disgusting doctrine, at least not to me.
I know why, and the reasons are mostly trivial....
That is not true sanspeur. People are not disfellowshipped for trivial reasons at all. If someone told you that then that is a lie.
People are only disfellowshipped for serious wrongdoing that goes against Jehovah's standards.
Keep in mind, those who take Jehovah's name agree to live by those standards.
If someone chooses not to live by those standards then they are no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses.
That is not true sanspeur. People are not disfellowshipped for trivial reasons at all. If someone told you that then that is a lie.
People are only disfellowshipped for serious wrongdoing that goes against Jehovah's standards.
Serious according to who? It's not a lie because I've seen it myself with two good friends....With one, (Shunned for smoking a cigarette) even her three kids treated her as if she were dead...How is that not destructive?
Quote:
Keep in mind, those who take Jehovah's name agree to live by those standards.
Yeah too bad about whoever else if effects, huh?
Quote:
If someone chooses not to live by those standards then they are no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses.
It was not until 1952 that the Watchtower introduced disfellowshipping as now practiced and the following review of the scriptural principles involved shows that there is no Biblical justification for the extent to which the Watchtower practices this unchristian form of manipulation.
Being disfellowshipped can result in serious emotional side affects because those that continue to believe Watchtower doctrine are told that whilst disfellowshipped they are condemned to everlasting destruction; whereas those who become unbelievers, with no intention of returning to the Watchtower Society, realise they are unlikely to freely associate with Witness family and friends for the remainder of their lives. Jehovah's Witnesses and disfellowshipping
Jehovah’s Witnesses can be disfellowshipped for a number of rule violations: premarital or extramarital sex, using alcohol excessively, using tobacco products, celebrating Christmas, reciting the pledge of allegiance, lying, stealing, joining the military, speaking to a disfellowshipped Witness, reading religious material not published by the governing body, or running for political office just to name a few. Fellow members are then required to shun him/her completely, having no contact even if the disfellowshipped person is a family member. Jehovah's Witness Beliefs
Most of these reasons seem minor to me and none of them deserve a penalty as harsh as shunning.
The more I learn the more sure I am sure that JWs are nothing but a cult.
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