Many Jehovah's Witnesses who become secular atheists can't leave the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society outright and must fade gradually to avoid being disfellowshipped. The reasons for why Jehovah's Witnesses fear being disfellowshipped and shunned are due to how the Watchtower society exercises extensive social control over its members. But how can a Jehovah's Witness who has become an atheist go about fading? Is it always better than withdrawing (or becoming inactive) all at once?
Read Article: Jehovah's Witness To Atheist: How Doubting Jehovah's Witnesses Can Fade, Avoid Shunning
JW’s aren’t the only ones who disfellowship. When I left the Church of Christ, I received an official letter of disfellowship from my congregration. I agreed to meet and talk with the preacher and a number of people in the church before I left. Once it was final, I have not seen or heard from any of them since.
I married into a family with JW members in it. In one instance, a woman left her husband and had an affair in the process. They divorced and she was disfellowshipped. She expressed to me the pain of losing her _family_ (my family didn’t desert me). Two of her three sons completely shut off contact with her and wouldn’t allow her to see her grandchildren. She attended one family event (that was mixed, not just the JWs), where she expressed the heartbreak she felt when she saw the grandchildren she had been estranged from. One granddaughter had been born during this period, whom she’d never seen or held. Her son–benevolent guy that he was–let her hold the baby for a few minutes before taking her away again and continuing with the ostricization of his mother.
After many years, the boys finally came to their senses–I actually think it was that they simply adopted a more liberal philosophy to try to resolve the feelings that what they were doing was actually _wrong_ and _harmful_. Now the family is mended. The mother has a new husband and can never be JW as long as she is unwilling to go back and admit to all sorts of wrong-doing (some she would acknowledge, but some she simply and honestly doesn’t believe was wrong–like leaving an unhappy marriage–although she regrets some of the method she chose in which to leave).
To this day she still feels guilty and blames herself for her past mistakes (feelings that I think are totally unproductive in this case). She has no anomosity whatsoever toward her family for any of it–or if she does, she certainly hides it well.
But the thing that baffles me the most is that from my discussions with her, I believe that she still believes that the JWs are the “right” church. She currently attends another denomination, simply because that’s all she is allowed to do; but she still accepts the JW doctrine as the true path as far as I am aware.
There are many people who talk about the healing power of religion; but we must also acknowledge the devastation it causes. This woman, who is now the heart of her family (all her children and grandchildren are constantly staying with her and enjoy the hospitality of her very welcoming home) might have been lost to them forever.
And as any atheist ex-theist can tell you, those positive things we got from religion? It was always only ourselves anyway–just like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz; it wasn’t ever about the “magic shoes,” it was her belief in herself the whole time.
I find a lot of people leave the Society while still believing in it’s teachings. I was probably this way for a year or two after I attended my last meeting. Some are just afraid to let go. They hang on at the outskirts of the organization “just in case” because they’re afraid of Armageddon.
Even when they feel strongly that it cannot be the True Religion that it claims to be, they continue to do the minimum necessary to escape Armageddon which is always just around the corner. They are trapped between fear and reason.
All I can is that fear and the mind are funny things.
Considering all sources that I have exposed to about armageddon,this is what I have learned. During the time Christ, it was imminent. It has always been imminent. It is imminent now. It always will be.
The best autobiography is the story of shunning by organizations. I managed to get shunned by the Unitarians for being a Nazi (which I wasn’t).
JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES ‘R THE FAMILY WRECKERS OF THE WORLD
“if my family has any contact with me they will be justifying my ungodly lifestyle”
Ring a bell? It’s not from the Jehovah’s Witnesses it’s an excerpt form the discovery channel documentary on ‘doomsday cults’ describing the practice of the *Roberts group* a disturbing cult.
See all cults like JW’s have a shunning shame device to control members.. To be treated like a man of the nations (gentile) or as a tax collector does not mean that i am viewed as ‘dead’ by my mother.
Everything about the Watchtower’s shunning protocol is twisted and demonic.
The shunning by other religions for comparison is irrelevant as the Watchtower claims that it’s disfellowshipping is at the direction of the holy spirit so it must be infallible.This is outright blaspheme.
In just one year 1987 i calculated by the Watchtower’s own stats that 4.4 men woman and children were disfellowshipped per hour as the world turned on it’s axis.
Get this,the Watchtower asserts that every single one was @ “the direction of the holy spirit”
This is utter blaspheme by the watchtower/elder leadership.
How many blasphemes do you charlatans need to be eternally damned?One,or how about 37,000 for that year of 1987?These are wrecked and ruined lives people.
Matthew 18:10 Jesus dire warning to his high ranking apostles;”see to it that you do not despise one of these little ones,for i tell you their angels in heaven always behold the face of my father who is in heaven.”
The written and oral directives of the flunky elders is one priority,that is to intimidate and save face with the followers and to stonewall a potential civil lawsuit.
Look either it’s the Holy Spirit or it ain’t da Holy spirit.They told me even when they are wrong in Judgment i must consider it a test of my faith and bite the bullet.What kind of mealy mouthing gobbledygook is that?
No it’s blaspheme.
Tell the truth and don’t be afraid-Danny Haszard ‘expert witness on the Jehovah Witness’
while I have no like or dislike for Jehovah Witnesses, I find their stance on divorce to be quite confusing. A quite important person, if not deemed a deity, Charles Taze Russell was responsible for the formation of Jehovah Witnesses. Divorce was considered to be an immediate reason to be “disfellowshiped.” If this occured to you, your family was no longer allowed to talk to you, nor was anyone belonging to the Jehovah Witnesses. Now, the curious thing about this situation is that Charles Taze Russell, whom all Jehovah witnesses should recognize, found himself in a divorce trial in 1909. Despite this complication, Russell still prophosized that in the year 1914, the long awaited end of the Age of the Gentiles would take place. However, 1914 came and went without any complications. Following this mishap, Russell discovered a strain of wheat he believed he could make a lot of money off of. So, he sold bushels of wheat for 60 dollars instead of the one dollar price the wheat was actually worth. When this scam played out, Russell claimed to have a cure for cancer. THe cancer cure turned out to be a mix of chloride and zinc– a harmful and deadly combination. As life was seeming more and more dismal, Russell had one last trick up his sleave. He claimed to be fluent in Greek. However, it turned out that he could not identify a single Greek letter. Charles Taze Russell accomplished a high level of embarressment. He was never able to see the long awaited return of Jesus Christ. His famous Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society lives on today through a man named Rutherford, coining the term “Jehovah Witnesses.” I must ask what the current doctorine for divorce exists within the Jehovah witnesses. In my uneducated opinion, I believe divorce is grounds for disfellowshiped (wrong spelling?). Personally, I would have a major question about the founding fathers of Jehovah witnesses and the laws regarding divorce. But, I’m not an expert on religion by any stretch of the imagination.
Never speak about or write about the society as blasphemers,because that’s not true. Jehovah’s witnesses are an example to the whole world and if everyone in this world would be Jehovah’s Witnesses they would never be the need to have police people because there wouldn’t be war or other issues that we humans cause to our same species. The only issue that we would worry about would be disease and death. Jehovah God will prevail and will eliminate this two issues and much more bring finally peace to this agonizing world that we cause ourselves. Write to me if you have a question to: korisanji@hotmail.com
I am not surprised of most negative comments to Jehovah’s Witnesses. I understand their role because it is written in the Bible.If only they could get the right teachings of Jesus Christ through Jehovah’s Witnesses according to the Bible,guided by the Holy Spirit of Jehovah(GOD),they will know where they stand. Disfellowed JW know and understand better why they were trated different way as they were an active JW.They must value God’s discipline not a man’s word of sympathy who don’t even know the true God. Yes, all sinners are really afraid of armageddon like their leader(satan) who is very much afraid of armageddon. So, if you are interested to know more about the real truth,about an ex-po-se…contact any of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and they will be glad to tell you the TRUTH of God’s word. The Holy Bible. thank you and have a nice day!!!
One characteristic of The lust of the flesh is thought that against the Truth of The Lord and doubt about His Word and His promises.
one problem there’s no truth in the bible and it’s the words of man not from a non-existent sky daddy
DH say’s, Everything about the Watchtower’s shunning protocol is twisted and demonic.
Here’s a few more “demonic” thought’s for you:
“Everyone, then, that confesses union with me before men, I will also confess union with him before my Father who is in the heavens; 33 but whoever disowns me before men, I will also disown him before my Father who is in the heavens. 34 Do not think I came to put peace upon the earth; I came to put, not peace, but a sword. 35 For I came to cause division, with a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a young wife against her mother-in-law. 36 Indeed, a man’s enemies will be persons of his own household. 37 He that has greater affection for father or mother than for me is not worthy of me; and he that has greater affection for son or daughter than for me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not accept his torture stake and follow after me is not worthy of me. Matt. 10:32-38
But now I am writing you to quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man.
“…’Remove the wicked [man] from among yourselves.”
1 Cor. 5:11, 13
IMHO, the whole friggin’ Christian “Babble” was originally written by a bunch of totally delusional, outright lunatics. Of course, historically (hysterically?) “it” was first assembled, much later, from a whole plethora of various “gospel stories” by the early Church’s (lunatic) priesthood, in the 4th Century of the CE.
Speaking of lunatics…
Here’s a little YouTube example of what too much (current day) Christian “Babble” reading does to the brain of some of the…shall we say…WAY too “gullible”?:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyJI9xDUYV8
“In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through—all that bloodshed! So don’t feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children?”
“My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either. It’s the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects.”
“God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God?”
“We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best.”
“At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.”
I WAS just going to ignore The “Hebrews” quote (if that’s the right word), but I just COULDN’T ignore it. What human, loving father would send his child through torture for any reason? To “educate” them?
How does a three year old with horrifically painful cancer require that kind of “education”? Not to mention burning in hell for eternity if you don’t obey him. God is a tyrannical, psychopath, not worthy of worship for any reason, but worth nothing short of censure and scorn.
Sojourner, First there is no such place as a burning hell. It was dreamed up by false religion with Satin as its God. He is the tyrannical, psychopath, not worthy of worship for any reason, but worth nothing short of censure and scorn. He raised the issue that he can do a far better job then Jehovah and mankind would be far happier with him as God. So there would not be any doubt in anyone’s mind who was right Jehovah God had to let the rebellion go on for a time. It’s not an easy pill to swallow but eternal life and death are SERIOUS matters to say nothing about God’s name being held holy. He will fix everything in the end.
@ Daniel7:
Your apologistic answer makes no logical sense whatsoever. As an atheist, I have more than once been threatened with “hellfire and damnation” for being a non-believer, BY CHRISTIANS. You’ve also managed to include the “No True Scotsman” ploy (look it up). Both these are typical of your schizophrenic ilk.
When you can give me a sensible answer without all the Xian mumbo-jumbo, I’ll be waiting. I think I’ll be waiting a long, long time. Maybe til your Hell freezes over? LOL! By the way it’s spelled SATAN. Satin is a smooth, shiny material. Are you homeschooled by any chance? You didn’t even know that.
I have not changed my mind. Wasn’t it YOUR wonderful god that let Satan run rampant, anyway? When God had all the power, why let Satan run loose when you can destroy him with a snap if the divine fingers? You see my point?
Edit:
It should read “…snap OF the divine fingers?”.
Please see above…
@Daniel 7
And your point is…?
What is really sad is when a family member joins, convinces their family to join, then when (as many people do)decide it’s not for them after all-their family shuns them for life. I know a one year member who got disfellowshipped for smoking and her daughters who also were new shunned her forever. Can you imagine hoe many people that has happened to?
Everyone has a right to there opinion. I’m just happy I’m not a JW. I knew someone who was it really didn’t help them be a better person when they grew up. But everyone has a right to there religion & no religion is perfect although we try.
It is a good article. The practical problem though is, that you in this way NEVER break the ties. Even 10 years later, elders may find they for the sake of “the peace in the congregation” need to seek you out and disfellowship you. Typically this will happen, if a witness have made a complaint about you or if they feel you might be a “bad influence” on those JW’s that you fraternize.
Most know this, and will remain under fear of “the game” being ruined and loosing contact to people they love. In this way their behavior and line of thoughts are STILL being controlled by the Watchtower Society. Most simply need to explain to themselves and their surroundings, why they might still act like under irrational restrictions, why they still make excuses for it and therefore continue to use the old explanations.
I recommend JW wishing to leave the Organisation to make a clean cut. Give notice to the elders that you are no longer a JW and wish to have no further discussions about it.
In time, most JW-family and friends (that are worth keeping in touch with) will likely respect that approach. It is not that uncommon that family after some time will start to accept your company.
This way you keep your integrity regarding who you are and what you believe/think. You will have a relationship the family based on acceptance of where you stand and not on an act and false expectations.
It should also be clear to them, that if they break off relationship with you, it will be solely their own choice (though the elders always spook in the background).
(To finish my last comment off)
As I view it, the main problem for the JW-Organisation is, the tendency of its members to try and avoid the personal responsebility for choice. Therefore it is better to try and make the individual JW’s, that they must learn to make their own choice and take responsebility for that choice, instead of trying to throw the responsebility for making choices on the Organisation. Why make it easy for them to continue doing that by playing along?
As I view it, the main problem for the JW-Organisation is the tendency of its members to try and avoid the personal responsebility for their choice. Therefore it is better to try and make the individual JW’s understand, that they must learn to make their own choice and take responsebility for that choice, instead of trying to throw the responsebility for making choices on the Organisation.
Why make it easy for them to continue doing that by playing along?