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A huge problem with the JW religion:

Subduction Zone

Subduction Zone

Veteran Member
This video shows the heartache that the JW policy of dissociation can cause:


Obviously the Atheist Experience is not going to be pro-JW. But they treated this ex-JW with far more kindness than the man's church did.
 
dybmh

dybmh

דניאל יוסף בן מאיר הירש
Thank you for posting this, sub. I disassociated with my own family for a whole host of reasons, but I didn't have a word for it until now. I had been calling it divorce, but that word didn't fit very well. And, yes, I have been shunned, in a manner of speaking.

It hasn't been easy; but, it has been very rewarding.

Thanks again,
 
Laika

Laika

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Subduction Zone said:
This video shows the heartache that the JW policy of dissociation can cause:


Obviously the Atheist Experience is not going to be pro-JW. But they treated this ex-JW with far more kindness than the man's church did.
Click to expand...

For what it's worth, communists did this as well. When your entire social circle and friends are all based on having shared belief, working towards common goals and loyalty to a particular organisation, questioning that and trying to leave it means facing all the social pressures of losing the people you care about. It was common practice decades ago (when various parties have thousands of members) for people to dissociate with them. This is in Western countries, as obviously it was a whole different thing to question the party-line in a communist state. It may even be something Nazis and Fascists do given they are often tight clandestine groups as well, but I don't know off hand.

So it's not unique to any particular religious or political movement but is essentially typical of the psychological manipulation of cult behaviour in general.

Even so it is still shocking to think this is going on today and to hear people in that situation on a conversation on a video. :confused:

Thanks for sharing. :)
 
SomeRandom

SomeRandom

Still learning to be wise
Staff member
Premium Member
I actually follow some of the ex JW community, just to see a different perspective.
I try not to judge the JWs, I have a very wonderful aunt who is a Witness. But her non Western upbringing may account for her continued association with us, I honestly don’t know. But I do know the hurt and confusion the shunning policy the watchtower imposes causes on folks. It is disheartening to see.
 
Cooky

Cooky

Veteran Member
dybmh said:
Thank you for posting this, sub. I disassociated with my own family for a whole host of reasons, but I didn't have a word for it until now. I had been calling it divorce, but that word didn't fit very well. And, yes, I have been shunned, in a manner of speaking.

It hasn't been easy; but, it has been very rewarding.

Thanks again,
Click to expand...

I've never heard your story. It sounds interesting -I hope you share it with me someday.
 
Heyo

Heyo

Veteran Member
Subduction Zone said:
This video shows the heartache that the JW policy of dissociation can cause:
Click to expand...
JW are among the nicest religious people to be around as a non believer. They don't try to meddle in politics and they are non violent. Besides that they have some very thought through theology.
The problem is that they think they have to treat their own like crap to maintain that status. Even if they are right, is it worth it?
 
Left Coast

Left Coast

This Is Water
Staff member
Premium Member
Subduction Zone said:
This video shows the heartache that the JW policy of dissociation can cause:


Obviously the Atheist Experience is not going to be pro-JW. But they treated this ex-JW with far more kindness than the man's church did.
Click to expand...

Several of my family members came out of the JW organization. My dad in particular has told me stories of being completely cut off from people in his life: his best friends, people he grew up with. It's truly so sad. What's even sadder is that he just traded JW fundamentalism for another variety. Thankfully, despite his fundamentalist personal beliefs, because of his JW upbringing that totally discouraged independent thought, he always taught me to read the Bible for myself and come to my own conclusions about it. It was a unique combination, and I consider myself lucky among other friends raised as conservative Evangelicals that my parents had such a progressive perspective in that one sense to give me that intellectual independence. I credit that with how much my theological views have evolved over the last 15 years.
 
kjw47

kjw47

Well-Known Member
Subduction Zone said:
This video shows the heartache that the JW policy of dissociation can cause:


Obviously the Atheist Experience is not going to be pro-JW. But they treated this ex-JW with far more kindness than the man's church did.
Click to expand...


But in your error filled filled reasoning, In the OT being stoned to death was Gods law for the unrepentant. Is that what you would rather see occur to a family member of yours? One way one lives and can still repent, the other way one can do 0. Which would you choose for a family member. God set both ways up, humans have no choice.
 
Left Coast

Left Coast

This Is Water
Staff member
Premium Member
kjw47 said:
But in your error filled filled reasoning, In the OT being stoned to death was Gods law for the unrepentant. Is that what you would rather see occur to a family member of yours? One way one lives and can still repent, the other way one can do 0. Which would you choose for a family member. God set both ways up, humans have no choice.
Click to expand...

LOL that's your rationalization? "Hey, it's better than stoning!"

What a pathetically low bar for a supposedly morally perfect God.

Of course we have a choice. The choice is to not accept your ridiculous false dichotomy and not ruin people's lives for thought crimes.
 
Flame

Flame

Beware
When I was growing up in New Jersey I had a friend whose family are JWs. Senior year of HS he told his family he was no longer JW and was kicked out of house. He spent the last 5 months of school living with us. Last I heard he's had zero contact with his family despite attempts to reach out.
 
Left Coast

Left Coast

This Is Water
Staff member
Premium Member
Flame said:
When I was growing up in New Jersey I had a friend whose family are JWs. Senior year of HS he told his family he was no longer JW and was kicked out of house. He spent the last 5 months of school living with us. Last I heard he's had zero contact with his family despite attempts to reach out.
Click to expand...

So sad. Glad he had you and your family to show him love and support.
 
McBell

McBell

Unbound
One wonders if anyone is going to get around to revealing why this is such a "huge problem" with the JW religion...
 
Subduction Zone

Subduction Zone

Veteran Member
kjw47 said:
But in your error filled filled reasoning, In the OT being stoned to death was Gods law for the unrepentant. Is that what you would rather see occur to a family member of yours? One way one lives and can still repent, the other way one can do 0. Which would you choose for a family member. God set both ways up, humans have no choice.
Click to expand...
What are you talking about? Bringing up a lesser evil from your religion does not excuse a smaller evil. Why do you believe in an evil God anyway?
 
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