It really hurts to be shunned (disowned and ignored) by your own family. It's a form of torture and I'd like to know what gives them the right to torture others ?
2007-05-23 14:45:16 · 15 answers · asked by ElleCeleste 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Anyone who disowns their family in the name of God should be smacked. God is a loving father (or mother) and it pisses me off that folks think that somehow they are better than someone else because they think or believe something different. We live in a country where we have the right to practice whatever religion we wish and unfortunately, it sounds like the Jehovah's Witnesses are practicing their right to disown and ignore you. That doesn't make it right in ANYONE's eyes, especially God's. You have the right to turn this around and show them what it means to be human. To be willing and able to love unconditionally is the right thing to do. Send the cards. Write them letters. Invite them over. Kill them with kindness. Be what they can't be. Good luck.
2007-05-23 14:54:29 · answer #1 · answered by Jenijeni 3 · 1⤊ 6⤋
Didn't Christ say he came to divide, father from son, mother from daughter, etc.? Was he promoting torture?
Witnesses don't turn their backs on their children unless the children are constantly trying to get them to turn their backs on God.
I'm disfellowshipped, my brother and sisters were never baptized, yet our parents didn't turn their backs on us, because we don't bash or play down their religion. I've had witnesses as employees, when I ran a non-profit group for divorce and single fathers.
Shunning is taught and promoted by the Bible, or do you also think it was wrong and that religions like the catholics who didn't shun Hitler were right?
The Apostle Paul was very clear about keeping the congregations clean and above reproach, but apparently you care more about not hurting someone's feelings than following the Bible.
2007-05-24 02:01:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
Well there is another reason to steer clear of Christian religions. They are taught to shun anyone who doesn't follow their rules and yes it is a form of torture. But what makes it torture is that the people who are shunning a family member have the choice to do it or not. So if any of your family has done this to you, I'd just keep on walking. There is no religion worth turning your back on your family. Isn't it nice to know that all the "Family" based Christian groups use shunning to torture their gay children into being straight. Ya, "Family" groups???
2007-05-23 21:54:54 · answer #3 · answered by humanrayc 4 · 2⤊ 4⤋
Cute. Quite frankly deciding whom to associate with and how is EVERYONE'S right, whether it be for religous reasons or not.
As for not Associating with ones who choose to desert their faith, there are several Bible principles supporting this. The simplest one is Bad associations spoil usefull habits.
Disfellowshipping is actual a common habit, many parents use the same principle, known as Time Out. The point of time out is to give the child time to see what they are doing, decide if they want to keep following this course, and then, hopefully, decide to behave themselves. Another good effect of it is, it spares the others around the erring child from having to be around the bad behavior.
2007-05-24 01:28:29 · answer #4 · answered by Ish Var Lan Salinger 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Some Jehovah's Witnesses become inactive because they feel unable to continue preaching or certain other Christian obligations for a few months or even years. These are not counted in any JW statistics, but they are considered "brothers" and "sisters" by active Witnesses. Their standing is entirely different from those who are disfellowshipped or disassociated.
Jehovah's Witnesses practice the Scriptural practice of disfellowshipping for unrepentance of such serious sins as fornication, drug abuse, stealing, and apostasy. Baptized Witnesses who join the military or publicly engage in worship with another religion are considered to have disassociated themselves from Jehovah's Witnesses.
Contrary to the misinformation of anti-Witnesses, it is quite possible to become inactive in the JW religion without becoming disfellowshipped. As long as one's lifestyle does not bring reproach upon the congregation, and as long as one does not advocate one's disagreements with the religion, the congregation has no interest in "investigating", exposing, and disfellowshipping an inactive former Jehovah's Witness.
For those who are disfellowshipped or disassociated, a primary goal is to shock the person into recognizing the serious of their wrong so that they rejoin the congregation in pure worship. Since the primary bonds that are broken involve friendship and spiritual fellowship, it is well understood that family bonds remain intact. Parents, siblings, and grown children of disfellowshipped and disassociated ones sometimes choose to limit what they may feel is discouraging or "bad association" but that is a personal decision and is not required by their religion.
Former Witnesses who are disfellowshipped or disassociated are typically treated in accord with the Scriptural pattern explained in these Scriptures:
(1 Corinthians 5:11-13) 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.
(Titus 3:10) As for a man that promotes a sect, reject him after a first and a second admonition
(Romans 16:17) Now I exhort you, brothers, to keep your eye on those who cause divisions and occasions for stumbling contrary to the teaching that you have learned, and avoid them.
(2 Thessalonians 3:6) Now we are giving you orders, brothers, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw from every brother walking disorderly and not according to the tradition you received from us.
(2 Thessalonians 3:14) But if anyone is not obedient to our word through this letter, keep this one marked, stop associating with him, that he may become ashamed.
(2 John 10) If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, never receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him.
(Matthew 18:17) If he does not listen to them, speak to the congregation. If he does not listen even to the congregation, let him be to you just as a man of the nations
Becoming baptized as a Jehovah's Witnesses is not a trivial step. At a minimum, a student must demonstrate months of regular meeting attendance and public ministry, then must himself express the desire to be baptized. The candidate then spends hours answering hundreds of bible questions wherein he expresses both a clear understanding and personal conviction regarding Jehovah's Witness teachings in at least three separate interviews with three different elders. The candidate must vocally agree to be baptized in front of hundreds or thousands of eyewitnesses, and must be publicly immersed in water. This is not a momentary emotional decision by an unreasoning child. Dedication as a Witness required hard work and determination at the time.
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/19880415/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/19970101/article_01.htm
2007-05-23 23:43:02 · answer #5 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Why that is practiced by many religions not just the Jehovah Witnesses.
2007-05-23 22:26:15 · answer #6 · answered by the light exposes the darkenss 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Sheesh, they are merely following the words of Jesus. They do the same when they join the religion.
2007-05-23 21:52:51 · answer #7 · answered by Shawn B 7 · 7⤊ 0⤋
It is cruel and harmful to families. But the adults that decide to get baptized know the risks and are responsible legally for the consequences. However, morally, the organization is responsible. The children of long time Jehovah's Witnesses are exceptionally victims of it because their parents and the JW's deny their children outside friends, education, and socialization. So when if the children decide to leave they have no one to turn to. It is really sad, and I hate the organization for all of the wrongs it has, especially the blood issue: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AjKCKjq_IAuOPNN1qWoNaEDsy6IX?qid=20070523183415AA70Mem
2007-05-23 21:51:05 · answer #8 · answered by trinitybombshella 2 · 2⤊ 7⤋
How sad huh, how they preach not to judge others, only to fear God, not man, but then they put the double standard on their followers by judging them & disfellowshiping them & asking all baptized members to ignore them, even family members - that is a perfect example of judging - they all live in glass houses & every stone they throw is a judgment they should not be casting....that is a rule they man made, that is not a rule God made....
2007-05-23 22:00:51 · answer #9 · answered by eluvsdmode 6 · 1⤊ 6⤋
Yes, it's a torture of the worst kind. The Watchtower Society order people to do it, if they dont, they will be shunned as well. The JW are taught to spy on each other.
2007-05-23 21:59:42 · answer #10 · answered by Millie 7 · 1⤊ 8⤋