by HOTB 6 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
Does anyone have any information about a relaxing of the rules regarding family reaching out to disfellowshipped members?
I've heard of an elder being openly in touch with a long time disfellowshipped family member. Apparently the term 'compassionate view' had been bandied about.
I can't find anything relating to this.
I'd be interested what the new rule is in when came into play.
HOTB
HOTB, you might read over this link which a timeline about the past and now current changes to disfellowshipping. It came out in a August 2024 WT study article, which was studied at the Watchtower Study meeting. https://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/disfellowship-shunning.php Here is how it starts out but the development of this change follows: "Removed not Disfellowshipped - Aug 2024 Change in terminology
Page 27 of the August 2024 Watchtower stated that the word disfellowshipped will no longer be used, and instead be referred to as “being removed from the congregation.”
This is simply a cosmetic change, as the reasons to remove an individual remain the same and continue to require shunning that person. (A minor change is a disfellowshipped/removed person may be greeted at meetings.) Information throughout this article discussing disfellowshipped individuals continues to apply to “removed” individuals.
For information regarding why this change occurred see footnote. (1)
Thank you Blondie,
It certainly made very interesting reading and shows the unscriptural and hypocritical way the org has acted over many, many years.
To think that now they change terminology to deal with the laws of the land is laughable.
The recording of the girl asking to be reinstated was a prime example of how judgemental and ludicrous the elders behave. What ridiculous questions. Such a lack of care.
Isn't it strange that people who have been following the org for years can suddenly go along with whatever is dished out through the Watchtower as true - even though its is a 180 on what was previously taught? They take it on board and accept it as gospel.
I shake my head and the craziness of it all - especially when I was just like them for so many years.
Much as stepping away and losing all the ones who I loved has been difficult - twenty years on I appreciate the freedom of no longer being a hypocrite and having to 'act' to keep friends and stay in a position of respect. JW's offer only conditional love. Looking back - what I thought were been bonds that were unbreakable - crumbled and blew away. I realised they did not love me - they loved what I represented, my position, my kindness, my hospitality...but not me.
There loss.
Thanks for the information - it was insightful.
HOTB
In reality there is much confusion and this is partly by design. It all stems from Norway stopping giving so much money to the fat GB so they went against ToMorris who’s famous last words on broadcast we’re “we are certainly not going to do that” then they did it anyway!
yes you can now speak to disfellowshipped ones. The loophole is you are supposed to invite them to the meeting everytime you speak.
At the meeting members of the cong can now speak to them.
the largest change relates to the 90 day rule. It’s actually very difficult to get disfellowshipped to start with now, but if you are it is just for 90 dsys
How absolutely crazy that sounds. How the rank and file take this as truth and spirit direction is beyond me.
After decades of the disfellowshipping ‘rules’ they change in the blink of an eye and it’s all ok to act in a different way.
Someone put the magazines through my door a number of years ago. I felt embarrassed about how dumbed down they had become. No long articles with in-depth studying. Instead simply written short paragraphs with cartoons!
Now I feel the same perplexity with this change. Thankfully it’s of no personal concern but as an outsider to the org I can only think of the stalwart brothers and sisters I knew as a child who were real bible students of the old school. They would not recognise the Society the way it is now. It is a completely different religion (although they used to claim not to be a religion because they had the Truth).
HOTB
Something weird happening here. I’m posting but according to this my name has changed to Primrose!
That profile joined 4 months ago.
Is it some kind of tech glitch?
HOTB
I see you were HOTB 2 days ago, maybe someone got in and changed it. I would check with Simon, the admin.
