by Seeker4 52 Replies latest members adult
Wow, great letter!
Depending upon length of inactivity and other factors suggested above, elders may determine to hold the matter in abeyance.
If only I had known about this 1 1/2 years ago! I havent been in field service for 22 years, and have been inactive for 15years. I even asked the CO when he came here that I thought I was to be looked at as a worldly person after being inactive for so long. He said to a certain extent, and I got dfed anyway! Oh well! Guess I cant reverse it now lol!
Seeker4,
I really liked the tone of your letter. It was sincere, honest, and factual. It was not spiteful, hateful or angry.
I think if I got a letter like that from a former witness, it would certainly make me stop and think. Hopefully, that's what happens.
Warlock
Buttlight,
Yes, that totally surprises me. I couldn't imagine dfing someone, when I was an elder, who
had been inactive for that amount of time.
Warlock,
I really hope that the people who got the letter thought about it. The PO told me that he would give each of the elders a copy (I supplied one for each of them), and I hope he did. And I would guess that it also got sent to Bethel, so someone likely read it there.
Letters like this one stayed in my head a long time after I read them when I was an active JW. I'm hoping that maybe in the years to come I'll see some reaction to it.
S4
Yes, that totally surprises me. I couldn't imagine dfing someone, when I was an elder, who
had been inactive for that amount of time.
Well, if i had known what was in the flock book, I would have done things differently. When they came over, I agreed to study. Then a few weeks later came the jc meeting and bam I was cast out like the plague!
That last paragraph was golden.
Letters like this one stayed in my head a long time after I read them when I was an active JW. I'm hoping that maybe in the years to come I'll see some reaction to it.
Seeds:
1) As the guy in Music Man said, "You are the raspberry seed in my wisdom tooth!" A little irritant that continually makes its way to the front of your consciousness and is not easily dislodged.
2) Mighty oaks from little acorns grow.
I think of these analogies when I have had a chance to "witness." It is my little contribution to a JW's cognitive dissonance. Seeker, I think you have planted "seeds" that may have results that you will never know about.
Seeker4 - As usual I find myself reading this wonderful letter two months after you posted it - perhaps I read it earlier and forgot - us middle aged guys do that sometimes too. LOL
Great letter - well written and deliberate.
My only question goes to the first couple paragraghs - why do you care if they DA ya'? Your reasons are yours - but just wondering. I have some of that in my craw yet - but more and more I see no issue with it - certainly not enough of an issue to proceeed with legal actions - though the threat is a fun one to consider for me.
Anyway - thanx for posting this. I am tempted to draw one of similar nature should I need it - though as stated I am not sure I feel a driving need to avoid 'internal censure' from the Witnesses - which is the only tool they wield - like you, I have no contact with them anyway, and they have already slandered my name from one end of the territory to the other. I am already shunned - I never did understand the need on thier part to kick one out for the sin of already leaving. Kinda like yelling as an employee who has just resigned exits the door ' You can't quit - you're fired'. I never did get that.
Jeff
"I am already shunned - I never did understand the need on their part to kick one out for the sin of already leaving. Kinda like yelling as an employee who has just resigned exits the door ' You can't quit - you're fired'. I never did get that."
Yes! Kicked out for already having left, that's the JW way. I think it's a power thing, a way of condemning and shaming.
I fought DFing for essentially two reasons. First, I have family, including a daughter and mother, who are still JWs and I didn't want to unnecessarily add more complications to those relationships.
Second, I really wanted to have my say. I wanted to write a letter like this one and have as many JWs as possible read it. I wanted my reasons for leaving to be out there.
S4
PS - That letter was originally sent in April 2005, I think - so it's over a year now.
Right along my thinking then - perhaps an ear will perk up and someone else will start to 'think'. As far as 'family' in - mine has died or left, with the notable exception of a few relatives on Wifey's side of the fence that I have little dealings with anyway as time has passed.
May I 'borrow' your basic outline, altered somewhat to my circumstances and thinking?
Jeff
Yes, use whatever you'd like from the letter. Enjoy the process. I had great fun doing this.
S4
