This 'apostate' forum would quickly fade away if the Watchtower organisation normalised itself as a Christian faith group. This would involve major reform to many of its controversial teachings, practices and rules.
UnshackleTheChains
JoinedPosts by UnshackleTheChains
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18
How to route out an apostate... according too this site.
by Thisismein1972 inhttps://jwadvisor.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/leakinginfo.html.
jehovah's witness advisor.
leakinginfo: what can be done to find out who is leaking documents?.
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57
November JW broadcast is up, this time on not telling the truth, shunning
by bohm innovember broadcast is up:.
https://www.jw.org/download/?fileformat=mp4&output=html&pub=jwb&issue=201611.
we learn interesting things.
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UnshackleTheChains
Sadly, the rank and file believe this is policy. Let's be clear, Watchtower can only 'encourage' members to shun their relatives. Yet unknown to most, their own policy states that members who insist on associating with their df'd relatives 'will not face a judicial'. Yes privileges will be taken away, but that's about it.
Clearly this (unknown to most) policy is a get out clause for the organisation in case they are hauled before a court for not allowing family members to associate with each other; which is a fundamental basic human right under the laws of most lands.
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Can a Person Resign From Being One of Jehovah’s Witnesses?
by UnshackleTheChains inhow many witnesses are aware that technically, according to watchtower policy, they can if they wish too...associate with dissociated and disfellowshipped relatives.
for all those who are dissociated or disfellowshipped, please share this with your relatives who are currently shunning you.
there is nothing the elders can do as long as they are not discussing spiritual matters.
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UnshackleTheChains
Hi Sanchy,
Thanks ever so much for your own experience. This proves beyond any doubt that you can use their very own policies against them. It's just about being smart as to how to go about it.
Yes, Ex elders are in a better position as they can highlight paragraphs from the elders manual. But there are ways for the rank and file to draw the elders attention to their very own policies by simply acting dumb about things, yet remaining humble by agreeing with their BS. Its about being smart and keeping one step ahead of the elders. An individual can also highlight how much the emotional impact is having on their health by not being able to see their grand children etc, but that they would do their best ......yadayada.
If as the policy says, the person still associates with the df'd relative after this, there is nothing more can be done, apart from losing privileges.
My guess is they have this loop hole as someone highlighted for legal reasons ie not been dragged to court over it thus giving the organisation bad publicity.
People everywhere need to know this loop hole. Many People are suffering unnecessarily.
Knowledge is power, and you have proven this Sanchy
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Can a Person Resign From Being One of Jehovah’s Witnesses?
by UnshackleTheChains inhow many witnesses are aware that technically, according to watchtower policy, they can if they wish too...associate with dissociated and disfellowshipped relatives.
for all those who are dissociated or disfellowshipped, please share this with your relatives who are currently shunning you.
there is nothing the elders can do as long as they are not discussing spiritual matters.
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UnshackleTheChains
Scratch me.
You hit the nail on the head. I can bet that they have this loop hole for legal reasons because legally they cannot stop a mother from associating with her daughter and vice versa
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Can a Person Resign From Being One of Jehovah’s Witnesses?
by UnshackleTheChains inhow many witnesses are aware that technically, according to watchtower policy, they can if they wish too...associate with dissociated and disfellowshipped relatives.
for all those who are dissociated or disfellowshipped, please share this with your relatives who are currently shunning you.
there is nothing the elders can do as long as they are not discussing spiritual matters.
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UnshackleTheChains
Pale emporer. That's incredible and really sad. But the thing is, you have informed her and have layed the ground work for her to check out and confirm this for herself.
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Can a Person Resign From Being One of Jehovah’s Witnesses?
by UnshackleTheChains inhow many witnesses are aware that technically, according to watchtower policy, they can if they wish too...associate with dissociated and disfellowshipped relatives.
for all those who are dissociated or disfellowshipped, please share this with your relatives who are currently shunning you.
there is nothing the elders can do as long as they are not discussing spiritual matters.
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UnshackleTheChains
Ok let's say, they quietly still associate after being counselled and the person is respectful.
I wonder how many ex elders/current elders out there take advantage of this loophole when it comes to their own disfellowshipped or disassociated relatives.
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Can a Person Resign From Being One of Jehovah’s Witnesses?
by UnshackleTheChains inhow many witnesses are aware that technically, according to watchtower policy, they can if they wish too...associate with dissociated and disfellowshipped relatives.
for all those who are dissociated or disfellowshipped, please share this with your relatives who are currently shunning you.
there is nothing the elders can do as long as they are not discussing spiritual matters.
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UnshackleTheChains
Ok. Let's suppose my mother disassociated and informed me of her decision by letter. She also tells me that she will respect my beliefs and not discuss spiritual matters when visiting each other. Let's also say that my father is a non witness and has never been one.
Therefore
1. I have no choice in the matter as would be awkward and unfair on my non witness father as he has every right to associate, particularly when it comes to seeing their grand children.
2. According to their policy, As long as I don't criticise the disfellowshipping/disassociation arrangement, I will not face a judicial.
3. I will not face a judicial if I emphasise that we have agreed that no spiritual matters are or will be discussed.
If you stick to the script as per above there is absolutely nothing more they can do apart from take some privileges away.
If the elders attempt to bring a judicial, they are breaking Watchtower policy and you can therefore appeal this
You could even say that someone told you many years ago ( but can't remember who) that this was the policy.
I am telling you folks this is a loop hole that everyone should know. The rank and file are encouraged to shun their relatives as per the convention video, but technically according to their own policy, they can't bring someone before a judial re what mentioned above!
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Can a Person Resign From Being One of Jehovah’s Witnesses?
by UnshackleTheChains inhow many witnesses are aware that technically, according to watchtower policy, they can if they wish too...associate with dissociated and disfellowshipped relatives.
for all those who are dissociated or disfellowshipped, please share this with your relatives who are currently shunning you.
there is nothing the elders can do as long as they are not discussing spiritual matters.
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UnshackleTheChains
Hi SL.
But having this knowledge leaves the elders powerless. If the elder body act like bell ends over a members insistence to associate with their, daughter, mother, father etc, they can take it up with the circuit overseer. As long as they are not discussing spiritual matters, they technically can associate. There is nothing more the elders can do on the matter apart from take away some privelages... which is probably a blessing in disguise. It's there in black and white.
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Can a Person Resign From Being One of Jehovah’s Witnesses?
by UnshackleTheChains inhow many witnesses are aware that technically, according to watchtower policy, they can if they wish too...associate with dissociated and disfellowshipped relatives.
for all those who are dissociated or disfellowshipped, please share this with your relatives who are currently shunning you.
there is nothing the elders can do as long as they are not discussing spiritual matters.
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UnshackleTheChains
How many witnesses are aware that technically, according to Watchtower policy, they can if they wish too...associate with dissociated and disfellowshipped relatives. For all those who are dissociated or disfellowshipped, please share this with your relatives who are currently shunning you. There is nothing the elders can do as long as they are not discussing spiritual matters. The worst that can happen is they lose some privileges, but will not face a judiciary.
Here is what is written on their website jw.org
Can a Person Resign From Being One of Jehovah’s Witnesses?
Yes. A person can resign from our organization in two ways:
By formal request. Either orally or in writing, a person can state his decision that he no longer wants to be known as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
By action. A person can take an action that places him outside our worldwide brotherhood. (1 Peter 5:9) For example, he might join another religion and make known his intention to remain part of it.—1 John 2:19.
What if a person no longer preaches or attends your meetings? Do you view that person as having resigned?
No, we do not. Resigning, or disassociating oneself, is different from becoming weak in faith. Often, those who for a time slow down or stop in their worship have not abandoned their faith but are suffering from discouragement. Rather than shunning such ones, we try to give them consolation and support. (1 Thessalonians 5:14;Jude 22) If the person wants help, congregation elders take the lead in providing spiritual assistance.—Galatians 6:1;1 Peter 5:1-3.
However, the elders are not authorized to coerce or pressure someone to remain as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Each person makes his own choice regarding religion. (Joshua 24:15) We believe that those who worship God must do so willingly, from the heart.—Psalm 110:3;Matthew 22:37.
Now here is what Watchtower policy says in the elders secret handbook...Shepherd the flock of God:
'If members of the congregation are known to have undue association with disfellowshipped or disassociated relatil'es who are not in the household, elders should counsel and reason with those members of the congregation from the Scriptures. Review with them information from the "God's Love" book, pages 207-208; The Watchtower of April 15, 1988. pages 26-30; or the article "Display Christian Loyalty When a Relative Is Disfellowshipped" in the August 2002 Our Kingdom Ministry. If it is clear that a Christian is violating the spirit of the disfellowshipping decree in this regard and does not respond to counsel, it may be that he would not qualify for congregation privileges, which require one to be exemplary. He would not be dealt with judicially unless there is persistent spiritual association or he openly criticizes the disfellowshipping decision'
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Jehovah's Witnesses DO break up families
by UnshackleTheChains inthis recording was the final straw for me.
https://youtu.be/ks2ld6pjybo.
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UnshackleTheChains
Hi flipper and rebel fighter. Thanks for your comments.
It astonishes me that the organisation does not inform people during their study 'to become members' that they have such a policy.
If anything the organisation is clearly becoming stricter when it comes to shunning. It's also interesting that the exclusive bretheren similarly phased in a very strict shunning policy some time ago. The bretherens shunning policy is absolutely shocking and even worse than Jehovah's witnesses.
This very Policy is the main reason I have decided to fade. I could no longer morally try to bring people into a 'seemingly benign loving religion', only to later realise they are part of a high control, restrictive, intrusive organisation/publishing corporation.