I just had to resurrect this post by Blondie. I find the list useful for reference.
UnshackleTheChains
JoinedPosts by UnshackleTheChains
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28
55 REASONS JWS WILL NEVER BE REFORMED--Frank Toth
by blondie inmy husband and i had a nice visit with frank toth at grace gough's home.
it was great.
he has written a few things.
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What has been your own personal experience of shunning?
by UnshackleTheChains ini am interested in finding out on a small scale the extent of which shunning has impacted on you personally.. my own experience is that when i faded about 12 years ago.
the woman whose house the book study was held at (and who was virtually a neighbour) walked right past me in my own street.
i remember it so well.
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UnshackleTheChains
These experiences confirm for me everything wrong with this religion. The effect and impact this policy has on people is astounding. God help those with low self esteem and those with mental health problems, those especially who are young. I mean for God's sake one poster has experienced shunning since 16!!!!. Life is tough enough. For some, it must feel like being kicked when you are down. Terribly sad. Just wrong
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Spiritual paradise or proverbial straitjacket?
by UnshackleTheChains innoas a current or past jehovah's witness, do you / or did you feel part of a spiritual paradise with full liberty in christ as the watchtower society/organisation describes?.
or do you / did you feel you were wearing a proverbial straitjacket in the sense you feel / felt restricted and controlled by the watchtower society / organisation?.
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UnshackleTheChains
Smiddy,
I like yourself was a convert as a young man. Back then, I 100% believed it to be a spiritual paradise. Then the nagging doubts set in, I personally gradually found myself feeling very restricted in what could say or do. Eg, not allowing my own conscience to make decisions such as choosing to celebrate my child's birthday.
My spiritual paradise was lost many years ago.
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Spiritual paradise or proverbial straitjacket?
by UnshackleTheChains innoas a current or past jehovah's witness, do you / or did you feel part of a spiritual paradise with full liberty in christ as the watchtower society/organisation describes?.
or do you / did you feel you were wearing a proverbial straitjacket in the sense you feel / felt restricted and controlled by the watchtower society / organisation?.
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UnshackleTheChains
NoAs a current or past Jehovah's Witness, do you / or did you feel part of a spiritual paradise with full liberty in Christ as the Watchtower society/organisation describes?
or do you / did you feel you were wearing a proverbial straitjacket in the sense you feel / felt restricted and controlled by the Watchtower society / organisation?
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UnshackleTheChains
The theme sounds a little bit desperate! -
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What has been your own personal experience of shunning?
by UnshackleTheChains ini am interested in finding out on a small scale the extent of which shunning has impacted on you personally.. my own experience is that when i faded about 12 years ago.
the woman whose house the book study was held at (and who was virtually a neighbour) walked right past me in my own street.
i remember it so well.
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UnshackleTheChains
Some jws forget if you were df'd or not and are afraid to ask you so just assume. One sister ignored me and then the next time she talked to me after she confirmed my status as inactive.
That's actually quite funny blondie. It's so true. I recall a sister who disassociated about 20 years ago in another congregation. I vaguely recall what she looked like back then and didn't notice her as she was walking past our cart. She had changed slightly as obviously a little older. Yet, the older sister I was with said 'oh, that's that sister who was disfellowshipped' . And it was like she had the plague the way she said it.
The penny the dropped who it was and knew she had not been disfellowshipped, but had simply left in WT terms 'officially'
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45
What has been your own personal experience of shunning?
by UnshackleTheChains ini am interested in finding out on a small scale the extent of which shunning has impacted on you personally.. my own experience is that when i faded about 12 years ago.
the woman whose house the book study was held at (and who was virtually a neighbour) walked right past me in my own street.
i remember it so well.
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UnshackleTheChains
Thanks for all these experiences. I can feel the pain particularly when family have been involved. This policy is so cruel and divisive. If only I was aware of this horrible policy when I was studying, I would never have joined this religion. I was a young man who was easily influenced back then.
It is interesting that I had a conversation on the phone with my mother a while ago and discussed why I was missing so many meetings. I touched on some of the issues as to what was putting me off. Shunning was one of them. I told her that I found the video on shunning shown at last year's convention to be deeply alarming to me. Note: her and my wife know full well my views on TTATT.
Her answer, ' Well, if I was put in that situation, I would have to remain loyal to Jehovah'.
So basically she would shun me if I disassociated. I just let out a big sigh and was shaking my head. I kept thinking what on earth did you get me involved with all those years ago when she was constantly preaching to me as a 16 year old.
I absolutely 100% agree with Angus Stewart (ARC) when he suggested to Geoff Jackson that the Jehovah's Witnesses are a captive religion and that it divides families with their cruel shunning policy.
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45
What has been your own personal experience of shunning?
by UnshackleTheChains ini am interested in finding out on a small scale the extent of which shunning has impacted on you personally.. my own experience is that when i faded about 12 years ago.
the woman whose house the book study was held at (and who was virtually a neighbour) walked right past me in my own street.
i remember it so well.
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UnshackleTheChains
Scratchme101,
I felt your pain in every word you typed. That is just so sad.
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What has been your own personal experience of shunning?
by UnshackleTheChains ini am interested in finding out on a small scale the extent of which shunning has impacted on you personally.. my own experience is that when i faded about 12 years ago.
the woman whose house the book study was held at (and who was virtually a neighbour) walked right past me in my own street.
i remember it so well.
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UnshackleTheChains
Hi all,
I am interested in finding out on a small scale the extent of which shunning has impacted on you personally.
My own experience is that when I faded about 12 years ago. The woman whose house the book study was held at (and who was virtually a neighbour) walked right past me in my own Street. I remember it so well. That fleeting moment changed my perspective of her as a Christian.
Also, we had a relative who was disfellowshipped. My mother, wife and I went to visit him and his family just once during the time he was disfellowshipped (he got reinstated shortly after),,but I will always remember my mother and I feeling guilty about being in his presence (Note: I was completely indoctrinated back then)
So what's your experience?
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What finally helped you to peek behind the curtain
by UnshackleTheChains ini'm interested in finding out what it was that finally enabled you to open your eyes to the real truth of watchtower.
what started me thinking, was the societys very own book...' 'revelation..it's grand climax at hand'.
i found that book farcicle.
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UnshackleTheChains
Wow....Thanks to everyone for your responses. I find it fascinating how conclusions were drawn for many of us over a lengthy period of time; over many many years.
The organisations teachings and policies are very cleverly put together, thus making it difficult for its members to see the wood from the trees. The internet by far has been a fantastic resource in helping to open people's eyes.
Thanks again to everyone for their replies and personal experiences 😉