Posts by scotsman

58

Atheists choose 'de-baptism' to renounce childhood faith

by whereami in

jw
friends

do you think the wts would except this?.

.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-07-21-atheists-debaptism_n.htm?csp=usat.me.

scotsman

Or is it like meeting with a JC when you don't think they have any authority over you?

70

What really matters to the elders- Podcast 9 Judicial Hearing

by Hobo Ken in

this is the next part of the story, when the judicial hearings begin.

click on the link here to listen...deathorobedience.blogspot.com.

also free on itunes here.

When I broke the news that I wasn't a believer there was the weeping an nashing of teeth but contact was maintained with both my brothers. A year later when they found out I was in a same sex relationship things changed. The eldest encouraged my mum to inform the elders what she suspected and he cut contact but did meet me for coffee to tell me he loved me but couldn't be my friend. That was the end of that. Things were more complicated with the other one. We worked together but had no social contact, and when we parted company in business terms he still met up with me for lunch as we sorted out work stuff. He would still meet up with me now but I decided I'd had enough. We had been close but we now met to talk about his life, his work and for him to moan about the family that I had been cut off from. He wouldn't meet my partner. Eventually I told him that meeting him was faintly depressing and that I couldn't see any point in it continuing.

Sometimes I wondered if my ending the contact with #2 was harsh, but I think the crippled contact we had kept me hoping he'd relent and was stopping me from moving on. It's a shame, as my brothers were good company and would have got on with my partner and they've missed out big time. I'd welcome either of them into my life if they dropped the homophobic stance, even if they remained JWs.

Anyway, back to Ronnie Hunter.

58

Atheists choose 'de-baptism' to renounce childhood faith

by whereami in

jw
friends

do you think the wts would except this?.

.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-07-21-atheists-debaptism_n.htm?csp=usat.me.

scotsman

Is "ritual" the sole preserve of the theists?

58

Atheists choose 'de-baptism' to renounce childhood faith

by whereami in

jw
friends

do you think the wts would except this?.

.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-07-21-atheists-debaptism_n.htm?csp=usat.me.

scotsman

The longer I spend on JWN surrounded by such a great cloud of atheists

lol PP, fruity language! Agree that the notion on de-baptism is hilarious but the idea that atheists are an organised group is pretty far from the truth. The atheists I know don't share values, just the disbelief in God, and none of them are bothered about proselytising. Most of them do love a good debate though, and aren't threatened when you disagree with them.

Funny how perspectives differ; I'm continually amazed at how dominated the board is by people with faith, normally spoiling for a fight.

15

Something that can be said to JW's at the door

by DT in

jw
friends

imagine this conversation.. witness: so would you enjoy reading this book which explains the bible based hope for everlasting life on a paradise earth?.

householder: yes, i would love to read that.

it sounds fascinating.

scotsman

In the 7 years I've been out they've not knocked at my door either, and working from home means I'm a likely catch. Never seen them on the streets either. They're clearly making a very big effort elsewhere in the last days...

70

What really matters to the elders- Podcast 9 Judicial Hearing

by Hobo Ken in

this is the next part of the story, when the judicial hearings begin.

click on the link here to listen...deathorobedience.blogspot.com.

also free on itunes here.

scotsman

Thanks for the reply IKA. I understand the desire to maintain contact although even though JWs are a high control group I personally still see my family as having chosen to subject themselves to it and I wasn't prepared to play the game for contact, it was too high a price. Responding to the elders who initially tried to contact me would have dignified them when they were nothing to me. That's great his parents remain in touch, siblings are often judgemental, mine are.

I thought you were in touch with your Mum on a fairly ongoing and civil basis

See my mum increasingly sporadically and something tells me it's about to become rare as we no longer have a business connection. Seeing me is probably distressing for her, it's not exactly fulfilling for me. I post too much, I should have other priorities!!

70

What really matters to the elders- Podcast 9 Judicial Hearing

by Hobo Ken in

this is the next part of the story, when the judicial hearings begin.

click on the link here to listen...deathorobedience.blogspot.com.

also free on itunes here.

scotsman

hehe @ scotsman. Probably for the same reasons you don't.

I didn't avoid being disfellowshipped, I avoided meeting a committee that had no relevance to my life, even if it had authority over others. Being disfellowshipped would make no difference to me as I have no family contact anyway.

It's in light of you being disassociated IKA and the impact that must have had on his JW relatives who presumably shunned you that made me wonder why he'd meet with a committee to maintain contact with people who shun his wife. This is not a criticism.

70