Former Jehovah's Witness: Disfellowshipped & Thriving

Jehovah's Witnesses stake the claim that they carry out the same practices in their worship all over the world. But, one of the most inconsistent practices in their faith is the one that pertains to the judicial process and disfellowshipping. If you are disfellowshipped and cannot understand why it is taking so long to get reinstated after making multiple requests, chances are there is someone on your judicial case that has a personal agenda against your best interests. There is no consistency on how reinstatement is carried out. It is up to the three individuals that are serving on your committee that determines your fate.It leaves people to ask the question, what am I doing wrong or what am I failing to do? When in fact, the elders may believe that you are not repentant enough. In fact, if you had a different set of elders handling your case, your outcome may have turned out in your favor. This podcast explores some of the unspoken and untold reasons why some people actually languish in a disfellowshipped state not realizing why they are unable to get reinstated. It also discusses how people are treated after they are reinstated. Instead of being immersed in love for returning back to God, they are treated with suspicion that results in unnecessary challenges. Support the show

30 Mar 202120min

Do Jehovah's Witnesses have a policy for shunning former members? The Watchtower lawyers present arguments to the Belgian court system that it is an individual choice whether to shun family. However, this podcast provides excellent proof from their own written publications that they have a system of teaching their adherents to shun former members. In fact, the Watchtower, Bible & Tract Society has a long history of influencing its members to comply with their teachings even at the cost of dividing families and long-time friendships.https://foref-europe.org/blog/2021/03/19/belgium-the-decision-of-the-court-of-ghent-against-jehovahs-witnesses/ The following links pertain to written comments by Dr. Introvigne, a defender of JW's who disagrees with the Belgium court:PART ONEhttps://bitterwinter.org/jehovahs-witnesses-fined-in-ghent-for-their-ostracism-a-wrong-decision/PART TWOhttps://bitterwinter.org/the-ghent-jehovahs-witnesses-decision-dangers-for-religious-liberty/PART THREEhttps://bitterwinter.org/the-ghent-jehovahs-witness-decision-dangerous-for-all-religions/The Jehovah’s Witnesses’ CaseOn 16 February, a trial started against the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses (CCJW) at the criminal court of Ghent (East Flanders) on the alleged grounds of discrimination and incitement to hatred with a particular focus on their shunning (ostracization) practice in cases of disfellowshipping (exclusion) and disassociation (voluntary resignation).A former Jehovah’s Witness who had voluntarily left the movement in 2011, filed a criminal complaint against the CCJW in 2015, and managed to have it supported by over a dozen more former Jehovah’s Witnesses.According to the internal religious practice of Jehovah’s Witnesses, when the elders of a local congregation exclude a member or are notified about a voluntary resignation, they make a short neutral public announcement which states: “[Name of person] is no longer one of Jehovah’s Witnesses”. The CCJW is not involved in the making of that neutral announcement but is notified about the decision.In their conclusions provided to the Court before the trial, they said that they do not segregate excluded or resigning members as these can always attend their religious services. They also point out that baptized Jehovah’s Witnesses who no longer actively associate with fellow believers, are not shunned.Clarifying the relations between Jehovah’s Witnesses and disfellowshipped or disassociated family members, they say: “In the immediate household, although the ‘religious ties’ the expelled or disassociated person had with his family change, … blood ties remain. The marriage relationship and normal family affections and dealings continue.” In other words, normal family affection and association continues.In addition, the CCJW had provided the Court with nine statements of individuals who had been excluded and who had since been reinstated as Jehovah’s Witnesses. In their testimonies, they explained how they had been fairly treated by congregation elders, family, and others in the congregation when they were excluded.The social distancing doctrine stated and practiced by Jehovah’s Witnesses in Belgium and all other countries was fixed by their Central College in the United States on the basis of their interpretation of the BibleSupport the show

22 Mar 202115min

How can you claim that your publications represent the truth and are divinely provided aids from God one day and then discard them as refuse and unworthy of being referenced tomorrow?Jehovah’s Witnesses have made life altering decisions based on the information contained in these publications resulting in dire consequences. Some have been disfellowshipped and lost their families and good reputation. Sadly, others have actually lost their lives. Imagine how much hurt this causes after discovering years later that these teachings no longer exist and the publications used to support Watchtower beliefs are being tossed out like yesterday’s trash!Instead of presenting their information as nothing more than their own opinion, they are signing God’s name as if he’s speaking directly to them.Link to Letterhttps://exjehovahswitnessct.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/2012-2020-publications-approved-for-discard.pdfSupport the show

16 Mar 202111min

Watchtower, Bible & Tract Society required to appear before the Australian Commission to explain their policies and procedures for addressing cases of victims within their institution. At the end of the hearing, the Australian government determined that the best way to address this issue, was to set up a redress scheme. The redress scheme provides the individual with the ability to seek emotional counseling and to collect financial damages for their pain and suffering. Also, another key component is that the institutions are required to acknowledge their lack of responsibility to protect individuals by mishandling their cases.Despite having more than one thousand cases on record, the Watchtower agreed that they never reported any of these cases to the legal authorities. However, they stated that according to their policy it is the responsibility of the individual to report such incidents to the authorities. As a result, members in the community were at risk based on the Watchtower not taking a stand or exhibiting a key role to keep others safe.https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2021/03/03/jehovahs-witnesses-redress-scheme/Support the show

8 Mar 202118min

In this video, we discuss how the Watchtower responded to a question from readers back in 1958 about one of the anointed voluntarily accepting a blood transfusion and whether or not they would be able to partake of the emblems during the Memorial. However, it’s the response to the question that is eye opening for […]Support the show

21 Feb 202116min

In this podcast, JT & Lady Cee interviews an Unbaptized Publisher that realized at an early age that being one of Jehovah’s Witnesses was not in his DNA. He speaks about having to tow the Watchtower line having a father that was an elder. But, how things took a turn for the better once his […]Support the show

10 Feb 202152min

In this podcast, JT & Lady Cee speak with Kenan J. Floyd about his experience as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Kenan Jerome Floyd is a writer/producer/comedian based in Los Angeles, CA. He hosts a podcast called “Dangerously Awkward”, where he talks about trying to make it in the entertainment industry while dealing with his hang […]Support the show

21 Jan 202154min

In this video presentation, we discuss feedback from one of our viewers from a previous video, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Riding the Waves on a Sinking Ship. It addresses the issue about counting time and the ten-hour quota. Most individuals may not realize that several decades ago, Jehovah’s Witnesses were required to turn in ten hours each […]Support the show

10 Jan 202112min