Posted by Polly [polly] on November 10, 1999 at 10:35:54 {AAJB0ph6mYWzlU5aRsGcy5tAMziUMM}:
In Reply to: ***forced to go to meetings? posted by Cheeky on November 10, 1999 at 09:43:34:
You are quite capable of twisting words yourself!
He said: "I think he was trying to be funny and making a point that their are many trapped in the JW system."
The word here was "funny". Trying to be humorous as he presented his material. Somethig like the CO here, who pranced around the stage pretending to be Little Jonnhy, drunk and about to be crushed by an oncoming train because he missed a meeting. Discusing a serious subject but injecting some humor in it.
My, you are stunned today. And I mean that. Many people are coerced into going to meetings. I know people who have threatened their children. I also attended assemblies in which it was made clear that if you did not attend a meeting, the elders would visit and you would have to make an accounting for your absence. No one is simply "free" to stop attending meetings without some consequence. Some do not care, but there are those, as discussed, that cannot, for various reasons (as told to you twice) who cannot deal with these consequences. Is is fair to say that they have no backbone because their situation does not allow them to freely stop attending?
What do you consider coercion? Are you free to stop going to meeting, Cheeky without any negative consequence? Please attempt an intelligent answer. (Don't bother giving your theories on their eternal life being at stake) Is everyone you know free to just stop going to meetings and nothing will happen to them if they do?
No, I somehow doubt you can give an honest answer to that, so you will act hurt and shocked at the statement. I know witnesses, who, unlike you, have backbone. They proudly claim that their various methods of "coercion" do exist and it is an act of love to utilize them. They say their treatement of "wrong doers", whether they are guilty of inactivity, missed meeting, alling away, etc is to "shake them up". Have you ever heard that expression? It's very commonly used here. It is coercion.