Posted by Covert [CovertXJW] on April 05, 1999 at 02:16:35 {6.uz.4vynMKL7zxXW/42yRXgo.3W/s}:
In Reply to: **Dear Covert posted by Kristin on April 04, 1999 at 23:38:09:
Thank you for your kind words...
I forgot to bring it up in my previous response, but I wanted to say that I'm very sorry your son died all because of an idiotic doctrine concocted by the "sociopaths" and "vipers" you mentioned.
I share your sentiments in that this is one doctrine that needs to be dropped ASAP. Many lives have been wrecked and destroyed because of it, and it has emotionally scarred some "brothers" and "sisters" for life. I also think it's sad when some who are disfellowshipped seek reckless pursuits like drugs or casual sex, all because that loathsome doctrine makes them feel worthless and that their "salvation" is unattainable.
Thank God that not all disfellowshipped ones are so fragile... I've met some ex-JW's who've handled their disfellowshipping well, and have actually viewed it as an asset.
When I was still "in the truth," I didn't object to speaking with disfellowshipped ones. My heart just sank whenever they just smiled and said nothing, or said: "As much as I want to, I can't speak to you because I'm disfellowshipped." Some welcomed my open-mindedness...
This really has gone too far. What is the purpose of this doctrine, anyway? The real purpose? Is it to keep the "rabble" out of the congregation, and give the congregation an excuse to put themselves on a pedastal and look down upon these ones with contempt and scorn? How much longer can they go on ruining lives without feeling the least bit of remorse, and unrepentantly racking the "lost sheep" with guilt?
Sort of puts you in mind of Jesus' parable found at Luke 15:3-7, doesn't it? Instead of lovingly going out of their way to recover the "stray sheep," why do the majority of JW's give this Scripture mere lip service and take as much advantage of the person's guilt as they possibly could?
Let me know what you think...
Covert
P.S. Thank you once again for intervening on my behalf.