Disfellowshipping (shunning), Funding, Preaching, Who will be saved
Click this link to open another window (which you can hide, and then close later) to a JW page with frequently asked questions about their beliefs. Notice the deception and evasion, as I will explain below.
1. "Members can be expelled for serious unchristian conduct, if they do not repent and cease such actions; disfellowshipping does not sever family ties." The questions was: DO YOU SHUN FAMILY MEMBERS? First of all, they do not directly answer the question. The correct answer is: Yes, they shun former members. The only exception to this, is family members who choose to have only absolutely necessary contact with those relatives who are disfellowhipped, or those who choose to ignore the JW's rules on this. I can speak from experience here, because my mom and dad still talk to me, but ONLY if I call them. Plus, any calls I have received have been about family members going into the hospital. My older sister, as of earlier this year, refuses to speak to me at all. My Aunt Ruthie and Grama (who lives in Oregon) haven't spoken with me in at least 5 years - Ruthie recently died from cancer and Grama is in poor health. The first time I was disfellowshipped, my aunt hung up on me when I called her. Even though in the past she used to consider me "very special", and I stayed with her many times, we did alot of fun things; My sisters and I and Ruthie were pretty close, growing up. But then it was - nothing. And she thought this was the righteous, loving thing to do. Apparently she didn't love me as much as I always thought she did. I tried to contact her before she died, but sadly, no response. Thankfully my younger sister, has also broken free from the JW way of thinking. Actually, she did long before I did. She is still technically a "baptized member" because she has not been disfellowshipped, but she has not been a believer for several years, and we talk frequently, and visit when we can, plus celebrate Xmas together which is something I look forward to very much.
2. "Many millions who have lived in centuries past and who were not Jehovah's Witnesses will come back in a resurrection and have an opportunity for life. " The question was: 'Do you believe that you are the only ones who will be saved?' Yes - they do. Sure, they mention those in the past who they claim will be resurrected and given a chance. What they also teach is that everyone who has not accepted JW's teachings, that are part of the "world" will die during Armeggedon. They state that only God judges, yet they consider themselves the only ones destined to be 'saved' by God in the end.
3. "We do not force our message on others but recognize that people's circumstances change." What they are really doing, is trying to catch people as a vulnerable stage in their life, when they will be susceptible to the JW's "message of hope". (lies) They prey on people who are are depressed, older ones who maybe have no friends or family to look in on them, people who are disillusioned with religion in general - JWs try to pursuade them to study by claiming they are the TRUE religion; also, single mothers who think they will now get the help they need from the witnesses. They just can't seem to take the hint, when people tell them: I'M NOT INTERESTED.
4. JW's are funded "Primarily by voluntary donations from Jehovah's Witnesses. " While this is true, in the United States at this time, this was not always the case. They neglect to mention the reason they switched from set prices for their publications, to voluntary donations, in the United States. The reason is explained at the following website: http://www.caic.org.au/jws/organization/donation.htm This information was NEVER released or explained to the congregations. We were told that this was done to further follow the Bible's principles, blah, blah, blah... We were lied to. In addition to this, the reason that the publications can be printed for only 'voluntary donations' is because the ones doing the work printing and publishing, are VOLUNTEERS. They are not paid for this work. They are given a small stipend, food and shelter. And this is supposed to be considered a PRIVILEGE to do this. Of course, the JWs also neglected to mention in their answer to the question, that their organization still charges for their literature in other parts of the world. And free-literature-for-donations did not go into affect in Australia until 2000, due to a Goods and Services Tax, whereas the US policy went into effect back in 1990. Hmmm. Not so united as we have been told.