About Brandon Harper Expertise I was raised as one of Jehovah's Witnesses and was baptized for 21 years. I was a 4th generation Jehovah's Witness both paternally and maternally and am qualified to answer many questions regarding doctrine, doctrinal changes, historical basis for various doctrines, as well as offer rebuttal responses from the perspective of a former Jehovah's Witness. I can also answer questions from the perspective of an ardent Jehovah's Witness.
Experience I am 33 years old, became a publisher and gave my first public talk at age 4, was baptized at age 12, became an inactive publisher at age 32, and disassociated myself at age 33. My father has served as a congregation servant/elder continuously from the age of 17 on. Of my 9 uncles, 6 are elders. Of my 9 aunts, four are regular pioneers. My father is the presiding overseer of a congregation. When I began seriously investigating this religion I had to prepare for conversations with a very large extended family steeped in the history and doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses. I have thoroughly studied many Watchtower Society publications that most Jehovah's Witnesses have never even read, if they have heard of them at all, seeking the origins of various doctrinal points. I knew I would need to have this knowledge to discuss the issues in detail with my family when I decided to disassociate myself.
Education/Credentials I read every Watchtower and Awake! magazine from at least age 8 through age 32. According to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society I have the equivalent of several four-year degrees (Reference available on request). I would hope that education would qualify me as an expert.
Question Hello Brandon. I'm not a JW but my sister is. To be honest, I've always been bothered that she uses that as an excuse not to talk to us. Anyway, my niece has just decided to leave the JWs and my sister and her husband and other children are never going to talk to her again. How can you justify treating somebody so vindictively? Sorry if I sound pushy, but it upsets me so much.
Answer Sass MyFrass,
I am so sorry for what you have experienced.
If you have never been baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses I am not sure why your sister would choose not to speak to you. I can assure you it isn't because of any doctrine taught by Jehovah's Witnesses.
It is always the decision of each individual to decide with whom they wish to speak. However, there is congregational pressure brought to bear in some circumstances to forcefully encourage one choice over another. Some might feel this forceful encouragement to be akin to coersion. If threat of Judicial action is part of the encouragement then it would indeed be coercive, but that is not always the case.
Sometimes Jehovah's Witnesses choose to cut relatives out of their lives if they perceive the relative as a hindrance to faithful adherence to organizational dogma. They see this sort of voluntary cutting off as an unwelcome but necessary step in order to make sure they do not leave the organization or slack off in their works.
The relatives who are cut off (such as yourself) may be very deeply hurt by the actions of their loved ones and by the attitudes they seem to be inspired by, but typically, in my experience, any forcefulness observed is evidence of the strain required to overcome natural familial longings to maintain what Jehovah's Witnesses believe is a necessary part of a relationship with God (2 Timothy 3:3).
The justification offered would be to have no sharing with those who have separated themselves. Jehovah's Witnesses are not the only religious group that uses the Scriptures to reason that way. However, the key Scripture used so often by so many groups (1 John 1:19) is only referring to the antichrists (1 John 1:18).
And still, there is no indication that such ones cannot be spoken to. 2 John 8-11 takes care of that, although again this is only for those who do not remain in the teaching of Christ. It isn't for those who leave a specific religious organization.
In my estimation, there is no justification for them to sever their family from their life. I have been cut off from my family, as well. There are rationalizations, but no justification. I believe it strikes most Jehovah's Witnesses as wrong and very unnatural, but the consequences of failing to show support for that doctrine can be experiencing the same severance.
