AboutBrenton Hepburn Expertise I am one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
I can answer questions on the reliability of the NWT, the so called mind control problems, so called prophecies, and general practices and history of Jehovah’s Witnesses.....
>>>>WARNING<<<<<< ....Please be aware that there are at least ... 3 .... people here who ARE NOT practicing JWs and, (at other times there have been as many as 5.) These ones will, at times, appear to have an agenda against JWs., and will often give answers that are not correct in regard to JW teachings and practices. If you are after a answer from one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, please read some of the answers that the various experts have published before choosing someone. If you want to ask them a question that is fine, but if you want a balancing view after asking one of the NON JWs, ask a JW the same question
Experience I have been a publisher since 1964. When I first went on the internet I found a lot of negative information dealing with Jehovah’s Witnesses covering prophecy, mind control and what many said was a very bad translation of the Bible known as the NWT. It shook my faith. After may hours researching these topics I could see why some felt that way, but, I was also able to explain why there were these misleading views. I can now set matters straight for anyone that has negative information about Jehovah’s Witness to show them that such information is at best misleading and at worst dangerous lies.
Education/Credentials I have been a student of the Bible for many years, am trying to teach myself Biblical Greek.
Was a public tax accountant for many yrars untill SEP 2009 when I gave it up.
Question I have just been reading some of the comments about JWs and excomunication.
Can you give a simple straight forward answer to this
Is everyone that leave the JWs viewd as being excomunicated?
Is it not cruel not to speak to them?
Answer Hello Gordon,
Thank you for your question.
First not everyone that stops being a JW is treated as being excommunicated.
There are 2 types or classes of individuals that are not viewed as being excommunicated (disfellowshiped)
1) A person can just drift away form a congregation and become inactive. These ones are not viewed as being disfellowshiped.
Having said that though, if their conduct becomes such that they say, become apostate, or their course of life is known to be immoral, that might change the way other JWs view them
2) A person that has been associated but never baptized and stops associating is not viewed as being disfellowshiped. If they start spreading apostate ideas JWs might treat them as a disfellowshiped person.
Baptism is a very serious step, no one gets baptized without knowing of the responsibilities that is associated with this step. That is why a person wanting to be baptized goes through a series of questions with elders so that that can determine if the person being baptized really understands what they are doing.
Disfellowsipping is not done lightly or for no reason. It should be the last option. All effort has to be made by the elders before someone is disfellowshiped, to correct their behavior. A person is disfellowshiped for attitude not action (unless they say they no longer want to be a JW). It is for an unrepented attitude to council given that leads to disfellowshipping
If a person has been disfelowshiped and wants to come back to being a Witness the elders in a congregation will help them. Such individuals have to demonstrate that they have changed. But as a GENERAL rule a JW will not talk with a person that is disfellowshiped. (there are some exeptions)
What about relatives?
Well that is slightly different. Generally we would not have a lot to do with a disfellowshiped relative. However they are still family with blood ties. If a disfellowshiped relative needs to be cared for because of ill health of some sort, physical of emotional, JW relatives, can if their circumstances allow, help such ones. It is part of being a Christian to look after ones own family.
Also if a JW is in a business relationship ship (as a partner in a business or some form of contractual arrangement ) with a person that is dissfellowshiped, the JW has to fulfill and contractual arrangements that are in place.
So there are circumstances where JWs can and at times must have contact with a disfellowshiped person. All care should be taken to limit such contact to what is necessary.
