Originally posted by makeitso
I have to disagree with most of the above. For one thing, I can't help but notice how you gloss over 1975 Deadpan. Doesn't seem like they learned their lesson very well after 1928 like you indicate, does it? You should have seen the faces at the 1975 assembly when it was announced a mistake had been made (again). It was a sad thing to watch.
Thank you for your imput! Yes, I totally forgot about 1975. They indeed _hoped_ that reaching the milestone of 6000 years from the creation of Adam would bring the last millenial reign. Fair assumption (probably would have been excited myself, too.) Only thing that was overlooked was that you could not know when the sixth creation day ended, because Eve's birthday isn't given. Some just got ahead of themselves and had to admit - '1975 was not in the bible, hold your horses'
Although I don't consider it a cult, it does have some cult like aspects. For example: Wives will be encouraged to leave their unbelieving husbands. If you smoke, drink to excess, give blood, celebrate xmas, or break any of their other religious principals they will be strongly discouraged from associating with you.
On the contrary wives are encouraged to stay faithful to their marriage vows!
1.Peter 3: In like manner, YOU wives, be in subjection to YOUR own husbands, in order that, if any are not obedient to the word, they may be won without a word through the conduct of [their] wives
Drinking is a terrible problem for some. Fellowship tries to help alcholics whenever possible, but if the problem continues for too long, the individual has to be disfellowshipped. All of the cases when someone sins against the laws and wishes of God for a prolonged period, they are first given help but unfortunately must be eventually disfellowshipped for the purity of God's people. Not if the person repents and tries to change.
Obviously keeping pagan holidays is shunned, this is not uncommon in Christianity. Xmas (or any other in that matter) isn't really a Christian holiday.
If you find another way, let me know. I have multiple family members I can speak with a little, and see sometimes, but hang out with on a regular basis? Never gonna happen. This is going on more that 20 years.
I'm sorry that you can't spend time with your family members. It is not forbidden to spend time with non-Christians, but every witness understands that spending time with people who have totally different goals in life will eventually, slowly distance you from the Bible way of life. This is typical psychological behavior - person is molded by the company s/he keeps. We just think that pleasing God is more important than your own family. We still love them, of course, but can't do what they would want. I spend time now and then with my parents who are not believers and nobody is 'threatening' me with anything.
To the suicide rate thing, I'm not aware of the facts in this matter, but I can understand the reasons. People who 'drop out' from the presence of other Christians, start to reason on their own and sometimes gradually turn against their fellow Christians. When someone is then disfellowshipped for a obvious reason, many see the mistake they did, but are too shamed to return. Usually their lives become meaningless and some take their lives because they understand that the world has nothing to offer them in return.
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