So, take this story with a grain of salt, trusting that my details, in general, are accurate. I understand that a lawsuit would bear out the weaknesses of my argument. TL;DR is basically the last paragraph.
I'm a JW. I'm sure you know about the "disfellowshipping" arrangement. Well, I recently had a "spiritual baptism" experience that motivated me to get back with my old religion, Jehovah's Witnesses. I'm not going to preach about my spiritual experience, but if anyone is interested, please DM me. Anyway, I smoke weed, and have on a regular basis, for about a year now. It helps me with anxiety, and other than a strange spiritual experience, I haven't had any delusions or hallucinations that reject reality. I have felt calmer, and I am just happier in general. So that is why I have the peace of mind to keep my weed use and my spirituality to myself, because I know that bothering other people is the first step to losing control over your self.
I am married and things were good between us. She was ok with the weed use until I started attending meetings at my congregation again. She was also pregnant, which I understand the "idea" of weed being used in the same home is bad, but I used it in a ventilated area and never once has it caused me anger or a dangerous loss of self-functioning ability. Either way, as far as I know, she didn't divulge my secret. She did work with me but every fight started because of me using weed. I'm not even denying that I might have a problem, but as long as I was able to function in my day to day life, I figured it was safe. And I was. I managed my business and didn't cause any strife in my life.
Long story short, me and my wife have continued marital problems that are all centered around her not wanting me to use weed. To the point where she leaves and we agree to get divorced and work things out amicably. In the meantime, the "elders" in my congregation have decided to hold whats called a Judicial Meeting. Where they decide whether or not to disfellowship me. They did not once come to me face to face to try and "correct" me. They never once reached out to me in any way other than this judicial meeting.
So here is my argument... Can a large organization just kick a member out without any accountability? Especially when their judgment over me is entirely based off of a natural use, of a natural plant, SPECIALLY created by Jehovah? (because they don't believe in evolution) And that judgment has been the main reason why me and my wife could not figure out our marital problems. Instead of even ONE counseling session with me, they approve of my wife leaving me and they approve of me being shunned from the congregation. This is a religion that claims moral authority over other religions, because of their close adherence to the scriptures. When I asked why they are not applying Jesus principle in Matthew 18, about going to your brother FIRST face to face, they said that it didn't apply to them. They literally, like the pharisees, pulled out the literature written by the organization.
So what I think merits a case is this.
1. They aren't even holding up their own principles
2. They never once offered any kind of rehabilitation. Spiritual, or any other version.
3. The only irreconcilable difference in my marriage was weed use, and my wife in her own words said, "I'm going to side with Jehovah"
4. Not one person in the religion has come to me, whether to my face, over the phone, or at the congregation to see if they could help me out with my marital or weed problem.
Am I wrong, or is this not a super injustice? If I'm crazy, just tell me. But I have genuinely become a better all around person. If I would have had some help getting off the weed, I would try it. But my wife only caused me more anxiety, due to her anxiety that she would be killed at armageddon, by Jehovah. This religion, or at least the elder body, has ruined my marriage and didn't even try to help me once, or my wife, to reconcile. Even though we have a 2 week old daughter now. They teach that God hates a divorce and adultery is the only grounds for divorce.
So would this be the legal question... Jehovah's Witnesses have fought hard to protect their rights as a religion. They have won almost every supreme court case and almost every European high court case that they have fought in. They also claim to have the right to judge a man or woman as not even worthy to be spoken to by any member of the church. Even family. And they uphold this by threatening expulsion if you break the rule. Should they be held accountable if their "god given" system is liable for severely damaging a man's life and separating his family? Especially when they promise to have the ultimate tools of healing at their disposal? If they feel that I'm drug addicted, why did they not even offer a drug rehabilitation program?
I'm a JW. I'm sure you know about the "disfellowshipping" arrangement. Well, I recently had a "spiritual baptism" experience that motivated me to get back with my old religion, Jehovah's Witnesses. I'm not going to preach about my spiritual experience, but if anyone is interested, please DM me. Anyway, I smoke weed, and have on a regular basis, for about a year now. It helps me with anxiety, and other than a strange spiritual experience, I haven't had any delusions or hallucinations that reject reality. I have felt calmer, and I am just happier in general. So that is why I have the peace of mind to keep my weed use and my spirituality to myself, because I know that bothering other people is the first step to losing control over your self.
I am married and things were good between us. She was ok with the weed use until I started attending meetings at my congregation again. She was also pregnant, which I understand the "idea" of weed being used in the same home is bad, but I used it in a ventilated area and never once has it caused me anger or a dangerous loss of self-functioning ability. Either way, as far as I know, she didn't divulge my secret. She did work with me but every fight started because of me using weed. I'm not even denying that I might have a problem, but as long as I was able to function in my day to day life, I figured it was safe. And I was. I managed my business and didn't cause any strife in my life.
Long story short, me and my wife have continued marital problems that are all centered around her not wanting me to use weed. To the point where she leaves and we agree to get divorced and work things out amicably. In the meantime, the "elders" in my congregation have decided to hold whats called a Judicial Meeting. Where they decide whether or not to disfellowship me. They did not once come to me face to face to try and "correct" me. They never once reached out to me in any way other than this judicial meeting.
So here is my argument... Can a large organization just kick a member out without any accountability? Especially when their judgment over me is entirely based off of a natural use, of a natural plant, SPECIALLY created by Jehovah? (because they don't believe in evolution) And that judgment has been the main reason why me and my wife could not figure out our marital problems. Instead of even ONE counseling session with me, they approve of my wife leaving me and they approve of me being shunned from the congregation. This is a religion that claims moral authority over other religions, because of their close adherence to the scriptures. When I asked why they are not applying Jesus principle in Matthew 18, about going to your brother FIRST face to face, they said that it didn't apply to them. They literally, like the pharisees, pulled out the literature written by the organization.
So what I think merits a case is this.
1. They aren't even holding up their own principles
2. They never once offered any kind of rehabilitation. Spiritual, or any other version.
3. The only irreconcilable difference in my marriage was weed use, and my wife in her own words said, "I'm going to side with Jehovah"
4. Not one person in the religion has come to me, whether to my face, over the phone, or at the congregation to see if they could help me out with my marital or weed problem.
Am I wrong, or is this not a super injustice? If I'm crazy, just tell me. But I have genuinely become a better all around person. If I would have had some help getting off the weed, I would try it. But my wife only caused me more anxiety, due to her anxiety that she would be killed at armageddon, by Jehovah. This religion, or at least the elder body, has ruined my marriage and didn't even try to help me once, or my wife, to reconcile. Even though we have a 2 week old daughter now. They teach that God hates a divorce and adultery is the only grounds for divorce.
So would this be the legal question... Jehovah's Witnesses have fought hard to protect their rights as a religion. They have won almost every supreme court case and almost every European high court case that they have fought in. They also claim to have the right to judge a man or woman as not even worthy to be spoken to by any member of the church. Even family. And they uphold this by threatening expulsion if you break the rule. Should they be held accountable if their "god given" system is liable for severely damaging a man's life and separating his family? Especially when they promise to have the ultimate tools of healing at their disposal? If they feel that I'm drug addicted, why did they not even offer a drug rehabilitation program?
