Jehovas Witnesseses excommunicate the Nemesis Rising twins for being gay

[Ian David]

Nemesis Rising Twins Excommunicated for Being Gay
12/21/2006

Speaking of Montana, just north of where I'm at a meeting of Jehovah's Witnesses took place to decide the fate of Jacob and Joshua Miller, the identical twins who practice the faith and whose band Nemesis was followed this season in a LOGO reality show. The outcome was, well, what you might expect, according to a statement released by the brothers:

"The two of us were just informed that last night a Jehovah's Witness meeting took place in our hometown of Kalispell, Montana. At this meeting it was announced to all members of the Jehovah's Witness organization that we have been, as Jehovah's Witnesses would say, "disfellowshipped" (excommunicated) because of our homosexuality and our participation in our reality show, Jacob & Joshua: Nemesis Rising, on Logo.

According to Jehovah's Witness doctrine, being "disfellowshipped" means that we have been found guilty of unrepentant gross misconduct. Our immediate family is to have limited or no contact with us. And all other practicing Jehovah's Witnesses around the world are not to speak with us ever again.

I am SO JEALOUS! I wish that Jehovahs Witnesses would stop speaking with ME!

Although we are no longer Jehovah's Witnesses, we have nothing but love for those individuals who have been asked to shun us. We will continue to be in contact with our family and those who truly love us unconditionally as long as they're willing.

More:
http://www.towleroad.com/2006/12/nemesis_rising_.html

[Bolo Boffin]

1. Maybe there's a form we could submit...

...or maybe that's the magic word. When they come knocking on your door, just shout through at them: "I've been excommunicated! Unclean, unclean!!"

I'll have to try that.

[skipos]

2. Who Would Jesus Excommunicate? nt

[Ian David]

3. Well, he forgave the soldiers that crucified him.

My guess is everyone except those who exploit god for monetary gain have a shot at heaven, since the money-changers on the steps of the temple are the only ones who ever seemed to really piss him off.

[Creideiki]

6. There is one sin

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit that he said he will not redeem.

[Ian David]

9. Well, fuck Him then. n/t

[TechBear_Seattle]

7. There was that one fig tree

It seems Jesus gets unhappy when fruits don't put out. :rofl:

[Democrats_win]

4. Mixed feelings. Why should we have to give up our religion?

For people within a religious group, they shouldn't have to give up their religion for being who they are. Jesus tells people to love their neighbors; he doesn't say to shun them.

There are, however, other religious leaders who are actively involved in trying to take rights away from us THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT! Jehovah's Witnesses don't do that. If other religions would simply take the approach that JW take, the world would be a better place for gays. A government run by religion may be the greatest danger that Americans face today.

Religion is working day and night trying to get their dogma installed in our government. It is the ultimate irony that most religious people can't follow that dogma yet they expect people who don't believe in religion to still follow the dogma. This is an intolerable situation and a clarion call for all Americans to stand up for separation of church and state.

[Sapphocrat]

5. Damn!

I've been doing everything within my power to get officially excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church! And all this time, I shoulda been a JW! No, wait-- I mean, I shoulda done a JW!

[Tyo]

8. Why would a gay WANT to be a JW?

They are intolerance personified.

[Democrats_win]

10. JW is significantly different than every other "christian" denomination.

The two are so different that going to another "christian" church would be ludicrous. JWs talk about being reasonable and helping people, even gays, while Falwell and his ilk are complete loons.

The JWs policy on gays is simple: you cannot be gay and a JW. Although I disagree with that, I find it a striking difference to the hate-filled diatribes of many "christian" leaders like Rat, Falwell and Dobson.

[Tyo]

11. So they talk about being reasonable and helping people

Even gays. Imagine that. And how would they help us? And what good would it do since in their twisted way of thinking we are going to Hell anyway (along with Catholics and Mormons and Buddhists and everyone else who doesn't believe as they do).

Presumably the only way we could avoid an eternity in the lake of fire would be to become JWs, but we can't because we are gay so our fate is pretty much sealed as far as they are concerned. Same nasty twisted thinking as the Falwells and the Robertsons. Just because Witnesses might present a gentler face doesn't make them any less evil.

[Democrats_win]

12. JWs don't believe in hell.

The Bible says that the penalty of sin is death, not an eternity in hell. Actually saying they don't believe in hell isn't quite right. What they believe is that hell is simply death in which we are not conscious (?) of anything.

The lake of fire in the Bible, is a metaphore for total destruction rather than some eternal existance of suffering. Most people realize that nothing could survive a lake of fire; rather, whatever is in it would be destroyed forever.

Note, gays can go to JW meetings, even the Nemisis brothers. For gays who aren't members, they could talk freely with everyone. Of course they'd probably try to convince you not to be gay and gay people know that's misguided.

JWs believe that eventually there will be an apocolyse which is a term for "God's war." They don't see themselves fighting in that war and they don't really insist that they'll be the only survivors. However they do suggest that it would be a good idea to be a JW when that war comes. They point to the many sins of mainstream "christian" religions as proof that they won't survive that war.

[Tyo]

14. Thanks for setting me straight (so to speak)

I'd either forgotten or didn't know about the Hell thing. As for the rest of it, isn't there some sort of limit on the number of people that will be allowed into Heaven?

[Democrats_win]

15. This is another big difference between mainstream religion and JWs.

JWs believe that the original purpose was for everyone to live perfect and eternal lives on earth. The Bible says, "The Earth abides forever." That purpose has not changed but what has changed was the little rebellion led by the snake, satan. So the theme of the Bible is the redemption of mankind back to perfection and eternal life on earth. In the old testament, Israel was to lead the way but somehow they got off track.

As for heaven, the earth was made for man to live on. You are right, Revelations says 144,000 will go to heaven. Their purpose is to help govern those on earth. Those who do go to heaven will be of the highest character since they will be leaders. Those who don't go to heaven aren't "left behind," instead they will hopefully live the perfect eternal lives as God originally intended.

[dsc]

13. Those making light of this need to understand how big a deal this is

Jehovas Witnesses are very tight knit with family playing a huge role in their lives. If these young men's families obey the faith they have entirely lost their family. That can't be fun.