jst2laws:You make reference to M. Scott Peck's book The People of the Lie in your assessment of the Governing Body as NOT being evil.However, Peck defines evil individuals and groups as having several distinct characteristics.Narcissism - the belief that everything that happens is for their particular benefit or use, a kind of egocentric belief that the universe revolves around them. Does the GB/WTS/JWs do this? Yes, they do. Just look at how they fit world events into their history and say that because they were persecuted during WWII in Nazi concentration camps, etc., that this PROVES they are "God's chosen people". Look at how current events are viewed breathlessly as being part of the "composite sign" of the "last days" by JWs in general. They have self-identified as being the only ones "smart enough" and "spiritual enough" and "blessed" and "special" to be the ones "God chooses out of the nations" to be His own. If that's not narcissism, I don't know what is.Along with narcissism comes the belief that because we are God's chosen people, we are above reproach. This is the same kind of attitude that was fostered during the Middle Ages by the notion of the "Divine Right" of monarchs. It is this mentality that puts the GB/WTS/JWs in a position of being able to treat people the way they do. It allows them to look with disdain on "the goats" they call on in the door-to-door work. It allows them to shun disfellowshipped people and treat them as though they were dead. It allows them to insinuate themselves into private, personal matters such as whether or not it is proper for married persons to explore their sexuality together to their hearts' content.At the same time, the narcissistic attitude makes it necessary to "demonize" everyone on the outside of their select group. Look at how loudly they cry in outrage at the Catholic Church's pedophile priests, yet completely ignore the same problem within their own circle, and in fact, force victims to keep silent while the offenders remain in good standing, without being punished for their crimes.The Governing Body makes all the rules. They may not write all the books, but they allow the books to reach every JW, so it's a safe bet that the material in the books have their implicit approval, if not their explicit approval. They are the ones whose attitudes filter down to the rank and file.The Nuremburg trials did not absolve high ranking Nazis from responsibility and accountability for the actions of lower ranking Nazis who actually carried out the atrocities during WWII. Why should the GB be absolved of accountability for the evil things that are done by their underlings? They are, after all, following orders.Love, Scully
