I got a Professional Opinion of 'Great Teacher' book.

by lisaBObeesa 19 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

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  lisaBObeesa

  (I did put this post on the other thread, but it is so far back on the thread I thought I would post it on it's own, too.)

  I showed page 170 and 171 of this book to a therapist I know to get her opinion.

  I did not ask if I could quote her on the Internet, so I will not give her name. (I should have asked, but I was a little nervous.)

  I will tell you a little about her (the therapist): She is a well respected member of the community and runs a moderate size local not-for-profit organization that cares for children in the community who have been abused, have been through trauma or have other needs for support. She and her organization also work with parents, couples and individuals. In her separate, private practice, she also sees numerous children and adults who have been abused, and has been in private practice since 1977.

  I asked her to review the material because while I thought it was terrible, I very much wanted a professional opinion because I have many biases against the WTBTS.

  After reading the first complete paragraph on page 170, she said, “But God doesn’t always protect His children.”

  After reading the second paragraph she noted how they made a big deal over ‘the opposite sex’ when defining correct adult sex.

  After reading the third paragraph, she said, “This is totally inappropriate as it implies that the little kid is going to turn into a pervert or something. Not good at all.”

  After reading the fourth paragraph, she look disgusted about many things but only said, “Interesting how they keep tying Satan and demons into the whole thing,” (shaking her head.) She said it was very good that it says clearly that the abuse is wrong. (the last sentence on page 170.)

  She said nothing at all about the first paragraph on page 171.

  Regarding the second paragraph on 171, she said, “Many, many 5- or 6-year-olds simply cannot say, ‘stop that!’” Some would be able to do this, but many cannot. Especially if it is their father or someone very close to them that they love.” Then she said, “It is good that it says the child should tell on the abuser no matter what."

  When she was done reading she mentioned again that she was very disturbed by the third paragraph on page 170, and handed the scans back to me.

  I asked her if a child had been abused and then read this if it would make the child feel that the abuse was their own fault and she said, “Exactly!”

  I asked her if all in all she agreed that these pages were inappropriate for children and she said, “Absolutely! Totally inappropriate!”

  I thanked her for her time, and that was that.

  What do you think? Has anyone else spoken to any professionals about this?
  

  -LisaBObeesa
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  blondie

  Thanks, Lisa. Your comments confirmed what I suspected a professional would say.

  Blondie
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  Pistoff

  Thanks; it is nice to know that my original opinion of what I have seen here is backed up by a professional.

  This is the most damaging book I have seen them put out since the brochure about school that took us all by surprise.

  It is now the child's job to stop abuse? Of course; the elders won't and won't sanction turning abusers in. In fact, they defend them in court.

  They believe the abuser before the abused.

  I guess this is the best that raped children can hope for; just say NO to your family rapist.

  Are you listening, Ted Jarascz?

  YOU hypocrites, Isaiah aptly prophesied about YOU, when he said, 8

  ‘This people honors me with their lips, yet their heart is far removed from me. 9 It is in vain that they keep worshiping me, because they teach commands of men as doctrines.’"

  ‘
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  Pistoff

  and again:

  They were sticklers for the little things of the Law but disregarded the weightier matters of it—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. As hypocrites, they possessed only a seemingly clean outward appearance; inside they were full of immoderateness
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  blondie

  I have an appointment to see someone who deals with counseling next month. I am going to give them the scans of these pages. I know some think that it is good that the WTS is "doing" something. But doing the wrong thing is just as damaging if not more so than doing nothing.

  Blondie
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  blacksheep

  Over the years I've seen a few therapists (probably like most ex-JWs), and while I did not ask them to review the actual books, I summarized JW philosophy and what I was taught. Needless to say, every one of them found them to be a cult. Very unhealthy. Under the guise of superficial "wholesomeness" the whole message was poisonous and potentially very damaging to children. The truly psychologically grounded ones (of which I like to think myself a member), really hate the message and somehow find a way out...eventually. That does not excuse the cancerous JW message, but it at least gives a bit of hope. It's a free country, and they can write, and teach their children whatever they want.
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  wednesday

  I had a therapist tell me the content of the old youth book was inapproprite for young children. She said it put entirely too much emphasis on sex. To say nothing of the old ideas of masturbation and the WTS fascination with the occult.
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  waiting

  Interestingly enough I was at my husband's school re-union last night - and yes, we are all getting old.

  I met one woman there who is highly educated & had been a diplomat's wife for over 30 yrs through Central America, Arabian countries, etc. She raised her children on the road.

  She's also grown away from the Catholic Church (Canadian Roman Catholic - some nearly cult-like). We talked about pros & cons of both religions - and the remarkable similarities - and sex.

  I spoke about the new JW children's book - and the "teaching aid" to abused children that many children who've been molested fall into masturbation & unnatural sexual acts - which are sins and Jehovah and the demons were watching.

  She just stared at me and said "If a child is abused.....they become the sinner too?"

  Pretty much so in the WTBTS opinion.....and that's what they want parents to teach to their children.

  waiting
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  lisaBObeesa

  But doing the wrong thing is just as damaging if not more so than doing nothing.

  That is right. This book does wrong far more than it does right.
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  pettygrudger

  Perhaps someone should make sure the WBTS is made aware of this inappropriate material, and how it might damage a child?

  The more I thought about this material, the angrier I got. I remember how it felt - the guilt, the shame, the self-abhorrence....for them not to mention even 1x that its NOT the childs fault is disgusting, then to go so far to imply that it might make them do immoral things is just over the top.